Page 19 of Every Rose

James spoke up. “We’re very grateful.” He held out his hand.

They shook hands and Matt said, “I’m guessing you’re the brother who’s a cop.”

James grinned, “Uniform gave me away, huh?”

“Yeah.”

Rose said, “I was hoping you could help Matt get into Fennimen’s shooting range for a stag party he’s organizing.”

“For the guy who saved my dad’s life? I can do better than that. I teach firearms. If you like, I’ll give you guys a lesson. When I give a lesson, we get the entire place to ourselves.”

Matt looked as excited as a guy who’s been in surgery for fourteen hours can look. “That is awesome! Thanks.”

Rose stood back and watched the male bonding taking place before her eyes. She had a feeling those two were going to like each other. Both worked hard at jobs involving saving lives, and both had a goofy side. She shook her head, glad to have a second to regroup.

When Matt had emerged from the operating room and she’d seen on his face that the news was good, all she’d wanted to do was to throw herself into his arms for a big, warm hug.

Rose had a real problem with that impulse.

One: She didn’t do vulnerable.

Two: She didn’t do doctors.

And there was no way she could deny that she was becoming dangerously attracted to the scruffy surgeon.

Daphne and James and Marguerite headed in to see Jack, but Rose waited. Matt had lines of fatigue around his eyes and she knew he’d pushed himself to his limit. Because she’d asked him to.

“Thank you,” she said. “I had no right to ask you to stay.”

He stood there for a moment as though searching for words. After glancing around to make sure they couldn’t be overheard, he said, “I wouldn’t let Ogilvie operate on my dog.”

“I still had no right to ask you to stay.”

“You’re welcome.” Then he touched her arm. “Go see your dad.”

“And you go get some sleep.”

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