Free His Perfect Woman (Harlequin Superromance) by Kay Stockham Page A

following in Mrs. H.’s footsteps and becoming a teacher. So why not return and get her degree?
    Investing in college, applying and fighting for a positionmeant she planned to have a future. But the one thing she’d promised herself from the moment she’d been diagnosed with cancer was that she wouldn’t lie to herself. Treatments had advanced so that the survival rate was excellent, but how could she be sure?
    She studied the women occupying Ashley’s large parlor room, hearing bits and pieces of their conversation. Nearly all talked of kids and grandkids and activities, husbands and weddings in the works. The only thing she could think about was Mrs. H.’s words.
    â€œMelissa? You okay?” Ashley murmured, returning from the bathroom for the third time.
    She blinked and focused on her friend, her smile weak. She was supposed to be writing down the gifts and who’d given them, not people watching or feeling sorry for herself. “I’m fine.”
    â€œYou look really distracted.” Ashley glanced around at her guests, a frown pulling at her lips. She leaned down and lowered her voice. “I’ve heard the talk, too, but you have to ignore it and let the old busybodies eat their words later when we don’t wind up in a catfight over Joe.”
    Melissa laughed. Leave it to Ashley.
    â€œThat’s more like it. See? If it doesn’t bother me, it shouldn’t bother you. Did someone say something insensitive to you? Because if they did—”
    â€œI’m fine, ” she insisted with another small laugh, seeing Ashley’s protectiveness surfacing and appreciating it because it was directed at her. Having grown up in a group home for children, Ashley was very protective of those she considered friends. “I’m just…thinking about something that’s going on with my dad. I’ll tell you about it later.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œSit down and open your presents,” she ordered with a smile. “If you keep going to the bathroom every two minutes, you’re never going to finish unwrapping all your gifts.”
    Ashley smiled, but for the first time since her friend had returned, Melissa noticed a difference in Ashley. A big difference. Her posture, her expression. “Ashley?” Her eyes widened. “Ashley, are you in—”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThen shouldn’t you—”
    â€œNo.” Ashley gave her a keep quiet glare, inhaled deeply and locked her jaw. A moment passed and then Ashley smiled, but it was tense. “I want to stay home as long as possible. I went to the hospital way too early with Max and hated it, all the waiting and being stuck in bed. I want to be home and comfortable. Please, don’t say anything. I have plenty of time. My contractions only just started.”
    â€œReady for more gifts, Ashley?”
    Ashley seated herself beside Melissa and turned to face Mrs. H. The older woman set a gift bag on Ashley’s knees, but when Ashley gasped from the onset of another, obviously harder, contraction, Mrs. H. removed the bag, and then clapped her hands together in rapid succession much like she had in high school.
    â€œLadies! Congratulations are in order today. Ashley is in labor!”
    Melissa smiled at her red-faced friend. “So much for keeping it quiet.”
    Â 
    B RYAN WATCHED while Joe dribbled the basketball and prepared to make his move. Before he could, Bryan charged forward and stole the ball from Joe with a taunting grin.
    â€œThink you’re something, huh, pretty boy?”
    Bryan pivoted, careful to keep the ball out of Joe’s reach. His heart raced from exertion and he dripped with sweat, but since discovering sex with greedy, manipulative, superficial women had lost its appeal, this was the next best thing. “Voted Number-one Doctor by my patients,” he drawled smugly, using the one title he didn’t mind receiving from the