Daddy's Double Duty Read Free Page B

stared at him with confusion.
    â€œTickets? Pardon me, Conall, but I only need one round-trip ticket.”
    Walking back to her, he held up two fingers. “You need to purchase two tickets. I’m going with you.”
    She gasped and he smiled.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” he asked. “Afraid you’ll fall asleep on the plane and I’ll see you with your mouth open?”
    Was he saying something about her mouth? she wondered fuzzily. And had something gone wrong with the room’s thermostat? Sweat was popping out on her forehead and upper lip. Her legs felt oddly weak and there was a loud rushing noise in her ears.
    â€œConall— I—”
    The remainder of her words were never uttered as she slumped forward and straight into his arms.

Chapter Two
    â€œP oor little thing. The shock must have gotten to her.”
    From somewhere above her, Vanessa could hear Fiona Donovan’s concerned voice, but try as she might, she couldn’t open her eyes or form one word.
    â€œHer pulse is getting stronger. She’s coming around.”
    This statement came from Bridget Donovan, the doctor of the family. Vanessa could feel the pressure of the young woman’s fingers wrapped around her wrist.
    â€œWell, if the truth be known, Conall probably forced her to work through lunch,” Fiona continued in an accusing tone. “She probably hasn’t had a bite to eat all day.”
    â€œMom, I don’t force Vanessa to do anything,” Conall said brusquely. “She probably stopped long enough to eat a sandwich or some of that gooey stuff from a carton that she seems to favor.”
    â€œYou don’t know whether she ate or not?” Fiona shot back at her son.
    â€œHell, no! I’ve been in my office since before daylight and didn’t come out until a few minutes ago when I found her crying. I don’t know about her lunch! But you can see she’s not starving. She has plenty of meat on her bones.”
    His last remark was enough to spike Vanessa’s blood pressure and with a weak groan, she slowly opened her eyes to see she was lying on the couch in her office. Bridget was kneeling over her, while Conall and his mother stood just behind the young doctor.
    â€œHello, pretty lady,” Bridget said with a bright smile. “Glad to see you’re back with the living.”
    Vanessa’s fuzzy eyesight darted over the redheaded doctor and then slowly progressed up to Conall’s dour face. Next to him, Fiona was smiling with happy relief.
    â€œWhat…happened?” Vanessa asked weakly. “I was talking to Conall and the next thing I knew there was a strange rushing noise in my ears.”
    â€œYou fainted,” Bridget explained. “Thankfully Conall caught you before you hit your head on the desk or the floor. When he called over to the house for help, I happened to be home on a break from the clinic. How are you feeling now?”
    â€œWeak and groggy,” Vanessa admitted. “But better.”
    â€œGood. Your color is returning,” she said. “Conall tells me you received a bit of a shock about your friend.”
    â€œYes. I was feeling a bit shaky, but I never dreamed I’d do anything like…faint! This is so embarrassing.” She glanced back at Conall to see his expression wasstill grim and she figured he had to be terribly annoyed for all this interference in his work schedule. Over the past couple of months, she’d learned his work was his life and he didn’t appreciate anything or anyone intervening. “I’m sorry, Conall. I’ve disrupted the whole office and your family.”
    â€œNonsense!” Fiona blurted out before her son had a chance to utter a word. “You had every right to have a little fainting spell. Most women have nine months to prepare to be a mother. From what Conall tells us, you didn’t have nine minutes.”
    â€œI’m just glad I happened to be