Robin Cook Read Online Free PDF

on thin ice. “I love it. You look like you belong in Playboy. No, Penthouse. ”
    Jennifer’s face brightened. “Perfect! I wanted it to be right on the border between sexy and raunchy.Now, I want you to march right back into the bathroom and take a shower. When you come out, we’ll have a dinner that I hope will make you feel like a king. Go!”
    Jennifer forcibly propelled Adam back into the bedroom. Before he could say anything, she shut the door in his face.
    When he was finished showering, he discovered that the living room had been transformed. The card table had been brought from the kitchen and laid for dinner. Two empty wine bottles with candles stuck in them provided the only light. The silverware sparkled. They only had two place settings. Each had been a present from Jennifer’s parents, one on their wedding day, the other on their first anniversary. They rarely used them, leaving the pieces wrapped in tinfoil and hidden in the freezer compartment.
    Adam walked over to the kitchen and leaned against the door. Jennifer was working feverishly, in spite of the handicap afforded by her high-heeled slippers. Adam had to smile. This woman tottering around his kitchen did not look like the Jennifer he knew. If she noticed him, she gave no indication.
    Adam cleared his throat. “Jennifer, I’d like to know what’s going on.”
    Jennifer didn’t respond. Instead she uncovered a pot and stirred the contents. Adam could see from the spoon when she placed it on the counter that it was wild rice. Adam wondered how much that cost. Then he spotted the roast duck cooling on the carving board.
    â€œJennifer!” called Adam a bit more forcibly.
    Jennifer turned around and thrust a wine bottle and corkscrew into Adam’s arms. He was forced to grab both lest they fall to the floor. “I’m makingdinner,” she said simply. “If you want to make yourself useful, open the wine.”
    Stunned, Adam carried the bottle into the living room and pulled out the cork. He poured a little wine into a glass, and held it up to the candlelight. It was a deep, rich ruby color. Before he could taste it, Jennifer called him into the kitchen.
    â€œI need a surgeon in here,” she said, handing him a large knife.
    â€œWhat am I supposed to do with this?” he asked.
    â€œCut the duck in half.”
    Adam tried a few tentative thrusts with little success. Finally, he put all his strength behind the blow and sliced the duck in two.
    â€œNow how about telling me what this is all about.”
    â€œI just want you to relax and enjoy a good dinner.”
    â€œIs there an ulterior motive for all this?”
    â€œWell, I do have something to tell you, but I’m not going to do so until after we have this feast.”
    And feast it was. Although the snow peas were slightly overdone and the wild rice slightly underdone, the duck was sensational and so was the wine. As the meal progressed, Adam found himself growing sleepy. Jerking himself awake, he fastened his attention on his wife. Jennifer looked extraordinarily beautiful in the candlelight. She’d removed the eyelet apron and was now clothed only in the provocatively sheer lavender teddy. Her image blurred in Adam’s mind, and for a brief moment he fell asleep sitting at the card table.
    â€œAre you all right?” asked Jennifer, who was just beginning to describe the home pregnancy test.
    â€œI’m fine,” said Adam, unwilling to admit he’d been asleep.
    â€œSo,” continued Jennifer, “I followed the directions. And guess what?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œIt was positive.”
    â€œWhat was positive?” Adam knew that he must have missed some key phrase.
    â€œAdam, haven’t you been listening to me?”
    â€œOf course I’ve been listening. I guess my mind wandered for a moment. I’m sorry. Maybe you’d better start again.”
    â€œAdam, I’m