Free THE MAVERICK DOCTOR AND MISS PRIM/ABOUT THAT NIGHT... by Scarlet Wilson

could do with a hug. And he wasn’t the hugging type.
    And that smell from her. The raspberry shampoo. More enticing than any perfume he’d ever smelt.
    It was weird what confined spaces could do to a person.
    She was still looking at him with those too-wide eyes. What was with her? What was the big deal?
    “Yes, I’ve got a sister.”
    “I meant to ask you if there was anybody you wanted to notify that you had been quarantined. Haven’t you told her what’s happened?”
    His eyes fixed on the floor. This wasn’t going to be pretty. “My sister’s called Violet. Violet Connelly.” He waited for the penny to drop.
    And it did.
    “Violet Connelly’s your sister?” Her voice rose, filling the quiet room.
    He leaned against the doorjamb and folded his arms. He was well aware he was trying to look laid back, but he was feeling anything but. All of a sudden he was hit by a wave of emotions that he didn’t want to deal with. He tried to focus on the face in front of him. “Yes. Why so surprised?”
    “Violet Connelly is your sister?”
    “You’ve already said that and I’ve already answered.”
    She wrinkled her nose. It made her look kind of cute. “Why hasn’t she said anything? I’ve never heard her mention you and I’ve been at the DPA for the last three years.”
    “I’m the family black sheep.” Explanations weren’t really his thing. It seemed the easiest solution.
    “Bull. Violet’s not like that at all.”
    Okay. Maybe not.
    “And why don’t you have your sister’s number in your phone?”
    He shifted uncomfortably. “I’ve been out of touch for a little while.”
    “With your sister?” Her voice rose in pitch. “How can you be out of touch with your sister?” Little pink spots had appeared on her cheeks.
    “She has a different name. How come?”
    “So now you’re getting personal?”
    “Don’t get smart, Sawyer. You’ve just told me a woman I’ve worked alongside for the last three years is your sister. Violet’s a sweetheart and she’s never mentioned you once. Why?”
    He shrugged. He really didn’t want to have this conversation. It was way too uncomfortable. And it was bringing up a whole load of guilt that he really didn’t want to consider. “It’s complicated.”
    Now she looked angry. That middle-of-the-night woman angry. Never a good sign. “Don’t give me the ‘it’s complicated’ crap.” She raised her fingers in the air again. “Tell me why on earth she would keep something like that secret? Maybe Evan Hunter was right—maybe we should be looking a little closer at you.”
    He could feel the pent-up anger build in his chest. His temper was about to flare. Here. In the middle of the hospital. In the middle of a crisis situation.
    He turned and flipped on the light, walking over to the nearby sink and running the cold tap. He bent over and started splashing water on his face. How dared she? That was almost an implication that he was involved in this crisis situation.
    This woman didn’t know him at all. Didn’t know anything but hearsay and gossip. If she knew even the tiniest part of him she’d know he’d do anything to get out of here.
    He could feel the pressure building in his chest. Wasn’t it bad enough that she’d just reminded him how guilty he felt about pushing his family—and his sister—away? He felt as if a truckload of concrete had just been dumped on his head.
    As if this situation wasn’t already bad enough.
    Now she was making him think about things he’d spent the last six years pushing away.
    He grabbed some paper towels and dried his face. Breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth. The flare was reducing. He didn’t feel the urge to hit a wall any more. He was trying to think reasonable, rational thoughts.
    But Callie Turner was still there. Wondering what she’d just witnessed.
    He turned to face her. “Try walking in Violet’s shoes for a while, Callie. Her brother’s reputation is in the doghouse and