Love and Protect

by Lori Ryan

  *

  Mark entered the hospital cafeteria and approached the table where he’d left his partner to call Alec. Paul handed him a cup of coffee. It wasn’t half bad—which was good, considering they’d spent a lot of time here in the past few weeks.

  “What’d he have to say?” Paul asked.

  “Wants us to track down the doctor, make sure he doesn’t have anything to do with this. I got a feeling the doctor’s involved somehow, though,” Mark said.

  “Yeah, what makes you think that?” asked Paul, eyeing Mark over the rim of his cup.

  Mark shrugged. “Just a gut feeling. You know what else I have a gut feeling about?”

  Paul didn’t answer but looked up, expectant.

  “I have a feeling Alec wants more from Laura Kensington than just to find her and make sure she’s okay, or to bring her back for Mrs. Kensington,” Mark said. “I get the feeling Alec has something else riding on finding this lady.”

  “You think he’ll hurt her when he finds her?” Paul asked.

  “You and I both know Alec isn’t the upstanding businessman everyone thinks he is. He’s had his hands in some nasty dealings in his time. And, somehow, he always manages to come out smelling like daisies at the end of the day. He makes damn sure of it. I don’t know why he wants her, but I don’t think he has anything good planned for Laura Kensington.”

  Paul put his coffee cup down and looked Mark square in the eye. “Is that going to be a problem?”

  Mark shrugged again, face bland—impassive. “Not for me. You?”

  Paul shook his head. “Nope. Not for me. I just figure we need to be ready to cover our asses when things go pear-shaped on us. If we don’t watch him, we’re liable to get caught up in whatever Alec Hall has going on.”

  Mark nodded, then gestured across the room with his chin. “There’s our favorite talkative nurse’s aide.”

  Pollyanna—as the men called her—was making a beeline for them, a broad smile on her face. She was the type of woman who always seemed to be trolling for a man. The type of nurse’s aide who gave those who worked hard a bad name. It appeared she usually went after doctors, trying to nail down one to keep for her very own, but lately the private detectives had monopolized a great deal of her attention. It seemed that PIs were exciting enough to draw her interest away from the docs—temporarily, at least. The men had been exploiting her as much as possible and planned to continue doing so now.

  “Hello, boys.” She sidled up to the table and gave them both a cheeky smile. “What brings my two favorite hunks here again?”

  Without missing a beat, Paul launched into a lie. “We were supposed to be meeting Dr. Samuels to do some follow-up on the Laura Kensington case, but he must have forgotten our appointment. We were told he’s gone on indefinite leave.”

  Mark affected a nonchalant look. “No biggie, really. It was just routine follow-up to close our files and now, instead of working the case, we can spend your coffee break with you.” He graced her with his panty-melting smile, and she actually sighed and leaned in closer to him.

  Good grief.

  “He goes away all the time,” she said conspiratorially. “Although, never without telling us when he’ll be back. Some people are saying he’s not coming back. That he’s just using up his leave time and then he’ll retire when it’s over. He doesn’t have any of his own patients anymore—he just covers for the other doctors and rotates around.”

  Paul grinned and glanced over at Mark. “Must be a nice life. We should take some time off, Mark. We ought to learn from our elders instead of working so danged much.”

  Mark grunted. “You might be right.” He turned to face Pollyanna and tossed an arm around the back of her chair. “What does Doc Samuels do when he goes away? He have a fishing place or something like that?”

  She took the bait easily, a sloppy smile on her face as she practically snuggled into his arm and purred like a damn cat.

  Fish. Barrel. Bang.

  “No, he goes to some ranch his friends own. Spends a few weeks there every summer. I bet that’s where he is now,” she said.

  Paul guffawed. “Ranch! There aren’t any ranches around here.”

  Pollyanna just smiled and shook her head at him, a small pout pushing out her polished lower lip. “Not here, silly. In Texas. Ever-something. Ever… Ever… Everwood, Evermont. I don’t know. Ever-somewhere or other,” she said with a flip of her hair.

  “Well, we don’t have any friends with a ranch so we’ll need to find another way to spend our time off, won’t we Mark?” Paul asked, a grin splitting his face as he eyed his partner. He knew if Laura Kensington was with the doctor, they’d find her soon.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Laura’s stomach flipped and flopped as Cade drove her and May into town. She told herself it was only the trip into town that was making her nervous, but the way her leg pressed against Cade’s when she and May piled into the bench seat of his truck probably had a little to do with it. Or a lot. She was all too aware of the physical contact that was stealing her breath and making her palms sweat.

  But, the fact that she was headed for town also had her heart banging in her chest. It was the first time she had ventured away from the safety of the ranch since she’d arrived on the bus over a month ago. Even if people were willing to keep her presence here a secret because of their loyalty to May, showing her face in public was not easy.

  Cade and May had convinced Laura to go to town for lunch, and she wanted to pick up a few things at the store while they were there. May squeezed Laura’s hand and smiled at her.

  “Guess I have to go out sometime, huh?” she asked, with a little laugh.

  “It’ll be fine. I promise,” Cade said as he pulled his truck into one of the angled parking spaces in front of the Two Sisters’ Diner. Cade lifted May’s wheelchair out of the back of the truck and brought it around to May, before taking hold of Laura’s hand and helping her down. For just a minute, Laura let herself savor the warm feel of his strong hand supporting her before forcing her thoughts back to reality. No point fantasizing about things she couldn’t have and really didn’t want anyway. She didn’t want a man in her life right now. Didn’t want to get used to relying on him to hold her up.

  Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, girl.

  “Can we run over to the convenience store before we eat? I want to pick up a few things while we’re in town,” Laura said, stepping away from Cade, trying to re-establish some sense of equilibrium. She now understood what people talked about when they said their heart was fluttering. Fluttering? Doing the samba. Trying to burst clear through her ribcage and out of her chest entirely. Same thing.

  “Works for me. I have things I want to get, too,” May said, and Cade fell into step behind the women as they made their way two doors down from the diner to the store that carried everything from groceries to pharmaceuticals and even a few automotive items. There was a bigger grocery store fifteen minutes outside of town in the opposite direction of the ranch, but this one had most of the necessities. Most people tried to limit the trip to the larger store to once a week.

  A tinkling bell announced their arrival in the store, and a young woman with long hair the color of India ink and eyes almost as dark called out from a counter at the back of the store.

  “Be right out!”

  “It’s all right, Jana. It’s only May and Cade and Laura. We’ve just got a few things to pick up,” May called back.

  No sooner had Laura’s name come out than the woman whisked herself to the front of the store, no doubt to get a good look at the infamous Laura Kensington.

  May smiled and made the introductions. “Jana, this is Laura, Josh Samuel’s niece. She’s visiting with us for a while.”

  Jana made no attempt to hide her open perusal of Laura as she shook hands with her. “Is that what we’re calling her?” she asked May. “Josh’s niece? Well, sure, I’ll go along with that. Josh’s niece, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” The tall w
illowy woman smiled at Laura. Laura shook her hand with more than a little reservation.

  “It’s nice to meet you, too, Jana.”

  May put her hand on Laura’s back and propelled her toward the other side of the store. “Well, we’ll just get our things so we can get to lunch. Good to see you, Jana.”

  When they were a few aisles over, May turned her chair toward Cade and shoved the red plastic basket she’d picked up at the door into his hands. “You help Laura find what she needs while I keep Jana entertained. If we’re not careful, she’ll call half the town and then charge admission to watch Laura shop.” May aimed her chair back toward Jana, who was, in fact, about to key a number into her phone.

  Laura groaned but Cade looked expectantly at her, leaving her with little choice but to get the things she’d come for. She went to the vitamin aisle first and grabbed a bottle of prenatal vitamins before she headed to the cosmetics section. She didn’t wear a lot of makeup, but she was used to wearing some, and since she’d left town with no notice, she had nothing more than a little lip gloss in her purse.

  She’d have to find new colors and brands since she had been shopping for her makeup at the designer department stores for the last few years, but she didn’t mind. A small smile played on her lips, and she chose a light rose shade that she thought would go well with her new darker hair color. It would be fun trying to find the right look for the new Laura.

  “Why do you need that? You’re beautiful. You shouldn’t cover your face with that stuff.”

  Cade’s words were so reminiscent of the way Patrick would “suggest” she not cut her hair short, or “encourage” her to wear lighter shades of lipstick that were more becoming a woman of her stature in the community, that Laura hurriedly replaced the makeup on the shelf before she realized what she was doing. Both of them recognized what had happened, and an uncomfortable silence froze the air between them.

  “Laura, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. I’d never try to tell you what to do. I just meant that you look beautiful without makeup.”

  Laura looked up at Cade, torn between wanting to find out how beautiful he thought she was, and wanting to punch him in the gut for making her feel like she couldn’t buy makeup if she wanted to. Before she could decide, Cade started scooping makeup off the shelf and into the basket.

  “You should definitely get some makeup. It’ll look great on you. Here,” he held up a shade of fuchsia lipstick Laura wouldn’t wear in a million years. “This will look perfect. We’ll get this one and a few others.”

  Laura couldn’t help herself. Laughter started to bubble out of her, and she couldn’t stop once she started. The picture of Cade shoving as much makeup as he could into the basket on his arm was something she’d never forget. He looked mortified, so completely repentant, but also just so darn silly with all that makeup in his hands.

  Cade stopped and stared as more laughter poured forth. Then a slow smile formed on his lips and Laura’s eyes locked onto those lips. The laughter dried up and her throat was suddenly tight.

  “Well you two sure are having fun,” came Jana’s amused voice and Laura left the spell she’d fallen under behind, shaking it off as she turned to look at May and Jana.

  “I think I’m all set here, May,” she said as she put most of the makeup Cade had pulled off the shelf back. Leaving a blush, mascara, and two lipsticks in the basket, she walked to the counter to pay for her things.

  Cade watched Laura as she wheeled Mama toward the diner. He stayed just two steps behind thinking about what had happened in the store.

  What had happened?

  One minute he’d felt like the world’s biggest louse for trying to tell Laura she shouldn’t wear makeup. He was sure her husband had probably been controlling, and the look on her face had confirmed that. But then she’d been laughing, happier than he’d ever seen her and that laughter cut through him as much as her pain had. It drew him like nothing ever had. He wanted to hear that over and over from her, to make her laugh every day. To make her laugh enough that she’d forget everything she’d been through.

  Cade caught up to Laura and May at the door to the diner and pulled it open for them. Naturally, the low din of conversation came to an immediate and complete stop as soon as the trio entered.

  Cade cleared his throat and spoke to the room at large. “Laura, Evers. People of Evers, this is Laura, Josh Samuel’s niece.”

  That brought a roar of laughter from the crowded tables of the diner and an end to the awkward moment, just as Cade had hoped it would. He helped May out of her chair and locked the brake, leaving it in the corner by the entrance. He let May lean on his arm as they walked toward a booth at the far left of the long room. It was opposite the counter that fronted the grill manned by Tina, one of the Caswell sisters. The other Caswell sister, Gina, approached the booth with coffee pot in hand and a broad smile on her face.

  “Mornin’ Laura—Josh Samuel’s niece,” she said with a wink. “It’s good to finally see you out and about. We thought maybe we’d have to drive out to the ranch if we ever wanted to meet you, but that would mean closing the diner down for the afternoon, and Tina said that wouldn’t sit well with folks.”

  “Tina?” Laura asked, eyes flicking to Cade’s face.

  “Laura, this is Gina Caswell. Her sister, Tina, is behind the grill back there,” Cade said, nodding to the back where Tina’s bright red hair—so clearly from a bottle and not a gift of genetics—poked up.

  “I like the hair, Laura,” the woman called out over the counter. “Much better than that washed-out blond in all your pictures. You should keep it this way.”

  Laura gasped and looked at Cade, who just laughed, along with all the other customers in the diner.

  “Honey, you’ll get used to it,” Gina said. “We’ve all seen every picture out of your wedding album by now, the way the news is going on and on about you. This town is bad enough with most normal people, always all up in your business. But, you? Hmmpf. You don’t have any secrets anymore, sweetie.”

  Cade could see the subtle hint of panic on Laura’s face and he guessed her mind had flashed to all of the things she’d never want a stranger to know. All of the things she shared with May, but probably would be embarrassed for anyone other than May to know. She’d certainly be upset to know he overheard it all and the thought that the whole town might someday know was bound to cause her to want to flee. Cade pulled her hand over toward him and rubbed his thumb over her palm. He’d meant to soothe her, but damn, if he didn’t have to take a minute to tell his body to sit the hell down. His response to the small touch shouldn’t have been so strong.

  “It’s okay, Laura. She didn’t mean anything by it,” he murmured quietly, so Gina wouldn’t hear. May pushed closer to Laura in the seat, as if supporting her.

  Gina gave Laura a sideways look. “I’ll give you guys a minute,” she said before heading to the kitchen. When she came back out a few minutes later, the trio ordered their lunch and the restaurant’s din of conversation resumed.

  Temporarily, at least. Two minutes after their food arrived, the peace was interrupted again when the door opened and a man wearing a tan uniform entered. All eyes swung to Laura but May’s arm was immediately around her.

  “It’s an election year, sheriff,” an older gentleman called out from across the room. “Hate to see you make any mistakes in handling a delicate situation.”

  The sheriff’s eye crinkled up in laughter and he raised a hand in greeting. “Thanks for the reminder, Holland. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind,” he called out, his tone wry.

  “He’s a friend, Laura,” Cade said under his breath as Sheriff John Davies approached the table. The sheriff gestured to the seat next to Cade. May nodded and he sat.

  “Friend or not, Cade, I was hoping I wouldn’t run into you guys. Now that I’ve seen Mrs. Kensington, I can’t ignore the fact that the whole country—with the exception of everyone in this county apparently—is looking for her.” He
spoke quietly, and Cade guessed he didn’t want the whole diner listening in. He didn’t want that either, but the other diners appeared to be listening intently anyway.

  “John,” Cade started, his voice a low growl.

  “Cade,” May interrupted, “John has a job to do. Let’s let him do it and see where this goes. Laura, Sheriff John Davies. John, this is Laura, but she’s more comfortable being called Josh’s niece for now if you don’t mind,” May said with an indulgent smile.

  Cade remained tensely coiled next to John, watching every move his friend made. He remained silent as Laura spoke. “It’s nice to meet you, Sheriff.”

  John smiled at her. “Call me John. When all of this is over, Cade will remember we’re friends and any friend of Cade’s is a friend of mine.” Cade’s only response was a snort.

  When Laura nodded, he continued. “So, it seems the police in Connecticut are pretty interested in your whereabouts.” John took a French fry off Cade’s plate and popped it in his mouth. “And your safety, in particular.”

  Laura nodded again. “I know.”

  “Did you come to Texas voluntarily, Laura?” John asked, ignoring Cade’s scowl as he continued to eat his friend’s lunch.

  “Yes, I did.”

  “And you’re staying here voluntarily? No one’s keeping you here against your will?” Cade rolled his eyes while May laughed.

  “Yes. I’m here voluntarily.”

  “I understand congratulations are in order,” John said, taking a sip of Cade’s sweet tea.

  “Jeez, John!” Cade said, but May shot him a glare.

  “Watch your language, Caden Samuel Bishop,” May said.

  “When my sister was pregnant, she was plagued with morning sickness something awful. Couldn’t keep anything down for months. You look like you’re handling food better than she was,” John said, nodding at Laura’s plate of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and glazed carrots.