Read Online Beautiful Life: The Carpino Series by Brynne Asher - Free Book Online Page A

softens, “You stayed with her.  I’m so glad you were with her, but I don’t know what to do.  I can’t get her to go to a therapist.  I’ve tried.”
    “I don’t know.  But something’s gotta give.  I’ll be over tonight for dinner, but you need to play it cool for her sake.  And I hope Jude likes Sex in the City,” I say shaking my head, knowing since he’s like me, he has no clue what he’s in for. 
    Gabby frowns and says, “I don’t think Jude’s going to like Sex in the City.”
    “Trust me, he won’t,” I say with meaning.
    “Okay, let me know what you need from me. You have to get through to her, Tone.  She can’t go on like this much longer.”
    “I know, but for now you need to go. I’ve got a shit load to do.” 
    “Okay, see you tonight.  I won’t mention you’re coming.  I can totally play it cool.”
    “Great,” I mutter, thinking there’s no way Gabby will be able to play it cool.  I turn my attention back to my acquisition case, hoping it’s easier to figure out than Leigh. 

Chapter 5 - What Ifs
    About a week before Christmas…
     
    “Yes, I’ll let you know if her oxygen level dips again.  She’s been stable for the past hour and a half.  Thanks,” I pause to take a breath.  “Yes, it’s good to be back.”
    I hang up the phone with the doctor and look back to the chart in front of me.  It’s my first day back.  It’s been three years, but how could I forget how busy this is?  Last week I went through orientation, shadowed in the ICU where I used to work and started back today.  
    I finish with my chart as it’s time to see to my other patient.  A lot of the same nurses are still here who worked here three years ago.  They’ve all been super welcoming, but I think it has something to do with them being short staffed.  Having another nurse means two patients per nurse again making everyone happy to have me back. 
    The last few weeks have been…well…not terrible.  Tony has made himself a fixture in my life, whether I wanted him in it or not.  And I’ve let myself take from him since Thanksgiving weekend when he worked his way into my bed.  I thought for sure he wouldn’t come back after Jude and Gabby got home from Colorado, but there he was again.  I tried my best to push him away, but he wouldn’t allow it. 
    All those weeks ago after more Sex in the City, I took myself to bed barely offering a goodnight to everyone.  I was settled in bed when Tony shocked me more than he’s ever shocked me.  I was trying to find sleep when he barged into my bedroom uninvited, sauntered in wearing no shirt and a pair of loose pajama pants that fit low on his hips and walked to the side of my bed where he ordered, “Move over.”
    “What are you doing?” I ask, almost breathless from seeing how great his pajama pants hang low on his hips, his lean muscular chest bare and his hair messy, probably from pulling a shirt over his head. 
    “Move,” he repeats.  “We’re going to try something.”
    “What are you talking about?” I ask, this time in a panicked voice. 
    Even though I haven’t moved over, he pulls back the covers and starts to climb in while saying, “You slept like the dead last night for the few hours I was here.  We’re going to see if it works again.”
    At this point I don’t have a choice but to move over since he’s pushing me over.  My voice becomes even more panicked as I declare, “You’re not sleeping here!”
    “Consider it an experiment,” he informs me, as if he is telling me it’s supposed to be cloudy tomorrow. 
    “No!  We’re not experimenting!”
    “Yes we are.”
    “Stop it, you need to leave.  Now!” I say in another panicked voice, because…well…I’m panicking.  Tonight I’m in my panties and an old tank top.  I’m barely dressed.
    Tony, who is now in my bed, leans up on an elbow and puts his hand behind my head pulling it toward his face to say, “Relax.  The thought of going