Page 81 of Protect My Heart

Amy pushed off his desk. “It sounds like you need dinner. I got the late shift, so I better go, but if I think of something, I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks.”

Larson was right. He need food and wanted to see Doc. He looked at his watch. “Crap, I’m late.”

He closed down his computer and headed out.

Driving was a challenge. Gritting his teeth, he maneuvered his way into the driver’s seat. He dropped his head to the steering wheel. It would feel amazing to stretch out this evening. He knew going into the station for the day set his recovery back at least two, but he needed to do it. Maybe he’d let CJ interview Sampson without him tomorrow, because he didn’t want to miss Finden’s bail hearing. He turned the key and pulled out into traffic. He’d wait and see how he felt.

He hit the first bump and a curse flew from his mouth. The pain pill couldn’t come soon enough. He spent the rest of the drive concentrating on getting to Doc’s place without crashing every time he hit a pothole.

The house smelled amazing when he hobbled in. Spices he couldn’t name made his mouth water. The kitchen was empty. He lifted the lid on the pot and spooned a taste. Delicious.

Time to find the cook. He rounded the corner to the hall and heard voices. Was someone else here?

“I can’t wait to see you again, Claire.” Doc’s voice floated to where he stood out of sight.

Claire was the friend from Virginia. She must be on speakerphone.

“A couple more weeks, right? I’m so excited.”

“I was looking at flights today.”

“I talked to my landlord. The apartment across the hall from me is still open. I gave him your name.”

The news slammed Jim back against the wall. The pain in his hip was nothing compared to the one in his chest. Doc was leaving.

He couldn’t really blame her after all that had happened... But, what about them? Was there a them? She said she hadn’t taken the job offer, but had she changed her mind? No, he must have heard wrong.

Jim rounded the corner. Doc’s brown eyes widened at the sight of him.

She was leaving. Her face confirmed it. Was she going to tell him?

His stomach pitched and his chest fell. He clenched his fists and inhaled a breath twice the normal size. Curses spilled from his mouth. He wanted to rail at her. How dare she make him love her and then leave? Was she planning to sneak out in the middle of the night with his heart like a thief?

Accusations filled his mind, but only pleas lay on the tip of his tongue. Stay. Don’t leave.

He wouldn’t let them fall, couldn’t. With one shake of his head, he turned and left.

Chapter 23

Shit, shit, shit. Liz’s face froze when she saw Jim’s expression. “Claire, I gotta go.”

“So soon? We just started talking. I haven’t even told you about the cute kitchen in the apartment.”

When she heard her friend’s excited voicemail, she knew she needed to let her know she wasn’t taking the job. She had been pricing airfare for her and Jim to visit Claire. She wanted to tell her friend in person she wasn’t taking the position. After their ordeal on Tuesday, she figured they both could use a vacation. Jim should be healed up enough to travel in a few weeks.

Now, she questioned her plans. She needed to talk to Jim, to explain she wasn’t leaving. How could she? She loved him.

“You’re getting carried away. I said I was coming to visit but I hadn’t accepted the job.” She was taking a chance on them. Jim better not throw in the towel before she could even tell him.

“Claire.” Liz sighed. “Thank you for thinking of me, but I’m declining the job. I really have to go.”

Liz rushed to the door in time to see Jim’s truck back out of the driveway. For an injured man he sure could move when he wanted to. She had to turn off the oven and go after him. But first she needed to get Claire off the phone. God love her, she had always been a talker.

“Who is he? Is it the cop you texted me about?”

Liz stopped midway to the kitchen. “How did you—”