Page 46 of Protect My Heart

“Not sure, I haven’t been in the storage room in years, but probably. Mami takes pack rat to a new level. Our old cat, Whiskey, could be stuffed and in a box down there for all I know.”

His brow shot up. “Really?”

Liz kept her expression serious, tipped her head, and tapped her lip. “I think she had him stuffed. Never know what’s in the basement.”

She couldn’t keep up the facade much longer. Her lip twitched.

“Funny, very funny, Doc. I’m fine with stuffed critters, but I’m bringing my gun just in case there are live animals you don’t know about.”

“Relax, Tigger is the only four-legged animal in the house.” She moved the bacon to a paper towel covered plate. “Breakfast is almost done. Why don’t you pour us some coffee and I’ll serve up the food?”

It seemed surreal to Liz as she sat with Jim at the dining table chatting and laughing as if they were a couple. She’d only met him a little over a week ago. A warm comfortable feeling filled her chest as she watched him chew his food. A vision of him sitting across from her with laugh lines and graying temples flashed behind her eyes. She choked on her eggs.

“You okay, Doc?” Concern shown clear in his eyes.

“Yup. It went down wrong.” She pounded a fist on her chest. Great, Liz. Nothing like projecting long-term love when all we have is an intense physical attraction.

He nodded and resumed his task consuming a full pound of bacon. She knew men loved bacon but had never seen it firsthand. Bacon, yeah, it was easier to think about America’s favorite breakfast meat than how much she liked the idea of Jim in years to come at her breakfast table.

As a psychologist, she didn’t believe at love at first sight. Lust, yes. A rush of endorphins––that was it. Chemicals released during one of the incredible orgasms last night had her thinking of fairy-tale endings. Liz snuck a peep at Jim from under her lashes. Yup, chemical release... that was her explanation, and she was sticking to it.

They finished their breakfast, loaded the dishwasher, and went downstairs. Doc may have been joking about the taxidermy pet, but Jim’s sidearm sat snug in his shoulder holster. She eyed his gun more than once as she led him to the storage room in the far corner of the basement.

“Does my gun make you nervous?”

A full-bodied laugh rolled from Doc’s lips. “I proved last night I can handle your gun.”

Heat crept up his neck, and the tug of a smile pulled at his cheek. “Yes, you did, but I meant the firearm.”

“Oh, that. No, I’m fine with guns. My father bought me a BB gun at age five.”

“There’s a little difference between a Daisy Red Ryder and my Glock.” How cute. She didn’t want him to see her nerves about the weapon. “It’s okay if you don’t feel comfortable around guns. But it’s a tool of my job and it could save your life.”

Doc stopped and turned. Placing her hands on her hips, she narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not scared of your Glock or any other gun you have. I can handle all of them.”

Jim bit his cheek. He doubted they had a shooting range at the prestigious college she attended. “Sure you can, Doc.”

Her chest puffed up, which drew his gaze. When she dropped her arms and her foot started tapping, he blinked and forced his line of sight up to her face. It was flushed and angry. Holy crap, she was so beautiful. A deep rose covered her cheeks and sparks flashed in her dark eyes. She crossed her arms under her breasts pushing them up into Jim’s peripheral vision. He fought the need to adjust himself.

“You don’t believe me?”

“No, no, I do.” Jim wiped a hand over his mouth. “What were we talking about?”

“Oh, you’re a typical man. We were talking about my skill with a firearm.”

His disbelief must have shown on his face, because her brows pulled in and her eyes became slits. If he didn’t know better, he would think his highly educated Doc might have coldcocked him. When he noticed her hands fisted, he stepped back. “Okay, fine. You know how to shoot. Can we look for your father’s things?”

At first, she didn’t move, but then she relaxed and her face changed to a sugary sweet expression.

“Well it has been a while since I slid my fingers around a hard stock of a gun.” She blinked, looking so innocent. It messed with his brain. “Tell you what, why don’t we go to the gun range. You could teach me all the things I need to know about your... Glock.”

She ran a pink tipped finger down the center of his chest, hooking it in the waistband of his jeans. Her gaze darted to his crotch before returning to his.

She had Jim so turned on that his usual warning bells had short circuited. But he still questioned if she was messing with him.

If she hadn’t shot a gun since she was a kid, she should have a safety refresher. “I think a day at the range is a good idea.”

Doc’s beautiful eyes widened and slid to the holster. “Mind if I hold it.”