Page 35 of Every Rose

Chapter Twelve

Rose was jogging beside the river at Waterfront park the next morning, heading toward the Steel bridge when James’s call came in. It was a glorious day, sunny and warm enough to be outside, but not too warm. Perfect jogging weather. She’d worked up to a nice rhythm and was pounding along happily, refusing to let her mind veer to the strange incidents of the night before, the call from Matt and the searing kiss.

The only reason she had her phone with her was because she’d downloaded an app that tracked her mileage and speed and let her compete against herself. She always tried to run a little faster, a little further, as though she could outrun herself.

Most calls she’d let go to voice mail. Not this one. She slowed to a stop and answered. “Hey, bro.”

“Sis. How’s it going?”

“Good. You sound remarkably cheerful for a man who was on a pub-crawl until the wee hours last night.”

“How do you know we were out until the wee hours?”

Damn. Trust a detective to figure out she had knowledge she shouldn’t possess. “I assumed you would be. That’s why I told the minibus driver to be prepared to put in some overtime.” That sounded reasonable and was also true.

James clearly found it reasonable too, for he said, “Yeah. We went way later than I thought.”

“You sound good, though. Cheerful even. I bet a few of the boys aren’t feeling so good this morning.” One in particular she could think of.

“Ah, boys have to let loose sometimes. It was a good group, though. Glad I went.”

He had to be calling her for some reason. “Any good gossip you want to share?”

There was a tiny pause and she thought, aha, he has something, but he said, “Nah. Can’t break the guy code.”

She rolled her eyes. “You mean you can’t remember a thing.”

He laughed. “When did you turn into a prude? Speaking of which, what did I interrupt you from? Hot sex? You’re panting.”

Her imagination immediately flashed to an image of her and Matt, naked and entwined. She snapped the image shut as though clicking out of a porn site she’d accidentally stumbled onto on her laptop. “If I were having hot sex would I answer the phone?”

“Depends who was calling.”

She laughed again. “Such an egotist. As a matter of fact, I’m running.” She checked the stats on her app and grimaced. “Scratch that. I’m jogging. Slowly.” A couple of chatting moms jogged by pushing strollers, no doubt going twice the speed she’d managed. She really needed to get back to a more regular fitness schedule. A couple walking a dog whose short little legs could barely keep up with them came toward her.

“I called to see if you have a date to Harvey’s wedding.”

“It’s not the high school prom, James. A woman doesn’t have to have a date.”

She could hear his smile. “So, that’s a no, then.”

“That would be a no. I’m in the wedding party, so I’d end up dumping my date most of the time anyway.” And why was she explaining her dateless state to her little brother exactly?

“I was thinking I could be your date.”

“You’re going to Theresa and Harvey’s wedding?” Like all of them, James guarded his free time. Why would he want to go to the wedding of people he barely knew?

“Thinking about it. Harvey asked me last night. He’s a good guy. Might want to get to know him better. And I didn’t really know Theresa growing up but we’re from the same town. Plus, I can drive you home after.”

“I was going to call a cab to get home. But, sure. Thanks. If you end up going, you’ve got a date.” She was happy to think she could get a ride home with her brother, but had to wonder if the real attraction to the wedding was one very pretty, very waif-like bridesmaid.

She ended the call and rolled her shoulders. She had one week until the wedding and she was determined to fit into her dress in the most flattering way possible.

“Okay, running app, I am going to kick your butt,” she promised, putting her ear buds in once more and pounding off down the path.

* * *

Rose had no reason to go to Pacific Crest hospital. She had no patients having babies or surgery. This was a good thing, she decided. She got on with her work. The work of ear infections, bladder infections, skin infections, eye infections, flu bugs, car accidents, pregnancies, and all the bumps and bruises of life. A few of her patients insisted on searching out their symptoms online and diagnosing themselves with everything from advanced cancer to Parkinson’s disease. Fortunately, her advanced cancer case turned out to be heartburn and instead of Parkinson’s, her elderly patient was suffering from anxiety since her only son had lost his job.

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