Page 79 of Protect My Heart

“Ugh!” She blew out her frustration. Her hands flopped on the bed.

With a chuckle, he pulled his shirt over his head, gave her a slow, thorough kiss, and pushed off the bed. “I’m not letting a little thing like a gunshot slow me down. Besides, CJ’s waiting for me. I’ll call you later.”

“At least use the crutches.” Her frustrated huff followed him out the door.

Doc would be happy, he thought as he gimped his way into the station twenty minutes later on his crutches—a blowup donut under his arm.

“Lookin’ good, Swenson.” Bob Peterson pulled his chair out for him. “I see you came prepared. Where can I get me one of those cushy things?”

“Here, let me shoot you in the ass. Then you can have one, too.” Ryan Daniels slapped Peterson in the back on his way by. He took the crutches while Jim eased down on the cushion. “Shouldn’t you be at home letting that sexy Doctor Garcia wait on you? It might be the only time it happens.”

“I couldn’t lay around anymore. Besides, the warden’s bail hearing is tomorrow. The last thing I want is for him to walk free. I saw the crazy in that man’s eyes.”

CJ strolled in, removed his coat and dropped into his chair across from Jim. “Hey, don’t you think you should be resting.”

Jim rolled his eyes. “Not you, too. I’m fine.”

“It’s not every day you’re shot in the ass.” CJ stifled a laugh but didn’t hide his smirk.

“We’re just lucky the bullet missed his brains.” Peterson doubled over at his own joke.

“Hardy har har.” With a middle finger salute, Jim ended the conversation. Daniels and Peterson chuckled as they walked away.

“We might as well get to work.” CJ booted up his laptop then turned to Jim. “Hey, I’m glad you’re alright.”

“Thanks. Me, too.”

The rest of the morning was spent sifting through old files from O’Roarke’s and Finden’s military days. Finden had a few minor infractions but nothing that would be worth killing for. He hadn’t unearthed one shred of information that would help the case. Dropping his head to his hands, he slumped over his desk.

His phone beeped. Doc’s number appeared. A moment of panic zinged through his chest. “Doc?”

“Do you like pork or chicken?”

“To eat or as a pet?”

“Very funny. Never mind, I’ll surprise you. Tigger and I are heading to Mami’s, I know where everything is in her kitchen. Dinner’s at six.”

His lips curved up as he pictured Doc all domestic in an apron stirring a pot of something delicious. “What’ll you be wearing?”

Her voice dropped to a sultry whisper. “You’ll have to be there to find out.”

He shifted in his seat. A twinge of pain cut through his fantasy. Yeah, he was a caveman, but he didn’t care. Doc would be smokin’ hot as a domestic goddess. Then again, she was sexy as hell no matter what she wore.

“Don’t be late.” She disconnected.

Jim stared at the phone for a moment. Tuesday had been the worst day of his life. When Doc had been abducted, he didn’t think he could live through the pain that ripped through him. And when he saw her standing in that parking lot with a gun pointed at her, he couldn’t get to her fast enough. But the joy and peace that settled over him when she lay in his arms that night healed all the hurt and raw emotion that had carved at his insides all day.

He never thought he’d love someone again as he had Kari.

He hadn’t—this was different. More. Kari had owned a piece of his heart but Doc... she had the whole messy thing. God help her.

“Hey, take a look at this.” CJ turned his monitor so Jim could see it.

The news clip played, dated two weeks before O’Roarke’s medical discharge. A roadside bomb killed six soldiers and wounded three more. Sergeant Richard Finden’s youthful face filled the screen. A microphone shoved in his face.

“Sergeant Finden, they’re calling you a hero. You saved two of your fellow platoon members. What went through your mind at the time?” The reporter asked.

“I couldn’t say. I saw O’Roarke and Sampson in the twist of metal that had been their Humvee and my training kicked in.” He turned to go.