Page 104 of Stockman's Stormcloud

‘Now you do. Just know that Dex and I are just friends.’

‘You two have a lot in common. And I’m sorry for…’Being an idiot.‘I’m sorry.’

‘Apology accepted.’ Bree even shared a friendly wink.

It was enough for Sophie to slide into the seat beside Bree. ‘Is Dex going to fight?’

Bree nodded. ‘I was hoping you’d talk him out of it.’

‘I was hoping you’d do that.’

They smiled at each other. It was tiny, but it was there.

‘I see you care about Dex, who deserves something good in his life. And I believe you’re that piece of the puzzle he’s been missing.’

‘Really?’

‘I saw how he was when I first brought him in, the night we met in that emergency room.’ Bree pointed at the open doors that led to the empty ER. ‘Dex couldn’t stop watching you, even when he was in pain… You know he has a special pet name for you.’

‘It’s not…’ She closed her eyes, trying to ignore Bree’s grin.

‘Nurse Kitty.’

A giggle escaped her lips, scrunching her toes at the memory of the way Dex whispered that name in her ear.

Again, she turned to face Bree. ‘I’m sorry for thinking so badly of you, but you can be so bossy.’

‘Ihave to be. That old man and those four brothers will do something stupid if someone isn’t getting in their face, reigning them in.’

‘I get it.’ Sophie sat back, feeling like a total fool for thinking so wrongly of Bree. ‘What’s wrong with Charlie?’

‘Bad heart.’

‘We have a skilled surgeon—’

‘Already tried that, but the old man has refused surgery. If you think you can talk him into it, go for it. But ever since Pop hit eighty—’

‘Is Charlie that old?’

‘Older. He’s eighty-two.’

‘I’d never realised.’

‘As a nurse, I bet you’re fully aware that at Charlie’s age there’s a huge list of risky complications, plus the promise of a longer recovery time, if Charlie allowed them to operate.’

‘Charlie won’t do it?’

Bree shook her head. ‘My grandfather is so dead against it, he’s put aDo Not Resuscitateorder on his medical file.’

‘And you’re okay with that?’ It was common for patients of Charlie’s age to request one. Normally, it was the patient’s families who struggled the most with that decision. Like she struggled with Dex’s decision to put himself at risk, to fight for what he believed in.

Bree shrugged. But just for a moment, Sophie spotted the chink in the redhead’s armour. Bree was worried for her grandfather—no, Bree lookedscared.

‘So, I hear Dex gave you an ultimatum.’ The change of subject allowed the redhead to quickly hide her fears deep behind that sassy façade.

‘I don’t want Dex to fight.’ Sophie would rather run than fight, and really she had nothing to fight for—not anymore. ‘But I can understand why he’s doing it. Is there any way we can stop this?’

‘I’m working on it,’ said Bree. ‘Unless you have any ideas?’

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