Heartbreaker Read Free Page A

softly. “It isn’t your fault.”
    â€œI know that. Other than that one little dizzy spell, I’ve been fine. I just overdid it that week.”
    â€œCould you make time to see her?” Kate asked.
    â€œMother, I’m sure Dr. O’Day doesn’t carry around an appointment book with him. His office would handle that.”
    â€œMichael,” he told her almost sternly. “My name is Michael.”
    â€œTo your patients?” she challenged.
    Her mocking tone didn’t seem to bother him at all. He simply nodded, his eyes studying her again. He made her uncomfortable, as if he could see all her doubts, her weaknesses, her furious questioning of God that she should have to give up the only thing in her life.
    No. She wouldn’t give up dancing. Never! She would, quite literally, rather be dead.
    â€œI’m heading back to Houston Monday morning. I could see you that afternoon, get an idea of how serious a problem you have.” He leaned close and looked her in the eye. “Isn’t it better to know the truth? Then you could deal with a certainty rather than an unfounded fear.”
    She glanced at her mother, not wanting to upset her. “I’m not afraid. I’ve never been afraid of anything.”
    He leaned back in the chair. She noticed his hands when he lifted his glass. They were incredible, the fingers long and very slender, like a world-renownedpianist’s hands, dexterous, capable of performing minute movements very fast and accurately.
    She thought of those hands on her—and not in a medical context. Her heart suddenly pumped hard, and for a second, she was frightened. For a second, she thought of accepting his offer to see her.
    But only for a second, then reason reasserted itself. She’d lived for twenty-seven years with her heart doing everything she demanded of it. She was fine, just fine.
    â€œIf you want a ride back to Houston, be at the airport Monday at nine.”
    â€œOh, how nice,” her mother cooed, fawning over the man. “Isn’t that convenient?”
    â€œVery,” Susan agreed, with absolutely no intention of accepting either the ride or the examination.
    His lazy smile said he knew every idea that flitted through her head. She understood him, too. He thought she was a silly, stubborn female refusing to face facts.
    It would be a cold day in you-know-where before she’d get within a mile of him, his plane or his office.
    â€œExcuse me,” her mother said. “I see a friend.”
    Susan shifted warily at being left alone with him.
    â€œDon’t worry. I’m not the big-bad-wolf type,” he murmured, again reading her accurately.
    She forced herself to relax. She’d played these games before. It meant nothing. “What type are you?”
    â€œHonest. Sincere. Basically harmless.”
    To her surprise, she laughed. “No conceit in your family, right?”
    His smile disclosed white teeth, even on top, but with one slightly out of line on the bottom. It made him more real, she observed, not quite so movie-star perfect.
    She gasped when he laid a hand on her wrist.
    â€œEasy.” He proceeded to take her pulse, then looked at her gravely. “Almost a hundred beats per minute.”
    Jerking away from the incredibly gentle touch that spread fire through her skin, she informed him, “It’s none of your business. You aren’t my doctor. I’m not going with you Monday—don’t expect me to be at the airport.”
    â€œSo, you like causing your family concern. Because it keeps you the center of attention?”
    â€œOh,” she muttered. “You…you…”
    â€œBaboon?” he supplied, lightly tossing the word out, his ego obviously not dented in the least.
    Refusing to dignify the situation with an answer, she stared out at the eighteenth green where two couples completed their game.
    A mist blurred her vision for a second. She