Read Online Sweet Salvation by Maddie Taylor - Free Book Online Page A

smells wonderful. You cooked?”
    “Guilty of that as well. I hope you like Italian.”
    “Doesn’t everyone?” She started to get up.
    “Uh-uh! Where are your crutches?”
    “I hate them. They hurt my arms and I’m about as graceful as a pup on a frozen pond.”
    The image of a puppy scrambling for purchase on a slick icy surface made him chuckle. She had an interesting way of putting things.
    “Crutches or I carry you, only two choices you get—doctor’s orders.”
    “Hm… you seem to use doctor’s orders when you expect to get your way.”
    He smiled as he bent and slid his arms under her, one at her back and her bottom. She squealed as he stood, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. Feeling her softness pressed against him turned his smile into a full grin. He was amazed that all those soft curves came in such a small package. She weighed next to nothing.
    “You didn’t let me answer.”
    “Nope.”
    “Bossy.”
    “I prefer assertive, decisive, confident… you’ll get used to it.” He set her down at the table set for two before going back to the couch for a pillow on which to prop her bum knee. After she was settled, he picked up a bottle of wine. “We’re having pasta, so I picked up a nice Sangiovese.”
    “Okay,” she drawled slowly. “I don’t know what that is, but if it’s that wine you’re holding, I’ll try it as long as it’s sweet and red.”
    He grinned at her. Flavored with sour cherries and an aged oaky flavor, the wine wasn’t exactly what one would call sweet. “Try it; if you don’t like it, I’ll get you some water.”
    “I’m not much of a wine connoisseur. Give me a light beer or a fuzzy navel and I’m happy.”
    “A peach wine cooler with spaghetti?” He made a face, wrinkling his nose in distaste as she laughed.
    “Yeah, I guess that’s not too appetizing, huh?” she agreed as he went back to the stove, shaking his head.
    “You look pretty comfortable in my kitchen, Dr. Baker.”
    “Jared. Dr. Baker is my father as the old joke goes.”
    “Your dad’s a doctor too?”
    “Yes, as was my grandfather,” he answered as he served her, returning to fix his own plate before taking the seat to her right.
    She was staring at the heaping mound of spaghetti and huge hunk of garlic bread.
    “Is something wrong?”
    “No,” she smiled, suppressing a laugh. “I was just thinking that this would feed me for a week.”
    He looked at her plate and then his. “I automatically fixed you what I give myself. I could eat two of those plates, small fry.”
    “Do you cook often?”
    “Unfortunately, no, I eat out a lot.”
    “No wife or girlfriend?”
    “I’ve never found the former, but I’m working on the latter as we speak.” He was watching her closely and knew the moment his words registered. Her eyes widened in surprise and her cheeks blushed a becoming shade of pink. “I’ve been so busy with work lately; there hasn’t been much time for dating, let alone a relationship. How about you? I don’t see a ring, so I’m assuming no husband. Is there anyone special?”
    “Shouldn’t you have asked that before you bought wine and cooked dinner?”
    “Probably,” he grinned, “but I’ll admit I already know you aren’t married. I pulled your file and also asked Marcy.”
    Shaking her head ruefully, she made a tsking noise, again suppressing a grin. “There’s that boundary issue again, Dr.—”
    “Uh-uh,” he said, waggling his finger in warning tease.
    “Jared.”
    “Much better, but you haven’t answered my question.”
    “Um, remind me…”
    “I asked if there was anyone special.”
    She lifted her wine glass in a saucy salute before answering softly, “Not yet, but I’m working on the latter as we speak.” She boldly gave his words back to him and he laughed when her face ignited and the blush morphed into a fiery crimson as it suffused her face. Then she promptly put her hands to her heated face and shook her head, avoiding