Free Rescue Me (a quirky romance novel about secrets, forgiveness and falling in love) by Sydney Allan

Heidi, from what I can see, not that I know either of them."
    He leaned forward in his chair and rested his forearms on the cool desktop, wishing the cold would seep through his skin and chill the blood that suddenly burned in his veins. He forced a smile. "Thanks again for helping me out. I owe you one."
    "Not a problem. Hey, since you offered, how about taking my night Thursday? It's our anniversary, and Bob wants to take me out."
    "Sure," he said, imagining himself sitting in a restaurant sharing a candlelight dinner with a faceless woman, toasting five happy years. Then the woman's face materialized. Heidi--no, Hailey? No. Not possible. He wasn't attracted to her. Not at all. It had be a subconscious thought planted by Sue's comments.
    "Thanks, Hartmann," Sue said as she stepped through the doorway. A moment later, she popped her head back in. "I think the Jensen twin is all set. She's out in the waiting room."
    He smiled and leaned back, suddenly dead-dog tired. He hadn't scheduled any patients this afternoon, thank God. So he had the rest of the afternoon off. Tomorrow, he'd pay. He'd taken a peek at his schedule. Booked solid until late tomorrow night. At least he'd have a quiet night tonight.
    Standing, he took one last look around his office, feeling like he was forgetting something. Not sure what that might be, he walked down the corridor to the waiting room.
    Hailey's thankful smile greeted him when he stepped into the room, and he couldn't help returning it, even though inside he was a mishmash of conflicting emotions. "Ready to go?" he asked, walking toward the exit.
    He could come back later, visit with Heidi. He wouldn't ask her about the conversation with her mother, he decided. As tempting as it was--as vital as it was to know the truth--he didn't want to upset her.
    That could cost her dearly. Her life, in fact.
    Hailey leapt to her feet. "Am I ever ready to get outta here! I hate doctors, hospitals, needles. Besides, I'm starving. How about some dinner?"
    He held the door for her, watching her as she brushed past him. She had the most expressive face, so full of vitality, so full of life. And her walk. She practically bounced down the hallway, her stride having a dancelike quality. Not slow and demure like her sister's, but strong, graceful and lively. He smiled, and she caught him when she spun on her heels to look back.
    Her brows knitted together as she regarded him playfully. "What's the deal? Is something wrong? You look..." She bit her lip, a smile tugging at one side. "It's weird, isn't it?"
    "What's weird?" he asked, caught off guard and completely bewildered by her question. He walked forward, catching up with her in three long strides.
    "How two people who are genetically identical can be so different." She leaned closer, until he could smell her cologne, spicy, citrusy. Very sexy. Definitely Hailey.
    The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. He passed under an air conditioning vent and a shot of cool air landed there.
    "It is strange," he admitted. "I've heard identical twins can be different, but never knew how different. You and Heidi are like night and day."
    "You can thank our parents for that." She walked stride for stride beside him. "They never dressed us alike. Always said they wanted us to be individuals, unique and special. I'm grateful. I think it shows how wise they were." She stopped walking when they reached the end of the corridor, and after punching the down button on the elevator, she added, "No matter how much I love my sister--and I do love her--I wouldn't want to be like her."
    "I never doubted you love your sister," he said, looking down into cool green eyes, framed by the darkest lashes he'd ever seen. His gaze dropped to her nose, straight and upturned just enough to add some spunk to her face, and then down to a set of full lips that quivered a tiny bit.
    "I hate doctor's offices," she repeated again, turning from him and stepping closer to the elevator door. The bell