Read Online Secret Seduction by Lori Wilde - Free Book Online

from Vanessa’s squalid upbringing. She had come a long way indeed. Even after all these years, she still had trouble believing this was her new life.
    She was so lucky to have landed a residency at the hospital. It was a much-coveted position and she was eternally grateful. She loved working at Confidential Rejuvenations even if at times she felt a bit out of place on the hallowed grounds.
    Every day when she drove up the flagstone driveway, she appreciated the lush green lawns and bountiful privacy hedges that were perfectly clipped. Ivy-twined trellises shaded genteel park benches testifying to the exemplary gardening skills of the groundskeepers. On many occasions after work, Vanessa took a walk along the flagstone path to an elaborate hand-carved gazebo positioned on a bluff above the Colorado River’s sensuous curve. There she would sit and breathe and give thanks for how blessed she was to have escaped her past.
    As the senior member, Dr. Butler approached the lectern first. He spoke about the steps the hospital was planning to repair Confidential Rejuvenations’ damaged reputation—new advertising campaigns, the hiring of a professional spin doctor, beefing up the in-house security staff.
    Then Dr. Covey took over the discussion, announcing a new co-owner. State Senator Robert Garcia, had stepped forward and bought out Mark Lawson’s share in Confidential Rejuvenations. Everyone knew who Robert Garcia was. A few years earlier he’d sat on the hospital board. Vanessa was familiar with him mostly because of his daughter, Chloe. When the timid nurse spoke in the OR, it was usually to talk about her father.
    Vanessa heard the conference room door whisper open behind her, but she didn’t turn around to see who’d entered. Her mind was still hung up on her Friday night escapade.
    “And lastly,” Dr. Covey said, “we want to introduce you to the new head of security recommended to us by Senator Robert Garcia. We’re expecting big things of him. He has an impressive list of credentials, including serving as Governor Perry’s bodyguard for three years.” Covey waved a hand to the back of the room. “Please help me welcome Tanner Doyle. Come on up here, Tanner.”
    Tanner?
    Her body tensed at the uncommon name and her breathing grew shallow. She folded her hands in her lap and resisted the temptation to get up and run from the room. No, no, it couldn’t be him.
    But sure enough, stalking up to the podium was the big blond man she’d picked up at Emilio’s.
    The hairs on her forearms lifted, Vanessa didn’t believe in coincidences. What was he doing here?
    To polite applause, Tanner took his place at the lectern as if he was the rightful heir to a throne. In the light of day, dressed in a navy-blue pinstriped business suit, he looked even more handsome than he had in the dim lighting of Emilio’s.
    Pausing, Tanner adjusted the microphone to accommodate his height. “Thank you for the welcome,” he said, his velvet-rich voice pouring over her.
    Vanessa struggled to ignore the prickle of awareness tripping down her spine. That voice had whispered sweet nothings to her in the dark of an anonymous hotel room. Now the voice, the face, had a full name, a real identity.
    He was no longer a figment of her imagination. He was too real and she suddenly felt as if she were a mouse trapped in a tight corner by a tabby cat with lightning-fast reflexes.
    Tanner glanced out into the audience and his gaze zeroed in on her. She did her best to remain detached, impassive, but she had no idea if she was pulling it off or not.
    “I spent the weekend with Dr. Butler and Dr. Covey going over Confidential Rejuvenations’ security needs.” He gestured toward the two men.
    Oh, you liar. You spent half the weekend going over my needs.
    “I’ve been briefed about the—” he hesitated, searching for the right words “—incidents that have occurred here over the past few months, and I’m going to need your help in making this