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that, he was still unsettled by Marla.
    He watched her, mesmerized by the sight of her. Did she look happy? Excited? No. She was ready to bolt for the elevator. Annoyed, he fiddled with a pen. What did you expect? That she was going to show up and profess her undying love?
    â€œI haven’t seen you in a long time,” Truman said. “Damn, I can’t even keep track of you anymore. Running from one country to another. It’s time you found a good woman and settled down.”
    The woman in question was the reason he ran from country to country.
    â€œJulia just walked in,” Truman said. “I’m putting you on speaker.” Then he spoke to Julia. “Hon, you won’t believe this. Carson found himself a girl. All on his own. And, wait till you hear this, she’s a doctor. He’s hooked up with a smart one for a change.”
    â€œOh, my goodness! That’s amazing!” Julia cried as if his finding a woman on his own was some sort of miracle. “I’m thrilled. Who is she? Do we know her?”
    Carson rubbed his hand over his hair. Did he still have a gun in the drawer?
    â€œWhat about it? Are you coming down here?” Truman asked, and Julia insisted he bring his new sweetheart with him.
    One week in paradise .
    â€œYou know we consider you one of our sons,” Julia said. “We love you and we’ll love her, too.”
    Carson glanced at the monitor. He watched Marla give the magazines on the table a bored glance and once again, she looked toward the doors that led out of his office suite. The only thing keeping her pinned in the lobby was the blasted money she needed for her clinic.
    He leaned back in his desk chair. The soft buttery leather cushions embraced him as if they were the arms of a contented lover. He was the one with the money and the power. He was calling the shots.
    He grinned.
    â€œWe’ll be there tomorrow.”

Chapter 4
    M arla busied herself by looking at the watercolor landscape hanging over the lobby’s fireplace. She loved the beautiful painting of a sunrise stretching over a red canyon. Rich violets and pinks blended across a blue-gray sky, and yellow dappled over the rocks.
    She smiled as she thought of Sophie, who was a budding artist. At five, Sophie loved to paint and draw. It was her favorite thing to do, and Marla had Sophie’s artwork tacked up all over their house. Someday, she hoped, Sophie’s work would be featured in an art gallery for the world to see.
    â€œDoctor Grant, Mister Blackwell will see you now.” Carson’s secretary motioned for her.
    Marla struggled to look calm as she stepped over the threshold into Carson’s office. She reminded herself of her surgical rotation and the first time she’d cut into a live human. She had survived that. She would survive this.
    Gracie shut the door behind her. The click of the door closing echoed through the spacious office, and she clutched her briefcase tightly as she looked up. Her pulse danced wildly.
    Carson stood beside his gleaming black desk. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his charcoal slacks, and the top buttons of his pearl gray shirt were unfastened. His black silk tie hung loose around his neck.
    Physically, he had not changed much since he’d waved goodbye to her at Royal Oaks. At six foot two, he was a tall man with a stout build. His wide shoulders tested the seams of his broadcloth shirt, and despite the stern expression on his face, he had lost none of his good looks. As always, his dark wavy hair defied styling.
    Just like Sophie .
    â€œHello, Marla.” He spoke first, his husky voice cold as he pinned her with an unrelenting gaze. There had never been anything subtle about him. A long time ago, she’d decided that was what made him sexy. She swallowed. It appeared that might still be true.
    â€œHello,” she responded, hoping she didn’t sound as jittery as she felt. “Thank you for seeing