Free Sophie's Path by Catherine Lanigan

from his chair, signaling the end of the meeting. He held out his hand. “I’ll be in touch, Jack.”
    â€œThank you, sir,” Jack replied before leaving the room with the two doctors.
    * * *
    S OPHIE STOOD IN the middle of the reception area dressed in her street clothes. It was the first time Jack had seen her since the accident. Her hair had been pulled back that night, but now it just skimmed her shoulders in dark, luminous waves and she’d pinned a piece of it over her right ear with a massive coral and rhinestone barrette. There were coral hoops in her ears that matched her cotton sundress. On her feet were beige espadrilles. She was tanned and her skin glowed.
    Jack couldn’t take his eyes off her.
    Sophie hadn’t noticed him at all. She went straight to Nate.
    â€œDr. Barzonni,” she said, handing him a group of faxed papers. “The office just got a call from the reservation clinic. There’s been an emergency. Here’s the patient’s information for you to review. They said you’ve treated him before.”
    Nate peeled back the top sheet. “Tom Running Bear.” He started speed walking toward the elevators with Sophie right at his side.
    â€œWhat do you want me to do?”
    â€œCall the clinic. Tell them I’m on my way. I’ll call my wife and tell her where I am. Could you call my mother and tell her I won’t be coming out to the farm for dinner?”
    â€œAbsolutely. What else?”
    â€œMy cell?” He patted his pockets.
    Sophie handed him an iPhone. “You left it on your desk. I also filled up your Hummer.”
    â€œHow did you do that?”
    â€œYou left your car keys on your desk, too.” She sank her hand into her straw purse and flipped the keys to him. “Good luck.”
    The elevator doors opened and Nate jumped in.
    Roger Caldwell said his goodbye to Jack, then he excused himself and took the stairs, telling Jack it was part of his cardio routine.
    Sophie turned and spied Jack for the first time. “You, er, look good. I mean, well.”
    He walked toward her.
    â€œNo problem with the ankle, I see.” She smiled slightly, but it slid off her face as her eyes met his.
    Jack saw trepidation and question in her face. Rightly so. He still wanted answers, but he knew her explanation wouldn’t have changed from what she’d delivered to him before.
    â€œAnkle is good.” He tapped his head. “So is the noggin’. No more checkups for a couple months, I’m told.”
    â€œGood. So, you’re fine. Well, I gotta go,” she said but didn’t move. Her eyes tracked over to the president’s door.
    Jack thought she’d stopped breathing. Her back went rigid and her eyes were wide. “Why are you here, Jack?”
    â€œBusiness,” he replied icily. “My business.”
    Not a muscle on Sophie’s body flinched. It was as if she’d turned to stone. She didn’t blink or breathe. “Business with the president?”
    â€œYes, and now we’re finished for the day,” he said, moving around her and pressing the elevator button.
    He let his eyes slide to Sophie’s sleek, tanned legs. When she pirouetted to face him, her calves flexed just like a ballerina. He wondered if she had taken ballet when she was a little girl. He remembered going to his sister’s recitals and making fun of her pink tutu and feather headdresses. He didn’t think he’d make fun of Sophie.
    â€œJack,” Sophie said his name just as the elevator arrived and the doors whooshed open.
    He got in and shook his head. “Don’t.”
    The door closed, leaving a stunned and enticingly beautiful Sophie on the other side.
    Jack stared at the ceiling. Though it was the first time he’d been with Sophie since Aleah’s death, he hadn’t thought of his assistant at all.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    S EEING J ACK SHOT Sophie back to the night of