Undercover Passion Read Online Free Page A

he’s just—”
    Daniel hadn’t really paid too much attention to the good doctor before, but now he looked him over and decided he didn’t much care for what hesaw. Dr. Richie was a tall, good-looking man, but there was something a little too polished, a little too calculated in his manner. His dark hair was salon-perfect and streaked with silver the way an actor would have had it done in an attempt to give gravitas to his appearance. That was it. Somehow the man looked like a performer to him. Something just didn’t quite ring true.
    And—let’s face it—he didn’t much like the way Abby was lapping him up with a spoon. Did she have to idolize the man?
    Daniel rose slowly, just to make sure the doctor didn’t think he was as embarrassed at being caught in this vaguely compromising position as Abby was.
    â€œI didn’t hire you to do this sort of training,” Richie was saying to Abby, turned as though he thought he could carry on a conversation in private if he just didn’t admit there was anyone else in the room. “We have counselors for that, Abby. I hired you to take charge of our public relations operation. You don’t have time for this sort of work.”
    â€œI was just showing him. He was interested and I thought—”
    Dr. Richie turned, acknowledging Daniel with a slight nod.
    â€œI’m sorry, but I’m afraid you’ll have to come to one of our seminars if you want to get a good overview of what we have to offer,” he said, his attitude pleasant but distant. “And, Abby, I’ve called a senior staff meeting in the library. Please join us. The others are waiting.” Another curt nod and he was on his way down the hall.
    Daniel turned to look at Abby. Her cheeks were bright red in a very attractive way, but he regretted that she was taking this so badly.
    â€œSorry,” he said. “Didn’t mean to get you into trouble with the big boss.”
    She looked up at him but she didn’t smile. He could tell she’d had it with him, and she was ready to let him know that.
    â€œI’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave,” she said shortly.
    â€œOkay,” he said amiably. “But I’ll be back when—”
    â€œOut.” Her dark eyes smoldered with anger and she pointed at the door. “And don’t come back here.”
    With a shrug, he started toward the door. “I’ll see you at the seminar tomorrow,” he said, glancing back at her.
    â€œFine. But you won’t be talking to me.” She followed as though ready to shove him out into the hallway if he balked. “There is really no need for us to have any further communication. I’ll make sure they assign a good counselor to you.”
    He stepped through the doorway and looked back.
    â€œSomeone who will be a good match for your needs,” she added.
    That stopped him cold. “My needs?”
    â€œYou know. That little problem you have.” With a look of quiet triumph, she closed the door.
    Â 
    â€œWomen!” Daniel said a few minutes later to his grandmother as he strode back into her hospital room. “Who needs them?”
    â€œI’m a woman, darling.” Phoebe looked up with a loving smile.
    â€œYeah, but you’re sane. Not many other women can say that.”
    â€œWatch your tongue, young man,” a tart voice stated, emanating from the tiny bathroom off tothe side. “In the war between the sexes, I’m a major general.” A woman about his grandmother’s age emerged, carrying a vase full of roses.
    Phoebe laughed. “Ella, meet Daniel O’Callahan, my grandson. Daniel, Ella Crown is the hospital florist and she has kindly delivered the flowers your brothers sent me.”
    Ella nodded but she didn’t smile. Instead, she went on grumbling as she carried the vase to a shelf where Phoebe could have a good view of it. Her long white hair was