Out of the Shadows Read Online Free Page A

“I’ll pick you up at six, okay?”
    Patrice nodded. He sounded slightly uncertain, which only added to his charm.
    “Dress casual,” he said, “’cause this isn’t a fancy place.”
    Another nod. Most guys wouldn’t have thought to share a thing like that, meaning that in addition to everything else, Wade was considerate. “Casual,” she echoed. “Thanks.”
    Grinning, Wade snapped off a smart salute and headed for the elevators, whistling an off-key rendition of West Side Story ’s “Tonight.”
    Not knowing what to make of any of it, Patrice flopped onto the seat of her chair, leaned her elbows on the desk and pressed both palms to her face. “Not this time, Lord,” she prayed aloud, “’cause I don’t think I can survive another heartbreak.”
     
    Wade frowned at a black-framed photo hanging on his office wall, taken when he was voted Baltimore’s Bachelor of the Year by The City Magazine readers last year. On its left, another picture, snapped when he won a similar award at the Heart Association Ball two years ago; on the right, a certificate naming him this year’s Most Loveable Doctor.
    His participation in the contests and events helped to raise money for one worthy cause or another—the only reason Wade agreed to accept the invites. When the awards arrived, Wade gave them the attention he thought they deserved…by stuffing each into the trash can. If his secretary, Tara, hadn’t fished them out to mat and frame as Christmas gifts, they’d be buried deep in a Maryland landfill by now.
    He pushed back from his desk, swiveled the chair around so that it faced the windows and propped his shoes on the credenza. Here, where other doctors kept pictures of their wives, their children and grandchildren, were more reminders of Wade’s bachelor-for-life status.
    Wade stared past his certificates and awards, across the sea of cars in the parking lot below his window. Was it his imagination, or were there colorful baby seats and booster chairs in nearly half of them?
    What would it be like, he wondered, hearing the words his best friend had so recently heard: “Honey, we’re going to have a baby!”? He’d never seen Adam that happy, and he’d known him nearly twenty years. Well, that wasn’t entirely true; the guy had practically done handstands on the day he married Kasey. If Adam Thorne, of all people, could make his life over, find lasting love and a life mate and the whole ball of wax, might there be hope for Wade, too?
    He let out a bitter snicker. Not likely, Cameron, since you seem incapable of getting past a second date. Not that he didn’t want a lasting relationship….
    “And what do you want?” he whispered to himself.
    Moments passed, but no answer came. Not surprising. He’d failed to puzzle this one out, though he’d tried, dozens of times before.
    Dropping both feet to the floor, Wade stood and grabbed the miniblind’s wand. After several angry twists, he effectively shut out the parking lot…and every child-toting vehicle.
    His office door creaked open, and Tara said, “See you Monday, Wade.”
    “You bet,” he answered. “Say hi to Matt and the kids for me.”
    “Sure thing.” She started out the door, then poked her head back in. “Do me a favor?”
    “If I can.”
    “Get some sleep this weekend, will ya? You’re beginning to worry me.”
    “Careful, or I’ll move in so you can mother me full time.”
    “Yeah, yeah,” Tara said, waving away the comment. “Just what a guy like you wants—an infant and a toddler and mountains of diapers to come home to every night.”
    He was about to say better than my one-room apartment, when he replayed what she’d said: A guy like him?
    “If you’re gonna stay much longer, you might want to turn on a light in here. Eyestrain, y’know.”
    He forced a grin. “Old wives’ tale,” he said, grabbing his sports jacket. “Besides, I’m right behind you.”
    They walked side by side to the elevator. “Hot date?” Tara