Read Online Breaking News by Fern Michaels - Free Book Online

decided to leave, she heard her name. “Teresa, wait!”
    Only those who didn’t know her called her by her given name. She smiled. It sounded much better than Ms. Loudenberry.
    She stopped but didn’t turn around. Toots felt a hand touch her shoulder, giving her a warm, tingling sensation. She wanted to push his arm away but knew that if she did, either he would think her incredibly rude or—and this was what she feared most—he would think his touch had an effect on her. Slowly, she turned around, making sure her features were completely normal. Hopefully, she wouldn’t blush again.
    â€œSorry to take off like that, but I hear a code blue, and, well, you know what that means?” he asked, a grin on his handsome face.
    She could’ve played dumb and said no, but after burying eight husbands, she would look totally stupid if she did. “I take it the emergency is under control?”
    â€œThere wasn’t an emergency. That patient I told you about? Seems that he or she initiated the code blue when messing with the instruments above the bed. I calmed the patient down, and now that patient is ready to be released.” He raked a hand through his thick curls. “At least until next week. He took her hand in his and followed the same route as before. “Now, I have to say this before I’m interrupted again. For weeks, I’ve been dying . . . No, forget I said that. I’ve wanted to invite you to dinner. Either you’re off and running, or I am. So, now that that’s out of the way, will you have dinner with me? Tonight?”
    Toots felt her heart rate increase, and for a moment she feared she might wind up next to the patient he’d just left. With her hand in his, she called up every power in her not to tremble, not to blush like a teenager. She took a deep, cleansing breath.
    Why not? It wasn’t as if he was going to ask her to marry him. She could have dinner with a man without it leading to marriage or anything more. She was not like Ida, who hopped into the sack on the first date and wanted a lifetime commitment. No, she thought, I just marry them as soon as they ask. Then I bury them. Marry and bury. Could I be a jinx to men?
    â€œDinner would be nice,” she answered. Had she just doomed Dr. Becker to becoming number nine? Unlucky number nine. No! She was just suspicious of everything these days. She’d have Sophie read for her; maybe she’d reassure her that she wasn’t bad luck when it came to men.
    Dr. Becker squeezed her hand. “Where would you like to go?”
    She thought for a moment, then recalled a new restaurant that had recently opened three doors down from The Sweetest Things. She couldn’t recall its name but gave Dr. Becker, Phil, the location.
    â€œOkay. I’d like to pick you up and drive you there.” He let go of her hand then. “I’m an old-fashioned kinda guy.”
    Of course he is, she thought. She liked a man with old-fashioned manners. As independent as she was, it was still nice to know there were a few men left who still followed society’s unwritten rules. Sophie would croak if he knew her thoughts.
    The idea of an evening alone with the good doctor sent her spirits soaring. “That would be wonderful, but I want you to stop calling me Ms. Loudenberry. My friends call me Toots.” There was a trace of laughter in her voice.
    He threw back his head and chuckled. “I love it! Toots, huh? How’d you end up with that?”
    Coming from anyone else, Toots would’ve been insulted, but seeing the merriment on Dr. Becker’s, Phil’s, face, she was anything but. “Toots. My father started calling me Toots when I was an infant. Said Teresa was a mouthful for such a small girl.” Wistful, Toots smiled at the memory. “I was very young when my father died. He was a great man.” Not wanting to get too personal, she blinked several times in order to