Read Online Perfectly Honest by Linda O'Connor - Free Book Online Page A

so long to come to the door. He thought she would be bouncing with energy and gloating about the offer she was given. The sarcastic comment died on his lips when he looked at her.
    She looked pale and tired, with dark circles under her eyes. Her slumped shoulders and unhappy eyes were the exact opposite of what he expected.
    Sam cocked his head to one side. “Tough day?”
    Mikaela straightened her shoulders. “I’ve had better,” she said. “But I’ve had worse.”
    Sam widened the door and gestured her inside. “I can take your jacket,” he offered, as she stepped inside.
    Mikaela looked around as Sam hung up her jacket. “Nice paint job.”
    “I’ve wondered about that. Is your partner a neurologist? Dermatologist?”
    Mikaela laughed. “She could be. Margo is a businesswoman and an artist. We started the painting business in undergrad.”
    “Why were you here painting?” Sam asked, thinking about how it all started.
    “Margo needed a hand. She doesn’t ask for favors very often, well ever, really. But the woman who started the painting fell and hurt herself while Margo was out of town. They were under a deadline, so she called me to help out. I just came over and finished the bedroom.” She shrugged.
    Yeah, and now every time he looked at the new paint color in the bedroom, he thought of her. It was driving him crazy. He couldn’t get her out of his mind. “You did a great job. It looks professional.”
    “Still got my skills,” she quipped with a grin.
    “For that and a few other things besides,” Sam agreed, skimming his glance over her face and focusing on her lips.
    Mikaela looked away and changed the subject. “We should talk about Emerson.”
    “Sure. Let’s go to the kitchen. The pizza just arrived and I’m going to grab a beer. You want anything?” he asked casually at the risk of her wrath over making it a date.
    She sighed. “Pizza sounds great.”
    “Want a beer?” he asked, “or a glass of wine?”
    “I’d better not. Water or a soft drink would be great if you have it,” she said as she followed him into the kitchen.
    “Are you on call?”
    “No, not tonight. I’ve actually signed out to another OB. I just don’t want to drink and drive.”
    Or fall asleep at the wheel, Sam thought as he loaded two plates with pizza.
    Mikaela looked around the kitchen curiously. Dark cherry mahogany cabinets gleamed in an efficient space interspersed with stainless steel appliances. Buttery yellow Silestone countertops brightened the kitchen, complemented the faint burgundy of the cabinets and made the traditional look of the cabinets feel modern. “Did your brother have a hand in the design of this kitchen, too?”
    Sam looked around, surprised. “No, it’s the work of the previous owners. I didn’t change anything.”
    “It’s beautiful. Traditional with a sunny feel,” she said. She pulled out a bar stool and sat at the counter to watch.
    “Help yourself to a soft drink from the mini-fridge there,” he said and pointed to a drinks fridge tucked away at the end of the counter. “Or would you prefer water?” he asked as he set a plate in front of her.
    “Water would be great.” She inhaled appreciatively at the steaming pizza, fully loaded.
    Sam poured her a drink and came around to sit beside her. “Enjoy,” he said as he tucked in.
    They ate in silence for the first few bites.
    “So you must be pleased with the job offer from Emerson,” Mikaela said, her tone faintly sarcastic.
    Sam shrugged, thinking of the raw deal. “Be better if it didn’t come with a price.”
    “What price?”
    Sam ignored the question. “You must be pleased with the offer you received?” he suggested, trying to temper the bitterness.
    “Pleased? I didn’t want an offer. I wasn’t looking for change. I didn’t expect to be put in the middle of this mess.”
    “What? It’s a great opportunity. It’s a great community hospital. They want you to be the head of the department. They want