Page 127 of Crosshairs

He gingerly slid across the seat and swung his injured leg around. Not too bad. “Do you have time to pick up the crutches the doctor ordered?”

“I’ll get them for you tomorrow. They won’t be open now.”

That was right. He’d lost a whole afternoon. “I’m not sure how I’ll get into my apartment.”

“Before I came to the hospital, I ran by and grabbed my grandmother’s walker. That should do the trick for tonight.”

“Thanks.” He looked up into her eyes as she closed the passenger door and wished he hadn’t. Hope burned bright ... and something else. Expectation.

Linc wished he knew what to say. It wasn’t that he didn’t care for Sarah, because he did. She was Blake’s sister, but that’s the only way he’d ever seen her or ever would. He blew out a breath. It was a conversation he wasn’t up to right now.

Once Linc was settled in his apartment, he texted Ainsley he was home.

“She doesn’t love you,” Sarah said as she passed by him.

She’d read his text? “Sarah,” he said. Might as well get this over with. “I—”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have looked over your shoulder. I just don’t want you to get hurt. I know how that feels.” She fluffed a pillow and put it under his leg. “Can I get you something to drink? And I guess I need to get us something to eat. What would you like?”

“I don’t want anything to eat.” The meds had nauseated him.

“You really need to put something in your stomach.”

“How about a bowl of cereal if there’s any milk.”

“Cereal? What kind of supper is that?”

“The kind I want, and I’ll fix it.”

“No.” She held her hand out as if to stop him. “If that’s what you want, I’ll do it.”

When she brought him the cereal, he said, “Why don’t you go on home.”

“But—”

“No, really. I appreciate everything you’ve done, but I need to be alone.”

Her shoulders drooped. “It’s her, isn’t it? Ainsley.”

“No. I’m tired. I’m not used to anyone being here. That’s all.”

Her jaw hardened, then her whole face changed, softening. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be a pest.” She laughed. “That’s what Blake always called me.”

“You’re not a pest,” he said. “And I really do appreciate what you’ve done today.”

“All right, you win. But if you need me tonight, call any time. Okay?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said.

“I’ll bring you breakfast, then pick up your crutches.”

He couldn’t win. “Thank you.”

She stopped at the door and turned around. “I hope you sleep well.”

The yearning in her face almost undid him.

66

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