Free Paging Dr. Hot by Sophia Knightly Page A

let me add that there are plenty of girls who appreciate him .”
    “I only want him as a friend, but Romeo’s another story. You should’ve seen when Harrison returned last night. Romeo wrapped his little paws around your cousin’s ankle in a death grip.”
    “Sounds like Romeo’s already attached to him.”
    “Yep, he loves Harrison. Hopefully, he’ll have the same reaction when I start dating my Dr. Hot.”
    Chloe groans. “Why are you still searching for a Dr. Hot? Pay attention to Romeo, he has more sense,” she says. “Anyway, gotta go. I have a client waiting to see a loft in Tribeca.”
    “K, talk to you later.” As I hang up with Chloe, I see the South Miami Hospital sign. I’m looking forward to seeing Elise and her babies.
     
     
    Elise Richards amazes me. She’s the type of person one would love to hate for being so accomplished and fearless, yet she’s genuine and nice, so you can’t help liking her. She’s organized, selfless, and even-tempered. Not only is she a registered emergency room nurse, but she also has a master’s degree in broadcast journalism. She has traveled around the world, particularly to Africa and Haiti to help children with AIDS and to inoculate infants. For years, she has traded her vacation time to volunteer for Operation Smile. I am in awe of her.
    Elise and I have been playing phone tag for the past few days and now I get to meet her twin boys.
    I open the door, juggling the weight of the blue gingham-lined wicker gift basket I’m carrying and hoping the two attached helium balloons don’t pop.
    “Hey, Elise,” I say in a soft voice not to disturb her.
    When she looks up, my jaw drops in shock. I can’t believe my eyes! Surely this haggard woman cannot be Elise Richards.
    “Hi,” she says in a wan voice. “Thanks for the basket. You shouldn’t have, but I love it.”
    “You’re very welcome.”
    I can barely get the words out, I’m so stunned. Poor Elise is a wreck. Her usually sleek blonde bob looks like a Brillo pad that’s been pulled apart with the ends frayed and sticking out in every direction. I want to do something special for her right away to lift her spirits. I know—I’ll treat her to a Keratin hair treatment as soon as she can get to a beauty parlor.
    I set the basket down on a table beside the window and approach her side. “How are you feeling?” I ask, noting her bleary, red eyes and the dark circles underneath.
    Elise’s pale body is hunched over in a wrinkled hospital gown pooled around her waist while she struggles to breastfeed both babies at a time.
    “I’ve had better days,” she says, her lower lip quivering. “My nipples are sore, my stitches itch, and I have hemorrhoids for the first time in my life.”
    “Oh no—not hemorrhoids! Do they hurt much?” I ask, cringing. I shouldn’t be cringing, but I can’t help it. “Will they go away?”
    “They better go away!” Elise wails.
    “I’m sorry,” I say, sympathizing with her despair. I set down the basket and move closer to her side. “How can I help you?
    “Please tell me everything’s going to be fine,” she implores me.
    “Everything’s going to be fine. Of course it is!” I say with conviction. Privately, I hate to be a pessimist, but from where I’m standing things don’t look so good. “Have your parents arrived yet?”
    She nods. “They’re downstairs having lunch.”
    “Oh, good.” Elise is the youngest of six children. Her retired parents already have fourteen grandkids including the twins, so they’re experts at child-raising.
    “Man, these babies are glued to me like I’m serving whiskey!”
    “They are too cute,” I coo, awed by how identical they are.
    “Thanks. I guess the upside of nursing is that I’ll lose the fifty pounds I gained faster.” Elise sighs. “I’m worried about getting in front of the camera again. I’m forty, wrinkled and as big as a moose.”
    I wave my hand. “No, you’re not. You’re beautiful and smart