Heart Melter by Sophia Knightly

Author:Sophia Knightly [Knightly, Sophia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2013-11-02T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The sound of a ringing phone jarred Natasha awake, and the gloomy reminder of how last night had ended enveloped her. She tried to focus her vision in the hotel room, still dark from the drawn curtains. A glance at her watch told her it was only 7:00 a.m., early for a phone call. Ian was in the shower; she could hear the water running.

The phone rang again. In the dark room, she groped the nightstand and realized it was Ian’s smartphone ringing. When she answered, a child's quivery voice said, "May I speak to Dr. Ian, please?"

Surprised to hear from him so early in the morning, Natasha said, "Arthur, is that you?"

"Yes, ma’am," he replied softly.

“Hi, sweetie. Hold the line. I'll run and get Dr. Ian for you." Natasha raced to the bathroom door and knocked several times, worried that Arthur might be crying.

Moments later, Ian opened the door with a towel wrapped around his lean waist. He looked like a sleek wolf, his dark hair rumpled and wet. Too bad he hadn’t come back to bed last night, instead sleeping on the couch like a disgruntled lover.

"Arthur's on the line. He sounds upset," she said, tearing her gaze from his hot torso.

Ian reached the telephone in seconds. When he hung up, his eyes were sharp with concern.

"What's wrong with Arthur? He sounded like he was crying," Natasha said.

Ian nodded grimly. "The lad begged me to start the treatments as soon as possible. He wants to get away from the orphanage."

"What happened?"

"A group of kids got the card I gave him and tore it up last night.”

“That’s mean. How did he call you then?”

“He had written down my number thinking Mrs. Byrne might take the card from him. They beat him up too." Ian’s jaw clenched and his eyes glittered ferociously. “I’m taking him out of there,” Ian said, pulling on jeans and sliding his arms into a slate blue shirt.

“Good!” she said, her heart expanding with love as she watched him.

Ian used the discarded towel to dry off his hair and ran his fingers through the thick waves. “I’ll take him to Glenhaven,” he said. “Maggie and Ranald can care for him while I start the treatments."

“Oh, that’s wonderful of you!” She wished she could fling her arms around him and hug him with all her might. “Arthur will love Glenhaven. I’m going with you to the orphanage,” she said, reaching for the bag with the cashmere dress.

Ian shrugged into his black leather jacket. "No, you'll take too long to get ready."

She grabbed the other bag that had the boots he’d given her. "No, I won’t. Give me fifteen minutes,” she said, heading toward the bathroom.

“Be quick about it,” he said briskly. “I’m going to make a few phone calls to check on the legalities of taking Arthur out of the orphanage. If you’re not down in fifteen, I’m leaving without you.”

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