Free Runaway Bride (Across the Stars: Book 2) by Ruth Ann Nordin Page A

hand.  “Nick mentioned I’d get a chance to meet you tonight.  He’s a hard one to pin down.  He wouldn’t marry just anyone.  Many women would die to be in your shoes.  Not me, of course.  I love my husband.”
    “Yes, I hear that many women adore him,” Lexie said.
    “It’s a shame he couldn’t be here tonight.  I heard he got called in for surgery.”
    “Yes, he did.”
    “It’s to be expected.  He’s the best heart surgeon at the hospital.  You don’t trust a serious medical issue to just anyone.”
    “Of course.  The patients are fortunate to have him.” If she knew anyone who needed heart surgery, she’d recommend him in a heartbeat.  There was no denying his skills.  Before Mrs. Morris could ask about Mark, she gestured to him.   “Anyway, since Nick couldn’t make it, I brought a friend.”
    “Oh?  Are you a friend of Nick’s as well?” Mrs. Morris asked.
    “I’m afraid I haven’t met him yet,” Mark replied as he shook her hand.
    “That’s a shame,” Mrs. Morris said.  “He’s like a breath of fresh air.  You have to meet him.  He’s so intelligent for a man his age.  It’s hard to find someone like him.  My husband says of all the doctors he knows, he’s the one going places.” She patted Mark’s shoulder.  “You’ll adore him if you meet him.  We all do.  So,” she turned her attention back to Lexie, “what do you think of my art?”
    “Oh, well…” So much for the hope that Mrs. Morris would be so absorbed in talking about Nick that she’d forget about the painting.  “It’s,” she glanced the painting, “it’s…  I’ve never seen anything like it.”
    “Right.  It’s original,” Mark added.  “It’s nice to see something in this gallery that is different from the other things that’s already been done.”
    Mrs. Morris’ smile widened.  “You know, I was hoping for that.  I wanted people to remember it, and I thought if I did something that hasn’t been done, it would be unforgettable.”
    “You succeeded.”
    “Thank you.”
    Lexie silently thanked Mark for coming up with the right words, and better yet, Nick would be glad to hear Mrs. Morris was happy.  As the people behind them started talking to Mrs. Morris, Lexie led Mark away from her.  “See?  You know the right things to say,” she told him.
    “I think that depends on who you talk to.  I didn’t do so hot with the Carters or Doctor Maxwell.”
    “Only because they don’t have a sense of humor.  Fortunately, Mrs. Morris was nice.” Her cell phone rang.  She didn’t have to look at the caller ID to know it was Nick.  Of course, he’d be interested in knowing how everything was going.  She reached for the phone in her purse.  “I better take this.  I’ll be back.” Mark nodded, and she headed for a quiet spot in the corner of the room.  She put the phone to her ear.  “Hi, Nick.  How was the surgery?”
    “It went well.  The boy will live.”
    “That’s great.”
    “I just told his parents the good news.” After a moment of silence, he continued, “How are things going over there?”
    “Well, I saw Mrs. Morris’ painting, and she seemed pleased with what Mark told her.”
    “Mark?”
    “The friend who’s with me.”
    “Oh.  I don’t recall hearing about him before.”
    She wasn’t sure if she detected a hint of jealousy in his voice or mild curiosity.  Brushing back a strand of her hair, she glanced at Mark who was accepting a cube of cheese from one of the servers.  “Yeah, he’s my brother-in-law’s friend.  I met him while my mother was trying to surprise my sister with a wedding.”
    Nick chuckled.  “I remember hearing about that.  Your sister should have gone along with it.  Your mother would have done better than a gazebo wedding on the beach.”
    “I don’t know.  It was a small affair, but it was sweet.  My sister and her husband love each other.”
    “You talked to Mrs. Morris.  Did you tell her you