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Maybe it would work.
* * *
Were those tears in McKenzie’s eyes?
He’d stopped by the dictation room because he’d wanted to assure himself she was okay. Not to cause fresh tears in her beautiful eyes.
Which was what he’d managed to do.
He should have just kept walking, kept with the status quo of going the opposite direction when she was near.
But he hadn’t. Now how was he supposed to quit being haunted by memories of her tears when he had another reminder?
When he’d triggered her tears with his prying?
Seeing her upset undid his insides, made him feel as if he’d wronged her by saying no.
McKenzie’s breakup with Paul wasn’t his problem.
Her trip home wasn’t his problem.
So, why were his feet refusing to walk away?
Why was he wondering how difficult it would be to rearrange his hospital and clinic schedules?
“You’re sure hiring a date for a weekend away is safe?”
Because he did not like the idea of a hired stranger being with her for an entire weekend.
Without turning to look at him, she shrugged. “It’s not something that I’ve any experience with, but I plan to do my homework prior to finalizing which company and escort I go with.”
Ignoring that he still stood there, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number from the computer screen.
“Hello? I’d like to make an appointment to possibly hire a date for next weekend.” Pause. “Yes, for the entire weekend. If I decide to go with your company, it’ll involve being with me around the clock and traveling out-of-state.”
Hearing her say the words out loud, hearing the break in her voice, the resigned desperation but determination to proceed with this crazy idea of hers in her tone, left Ryder’s insides cold.
He couldn’t let her do it.
No way could he walk away and leave her at the mercy of whomever the agency set her up with. What if the guy exploited her vulnerability? Or was a serial killer?
Ryder didn’t consider himself any sort of a white knight, but his mother had raised him better than to stand by and watch a woman set herself up to be taken advantage of.
Nope. Not happening.
Walking over to her, heart pounding at what he was about to do, he took the phone from her and disconnected the call.
“Hey!” she fussed, reaching for her phone back. “What did you do that for?”
Hoping he didn’t live to regret what he was about to agree to, Ryder handed over her phone. “You’re not hiring someone to take you.”
Her chin lifted. “Excuse me? I’m a grown woman and can do whatever I choose.”
Ryder admired the flash of fire in her green gaze. “Sorry. I should rephrase that.”
He took a deep breath, assured himself that he was doing only what any decent person would do, that he had no residual feelings for McKenzie, and that he was completely safe from falling under her spell again because he didn’t do rebound relationships.
No getting involved with someone who was already emotionally involved with someone else, whether that was an active relationship, or one recently ended.
