Total pages in book: 10
Estimated words: 9522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 48(@200wpm)___ 38(@250wpm)___ 32(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 9522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 48(@200wpm)___ 38(@250wpm)___ 32(@300wpm)
“You’re here,” Evie says, coming into the room. I stand and give her a hug before sitting back down.
“I said I would be,” I tell her chuckling. I am always surprised when I see her. She is wearing a sleeveless dress. She spent years in long sleeves. I love that she found this kind of happiness, even if it eludes me. When we were younger, our family was in a major car accident outside of London on the way to a village fête. She has burns on her left arm, they were so bad that years later they are still pink, a direct contrast to her mocha skin. She was hurt the worst. I have some scarring on my chest and legs, but I was in and out of the hospital. She spent the better part of two months in the burn ward of the hospital. She used to be so self-conscious of it until she met Paul. He is from Georgia in the states. He was here on business eight years ago and never left. His accent reminds me of my mum’s, who was born in North Carolina. We said our goodbyes and safe journey before I went upstairs.
Eventually, I crawl into bed and look at my cell phone. It’s only nine. What happened to me? I used to be a party all night kind of guy, but that was before I became the CEO. Ten years, at least. Now, I am feeling every bit my age. I don’t know how long I sleep for but I am jolted awake feeling like I am being stared at. It’s still dark out, but I can tell that it’s not yet morning. Turning over, I see Danielle standing by the side of the bed, looking down at me like the little girl from The Ring. Only kids can do that so well.
“Jesus, Danielle, you scared me. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t feel good, Uncle Tones.”
“Where does it hurt?” I ask, immediately concerned for her.
“Everywhere,” she grumbles. I get out of bed; she takes my outstretched hand and I lead her to the kitchen. Lifting her up, I set her down on the counter. I riffle through the drawers until I find the thermometer. It’s the kind you just wave over the forehead.
“102.5,” I say out loud, though not really to Danielle.
“Is that bad?” she whimpers.
“I think so, punky, I think so. I am just going to call your doctor and see what he says,” I tell her, remembering the list Evie clipped to the fridge.
“She,” Danielle says.
“Okay. I’ll see what she says.” I wet a tea towel from the drawer by the sink with cold water. After wringing it out, I fold it and place it on her forehead. “Is that okay?” I ask, not really knowing what I am doing.
“Yes. Thank you,” she says holding the towel in place. Grabbing the phone off of the counter, I dial the number for the doctor.
“Llo,” a sexy but sleepy voice answers. I am assuming she means hello, but she started on the last syllable.
“Hello. I am looking to get a message to Doctor… Mancini,” I say after looking at the note for the name.
“This is she,” the heavenly voice answers. Her American accent is very pronounced. New York, I’d guess. I very much expected the doctor’s answering service, not the actual doctor to answer the call.
“Yes,” I say after clearing my throat. “I am Tony Harris, your patient, Danielle Harrington’s uncle. I am babysitting her for the week. She is running a high fever and she says everything hurts.”
“How high?” she asks, concerned. What kind of doctor, let alone a paediatrician, takes calls in the middle of the night?
“102.5,” I rattle off.
“Oh, goodness. That can mean many different things. Can you bring her to my office? Say twenty minutes or so?” Now is not the time to be getting turned on by a voice on the phone, but I am. I push the thoughts to the side. Danielle has to be my only focus right now. Pitiful Danielle.
“Yes, of course. Thank you.”
“No problem. Do you have the address?”
“I don’t,” I answer and she tells it to me. I write it down on a fresh piece of paper from the notepad on the fridge.
“See you soon,” she says, breathlessly, before hanging up.
What the hell was that?
Chapter Two
Ann-Marie Mancini
Groaning, I look over to my clock on the nightstand. It’s three am, but duty calls. Though duty isn’t the right word. Keeping kids healthy is my passion. Always has been, always will be. Luckily, I live over my office and can be at work rather quickly. The bottom floor of my townhouse and the building next door serves as my office. Getting out of bed, I get dressed quickly and head downstairs. I try to be quiet because my cousin Brynn and her new husband, Brendan, are asleep in my guest room. They are here on some business with his video game company and of course, I offered my place instead of a hotel. My father, Gino, and his cousins, Alberto Sr, and Fabrizio are into some shady shit.