Read Online The Boss and Nurse Albright by Lynne Marshall - Free Book Online Page A

looking her worst, she’d been too sick to feel embarrassed about it. Now he knew about her condition. After he fulfilled his obligation to feed her breakfast, she could expect him to back off. No one wanted to be strapped to a chronically sick person. Wasn’t that what Charles had finally admitted when she’d had her third relapse in one year?
    “Look at you,” he’d said. “You’re nothing like the woman I married.”
    Claire remembered examining herself in the mirrorthinking she looked the same, but she knew he referred to her fluctuating pain and energy level. He’d made her feel ugly and unwanted, and it had broken her heart.
    She shook her head. The steroids always messed with her mind. She definitely hadn’t been thinking straight by allowing new feelings to sneak into her life since meeting Jason Rogers. Today, she’d put an end to that.
    The knock on her door startled her. She stood and felt light-headed, leaned on the back of the couch and, when he knocked a second time, she straightened and headed on unsteady legs toward the door.
    Jason’s broad smile surprised her, since he shared it so infrequently. “Welcome back to the living,” he said, giving her a once-over. “You look…nice.”
    “Nice” was a bland description, but it was better than like a zombie , and he seemed to need time to think what he wanted to say. He was definitely being polite.
    The Saturday morning sunlight made her squint. A rich blue sky with cotton ball clouds had her wishing she could go out to play. He entered the house looking downright debonair in a nautical shirt, khaki Dockers and deck shoes without socks. And the way his hair always fell across his forehead…Well, what could she say, but she liked it. She liked the whole package.
    He’d probably deliver the food and run. Saturday was his day off and, from the looks of him, he had a date with his sailboat. She’d seen the picture of the sleek white craft named Hanna’s Haven on his office wall. And his constant light tan indicated he spent a lot of time outdoors.
    Jason barreled through the entryway and headed straight for the kitchen with grocery bags in hand. Shefollowed him. He removed a Thermos, and his eyes brightened.
    “I’ve brought my special breakfast coffee blend. Sit down and relax.” He pulled out a chair, and when she sat he scooted a second chair toward her. “Put your feet up.” He scanned the cupboards and she pointed to the one that held the mugs. He seemed excited and happy to be here, which took Claire by surprise. Wasn’t she merely an obligation he’d inadvertently tied himself to?
    Fifteen minutes later, as Claire sipped the richest coffee she’d ever tasted, breakfast was ready. Her eyes widened when he placed a perfect omelet in front of her.
    “Are you a chef in your spare time?”
    “I’ve been known to tinker around in the galley, though I haven’t done much of that for a while.” His bright eyes dimmed and his demeanor changed. He became quiet and joined her at the table.
    They ate in silence, Claire forcing herself to clean the plate. How could she not when he’d found a perfectly ripened avocado to top off the light and fluffy egg and cheese dish? With the added calories, Claire felt more energetic. “I’m a pretty good cook, too,” she said. “I’ll have to pay you back when I get better.”
    He looked tenderly at her. “I’ll hold you to that,” he said, as they shared a smile.
    Maybe he was just humoring her, but the glint in his eyes told her otherwise. Claire did feel as if she’d rounded the bend on this flare up, and, if things continued in this forward movement, she could hope to be at work on Monday.
    “Some of the surveys have already been returned,” he said, mid-bite.
    “Great, I can’t wait to put the data together.”
    “I took the liberty to start a spreadsheet of the findings,” he said.
    “That’s wonderful. That will help me a lot.”
    “I’ll give you all the help you need.”
    She