Page 18 of Christmas in the Shadows

Then Patrick got busy.

Patrick . . . the man Tex was supposed to find out information on. To help. To protect.

Maybe this would be a good time to get started.

“So you stayed in town?” Tex asked, watching as the doctor sewed up Chelsea’s wound.

“I did. Dr. Murphy said I could buy his practice from him, and I figured where else was I going to get an offer like that only four years out of med school?”

“True. I’m still impressed you made it through med school. Good job.”

“It wasn’t easy. I won’t talk about the loans I’ll be paying on for two decades. But I did graduate.”

“Congratulations.” Tex pointed at his hand. “I don’t see a ring on your finger. You’re telling me the town doctor hasn’t snagged someone yet?”

“I’m working on it,” he murmured.

Tex stole at glance at Chelsea, but her eyes remained closed.

It was probably better that way.

“Maybe we could get together sometime while I’m in town,” Tex said. “And catch up. Maybe tomorrow? Do you have a lunch break?”

Patrick continued to put the stitches in. “I could probably do coffee. It would be nice to catch up and see what you’ve been up to. I didn’t expect to see you in Holly Ridge again.”

“I didn’t expect to be here again. You ever hear from any of the other guys?”

Patrick fumbled the needle, and Chelsea muttered, “Ouch!”

That was a feat, considering she was numbed up.

“Sorry,” Patrick said. “Not sure what happened just there. But, to answer your question, yes, I do talk to some of them on occasion. You?”

“No, I’ve pretty much stayed out of touch with people.”

It had been better that way. But Tex didn’t say those words aloud. Not everyone needed to know his business. Needed to know what a dangerous position he often put himself in.

With that danger, it also meant that other people around him had to be careful. He never wanted to put someone he truly cared about in the line of fire.

So he’d stayed away. Hadn’t offered any explanations. It had been easier that way.

But that didn’t mean Tex wasn’t full of regrets—and longing, for that matter.

Leaving everything behind hadn’t been hard.

But leaving Chelsea behind had been brutal.

“There you go,” Patrick announced as he placed a bandage over the stitches. “All done.”

Chelsea’s eyes popped opened, and she glanced at her hand, flexing her fingers.

“Thank you.”

“Keep it clean, and if you see any signs of infection, come back to me.”

“Will do.” As Chelsea hopped down from the exam table, Tex took her elbow to keep her steady, just in case. Shehadjust passed out.

But he had to admit another part of him craved being closer to her. Smelling the peppermint and cinnamon that seemed to waft from her.

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