Page 74 of Break My Fall

“Lucy told me.”

Meredith’s brow crinkled. “It’s not like her to talk about patients—”

“Oh, she didn’t. Not specifically. She said you had an emergency first thing and that it threw your whole morning off. And then Aunt Minnie told me you were behind by two patients.” He held up two fingers the way Aunt Minnie had.

Meredith’s shoulders dropped. “Yeah. It’s been busy.” She stepped in and put the phone on his desk, then took three steps back. “Anyway, here’s your phone. And, um...” She pointed to the paperbush blossoms in the bud vase on his desk. “Thank you for the flowers. I’ll return the vase to Landry.”

Her words hurt, but he didn’t think she’d meant for them to. “The vase is yours, Meredith. I got it for you.”

“Oh.”

Was she surprised? Pleased? He wanted to think she was, but he wasn’t sure.

“Well, it’s perfect for the blossoms. Thank you.” She nodded, turned, and all but ran from his presence.

He stared after her. That could have gone better.

But it could have gone worse.

Meredith Quinn spoke to him. She didn’t yell. She said thank you. He looked out his window in time to see Meredith, Aunt Minnie, and Lucy walking up the street.

Meredith usually let Aunt Minnie choose where she wanted to go for lunch, and she typically chose pizza or the coffee shop because they made a mean grilled cheese. He watched as the women paused to admire a puppy, then continued on until they went into Mountain Brew.

He’d been debating what his next step would be in his win-Meredith-over plans. But thinking about coffee and Meredith’s love for all creamers and milks and toppings and syrups, he had a flash of inspiration. Unfortunately, it would have to wait until tomorrow.

Tonight, he had to go talk to an undercover agent.

Nine hours later, he stood hidden in the woods surrounding Gossamer Falls. The public parking area at the trailhead held seven cars. When Gray finished meeting with the agent he was here to see, he’d have to bust up the party.

He recognized two of the cars. Those kids’ parents would not be pleased to know that their children were continuing the tradition of bringing their dates to the falls for some late-night canoodling.

He smiled at the memory of Granny Quinn using that word when she told him that each generation thought they were on to something new, but that John Quinn Sr. had taken her for a moonlight walk at the falls when he was courting her.

He’d been sure she was kidding. Papa Quinn had pastored a Gossamer Falls church for decades.

“You young people think you’re the only ones who know anything about romance. You look at us old people and assume we’re clueless.” She’d tsked at him. “How do you think you got here in the first place? Hmm?”

Papa Quinn had walked by as she said that, and the look thatpassed between them wasn’t what anyone would call sultry or steamy, but it was intimate and powerful. The kind of look a man shared with the woman he’d chosen not once, but over and over again, and the one he would continue to choose until death parted them.

“Catherine, don’t embarrass the boy.” Papa Quinn winked at her, then turned his attention to Gray. “What my bride failed to mention is that the moonlight walk was her idea.” He waggled his eyebrows, and Gray couldn’t decide if he was amused or horrified.

“Oh, you rascal.” Granny blushed. She actually blushed! And when the laughter faded, the conversation shifted to other matters.

The memory of those two warmed Gray as he waited, his rear freezing into ice as he rested on a large boulder. What would it be like to share a lifetime of memories with a woman? To flirt and laugh and tease about the shenanigans you got up to in your youth and then transition seamlessly into gloating about the accomplishments of your grandchildren?

He wanted that.

A figure emerged to his left. Gray glanced in that direction only long enough to confirm that the man was alone and not under duress. After that, he kept his focus straight ahead. He knew little about the undercover agent. He wasn’t even sure if the name they’d given him was his real name. On the off chance that itwas, Gray made a point to never use it. He wouldn’t do anything to risk the man’s life.

They were far enough away from the waterfall that his hearing wasn’t compromised, and his visitor made no effort to disguise his movements. Gray heard him take a spot on the rock behind him.

“Sorry I’m late.” The gruff voice was low. “I made a few laps around. Based on what I saw, no one out here will disturb us.”

Tonight, there was a group near the water. They’d brought speakers and were slow dancing by the river. Gray hadn’t noticedanyone doing anything inappropriate, but the night was still young. He’d chase them out before anything went too far. “Agreed.”

To his left, he saw the man drop a stack of papers on the rock. Gray scooped them up, folded them, and tucked them in his jacket. “Do you need out?”

“No.”

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