His Perfect Woman (Harlequin Superromance) Read Online Free PDF

them to his office.
    He patched up the second child’s head one stitch at a time to minimize scarring and wanted the long day to be over. His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t had dinner…or lunch. “Almost done, buddy. You’re doing great.”
    The little boy sniffled softly, big tears rolling out of the corners of his eyes. The kid’s mom comforted the child, allowing Bryan to complete two more stitches before tying off the special thread. He added clear bandage cream to the top and straightened.
    â€œDone,” he said, winking. “And since you held still and allowed your friend to go first, I think you deserve a treat.”
    The boy looked to his mother and she smiled. “Don’t forget to say thank you.”
    â€œThank you,” the kid repeated dutifully, knuckling his eyes.
    Bryan smiled and pulled off his gloves, moving to the cabinet across the room where he kept stickers and candy stashed on the top shelf. “Think you’ll ever forget to tie those shoelaces again?”
    The boy’s dark head jerked back and forth. “Stupid shoes.”
    A noise in the doorway drew his attention, and Bryan turned to see Melissa standing outside. An anxious expression crossed her face, her startling blue eyes solemn.
    â€œSorry. I didn’t mean to intrude. The door was unlocked.”
    â€œYou’re not intruding. We’re done, right, buddy?” Bryan handed the boy a handful of stickers and a sour candy before lifting him from the exam table. After giving the mom a few instructions, the woman and child hurried out of the room and then he and Melissa were alone.
    She shifted nervously and shoved her hands into her back pockets, the move stretching the material of her loose T-shirt a little more snugly across her small chest. Bryan tried hard not to notice. What was her treatment? A lumpectomy? Maybe a mastectomy? It wasn’t any of his business, but having spent his residency in one of the top cancer-treatment centers in the country, the doctor in him was curious.
    â€œSo…did you mean it?”
    His eyebrows rose. No niceties, no small talk. Definitely not a flirtatious tone. Just straight to the point though a bit shy. He liked it. Her behavior was quite a change from the norm, a reminder of the girl he’d known. “The job is very real, and so is my offer of an interview.” He began putting the medical supplies away. “How did the toy drive go? Does Santa have a big haul?”
    â€œThe bin was filled three times at last count.” She moved over to where he stood and picked up the liquid numbing agent, handing the bottle to him. “But the, um, guys got called out on a domestic-violence run, and Ellen Morton left to take one of her elderly cases to the hospital.”
    He glanced her way. “Any names mentioned?”
    Melissa lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “My dad said something about Crimshaw Road. I…didn’t talk to Ms. Morton much.”
    After witnessing Melissa’s earlier surprise firsthand, Bryan wasn’t about to touch that subject. He finished putting the supplies away in a cabinet and yanked the paper sheeting from the table with a jerk. “Sounds like we’re all having a busy night. Does this mean you’re interested in the job?”
    She stared at him as though measuring his words. “Actually…I came to say thank you.”
    â€œFor what?”
    A brief smile touched her lips. “Because you heard them,” she stated bluntly, “saw my not-so-subtle reaction and guessed my pride had me lying about the lead I mentioned—which I was. But you backed me up anyway. Thanks.”
    Bryan smiled. “What are friends for? Anyone else would’ve done the same.”
    â€œMaybe. The problem is that I don’t want a job offer because you feel sorry for me. So thanks, but I’m sure I’ll find something else soon.”
    â€œMelissa, wait.”