Page 42 of Guarding Over You
“Sometimes. Depends on when they fall and the time of year, weather, et cetera. Nice day like this with the holiday over the weekend, they put more on. I’d say it’s about normal for a summer Saturday but glad I don’t have the night shift. Though I’ve got to go in at five tomorrow again.”
“I’m sure you’re used to not getting much sleep.”
“I catch up if I need to on my days off.”
She laughed. “From what I’ve seen that isn’t many.”
She cringed after those words escaped her mouth. He might think she was watching him.
She wasn’t. Not really. Or not that much.
“I’ve got a lot of years ahead of me. I’ll slow down when I need to.”
“I had that mentality too.” But having a child and a failing marriage forced her hand sooner than she would have liked.
Didn’t seem as if Blaze had much going on in his life other than work.
Not that she was watching too closely, but she had seen no other cars at his place, so if he was seeing anyone, she’d think they’d stop over at some point.
“We have sparklers,” Gracie said.
“You do?” he said. “Those were my favorite as a kid.”
“I wanted to watch fireworks, but Mom said I’m too young and have to be in bed.”
He smiled and looked down at her daughter. “There will be a lot of fireworks shows in your life to come. Maybe Mom can show you some on TV.”
She hadn’t thought of that. “Good idea.”
“I get to stay up later so I can see the sparklers, but it still won’t be dark.”
“Why don’t we let Dr. Blaze get in his house. He’s had a long day and he’s probably tired and hungry.”
“Both,” he said. “But not too tired to check out your sparklers if you’re in the backyard.”
“Please, Mom. Can he?”
“I suppose if you want to make your way down. I told her at eight and then it’s off to bed.”
“Plenty of time. See you soon.”
He turned to go up the stairs, her eyes not on his ass.
Liar!
Scrubs gave little away.
“Let’s go home, Gracie.”
“One more lap, please? You can jog, you’ve got sneakers on.”
She heard Blaze laugh even though he didn’t turn his head to acknowledge her daughter’s comment. “Sure. Let’s go. Just don’t make me run too hard.”
Her daughter turned and took off, Arden slowly jogging behind, more like a speed walk, then they returned to their house and Gracie left her bike off to the side on the porch.
Once they were inside she ushered her daughter up the stairs and turned the water on in the hall bath to fill the tub. It’d been the plan all along for Gracie to be in her jammies on the patio so that she could see the sparklers, then go right to bed.
Her daughter’s hair was washed, half dried and put in a braid, her favorite princess nightgown on. Then she raced down the stairs.
