Free The Doctor and the War Widow by Viola Russell Page A

Harley.
    Jessica was silent on the other end. “Yes, well, the wedding may not be until next summer anyway, Dad.”
    “Why?” Abisi swallowed. He liked Geoffrey. He really believed the man was good for his daughter.
    “Well, we’re just very busy with the fall collection, and I won’t have time to plan. This is more important.”
    “More important than Geoffrey?” Abisi shook his head. He sometimes wondered if his own troubled marriage had soiled his daughter’s perception of love.
    “Well,—er, no, of course not.” Jessica replied evasively. “Look, Dad, I must run.”
    “Are you seeing someone else, my darling? Is he?” Abisi’s heart contracted. He wished his daughter had no complications in her life.
    “Don’t be preposterous.” She laughed dryly. “I really must run. The boss is about to hold a meeting.”
    “Of course, of course.” Abisi motioned to a doctor standing in the doorway and rang off. Jessica wasn’t telling him the whole truth. Why was love so damned complicated? His own feelings for Harley Michel were a simmering cauldron, and sometimes, the intensity of his emotions frightened him. Was his daughter right? Was he too old to risk hurt again? He knew Harley would be angry because he hadn’t told her the whole truth about Jordan, and hard knots formed within his stomach when he imagined her rejecting him and staring at him with hatred in her eyes.
    “Hey, do you want to have lunch with me?” Harley approached Abisi from behind and thrust her arms around his neck. He was typing at the computer in his office.
    “This is a pleasant surprise.” He swiveled around and kissed her. “I’d love to, yes, but we can’t take too long. I’ll have to be on duty soon.”
    Harley slipped her arm in his. “I’m out and about, too. Hospital cafeteria. We won’t take long.”
    Within a few minutes, Harley and Abisi sat together at a table, munching on cheese sandwiches and small green salads. “I’m out because I have to order books for next school year. So, I’m off to St. Cyprian’s. I can only do the ordering in July.” She cut into her salad. “New fiscal year.”
    “I see. So you decided to pay me a visit.” He leaned back in his chair and smiled.
    Harley grinned. Pleasing him sent warmth through her insides. “You make it sound like I’m the doctor paying a house call.”
    He winked at her and slipped his hand in hers. “You are good for my health.”
    Harley blushed deeply. He could make her feel like a schoolgirl. John had been her equal in all things, but Abisi was older, more sophisticated, and flattered her. She smiled and looked down before meeting his gaze. He made no pretense of hiding his desire. “So, anyway, I’m headed Uptown.” Harley stopped mid-sentence when her gaze caught that of a woman staring at her with deadly intensity.
    “What?” Abisi frowned and squeezed her hand. “What is it?”
    “Don’t make it obvious. A woman is staring at us. An attractive brunette. You can’t see her. She’s behind you.” Harley looked down as Abisi looked behind quickly and then turned back. She studied his face, sensing panic. “Who is she?”
    He swallowed, put down his sandwich, and averted his gaze. His voice was soft and hoarse. “Kimberly.”
    Harley’s chest tightened. Jealousy coiled around her guts like a smothering snake. “Who in hell is Kimberly?”
    “No one who means anything anymore.” Abisi tightened his grip on her hand. “I was seeing her when I first came to New Orleans. She was possessive, cruel, and never satisfied. She only wanted me for what I could give her. It ended, but now—” He paused and wiped perspiration from his brow. “Now, she’s working here.”
    “Why does she make you nervous?” Harley searched his gaze.
    “Because she’s humiliated me in public. I don’t want her doing the same to me or you now.” Abisi lowered his voice and glanced around. “I sometimes think she parks outside of my house.”
    Harley raised