Read Online Rescue Me (a quirky romance novel about secrets, forgiveness and falling in love) by Sydney Allan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sydney Allan
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years ago he couldn't handle more than that. She lived in California, anyway. Everyone knows long distance relationships don't work.
And last, but most importantly, she was the estranged sister of his dearest friend, a friend who was seriously ill. He couldn't date Heidi's sister, not after everything Heidi had told him. Granted, she hadn't said much--nothing but how they didn't talk. Still, he could see there was some bad blood between the two sisters. It was sad--truly unfortunate--considering Heidi's condition.
He recalled the hours he'd devoted last night to his plans. If he was going to have any chance of helping them reconcile, he had to remain objective. Letting himself nurture dubious fantasies about Hailey would definitely put an end to objectivity.
Thank God for Sue! After she gave him word Hailey's examination was finished, he'd take Hailey to the nearest hotel, pay her bill, and give her some cash for a taxi back to the airport in the morning. Then he'd be done with her for almost two weeks. Hopefully, by the time he next saw her, he'd have his head on straight and his rebellious emotions under check. This was not the Rainer Hartmann he knew and loved.
He almost wished he hadn't insisted on handling the donation end of the procedure. Heidi's oncologist, an old friend from med school, Dr. Evan Robins, had been relieved when Rainer suggested he take care of the donor. That had been all the encouragement he'd needed.
Rainer stood, deciding he needed a visit with Heidi. It had been days since he'd seen her. That last visit the sight of her so sick had brought old fears to the surface. Damn if everyone he loved didn't die!
He followed the corridor to the elevator, went to the basement, then walked the quarter-mile of tunnels to the hospital. The main elevators carried him six floors up, and then it was another lengthy walk before he stood outside of Heidi's room. He checked in at the nurse's station before going to see her, relieved when her nurse told him Heidi was having a good day. She was even eating a little.
The tension released from the back of his neck. Before he stepped foot into her room, he tipped his head back, rocking it slowly from side to side, and prepared to see her. The door cracked open a little. Just enough to allow him a glimpse into the room. Immediately he realized Heidi had company.
He stepped back and waited for someone inside to speak, curious to see who was visiting her. No one had visited since she'd been hospitalized--over two weeks ago. That had enraged him. It was nice to see she wasn't alone now. He didn't want to intrude.
"When you get through this, I think you should marry that nice doctor friend of yours. He's been so good to you through this," a woman said. He recognized that voice and wasn't surprised by her suggestion. Margaret had done everything but ask him to marry Heidi at the last family gathering he'd attended. She even hinted at a family wedding ring.
"Mom, I told you, he doesn't love me that way."
"But you do. You love him. Why aren't you honest? You never know what he might say. And--"
"No. You've got it all wrong." Heidi's voice wavered, sending a bolt of fear through him. Had he misread another woman? He'd made that mistake once before...
"I do, do I?" her mother said. "If I have it wrong, why does he come to all of our holiday gatherings? Your brother's wedding, Christmas, Easter--"
"He comes because he likes to," Heidi interrupted again. "We're friends. Plus, his family lives so far away. I feel bad for him. I wouldn't want him to spend Christmas alone. Now, will you drop this?"
"But you're being silly. No man tags along with a woman unless he wants...you know, something."
"Enough!" Heidi said.
Taking that as his cue, and ignoring his pounding heart, he called out loudly, "Where's my best patient?" He pushed open the door and stepped into the room.
Two green eyes with deep purple shadows under them searched his face as he looked at Heidi. She smiled,
And last, but most importantly, she was the estranged sister of his dearest friend, a friend who was seriously ill. He couldn't date Heidi's sister, not after everything Heidi had told him. Granted, she hadn't said much--nothing but how they didn't talk. Still, he could see there was some bad blood between the two sisters. It was sad--truly unfortunate--considering Heidi's condition.
He recalled the hours he'd devoted last night to his plans. If he was going to have any chance of helping them reconcile, he had to remain objective. Letting himself nurture dubious fantasies about Hailey would definitely put an end to objectivity.
Thank God for Sue! After she gave him word Hailey's examination was finished, he'd take Hailey to the nearest hotel, pay her bill, and give her some cash for a taxi back to the airport in the morning. Then he'd be done with her for almost two weeks. Hopefully, by the time he next saw her, he'd have his head on straight and his rebellious emotions under check. This was not the Rainer Hartmann he knew and loved.
He almost wished he hadn't insisted on handling the donation end of the procedure. Heidi's oncologist, an old friend from med school, Dr. Evan Robins, had been relieved when Rainer suggested he take care of the donor. That had been all the encouragement he'd needed.
Rainer stood, deciding he needed a visit with Heidi. It had been days since he'd seen her. That last visit the sight of her so sick had brought old fears to the surface. Damn if everyone he loved didn't die!
He followed the corridor to the elevator, went to the basement, then walked the quarter-mile of tunnels to the hospital. The main elevators carried him six floors up, and then it was another lengthy walk before he stood outside of Heidi's room. He checked in at the nurse's station before going to see her, relieved when her nurse told him Heidi was having a good day. She was even eating a little.
The tension released from the back of his neck. Before he stepped foot into her room, he tipped his head back, rocking it slowly from side to side, and prepared to see her. The door cracked open a little. Just enough to allow him a glimpse into the room. Immediately he realized Heidi had company.
He stepped back and waited for someone inside to speak, curious to see who was visiting her. No one had visited since she'd been hospitalized--over two weeks ago. That had enraged him. It was nice to see she wasn't alone now. He didn't want to intrude.
"When you get through this, I think you should marry that nice doctor friend of yours. He's been so good to you through this," a woman said. He recognized that voice and wasn't surprised by her suggestion. Margaret had done everything but ask him to marry Heidi at the last family gathering he'd attended. She even hinted at a family wedding ring.
"Mom, I told you, he doesn't love me that way."
"But you do. You love him. Why aren't you honest? You never know what he might say. And--"
"No. You've got it all wrong." Heidi's voice wavered, sending a bolt of fear through him. Had he misread another woman? He'd made that mistake once before...
"I do, do I?" her mother said. "If I have it wrong, why does he come to all of our holiday gatherings? Your brother's wedding, Christmas, Easter--"
"He comes because he likes to," Heidi interrupted again. "We're friends. Plus, his family lives so far away. I feel bad for him. I wouldn't want him to spend Christmas alone. Now, will you drop this?"
"But you're being silly. No man tags along with a woman unless he wants...you know, something."
"Enough!" Heidi said.
Taking that as his cue, and ignoring his pounding heart, he called out loudly, "Where's my best patient?" He pushed open the door and stepped into the room.
Two green eyes with deep purple shadows under them searched his face as he looked at Heidi. She smiled,
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