Page 2 of More Than a Hero
His expression shifted, something flickering in his eyes before he looked away. “No, I surely didn’t have one of those.”
The air changed, a subtle but noticeable tension settling between them. She had unintentionally wandered into unwelcome territory. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, sincerity in her voice.
His gaze swung back to her, sharper this time. He shook his head. “You don’t have to be sorry. I… just?—”
“Peter Bolton?”
They both turned at the sound of the pharmacy cashier calling his name. He exhaled, giving her an almost sheepish nod. “Sorry, Ms. Brown.”
“Angie, please.”
A small, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.
“I hope to see you again soon, Pete,” she said, meaning it.
“Same,” he replied, his voice low, before turning away.
She watched as he paid for his purchase, her gaze trailing him when he walked past her toward the door. He gave her a simple chin lift in goodbye before stepping outside.
Her shoulders sagged with a sigh. The one man who sparked something inside her was also the one who seemed utterly immune to her charms. She thought back to the first time she’d met him. She had first met Pete a few weeks ago when her friend Karen, the lead home health nurse, had called her.
“Angie? Hey, it's Karen. I have two detectives here with questions about some of the people who drive older patients around. Can they come talk to you now, or are you out in the field?”
Angie laughed and teasingly asked, “Are they single?”
She heard Karen relay the question, then return with, “They said yes. Anything else?”
“Are they hot?” Angie had chuckled.
Karen had laughed. “Yes, I can definitely say they’re nice-looking.”
“Well, if they're handsome, I’ll make time to see them this afternoon. And if they’re single, you can send them right over.”
When the detectives arrived, both men had been tall, well-built, and clad in full tactical gear with the ES DTF insignia. But it wasn’t the outgoing Jeremy who had captured her interest—it was the quiet, enigmatic Pete.
During the meeting, Jeremy had done most of the talking while Pete remained mostly silent, only speaking as he handed her a list of names. His voice had been steady, his words polite.
“Take your time, Ms. Brown. We know you’re busy and appreciate you seeing us on short notice.”
When she had teased him about being mysterious, batting her lashes dramatically, he hadn’t cracked a smile—but he had blushed from the collar of his shirt to his ears.
A few days later, he had called for more information, and on a whim, she had invited him to dinner. His answer had been noncommittal. “I’ll have to check my schedule.”
Normally, Angie would have let it go, but Jeremy later messaged her with a simple, "Don’t give up on my partner.”
She sighed once again as she blinked, realizing she was staring at the door through which Pete had left and was now long gone.
“Angie?”
She blinked, turning to see Thomas waving her over to the counter. Squaring her shoulders, she pushed Pete Bolton from her mind.For now.
By the time Angie pulled into the narrow driveway in front of her townhouse, a deep, familiar ache had settled into her knees, radiating with each subtle movement. She gripped the steering wheel tightly for a moment, inhaling deeply before letting out a slow breath. Long shifts were always hard, but today had been particularly brutal. Her limbs felt heavy, exhaustion woven into every fiber of her body.
With a slight wince, she leaned over, gathering her belongings—a well-worn leather satchel that housed her laptop, a crinkling pharmacy bag with the latest medication refill, and her purse, its strap slipping slightly as she shifted. Pushing open the door, she eased herself out of the car, careful not to jar her stiff joints too much.
The evening breeze cooled her skin as she made her way toward her front porch, the scent of freshly cut grass and the soft, lingering aroma of someone’s grilled dinner drifting on the breeze. The glow of a porch light flickered to life next door, and before she reached her steps, the familiar creak of a screen door opening caught her attention.
A warm smile spread across her face. “Hi, Grandma,” she called out.
