Page 115 of Guarding Over You
He truly wanted to see her. He wanted her to know he was thinking of her and had her.
“I know. I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s not your fault.”
A dry laugh slipped out. “We can’t be so sure of that right now.”
She moved closer to him, twisting to look around at anyone who might be watching.
She didn’t know all the nurses who worked on the floor. None of the techs. Not even the aides.
This felt impossible to her, but they were starting with the nurses and the people who Blaze talked to the most.
His arm went around her shoulder while he pulled her close before releasing her. “I know you’re busy.”
“I’m good right now. Everyone has been seen and I’m waiting on results. I’m allowed a few breaks.”
He had a protein bar in his hand that he was opening.
“I know you can’t tell how late you’ll be tonight,” she said.
“I hope to get out on time. A lot of the other doctors do, so as long as there is no emergency when I’m leaving, I’ll see you around eight when Gracie is in bed anyway.”
She sighed. “I’m going to tell her tonight. I don’t want to say you’re staying the night. She won’t understand that, so it’s best if you come after she’s in bed. Maybe in a few days I’ll feel better about things.”
“I’m not going to,” he said.
“I know. We both have to work on this. We can’t continue on this way until we get answers not even knowing when they could happen. We still don’t know who is doing this or why.”
Which was harder for her to swallow.
“It’s not helping any. I’ve got a list of names I sent to Clay earlier. He’ll work his way down them, but that doesn’t mean he’ll find much with a name only.”
“Especially if it’s a common name.”
“That’s right.”
“No one seems to be watching us,” she murmured, her tone teasing but cautious all the same. She was trying damn hard not to let anyone know how uneasy she’d been all day.
“Nope,” Blaze said as easily as all of his interactions were with her. She was much more used to keeping things level. “Maddy’s at the desk. She’ll let me know if anyone’s paying too much attention.”
Arden smiled, somewhat forced, the other part just some happiness at being by his side. “She’s probably watching everyonebutus. She’s good at her job.”
“She’s the best,” he said, his eyes flicking over the nurses’ station.
“Then let’s go say hi,” she said, already stepping forward, ready to put on a massive bravado. She’d spent the last few years fighting for her daughter and she was going to do it again, only this time in a different form.
“If you want,” he said. Though the way he followed her, his hand brushing against her lower back, said he’d go anywhere she asked. And that was exactly what she needed in life.
Not putting space between them that crashed into her thoughts last night.
Doing that proved nothing. It wouldn’t change what was happening regardless of their thoughts on the notes.
Steven passed them wiggling his eyebrows like a middle-schooler who’d just caught the popular kids flirting. She rolled her eyes, unable to stop the grin tugging at her mouth.Act natural.Normal like she’d been doing here.
“Hi, Arden,” Shelly called from behind the counter.
“Hey,” she said, keeping her voice casual, calm. She couldfeelBlaze’s warmth beside her. Not close enough to touch, butclose enough to know he wanted to. And maybe she wanted him to also.
