Page 86 of Quinton's Quest

Slowly, Leo shook his head.

“Then you saved his life.”

“Yeah.”

“You said you’ve never lost a patient?”

“Not just after surgery.” He winced. “Except my first one.”

I stilled.

“Let’s eat.” He grabbed a fork as well as the container with the meatloaf. “Maybe another time?” He didn’t meet my gaze.

“Yeah. Sure.” I gestured to the food. “Any preference on which I choose?”

He cocked his head.

“Which are you least likely to pick?”

“Truthfully?”

I nodded.

“I’d eat any of them. You chose wisely.”

I grinned. “Sometimes I get it right.”

This time he held my gaze. “You get a lot right.”

Because I loved maple syrup, I chose the French toast.

Chapter Twenty

Leo

Iawoke with a start.

The arms gripping me tightened.

Quinton.

Holding me.

Because I killed a woman.I couldn’t even say her name in my head.

You didn’t kill her. You did a perfect surgery. But she had a complication. She had a stroke. There’s nothing you could have done to prevent that.

Telling myself that—and believing it—were two different things.

“I’m here.” Quinton murmured the words in my ear.

“Yeah.” I cleared my throat. “I’m usually the big spoon.”

He pressed a kiss to my bare shoulder. After my shower, he’d dried my hair then coaxed me into bed naked.Skin to skin. I knew the studies of course—how skin-to-skin contact was so helpful to newborns. We’d held Trevor that way, even though he’d been a few weeks old. We’d done everything to promotebonding. Melodie, being older, still needed lots of reassuring hugs. I’d been stunned how quickly she’d latched onto us—Gideon in particular. Of course, he was home with her all the time while I’d worked insane hours. But we had our family.

Quinton pressed his hand against my sternum.

“I’m okay.” Yet the words came out broken.