The Holiday Triplets Read Online Free PDF

they could hire a professional staff, as well. Now, the entire project might be wiped out, or reduced to a catch-as-catch-can enterprise that limped along in second-rate facilities.
    She ought to be furious with Mark, who she knew sided with the corporation. Instead, she kept wishing this awful displacement had waited a few more weeks or months so she could go on enjoying the comfort of his arms.
    What was wrong with her?
    You’ve received two severe blows in the space of an afternoon. No wonder you’re reeling.
    Ah, that was the Dr. Forrest side of her brain kicking in. But reeling or not, it didn’t explain the way she’d reacted to Mark.
    She’d felt a strong urge to skip out on their duties and do much more than kiss him. To pull off his tie, and his jacket, and the rest of his clothes—not in public of course, but…
    â€œSam? I understand why you’re distracted but I’m getting a little worried.” The subject of her fantasy stopped pacing along the sand and regarded her with dark-eyed tenderness.
    Sam wriggled as the rock dug into her bottom. “Because I’m not erupting like a volcano?”
    â€œThat would be a more typical reaction, yes.”
    â€œI can’t believe they’re doing this to people in need. It’s cruel.”
    â€œIt’s business,” Mark replied. “The hospital has a core mission, and your project isn’t part of it.”
    â€œThat’s where we disagree—in spades.” There it was, a trace of irritation. Sam did her best to fan it into full-blown righteous anger. “You have to see how important counseling is.”
    â€œYes, of course, but—”
    â€œKeep on compromising your values, and one day you won’t have a soul left to call your own.”
    â€œOh, really?” he countered. “You should try compromising more often. You might actually accomplish something instead of spinning your wheels.”
    â€œThat’s what you think I’m doing? Spinning my wheels?”
    â€œGo ahead and pick an argument.” He seemed almost pleased. “I prefer that to seeing you defeated. Go on, Sam. Call me names if it makes you happy.”
    Did he have to look so rumpled and obliging? Mark Rayburn, guiding spirit of the medical center, everyone’s favorite go-to guy. The enemy. Yet she still failed to summon any significant fury.
    â€œThis is not one of my favorite days,” Sam muttered. “I wish I’d checked my horoscope before I got out of bed this morning.”
    His chuckle reverberated. “I doubt that would have helped. But take the afternoon off. You’ve got a lot to think about.”
    â€œI never take the afternoon off.”
    â€œWhat were you planning to do that’s so important?”
    She tried to remember. Paperwork. The Christmas fundraiser. Oh, heavens. Was she even going to have a place to hold it? “How soon are they kicking us out?”
    â€œWe didn’t discuss a deadline,” Mark said. “I’m sure I can hold off until after the first of the year, if you like.”
    â€œYes. For one thing, I need to break this to our volunteers.” And find somewhere to stow the computers and furniture they’d acquired. Samantha’s brain whirred. “I guess I will go home for an hour or so. I can think better uninterrupted.”
    They recrossed the footbridge in silence. Every now and then, a flicker of indignation crossed her mental horizon—did he have to break the news to her when she was already down and out?—but she had to acknowledge that delaying wouldn’t have made things easier.
    Sam hated seeing the issue from Mark’s perspective. It made her so grumpy, she barely mumbled a farewell when they reached the edge of the hospital complex, and strodeoff without a backward glance. Nevertheless, she sensed the moment when he stopped watching her and turned onto his own path.
    She stemmed an impulse