Lie, Lie Again(88)

“Oh, you’re not talking to Lily. I’ll tell her you’re crazy and unstable. I’ll tell her to call the police if you show up again.”

A poisonous laugh trickled from her lips. “Oh, Hugh. You’re so funny. Do you even hear yourself? She knows I’m not crazy. We already bonded when I brought the gift over.”

“The hell you did.”

“Okay,” she said with a pitying laugh. “Whatever you say.”

He grunted, and she seized the moment.

“It would be so easy to go through our calendars together over a nice lunch. I’m sure she’d find it odd that the weekends I spent with you match up perfectly with your fake work trips.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“What? Defend myself from your pathetic lies?” Her voice turned harsh. “Don’t test me, Hugh. By the way, how did your conversation with Sammy go? He was so surprised to see me at his place.”

A crash sounded, and the call ended. She hoped the screen of his phone didn’t crack when he threw it. But there’d be more. He would come back, trembling and afraid, seeking reassurance.



Riki finished filling out the documents and fidgeted with the pen. After what felt like an eternity, the nurse appeared. “Come on back. Dr. Hart will see you.”

She bounced from the chair and rushed to the open door. “Thank you so much.”

“Sure thing. Follow me.”

The exam room was small, and Riki sat on the edge of the paper-covered bed. Even though she was bundled in her ski jacket, a shiver ran through her. She wished she were back at home, sitting at her kitchen table grading papers, not in this sterile room with her hand pressed to her neck. Before she could take a breath, the doctor walked in.

He was much younger than she had imagined—thirty at most—but it was his eyes that grabbed her. They were pale hazel, almost gold, against dark lashes. Mesmerizing. “Samantha told me you were an emergency, but don’t worry,” he said, his voice sincere. “We’ll get you fixed up, okay?”

Riki nodded, and her eyes filled with tears. Oh, jeez. A few kind words and she was falling apart. She pressed a hand to her face. “Sorry. It’s just been a rough day.”

“No need to apologize. I’m Dr. Hart.” He stepped forward and shook her hand.

“I’m Riki.”

“Nice to meet you, Riki. Are you visiting for the weekend?”

“Yeah, we came up from LA.”

“Nice. It’s a great city,” he said with a smile. “And don’t worry. You’re in good hands. Go ahead and take off your jacket, and I’ll have a look.” After scrubbing his hands with a vigor she appreciated, he tugged on gloves and removed the tissues that were sticky with blood. Riki tried not to wince as he dropped them into the waste bin. Using a gentle touch, he dabbed her neck with a damp gauze pad before shining a light on it. “How’d this happen?”

“I ran into the fence on a ski run.”

“Well, the good news is it’s a clean cut. It looks like the impact caused the skin to split, but just in case, have you had a tetanus shot within the last ten years?”

Riki racked her brain. “I can’t remember.”

“We’ll get you one today, then.”

“Is that the bad news?”

“No bad news,” he said, inspecting her wound. His face was so close to hers that she averted her eyes, focusing on the poster that listed warning signs for the flu. Doctors weren’t supposed to be so cute. “You’ll need stitches, but you shouldn’t have much of a scar when it’s healed.” He smiled at her. “I’m good with a needle and thread.”

Riki covered her face with a hand. “Please don’t say those words again. I’m barely past hearing about the shot.”

He laughed. “You’re squeamish when it comes to that kind of thing?”

She peered at him from between her fingers. “Terribly. Can you knock me out or, better yet, just slap some glue on it and call it a day?”

He shook his head and sat on the swivel chair next to her. “The cut is too deep. We’ll get you nice and numb. You won’t feel a thing.”

She looked at her hands, wishing she could believe him. He seemed so certain, but what if he was adept at lying to comfort his patients, and once he got started, it was too late for them to back out? “I’m scared.”

“Don’t be.” He peeled the gloves from his hands and dropped them in the trash before spinning back to her. “Like I mentioned, I’m a great seamstress.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep. I grew up surrounded by strong women who felt it was their duty to teach me how to sew. I can make one hell of a pillow.” He smiled—not with just his mouth but with his entire face. Even his golden eyes seemed to be smiling. As much as Riki had wanted to dart from the building just moments ago, he was making her want to stay.

She met his gaze. “You’re not like other doctors I’ve seen.”

“Should I take that as a compliment?” he asked, his brow arched.

“Yes.”

“Good. You had me worried. Okay,” he said, standing. “I’ll have the nurse come in to prep you, and we’ll get started. It won’t take much time at all.”