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“From a man?”
“From my mother,” she corrected. “She gave it to me for my graduation. That I’ve lost it breaks my heart.” Her voice broke as she made the admission.
“We’ll check the Jeep when we get back to the parking area. Maybe we’ll find it.”
* * *
Please let it be here. Please let it be here.
Riley ran her hands around the edge of the passenger seat, checking beneath it. Nothing.
“It’s not here.”
“I’m sorry, Riley. I’d hoped it would be so I could play hero and give it back.”
“If you found my necklace I’d definitely think you were a hero.”
He turned back to the Jeep. “Let’s look some more.”
She shook her head. “Wishing isn’t going to make it suddenly appear.”
Still, he checked over everything on the passenger side one more time.
“Thanks for checking, though.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll look when I get home and give you a call if I find it.”
“I—Okay, that would be great.”
“I’ll need your number.” He studied her. “Is that okay?”
“I—Sure. I guess so.”
“If you hand me your phone, I’ll dial mine. That way you can send me those pictures.”
“That’s fine.”
She took her phone from around her waist, but didn’t hand it over. Couldn’t hand it over.
“Riley...?”
Taking a deep breath, she thrust the phone his way. “Here. Just take it and get it done.”
Staring at her a bit oddly, he punched in his number and hit “dial.” His phone began ringing. He pressed the stop button, then handed her phone back.
“Now, no excuses. Call me anytime.”
Riley slid her phone back into the pouch. She wouldn’t be calling Justin. He was much too dangerous to her sanity and well-being for her to have anything more to do with him.
“Come on, Daisy,” she said to the dog. “Let’s go home.”
* * *
Justin sought Riley the moment he entered the operating room. Funny how, when everyone was dressed in the same surgical scrubs and protective wear, his gaze still went to her in instant recognition, as if he felt her presence as much as saw it.
The surgical crew today was identical to
the previous day’s. That didn’t always happen, but Justin liked this group. They worked well together.
