Page 6 of Hidden Hero

“Now that sounds like a vacation.” He chuckled.

“Do you have anything special planned for the weekend?” her mother asked.

“I wasn’t scheduled to work tomorrow but still have to go in. There was a car accident, and the two adults who were killed only have relatives out of town. They are coming in tomorrow, so I’ll work with them.”

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry,” her mother said.

“Don’t be sorry for me,” Cora said. “It’s always the family that I’m thinking about.”

“I sometimes think that if you had just stayed in research, you would be spared this part of your job,” her dad admitted.

“Dad, you’re the one who deals with patients and families constantly.”

They spent several minutes looking at their calendars, comparing work schedules and deciding when to meet. By the time the call was over, the sun had set, and the evening shadows had crept to the back of her house. It didn’t take long to clean the kitchen, and Cora poured a glass of wine before checking all the doors to ensure they were secure.

As she carried her glass down the hall toward the bedroom, she thought of how nice it would be to have a pet. However, she was afraid to get a dog because her working hours were often unpredictable. Determined to check out the kittens and cats at the local shelter, she settled in for the evening.

She finished her wine as she read, then brushed her teeth before climbing back into bed. But sleep didn’t come quickly. When she finally turned off the light, her mind betrayed her, filling with thoughts of a certain detective. His blue eyes were sharp and full of mischief, and his lips curved into that maddening smirk.

Cora groaned softly, rolling over and burying her face in the pillow. Yet as she drifted into a restless sleep, those same blue eyes followed her into her dreams.

4

Jeremy pulled into his driveway, killing the engine as he let out a long sigh. Thoughts of Cora Wadsworth replayed like a broken record in his mind.Why can’t I get anything right around her?He knew the answer—he kept saying the wrong damn thing.

Climbing out of the car, he shook his head. He wasn’t used to this feeling of frustration. Women typically noticed and responded to him. He’d receive compliments on his blue eyes, the charm of his crooked smile, or the way his hair seemed just tousled enough were par for the course. And in his younger years, that attention had been enough to get his blood pumping and fire him up for a night of fun.

But now? He couldn’t even remember his last casual fling. His thoughts were consumed by the one woman who didn’t give him the time of day unless it was to call him out or brush him off.

He couldn’t shake the image of her, though. Cora’s natural beauty stopped him in his tracks every time. Her shiny dark hair was always pulled into a tight bun, not a strand out of place, and he wondered how soft it would be hanging down her back. She didn’t wear much makeup, but her smooth complexion, the faint flush of her cheeks, and her naturally rosy lips didn’t need any enhancement. Even her glasses, which changed frames from black to red to clear, caught his attention.

Why doesn’t she wear contacts?he mused as he unlocked the door and stepped inside. Maybe the glasses were her way of asserting individuality when her scrubs and PPE left no room for personal expression. He made a mental note to see if she ever switched up the colors again.

Walking into his house, he looked down at the gray cat circling between his legs. Bending, he scratched her head. “Hey, Tommy Girl, did you miss me?”

Her typical response was a loud meow, and he scooped her up, holding her close as he ran his hand along her soft fur. “Let’s get some food.”

In the kitchen, he placed her food dish on the floor, then pulled out his phone. Punching in the number, he grinned as it was almost immediately answered. “Hey, darlin’.”

“Hey, big bro. How’s it going?”

Before he could answer, he heard the shouts of kids in the background. His sister must have lifted the phone away from her face as she yelled, “You two had better behave! I’m on the phone with Uncle Jeremy. Behave for the next ten minutes, or I’ll make you eat all the broccoli!”

He laughed, hearing his sister threaten her children with the exact words their mother had used many years before when he and his sister were fighting.

“Okay, I’m back. Sorry about that. How are you?” she asked, her voice calmer now.

“I’m good. I just thought I’d call to check in with you. I talked to Mom last weekend, but I knew you were busy running the kids to sports and activities.”

“I swear, it seems like all I ever do is run these kids around. I don’t know if I’m a mom or a taxi driver!”

Laughing, he said, “You love it.”

“Yep, I do,” she agreed. “Anyway, I’m going to have to wrangle these kids into dinner as soon as Chase gets home from work.”

“There’s nothing new going on with me. I just wanted to check in.”

“I’m looking forward to the day you tell me you have something new going on, such as meeting somebody special. I hate thinking of you all alone.”

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