Page 20 of Protect My Heart

Not that he was sleeping at night since he’d met her. Damn woman had a killer body. Perfect curves and valleys made for a man’s hands to explore. His fingers itched at the thought. Yup, he could tell himself it was all business, and he was just doing his job. But when he awoke at two a.m. with his dick tenting the sheet and visions of her naked body on top of him, the protect and serve he had in mind had nothing to do with police business.

Shaking the thought from his mind, he lifted the beer to his lips. With one hand, he typed her father’s name into the search bar. The first headline read: Decorated vet charged in son’s death.

“What!” Beer flew from his lips and covered the screen. He wiped it with his sleeve and sat up straighter. “Patrick Michael O’Roarke earned a long list of medals during his twelve years in the military.”

He continued reading. When he got to the part about Patrick’s nine-year-old witnessing the confrontation that resulted in the death of his fourteen-year-old son, he stopped reading. Doc saw it. All of it. No wonder she was so good with Luis. She could sympathize with the boy—she lived through the same horrors. How could she do it? Reliving that night with every child she helped. He knew enough about PTSD and traumas to know she must travel back to that night in her mind.

Jim always thought his mother was the strongest woman he knew, but now...

Torn between closing his computer and digging up every nugget of info on Doc and her father, Jim leaned back and rubbed his eyes. He wanted to respect her privacy but that wall was breached already. He exhaled a long huff of air as he ran his hand through his hair.

He turned to look over the side of the chair at Tigger. “What do you think, Tig? Will she hate me if she finds out I Googled her?”

The dog’s brown head raised, and his soulful eyes locked with Jim’s. A moment later he set his head on Jim’s lap as if to console his owner for the stupid thing he had just done.

“You’re right, Tig. Doc’s smart enough to realize I’ll dig into her past.” With a quick scratch behind the dog’s ear, Jim turned back to his computer. “Let’s pray she’s cool with it. If not... I’m screwed.”

“I’m so glad you could join us for book club.” Mira slid her Gucci bag off the café chair, gesturing for Liz to take a seat. For a Tuesday night, the coffee shop was hopping. “This is Kate, and you know Lorna.”

“Hey Liz. Good to see you again.” Lorna’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen. Grumbling, her fingers tapped in a rapid rhythm. “Really. I only ask for one night a month.”

“Gabby?” the blonde, Kate, leaned in and whispered.

“Who is Gabby?” Liz asked.

“Lorna’s teenager daughter.” Mira patted Lorna’s arm as she addressed Liz’s question.

That’s right. Liz remembered meeting Lorna’s children at dinner the other night, but Jim’s presence scrambled her brain receptors.

“Gabby... No. Let him have the iPad for an hour and then... No, you can’t let Alex watch him so you can go with Callie to the game.” A crease formed on Lorna’s brow. “He is ten and I put you in charge.”

The expressions on Lorna’s face as she dealt with her daughter told Liz this wasn’t the first time they’d had this conversation.

“Oh, he did.” Lorna’s face relaxed and she pursed her lips. “Tell you what, if you think Alex can handle Colin then fine. But, if you go, you won’t get paid for tonight... Yup, that means no money for the hockey game on Friday.”

Liz tried not to listen, but she was fascinated. Lorna’s skills could rival the best hostage negotiator.

“I think that’s very responsible. I will see you in a couple hours. Love you, Sweetie.”

“That was amazing. You used what she wants for a trigger, gave her the options, and let her choose. I deal with children for my job, and you handled that like a pro.”

“Thanks,” Lorna said. “Most days parenting is threats and bribes, but sometimes you have to try something different. It’s like flinging spaghetti at the wall and hoping it sticks.”

A laugh slipped from Liz’s lips. “I like your philosophy.”

“Okay, let’s get started,” Mira said. “How did everyone like the book?”

A flutter of nods and agreements circled the table.

Liz opened her book to one of the pink post-it notes she had sticking out. She hadn’t been in a book club since undergrad.

“Great.” Kate looked at her watch then shoved the latest best seller into her oversized purse. “Let’s go.”

The three women gathered their things and rose. “Come on, Liz. The game starts any minute.” Mira nudged her arm.

“What game? I thought we were discussing the book tonight.”

“Yeah, that’s only an excuse for Lorna to get out of the house. Harrison, CJ, and a few of the guys from the precinct are having a pickup basketball game across the street at the community center.”