Read Online Healing A Hero (The Camerons of Tide’s Way #4) by Skye Taylor - Free Book Online Page A

thought you said he was just an old friend.”
    Elena looked at the roses, then back to her friend. “He who?”
    “Ah, c’mon. That good-looking hunk who was waiting for you the other night. The wounded hero. Remember now?” Terry plopped down on the stool next to Elena and plucked the tiny envelope from the bouquet and held it out. “Aren’t you going to read it?”
    “Why would Gunny send me roses?” Elena’s heart flip-flopped while her chest tightened.
    “Well, they aren’t red, but it’s Valentine’s day would be my guess. I’ll open it if you won’t.” Terry plucked at the tucked flap of the envelope.
    Elena snatched it and clutched it against her chest.
    “Okay.” Terry got to her feet. “Have it your way, but if you think I’m going to let this go, you are so wrong.”
    Rob Cullen, the head of the physical therapy department, came through the door, thumbing his way through something on his phone.
    “Hey, Rob. Look what Elena got. She hasn’t even been here a month and already she’s got herself an admirer.” Terry smirked at Elena and disappeared out the door.
    “Anyone I know?” Rob asked as he glanced at the uncommon display of blue roses.
    “I don’t know. Maybe. I—”
    “You mean you have that many guys lined up already that you haven’t figured out which one sent the roses? Or you don’t know if I know him?” Rob shoved his phone into his pocket.
    Unable to meet his gaze, Elena glanced at the flowers. If it was Philip who sent the flowers, he was a patient and that would be a problem. She wasn’t supposed to have that kind of relationship with a patient and Rob would censure her for it.
    “He’s an old friend. At least, that’s who I think sent them.”
    Rob raised his brows. “You aren’t going to look at the card?”
    “Later. I’ve got these charts to finish.” Elena shoved the card into her pocket and opened a file.
    Rob stood watching her with a frown marring his brow, then shrugged and moved to his desk in the corner.
    She turned to her notes, but her gaze kept straying back to the pretty sapphire blooms. Why would Philip send her roses for Valentine’s Day? He wasn’t her valentine. He’d never been her valentine. They’d been together for a mere twenty-eight days. Not even a whole month. Fourteen years ago.
    Four of the most incredible weeks of my life . Her heart contracted and she had to press her lips tight to keep them from trembling at what she’d once thought she had and lost.
    I didn’t lose it. I never really had it. I wanted him to be in love with me. I wanted to believe that he couldn’t possibly make love to me like that if he didn’t feel about me the way I felt about him. But I didn’t lose anything .
    Elena took a deep breath, then forced her mind back to the work in front of her.
    A half hour later, her cell phone vibrated. She pulled it out and checked the screen.
    “Philip?” She glanced behind her to see if her boss was still at his desk. Thankfully, he’d gone.
    “Did you like them?”
    “They’re beautiful,” she answered cautiously. “But why?”
    “Because it’s your birthday.”
    Her breath caught in her throat. How did he remember my birthday? We never got to celebrate it together.
    “I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I hope I wasn’t out of line.” His voice held a trace of doubt.
    “No, I—I mean—I love them, and it was really sweet of you to remember.”
    Elena didn’t know what else to say, so she stopped talking. Apparently, Philip was at an equal loss because all she could hear for several taut moments was the sound of his breathing.
    “Well . . . ,” he finally said. “Captain Clueless is looking for me, so I’ve got to get back to work. Have a nice weekend.”
    “You, too.” Elena held the phone to her ear several moments longer before it beeped, signaling the line had been disconnected.
    She drew the vase of roses closer and sniffed the heady fragrance of the unusual azure-colored