ClarenceBN Read Online Free PDF

panicked, which was ridiculous. He’d sewn guys back together who’d accidentally discharged their weapons or walked into a rotor blade back when he’d been in the Navy. He should not be scared of a receptionist with an attitude problem.
    But he was. Tara was the biggest obstacle he had to get around to get to Tammy. He didn’t want to say no because that wasn’t true and if Tara told Tammy what he said, it might make Tammy mad. But he didn’t want to say yes either, because he did not need to deal with Tara all day long—all week long. It was only Tuesday.
    So instead, he said, “Why would you think that?” and tried to shove his way past Tara.  
    “Because . . .” Tara followed him as he headed for the supply closet. “You never make me coffee and you never make Dr. Mitchell coffee.”
    “Bull. I make coffee.”
    “You like Tammy?” Tara said it like she had discovered a grass snake in her shoe. “ Seriously ?”
    “I got work to do.” At this point, he would scrub toilets with a toothbrush if it got him out of this conversation.  
    He unloaded the sterilizer and tried real hard to ignore the pricking at the back of his neck that meant that Tara was glaring at him. He was not having this conversation, not with Tara—not with anyone.  
    They stood there like that, him unloading the sterilizer and Tara trying to stare him to death, for a good two or three minutes before she said, “You break my baby sister’s heart and you’ll have to deal with me.”
    Like that was a news flash. “First off, I already deal with you five days out of the week, so if you’re trying to scare me, you’re doing a lousy job of it.” Which was only partly true. He knew that, if Tara put her mind to it, she could make his life a living hell. “Second off, I’m not out to break anyone’s heart.” Especially not Tammy’s. But he kept that part to himself. He gathered up his clean instruments and said, “Now, if you don’t mind, I have a Clinic to run.”
    He was surprised to see a confused look on Tara’s face, like she wasn’t sure if she could trust him or not. He shouldered past her and began to get things set up.  
    She walked past him and, after only a moment’s hesitation, sat down at her desk and began to pull files. Which meant she was going to let it drop.
    For now.
    He didn’t know how long of a reprieve he had.

Chapter Four
    “Mommy?” Mikey said in his almost-awake voice when he got up from his nap.
    “Yes, baby?”
    He gave her the look that, in a mere ten years, would morph into a true teenage eyeroll. “I’m not a baby, Mommy.”
    She swooped him into her arms and kissed him. “You’ll always be my baby, baby.” He shrieked and giggled as he squirmed in her arms, but he didn’t break free. “Now, what’s up?”
    “Is Mr. Carence gonna keep bringing me toys?”
    It wasn’t exactly the $10,000 question, but it was maybe the $1,000 follow-up question. Because it sure seemed like Mikey getting presents went along with Tammy getting that sweet coffee—which all seemed to fall away under the $100,000 question—Was Clarence going to kiss her again?  
    No, that wasn’t really the question. The real question was, was Clarence just playing—or was there something more to that kiss, those cups of fancy coffee?
    Tammy had been played once. She had no desire to repeat the experience.
    But she had a lot of desire, actually. Desire that she worked very hard at ignoring because the last time she’d followed her heart over the edge, she’d wound up pregnant and alone at twenty.  
    She had absolutely no desire to be pregnant and alone—again—at twenty-four.
    “I don’t know, baby. But maybe we should write a thank-you letter to Mr. Clarence. It’s always good to thank someone. Why don’t you find some paper and draw him a picture?”
    Mikey hopped down and went to look for his crayons. And, just like she had approximately every thirty seconds all day long, Tammy thought back to the