“Oh honey, I can take care of Jack. I’m not concerned with that. I want to know you’re safe.”
“I am.” Holly sighed. “This is too much on you. But I think everything’s going to be okay soon.”
“What makes you say that?”
Good thing her mother couldn’t see her fidgeting as she tried to come up with a response that wouldn’t blow Mason’s cover. “Remember when I told you about Kennedy and how that group of security guys helped her with her ex-husband?”
“Sure. Lucky girl.”
“Well, she told the guys about my problem, and they’re looking into it. They have resources I could never dream of. Just do me a favor and don’t tell anyone, okay? I mean it,” she added when her mother sighed. “Not even Bryan. Especially not him.”
“I’m not allowed to tell your brother?”
“No!” Holly’s voice rang out, echoing, and she closed her eyes. This wasn’t going well. “No, Mom. He’s got friends in the police department out in your neck of the woods, and they might want to look deeper into the ring themselves. While I want it broken up, if they get any hint of pressure, they might skip town before anyone catches them. They can’t know someone is on their trail. Okay? This is critical.”
“So why did you tell me?” Her tone was more genuine than sarcastic.
“I didn’t want you to get all worried and drag Bryan into it, honestly.”
“All right; all right. I won’t breathe a word.” There was a commotion in the background. “You wanna say hi?”
“Of course I do.” Holly grinned. Moments later, there was the familiar sound of soft breathing she recognized so well. “Hey, Jack! I miss you! Be nice to Grandma, okay?”
“Mama! I come home?” he asked, getting right to the point as usual.
She winced at the hope in that sweet little voice. “Soon, sweetheart. Real soon. I promise. I’ll see you later today. I can’t wait to give you a million kisses and hugs.”
Mason had to help solve this problem soon. She’d lost too much time with her little boy, afraid to have him near her when heartless maniacs saw fit to throw bricks through her windows.
* * *
“What are you doing here?”
Mason turned on the ladder, having just finished fitting plywood over the broken window. “I told you I’d take care of it.”
Holly giggled, looking up at him from the sidewalk. She shielded her eyes with her hand, studying his work. “I guess I wasn’t thinking you would. That maybe you’d hire someone. How did you get this together so quickly?”
“I have my methods.” He winked, climbing down. “And you have friends around here who don’t want to see you going without anything over this big gaping hole but a bunch of trash bags taped together. Jim Thomas over at the hardware store helped me out.”
“I’ll have to thank him. Though really, the bulk of the thanks goes to you since you took the initiative.” She shook her head in wonder. “You’re amazing.”
He couldn’t help but thrill a little at the praise in her voice. A feeling that would be easy to get used to.
She looked across the street. “Don’t you have office hours, Mr. Andrews?”
“Not for another half-hour, thanks.” He rolled his eyes.
She giggled. “You’ll do just great.”
He folded up the ladder, shrugging. “I hope so. I’ve never done anything like this before. Being a small-town physician is a lot different than treating injuries in the field.”
“I’d think it would be much easier.”
“After what you warned me of last night?” He had to laugh, remembering the people she’d described. Hypochondriacs, people convinced they were dying because they’d googled their symptoms—that wasn’t anything new—and many more characters he could hardly wait to meet.
“That’s true,” she admitted, one eyebrow quirking up. “I don’t think I even scratched the surface.”
“This doesn’t sound good,” he groaned.
Her mouth twitched as if she was barely holding back a laugh. “You’re going to see a lot of newer patients. Younger patients. And their mothers, trying to hook you up with their beautiful daughters.”
He felt his cheeks flushing and wished they wouldn’t. “All right, okay. This is the thanks I get for coming out here and doing this.”
She stood on tiptoe, brushing her lips across his cheek and then blushing slightly as she pulled back. His pulse jumped, and his skin tingled with the contact. “No. That’s the thanks you get. And the promise of dinner some night real soon. Actual dinner, too, not just pizza. I’m a pretty good cook.”
That sounded just as good as the feathery kiss felt. A home-cooked meal he would have to assume would be prepared by the woman in front of him. Yes, he could imagine her in the kitchen, and he imagined himself helping her prepare the food. He’d pop an ingredient into his mouth, and she would chide him, but he’d kiss her before she could get good and annoyed.
Whoa. Time to take a step back. Taking a deep breath, he shook the wild thoughts away. He couldn’t be around this woman for more than a few minutes without his thoughts traveling down paths they didn’t need to go.
He cleared his throat. “Uh, I’d better get this ladder back to the store before office hours start. And I’m sure you have a bunch of excited pooches waiting to see you.”
If only she didn’t look so disappointed, as if she’d done something wrong. Hopefully, his need to get out of there hadn’t given her the impression that he’d been uncomfortable with her kiss, because that certainly wasn’t the case. Not that he could tell her differently.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll be here all day in case you need anything.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ears. “Not like you’d need anything from me.”
“You never know.” He winked, propping the ladder on one shoulder before turning in the direction of the hardware store. “I’ll drop by later during my break. I want the chance to get to know your pups.”
Yeah, right. Great excuse. He shook his head at his weakness. Where did that little kitchen fantasy come from, anyway? It wasn’t like he’d ever witnessed anything remotely similar in his real life. On the contrary, since the rare occasions on which his mother or stepmothers had cooked was normally punctuated with hollering, the slamming of pots and pans, and at least one burnt dish.
Everything he knew about healthy relationships came from what he’d seen on TV, in movies, and his friends. Dysfunction was the name of the game since not long after he was born. He’d seen nothing but fighting, divorce, and remarriage, which never lasted long before the cycle started all over again. Yes, his friends were in relationships he envied, but short term was easy. It was the long haul that Mason found unattainable.
Even before memories of torture as a Ranger haunted his dreams, Mason had woken in the night with screams ringing in his ears. Hateful screams, the foulest sort of profanity. Those screams hadn’t only been directed from one adult to another, either. Not always.
His days of running toward danger had begun well before he’d joined the service. While he was barely old enough to lose his first tooth, he’d protected his younger half-brother from his stepmother’s wrath.
And his father’s.
He had no place even imagining himself in a picturesque scenario because he didn’t have the first idea how to be that man. The one who loved and was loved in return, worthy of a woman’s patience and understanding. The one returning the patience, understanding, and affection she’d need.
The sort of man Holly needed. The kind of man worthy of being a father to her son.
It was better, and safer, to remind himself as many times as necessary that this was a job. She was a client. There were dogs in need of rescue from heartless thugs and the people who paid enough to keep them in business. Yes, he’d have to spend time with her, and he could imagine much less pleasant ways to spend it.
But that was it. She only asked for his protection, his skills and expertise. She did not ask for his
heart, and she never would.
And he certainly had no right to ask for hers. Not now, not ever.
Chapter 10
Mason smiled at the woman seated in the reception area, the first patient to arrive. Loretta Larson. She was older, maybe in her mid-sixties, and it was clear she didn’t have high hopes about a physician so much younger than herself.
“You?” she said, her tone somewhere between bewilderment and exasperation.
“Me,” he confirmed with a shrug.
She snorted, wiping the lenses of her glasses before sliding them on. Blinking hard, as if she wanted to be sure she was seeing what she thought she saw, her lips pulled back in a grimace. “You’re even younger with my glasses on.”
Yes, her glasses were a regular time machine. He smiled through the urge to laugh since something told him laughter would be misconstrued. He didn’t want to insult anyone, especially on his first day.
He decided to take a chance and pull up a chair beside her. “I understand your doubts,” he said. “You’re used to Dr. Klein, who from, what I gather, is a wonderful doctor.”
“He is,” she agreed, softening a little. “He is the finest doctor and a good man. He deserves this vacation after everything he’s done for us. He set my grandson’s broken arm free of charge when my daughter and her husband were going through tough times with money.”
Mason smiled. “I believe it. I have very big shoes to fill around here until he comes back, but I intend to do my best. One thing that will never change is my devotion to treating and healing anyone who needs it.”
“What training could someone your age receive? You’re so young.”
“I started out as a Special Operations Combat Medic, ma’am, with the Army Rangers, and then—”
Loretta held up a hand. “Say no more. I come from a family of Army men. Thank you for your service.”
That was all it took? Mason couldn’t help but feel he’d passed a test. With a nod, he asked, “Would you like to go back to one of the examination rooms so we can talk about what’s ailing you?”
She gave an adamant shake of her head. “No, Dr. Klein always knew just what to give me whenever I came in. We had an arrangement.”
“I see. Let me get your file. I’m sure he made a note of it.” Was this another test? What sort of arrangement could the two of them have? He doubted a nice woman like Mrs. Larson was involved in anything sketchy, but there was never any way of telling. Sometimes the elderly used their age as a cover to throw others off their trail.
He was thankful Holly had helped him organize the files as he ran a finger down the row of L names. It seemed there was no shaking thoughts of her, but that was to be expected. She was his responsibility. Having her pop up in random thoughts was completely natural.
As if he believed that. It didn’t help that he was checking the surveillance on his phone every twenty minutes or so…or looking out the window to her hospital across the street.
“Here we go. Loretta Larson.” Mason opened the file on the desk behind the little shelf used to separate it from the rest of the room. It took effort not to grin as he read the note written on a piece of paper clipped to the inside of the folder. One bottle of aspirin whenever she comes in, on shelf in back office.
Was the aspirin for her or for the doctor after she came in?
“I see. Excuse me.” He went to the back office and found a row of bottles on a shelf labeled acetylsalicylic acid. The trade name for aspirin.
“There it is.” Mrs. Larson sighed in relief at the appearance of the small clear bottle. “I tell you, it helps my arthritis like nothing else can. It’s a miracle.”
“Be sure to follow the instructions closely,” he advised. “And let me know if there’s anything else I can do.” He opened the door for her, waving as she shuffled across the street and marveling at the power of the human mind. Mrs. Larson believed her medication was something special, so her body reacted in kind.
If only all of his patients would be so simple to treat.
Mason couldn’t help looking across the street to the boarded-up window. How was Holly faring over there? Would it be overstepping his place if he were to head over and ask if she’d gotten a quote on a repair? It would be a perfectly reasonable excuse to pay a visit.
Why was he looking for reasons to visit her in the first place? It was his part of his job to check in on her, right? That he had an excuse only helped his cover. The excitement wasn’t and didn’t help, but he could keep that in check.
She was a beautiful woman. What man wouldn’t be happy to see her? Mason was there for security, but he wasn’t blind. That’s all it was…just…attraction, his head reasoned. His heart would just have to get on the same page.
Chapter 11
“I can’t believe you were here when it happened!” Fiona’s eyes widened until they were the size of saucers. “That’s so scary!”
“It was a little scary,” Holly confessed, looking out at the dogs as they ran and played in the yard. They were up to their usual shenanigans. At times, she wished she could be so carefree, that she had it in her to let the bad things roll off her back in favor of embracing the present moment.
Dogs were capable of that. Every one of the precious creatures currently enjoying their exercise had at one time in their lives been neglected. Abused. It took a little time to get through to them, of course, to help them learn to trust and convince them they were safe. There was nothing like watching them come out of their shells. It was only a matter of time.
“You should’ve called me. I would’ve come down to help you clean up the glass.” Fiona took a seat on the back steps beside Holly, scratching a beagle named Pumpkin behind the ears.
Maybe Fiona would chalk up the flushing of Holly’s cheeks to the sun. “I wasn’t alone, now that you mention it. I had help.”
“From who?”
Why did she feel so hesitant? There was nothing wrong with one neighbor helping out another. “Mason Andrews. You know, the new physician across the street. He was wrapping things up over there, cleaning up the office in preparation for new patients this morning. It was fortunate he heard the crash.” She was overexplaining, wasn’t she? Talking too much. The sure sign of a guilty conscience. What in the world did she have to feel guilty over?
Lying to Fiona, for one, but that was for a good cause. She wasn’t trying to keep something from her friend, but rather trying to make it possible for Mason to do his job effectively.
Though right then and there, as Fiona’s appraising gaze made her feel all itchy and self-conscious, Holly wondered if the subterfuge was entirely worth it. “What?” she asked, shrugging. “Why are you looking at me that way?”
“Why are you so jumpy and self-conscious?” Fiona teased.
“I’m not! You’re being strange.”
“I just think it’s romantic, I guess. The white knight coming to your rescue and all.” Fiona crossed her hands over her chest, batting her eyelashes.
“Oh, stop it. That’s the last thing on his mind; believe me.”
“What makes you so sure?”
Sheesh. She’d said too much again. “He’s a man with a medical practice to take care of in a town he just moved to. The last thing he’s interested in is someone like me. My life is too complicated.”
“That’s just what you think. It’s not how a handsome eligible man would see you.”
“Anyway,” Holly sighed, “it doesn’t matter. He was here at the right time, and I felt safer.”
“And he patched up the window.”
Holly knew she was blushing.
Fiona giggled. “He’s smitten.”
“Is not. Let’s drop the subject, okay?” Why did it make her so uncomfortable? Was it because she wanted him to look at her and see more than a client? It would be dangerous to think of him as anything more than who he was. A man performing a job. There was nothing personal involved.
“Okay,” Fiona said, though it was clear from her tone and the tw
inkle in her eye that she wasn’t finished with the interesting Mr. Andrews. “Let’s talk about the inciting incident.”
“You watch too much courtroom TV.”
“Maybe. Answer my question.”
“You didn’t ask one.” Holly clapped her hands to get the dogs’ attention. “Exercise time over, guys! Let’s go in for water!”
“They don’t understand you,” Fiona chirped with a bright smile. “You’re talking to yourself.”
“You don’t know that for sure.” She grinned as she rolled her eyes.
“What are you going to do about the brick through the window?” Fiona asked as they rounded up the animals and ushered them inside.
Holly sighed. “I’m going to call the glass place and have them give me an estimate on the repair.”
“Stop joking around.” Fiona folded her arms after closing the back door. “You always do that. You joke and tease to change the subject. I’m worried, and you’re joking around.”
Holly rubbed her temples in hopes of avoiding a pending headache. “I wish I knew what to say. I don’t even know how the dogfighters found out I was asking the police questions. Maybe I could’ve been more discreet, but I was worried sick about the missing dogs. Mix in a little righteous indignation at the fact that no one seemed interested in looking further into the situation, and you have the mess I’m in right now.”
“It would be better not to say anything else, then.” Fiona gnawed at her lower lip, tapping her foot on the floor. “To stop asking around to see if anything’s been done.”
“Why don’t you ask me to stand back and do nothing while innocent animals are abused and killed?” Holly couldn’t help but feel dismayed as she and Fiona locked eyes across the room, a dozen happy dogs milling about between them. “Because that’s what you’re asking of me, and I can’t possibly do that. Somebody needs to defend the animals, and it seems like no one cares very much right now.”
The Ranger's Destiny (Army Ranger Romance Book 6) Page 4