Page 33 of Protecting What's Mine

“We’ll start with you,” Mack said, pointing at a harried mother with three kids.

IN THREE HOURSof emergency medicine-style efficiency, Mack had nearly cleared the waiting room. The last of the pink eyes had been seen. She’d just wrapped up a UTI, and the final patients on her list were two kids with fevers.

She snagged a piece of cold pizza from the break room and scarfed it down. She poked her head out into the waiting room and found it empty.

“Freida’s getting their vitals in Exam Room 2,” Tuesday told her. “And these came for you.”

Mack blinked at the wildflower bouquet sitting on the front desk.

“They’re from Chief Reed,” Tuesday said, unable to contain her enthusiasm.

Mack plucked the opened card out of the blooms.

Dreamy,

I found Nemo twice yesterday, and now I can’t get the Moana songs out of my head. Also I hate burnt toast with chocolate chips. I owe you. Good luck on your first day.

Your Very Attractive Neighbor (Linc) (Clarifying in case you noticed how swole Mr. Nabuki two houses down is)

She bit her lip to keep her face from exploding into a gossip-inducing smile.

Yeah, she definitely had a soft spot for the sexy fire chief. And that was inconvenient.

She met Freida in the hallway outside Exam Room 2.

“So did you retire from the military or quit?” Freida asked.

The woman had been grilling her in increments since that morning.

Where are you from originally?

Where did you go to medical school?

Ever been married?

Do you have a favorite Jonas brother?

It was all part of the small-town experience. An alternate universe.

“Declined not to stay in after my last deployment,” she said. “Didn’t have enough years for retirement.”Or the physical and emotional stamina to survive another few years.

“You’ve got the Garrisons in there. Mom Harper, almost eight-year-old Ava, and four-year-old Sadie. Spoiler alert: It’s not pinkeye.”

“Thank God for that. Do you and Tuesday mind wiping down every surface in the waiting room before heading out?”

“Might be faster to burn it down, but we’ll save the drastic measures for flu season,” Freida said. “Gorgeous flowers. I didn’t know you and Linc knew each other.”

“We’re neighbors,” Mack said.

Freida’s eyebrows seemed to insist on more of a disclosure. But there were patients waiting.

Mack knocked briskly on the exam room door. Garrison. Harper and Ava and…shit. She’d forgotten.

“Come in!”

“Mrs. Garrison, what can we do for you today?”

Harper Garrison was a pretty blonde with big gray eyes and the kind of smile that seemed permanent…and genuine. She and Tuesday probably got along great.