Perfectly Honest Read Free

and wear a paper bag.
    And the footwear decisions. Flats, stylish ankle boots, fashion forward thigh-high boots, casual sneakers, and heels. It was all too much.
    She glanced out the window and focused on the soothing sound of the waves gently lapping the shore. She had been living in a condominium on the shore of Lake Ontario for the past two years and never tired of watching the changing pattern of the lake. Whether it was smooth as glass in the winter, slow and steady in a light breeze of the summer, or crashing wildly in the high winds of the fall, it never failed to calm her and help her keep things in perspective.
    She needed a little fun and wanted a little adventure. And didn’t that happenstance horoscope agree? She needed to stop worrying. But maybe she should stick with flats over heels, just in case.
    Finally, dressed in skinny jeans, a pale blue lace top and a cream scarf, Mikaela finished the rest of her packing. She hung up the clothes she chose not to bring, debating again whether she might need them and then, with a shake of her head, put them away. Everything was hung or stacked neatly in the walk-in closet.
    Mikaela checked the time. Twenty minutes to spare.
    She carried her case downstairs, set it by the front door and wandered into the living room. She had recently painted over the builder’s beige with a warm buttery yellow. It reminded her of a sandy beach on a sunny day. A pale blue-gray sofa and two small armchairs in white surrounded a frosted blue glass coffee table. A stunning watercolor, painted by Margo as a housewarming gift, hung above the sofa and pulled all the colors together. The sunlight streaming in the huge picture window added to the ambiance of a relaxing seaside beach house.
    When the doorbell rang, Mikaela took one last deep breath and opened the door.
    Sam was dressed casually in jeans and a short-sleeved black shirt, showing off a broad chest and muscular arms. “Hi. You look lovely this morning.” He greeted her with a smile. “More rested.”
    Mikaela smiled ruefully. “Thanks. Come in.”
    As Sam stepped in, his cell phone rang. He checked the caller ID and looked at Mikaela apologetically. “Sorry, it’s the hospital. I should answer.” He turned his back slightly. “Dr. O’Brien.”
    Dr. O’Brien? Sam’s a doctor? Jack didn’t mention that. Maybe he thought she already knew. She looked at Sam closely, wondering if she’d seen him at the hospital. And then it hit her. Dr. Sam O’Brien. The ophthalmologist? The one they called Dr. Eye Candy? She hadn’t met him, but had heard about him from the operating room nurses. He was a playboy, but interestingly, they had a lot of good things to say about him, despite his reputation of lovin’ and leavin’ ‘em. Apparently, he was just as good at loving as he was at leaving. He left the door open a crack, and they hoped he would walk through again. That may be, but she certainly had no intention of becoming part of his gaggle of female followers or being another notch in his bedpost. Forewarned was forearmed.
    “Sure, put him through,” Sam said into the phone. “Hi, Nick, what’s up?” After a few minutes of listening, Sam started asking questions to clarify the history he was obviously hearing about. “What’s his vision? And that’s documented? When did the accident happen? He’ll need an enucleation. I’m heading out of town until tomorrow, but send him to the General and admit him. Get the CT scan results, too. I have OR time on Monday and could operate then.” He paused and listened. “Fine, I’ll see him tomorrow night. Sure. No problem. Bye.” Sam sighed as he disconnected. He turned back to Mikaela. “Sorry about that.”
    “No problem,” Mikaela said. “So, you’re a doctor?”
    Sam tilted his head. “Yes, I’m an ophthalmologist, an eye surgeon. Problem?”
    “No,” Mikaela said hastily. “I overheard your conversation. Are you on call?”
    “No, I’m not, but I’ve had extra