Surviving Doctor Vincent: The Good Doctor Trilogy Book 2 Read Online Free

Tell her I said, hey.”
    Xavier closed the door, turning his attention back to me. “Now, where was I? Oh, yes. You have some cooling down to do.”
    “Lover? Did you just tell Gus that I’m your lover?” I let out a bitter laugh. “By the looks of things today, that title belongs to someone else now.”
    He set the food on the stand, retrieved the glass, and raised the water to my mouth again. “No, it doesn’t belong to someone else. Now drink.”
    “I’m not thirsty.” I pursed my lips.
    “Fine.” He placed his lips on the rim and sipped.
    “Why are you here?” I let out a huff, exasperated by his games.
    He stood and fumbled with the takeout container. “That is an excellent question. Because I shouldn’t be.”
    I finally understood the handcuffs. Had my hands been free, I would have punched him.
    To make matters worse, he continued. “I shouldn’t be anywhere around you. Especially not here, but today...” He flipped open the takeout lid and speared a piece of pasta with a plastic fork and offered it to me. “What I saw in your eyes was so final. I thought I was prepared to deal with your disappointment. I’m a failure for being so weak.” He nudged my lips with the fork. “Open your mouth.”
    I kept my lips sealed.
    “Come on. You must be hungry. You ordered this.”
    I turned my head away, trying to hide the tears welling in my eyes.
    He dropped the fork into the pasta, set the Styrofoam container on the table, and grasped my face in his hands.
    I closed my eyes, causing wetness to roll down my cheeks.
    “Elaine. I swear I can explain...everything.”
    I squeezed my lids tighter in an effort to will him away. “Maybe I don’t want your lies. I’m tired of all the words.”
    “Fine.” He scooted closer, settling between my spread legs. His mouth closed over mine. Tiny caresses against reluctant lips. “Nothing has changed,” he breathed against my skin.
    More tears slipped from the corners of my eyes and a sarcastic laugh escaped. “How can you say that?”
    “Because I still love you.” His lips moved against mine, but I refused to give in.
    “Please...stop,” I whimpered against his mouth. The heaviness in my chest grew.
    “No. I was wrong. I don’t know what I was thinking. I know now—I can’t lose you.” He trailed kisses along my jaw and stopped just below my ear. “Like it or not, I will always love you.”
    “I can’t do this.”
    “I know,” he whispered. “I almost lost you today. I foolishly believed you’d wait for me. That somehow, when I was done, you’d still be there, as profoundly in love as I was. I’m changing the rules.”
    “What rules?”
    “Are you ready to listen to me?”
    “No.”
    “OK. I have time. Sure you’re not hungry?” His posture relaxed. He wasn’t leaving until I was ready to listen, but I wasn’t sure I was even capable of hearing him out.
    The tears still flowed, and I couldn’t answer him. There was nothing he could say that would change my mind. If I had any chance at a life, he needed to take his box and leave.
    He packed the pasta away and placed the container in the refrigerator. When he rounded the corner, he kicked the box of dreaded reminders, causing it to thud against the island. He tilted his head to read the writing, and then his gaze darted to me. “Since this is addressed to me, I might as well open my package.”
    I couldn’t watch. I hung my head and closed my eyes.
    The sound of peeling tape filled the room. His inhalation was audible after he pulled the last of sticky plastic away and opened the flaps.
    I glanced up to see him rummaging through the contents. He discovered the silver box and lifted the lid, pulled out the necklace, dangling it by the chain. “Wow, you were more pissed off than I thought.”
    “What did you expect? You tell me you love me and then disappear. It’s been weeks. Not one returned phone call. Is this some kind of sick game to you? See how long I’ll wait? Then