With a Little T.L.C. Read Online Free PDF

After ruining her day off, I owe this lady some R and R. Bye.”
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    Thirty minutes after leaving the Encino hospital Joe parked his convertible in a beach lot overlooking the Pacific Ocean. There were picnic tables scattered in the sand nearby. He half turned to look at Liz. Her hair curled charmingly around her small face. A becoming pink colored her cheeks. Sunglasses hid the keen intelligence in her eyes. But what really drew his attention was her smile. A rare phenomenon he was beginning to realize. And that was a shame. Because it was very attractive and incredibly appealing.
    He was only slightly miffed that driving with the top down had produced the occurrence and not his own witty repartee. No matter. He planned to bring it out more frequently. Everyone needed a challenge. Even a confirmed bachelor like himself.
    â€œThis is the spot I was telling you about,” he said.
    She sighed. “I can’t remember the last time I drove to the beach.”
    He grabbed the brown bag with the sandwicheshe’d bought at a stand on Pacific Coast Highway and got out of the car. Rounding it, he opened the passenger door and took the cardboard container of drinks that Liz had been holding on her lap.
    â€œLet’s sit on one of those benches over there,” he said pointing. “Great scenery.”
    She nodded and slid out. They walked to the picnic table and she clambered over the bench, settling herself to face the ocean. Joe never missed a chance at that view. This time it was a perfect excuse to sit beside her, his arm brushing her shoulder. She shivered slightly, then shifted a bit to the side.
    â€œYou cold?” he asked.
    â€œNope.” She shook her head. “Not after Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride in that car with the top down. And I meant that in a good way.”
    â€œWhich part? The wild ride? Or Mr. Toad?” he asked wryly.
    â€œLet me just say, nice car. Really, really nice,” she finished, glancing over her shoulder to look at it with an exaggerated sigh.
    Joe loved his sporty red convertible. But he couldn’t tell whether she really meant what she’d said, or if there was subtle criticism in her voice.
    â€œI like it,” he said cautiously.
    She peeked over her shoulder again. “No back seat. That’s good news and bad.”
    â€œHow’s that?” he asked. He liked the fact that Liz kept him on his toes, always wondering what she would say. What zinger would she lob his way? And how would he defend himself?
    â€œWell, the good news is that car is a babe magnet.”
    â€œIf one were looking to attract ‘babes.”’
    She studied him. “Isn’t that what playboys do?”
    There was the zinger. And he suspected his best defense was offhandedness. “I wouldn’t know.”
    â€œWell if you didn’t write the whole thing, I’d bet you contributed at least a chapter to the how-to book for bachelors on the make.”
    On the make? Defending himself for something he’d done was one thing. But she had him all wrong. For some reason he didn’t have a clue about, she’d pegged him in a negative light from the day he’d walked into her office. It was time to find out what had tied her stethoscope in a knot.
    â€œAnd why would you think that?” he asked.
    â€œYou fit the profile.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    â€œYou’re good-looking, smart, and you have a great job.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œObservation, not compliment.” She sipped her soda. “Those attributes are a triple whammy. Women must swarm all over you.”
    â€œYou make me sound like the bait for a roach motel.”
    She laughed. “Just remember the insect image is yours, not mine. But seriously, you would have to be stupid not to play the field.”
    If she was bitchy or nasty, he could get mad and fight down and dirty. But her manner was conversational. Light and breezy. This was one