The Good Doctor Read Free Page A

across the lot in an upside-down open V.
    â€œLooks like a lot of house for a bachelor,” Ryan commented as she pulled into the garage next to an SUV.
    A light was on in the garage and Peter stood in the doorway leading into the house. Dressed in khaki slacks and a black polo shirt, he looked taller and more broad-shouldered than he had this afternoon. The sight of him seemed to make Violet’s pulse race faster, but she told herself she was just anxious about Ryan. Deep down, though, she was eager to know more about Peter—too eager. For all she knew, he might be involved with someone. For all she knew, he might have moved into this new house in order to share his life with his significant other.
    Sharing her life with someone had never come close to competing with her career.
    Her career.
    The Washburn case had shaken her confidence more than anything else ever had. She’d taken a cruise to try to gain perspective on what had happened. That hadn’t helped. So since she was coming to Red Rock for her brother’s wedding, she’d cleared her schedule for a few more weeks to try to get her head on straight again.
    She didn’t need a sexy neurosurgeon making it spin. In a few weeks she’d be returning to her practice in New York. There was no doubt about that, and no room in her life for an emotional entanglement that would only hurt her when it had to end.
    â€œAre you ready?” she asked Ryan, noticing he hadn’t unfastened his seat belt.
    â€œNo, I’m not ready. But let’s get this over with anyway.”
    After they exited the car, Peter’s smile was congenial as he held his hand out to Ryan. “It’s good to see you again.”
    Dressed in boots, jeans and a green plaid, snap-button shirt, Ryan was solidly built from years of ranch work. He was still darkly handsome at age fifty-nine, deeply tanned from riding and working under the Texas sun. Violet admired his good heart as much as his accomplishments on the Double Crown and at Fortune TX, Ltd., where he acted as an advisor and sat on the board of directors.
    The doorway from the garage led past the mudroom into a large living room. Violet noticed an expansive deck that seemed to go on forever outside of the living room’s sliding glass doors.
    â€œInteresting place you’ve got here,” she remarked as they walked into the kitchen and stood peering into the great room with its cathedral ceiling and immense fan.
    Sliding glass doors from that room also led out onto the deck, and Violet glimpsed a hot tub. The fireplace in the great room was fashioned of beautiful gray stone. A mission-style sofa and chair were grouped around it, their cushions woven with fabric striped in gray, tan and black. The living room had been equipped with an entertainment center, large TV and contemporary glass tables. In that room, the decor was an extension of the outdoors with earth tones and rustic textures. It still looked a bit empty.
    â€œI really like the design of this house,” she said with admiration.
    â€œIt’s different,” Peter agreed. “And it suits me. I’m not here often enough to enjoy it, though. If I don’t soon put something on the walls, my sisters are threatening to do it for me.”
    â€œYou come from a large family?” Violet asked.
    â€œTwo biological sisters. My parents took in a lot of foster kids, and they feel like brothers and sisters, too.”
    Peter’s gaze passed over Violet’s light blue, short-sleeved blouse and indigo jeans. She felt herself get very warm. She’dbeen tempted to wear something less casual but had told herself what she wore was simply not important.
    â€œWould you like something to drink?” Peter asked.
    Ryan shook his head. “I don’t want to tie you up too long.”
    â€œAll right. Violet, if you’re interested, help yourself to anything in the refrigerator.” He motioned to a hall that led