Read A Man to Die for for Free Online

in neutral territory, and much less often since Casey had defected for newer pastures at Mother Mary some four years earlier.
    “The chapel—”
    “Third floor,” Poppi answered. “Lots of candles and holy cards. Didn’t you smell the incense when you walked in the house?”
    Evelyn lifted an eyebrow. “I thought that was you .”
    Poppi offered a particularly insulted scowl, which, coming from a woman reclining in six inches of water and surrounded by Donald Duck and Goofy, lost some of its impact. “I have much more taste than that. What do you think I am, a channeler?”
    Evelyn was obviously at a loss for an answer. Casey couldn’t blame her. One had to become acclimated to Poppi, kind of like cold water or weightlessness. Evelyn had met her enough times over the years to know the basics. That didn’t necessarily mean she was used to them.
    To add to that, Evelyn was one of the most blatantly normal people Casey knew. An earth mother by temperament, she was a great hand-holder and commiserator. She’d also been one of the lousiest ER nurses Casey had known. ER nurses were aggressive and decisive. Evelyn was not. She was much happier lavishing support on young mothers in St. Izzy’s high-tech postpartum unit.
    “You could just move,” Poppi nudged. “Like you’ve been threatening to for the three years you’ve been back.”
    Casey waved off the objection. “If I moved, who’d whitewash the statues?”
    It wasn’t something to discuss on a warm, bright spring day. Casey had only this day off, and she didn’t want to spend it on recriminations and frustration. If she wanted to do that, she could just go back to work and get paid for it.
    Pulling herself up, she swung her feet over the side of her chair and settled them into the cool tickle of the new grass. “How about if we change the subject?” she suggested abruptly, trying to ignore the tremulous voice that still drifted from the other side of the garage.
    Instead she noted that her thighs were pinking up a little. “Scoot over, Poppi. I want to do a few laps.”
    Poppi obliged, and Casey sank into the tepid water, iced tea in hand. “Ah,” she cooed. “This is living.”
    “Hey,” Poppi said. “You want to change the subject, I have one. I need a new GYN. Mine died or something. You guys have the scoop on that kind of stuff, don’t you?”
    “I’m better at trauma surgeons,” Casey admitted, settling her head back against the inflated side and sipping her tea. “But Evelyn’s your girl for gynies.”
    Poppi peered over her big, round sunglasses to where Evelyn was rearranging herself to start a new chapter on her book. “Does that Hunsacker guy practice at Izzy’s?” she asked. “I’ve been hearing a lot about him lately.”
    “You don’t want him,” Casey said instinctively.
    Evelyn stopped midmove. Poppi swung her attention to Casey, her blond hair bobbing a little with the sudden turn.
    “Is there something you want to share with the class?”
    Casey felt the intensity of Evelyn’s silent interest. She couldn’t understand why she’d spoken so quickly and with such finality. After all, she’d only worked with the man once. And she did seem to be the only one in her acquaintance who didn’t like him.
    “I don’t know,” she demurred, her attention on where she was rolling her glass against her leg. “I, uh, just don’t think you two would get along.”
    At that Poppi straightened a little. “Which means he’s either a Reagan Republican or he’s gay.”
    “He’s not gay,” Evelyn piped up, and then blushed.
    Now Casey was looking over. “You’ve heard the rumors, too?”
    Disconcerted, Evelyn shrugged and looked down. “Have you met him?”
    Casey nodded. “Yeah.”
    Now Poppi’s attention was swiveling back and forth, her eyes avid with curiosity. “Oh, this sounds like it’s going to be good. I take it you’ve already counted him out as a potential date, Case?”
    “I don’t date doctors,” she