Read Online Seaborne by Katherine Irons - Free Book Online Page B

the Olympics, but that dream had died with all his others for her.
    Now, he just wanted to keep her alive.
    She was all he had, and he loved her with every fiber of his being. Nothing else mattered but Claire. He had to reach her, had to give her a reason to live before she slipped out of his hands forever.
    Deciding that something had to be done, he picked up his cell and pressed Justin’s office number. After four rings, a receptionist picked up.
    “I’m sorry, sir, but Dr. Warren is with a patient. What is your call in regards to? I’ll be happy to take a message,” the twit said after he’d requested to speak to Justin. Richard had seen her—all boobs and no brain. He doubted if she could even remember the date, let alone how to transfer a call.
    “This is Richard Bishop of the law firm of Roberts, Simon, and Bishop. And this is an emergency. Put me through to Justin immediately, or I give you my word you’ll be hunting for a new position tomorrow,” Richard said in his sternest courtroom voice. “Now, Ms. O’Brian.”
    “Please hold.”
    Elevator music blared in his ear. Richard waited: thirty seconds, a minute, two, before another click sounded.
    “Hello, Richard, this is Justin. Has something happened to Claire?”
    Richard heard a woman in the background before Justin told her to shut up. Richard switched his phone to loud speaker and poured more whiskey over his melting ice cubes. He heard the deeper murmur of a male, not Justin, but a man with an Eastern European accent. Then Justin’s smooth professional voice filled the room again.
    “Is Claire all right?”
    “No, I don’t think she is,” Richard answered. “That’s why I called. Her depression seems to have taken a downward turn. I’m very concerned.”
    “Did you tell her that I’d be happy to see her?”
    “I did. She refused.”
    Richard had never been particularly fond of his son-in-law when he and Claire were married, but Justin had a fine reputation and excellent credentials. He knew about Justin’s straying, of course, but a lot of men did that. Hell, he’d done that many times before he and Elaine had finally called it quits. It was something Justin and Claire should have been able to work out with counseling. He’d always thought Claire had been hasty to seek a divorce.
    “She refused?”
    “Yes,” Richard said. “And frankly, Justin, I don’t know what to do next.”
    “She may not be in a position to make decisions, considering her condition. Would you like to meet for dinner? Discuss this at length?”
    “I’d like that. I’m afraid …” Richard hesitated and then continued in a rush. “I’m afraid she may be suicidal.”

CHAPTER 6
    J ustin waved away the woman and turned his back to her and Sergei. Justin’s erection continued to deflate as he exchanged a few more words with Claire’s father and promised to call back with a time and place to meet to discuss her condition. Once he’d gotten Richard off the phone, he buzzed the front desk and told Crystal in no uncertain terms that he was not to be disturbed again before the next patient was due. On second thought, he told her that he would be leaving the office, due to an emergency. She should cancel his last two appointments and leave early.
    “I’ll be paid for the whole day, won’t I, Doctor?”
    “Absolutely. Now hustle Mr. Johns and Miss Farsette out of the waiting room and go. Clear the waiting room before I find something more for you to do.” He ended the call and turned back to the waiting couple. “Where were we?” he said.
    Obediently, the brunette dropped to her knees. Sergei resumed the position and soon was pumping away with his oversized equipment. Justin dimmed the lights, turned up the music, and returned to the couch. He liked to get in the mood by watching before they turned their attention to him.
    This was a different partner than the Romanian usually worked with. Bunny? Honey? Whatever she called herself, Justin approved of her