Read Online The Procedure by Tabatha Vargo, Melissa Andrea - Free Book Online Page A

unfortunate luck to meet.” With a genuine smile, I looked up at him, the sun warming my face.
    The sorrow dissolved and was replaced with another sweet smile. “On that I can agree.”
    We both laughed. Moving my hand to the menu, I fingered the corner of the leather-bound book.
    As much as I tried to tell myself that I was content having lunch by myself, I couldn’t deny that I enjoyed Roman’s company. He was easy to talk to and probably the first real friend I’d had in a while. He was handsome, yes, and though I’d embarrassed myself entertaining the idea of an affair with him, I told myself I needed him much more as a friend than anything else.
    I was in love with my husband, and the comfort of Roman’s arms in a one-night stand wasn’t going to change that. It also wasn’t fair to treat Roman that way after everything he was doing for me.
    “I don’t want to keep you,” I finally said. “You actually do have friends to get back to.” I hadn’t meant for it too sound so depressing. “That was meant to be a joke.”
    “Jerry seems to be a friend of your husband’s, as well.”
    “Michael can be very charming when he wants to be. He doesn’t have many enemies.”
    A strange expression moved across his face, one that tightened his lips and pulled at his brow. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t.
    “Do you mind if I join you?” he asked suddenly, pulling out his phone and moving his fingers over the screen.
    I was caught by surprise at his question, and it took me a minute to get my voice to work. “But what about—”
    “I just texted Jerry,” he said, holding his phone up for me to see. He smiled then, setting it on the table and leaning back in the chair. “Looks like you’re stuck with me now.”
    That wasn’t how I saw it, but I knew he was teasing me. Matching his smile, I leaned forward. “I could think of worse things.”
    His eyes roamed over my face quickly before he looked away. Every time he looked at me, I felt as if he were seeing someone that didn’t exist—a woman with much more to offer. I felt like he saw the woman I wanted to be, and I liked it.
    Lifting our menus, we skimmed our choices. As I looked over the many options, I couldn’t help but feel happy. Things were turning around for me. I was feeling better and looking better. Roman had done so much for me already, and we were just getting started.
    “Samantha?” Roman’s voice moved across the table and sent chills up my arms.
    When I glanced up, Roman was still looking at his menu, making me wonder if I’d actually heard him call my name. Then his eyes met mine.
    “Me.” He said the simple word. His voice deep and stern as if he was making an important point. “You have me. As a friend.”

 

 
     
     
    THE FOLLOWING DAY , Samantha entered my office looking like a new woman. It wasn’t just the new hairstyle, the way the light radiated off her blonde strands or the light makeup she’d applied—it was the way she carried herself.
    Her shoulders weren’t so tense. Her posture was better—her head held higher, and she was glowing. Her smile rivaled the sunlight that spilled through the windows of my office and, once again, I caught myself staring at her and getting caught up with how beautiful she was. It was as if she were realizing her beauty—blooming right in front of my eyes.
    Quickly, I rifled through some papers on my desk and cleared my throat. Anything I could do to keep my eyes off her.
    “I didn’t get a chance to ask you yesterday at lunch, but did you enjoy your time at the spa?” I asked. Then the memory of our entire conversation about the spa entered my mind. I felt myself flush, which was something I didn’t do often.
    Her tiny laugh was the cure for my embarrassment and the bad day I’d been having. The stress of my caseloads lifted from my chest, allowing me to breathe for the first time all day. Instead of stating the obvious, which was we’d already