Free A Christmas Wish by Evie Knight Page A

rapport, Jasmine didn’t let him in. She had walls of steel around
her. Good for her, because to be honest, he’d always wondered what it’d be like
to wine and dine her, to taste her sweet lips and finally seduce her.
    He
shook his head, willing the thought away.
    “I’ll
let you in a little secret, Dr. Sinclair.” Laurie jerked him out of his reverie
as she moved to stand next to him. “Dr. Lamont hates Christmas for reasons I
can’t tell you. She doesn’t believe in true love, or maybe it’s more she’s
afraid to fall in love.” Laurie seemed to consider what she’d say next. “She
likes you as much as you like her, that’s why she evades you like the plague.”
    Blinking,
Ethan stared down at Laurie’s big brown eyes. “I never told you I like her.”
    “You
didn’t have to.” She rolled her eyes at him. “It’s so obvious, even a blind
person can tell. Everyone here knows, which is why none of the other doctors have
asked her out. Like, ever.”
    “You
know, I’m beginning to wonder if you come here to work or to gossip.”
    “Both.”
She spun on her heel. “Your next appointment is already here, Dr. Sinclair,”
she called over her shoulder.
    So,
Jas hates Christmas and she likes me. What should he do with that
bit of information? Was it even true? Why should he believe Laurie? That there
were others at the practice that wanted to ask Jasmine out irked him. Maybe it
was time he stopped trying to fake a friendship and pursue Jas the way he
should’ve done since he met her. Jasmine Lamont. He smiled, his mind
racing in a million different directions on how he’d woo her.

Chapter Two
     
    Sleep never came last night.
Not when her head swirled with thoughts of Dr. Sinclair. Ethan. Ugh, the
man was the devil in disguise. Erasing his angelic looks from her mind was
impossible. Jasmine closed her eyes, and his dazzling smile, hypnotic gaze, and
athletic physique haunted her. It didn’t make a difference if she opened her
eyes either.
    Unable
to catch any sleep, she decided to get a head start in her day and complete all
her pending paperwork. Her last appointment was at four o’clock, which worked
out perfect, because she’d leave soon after. She’d stop by the children’s
hospital to check on three of her patients, then head home. The only exciting
thing about her day would be the few stolen glances at Ethan, which then meant
she’d be dreaming of him yet again tonight.
    Maybe
she should listen to Laurie’s silly belief in magic. Nuh. Even if it were true,
Jasmine was too broken for some impractical magic to work on her. First she’d
have to believe, and her faith in anything she couldn’t do for herself was nil.
    Crossing
over the threshold into the noiseless pediatric medical practice, she walked to
her office. She drew in her breath, welcoming the peace and quiet the early
hour afforded her. Jasmine dropped her purse inside the bottom drawer of her
desk, then turned on her laptop. Ready to immerse herself in her work, she took
a seat as the chime of an instant message broke through the peaceful silence.
    E_Sinclair:
GM
    Her breath
left her. What does he want this early? She came into work at this time for a
reason, and he wouldn’t mess up with her plans. Jasmine hit Ignore on the IM
window and grabbed the pile of folders on her desk.
    Moments
later, the chime of the IM interrupted her once more, and she looked up at her
screen.
    E_Sinclair:
I know you’re there.
    J_Lamont:
And what, you’re also going to tell me you know what I did last summer?
    Jasmine
stared at her screen, clamping down the giggle forming in her throat. Whatever
made her type that? After a minute, his IM status changed from green, for
available, to yellow, for away. She figured he probably got sidetrack with
other stuff. A tinge of disappointment settled in her chest. Determined to
prevent any further distractions and senseless conversations, she closed her IM
and put her laptop lid down.
    “I
wasn’t, but