Page 19 of Safe With Me

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On the way to a table, Pax couldn’t help but notice how cute Steph was in a one-piece denim thing that accented all her curves. She’d left her hair down and the strawberry blond shone in the waning October light. It was lovely. They sat at a round table in the yard.

“This is a great backyard,” he said. “They recently did the new addition and put in the pool.”

“It’s wonderful.” Steph grinned. “I love to swim.”

“Did you have a pool growing up?”

“Uh-huh. My brothers dunked me in it all the time.”

He laughed.

“Did you have one?”

Something else he didn’t want to remember. “No. We were poor and my mother barely could make ends meet.”

“How’d you get to college? And Med School?”

“A teacher inspired me and helped me apply for scholarships.”

“I’m glad you had her. Or him.”

“Let’s change the subject. What did you think of our little group yesterday?”

“I liked them all. I’ll bet you’re glad that the clinic is staffed now.”

“Yeah, it was a relief. I repainted the waiting area Thursday night after you all left and the furniture came today. It’s mostly in boxes.”

“First off, you shouldn’t be alone at the clinic. I could have stayed.”

“I wasn’t alone. A night guard was already in place and parked out front. There’s two of them and they split shifts.”

She cocked her head. “Do you want some help putting the furniture together?”

“I plan to do it tomorrow.”

“I’m free tomorrow.”

“You don’t have to babysit me.”

“I didn’t mean as a guard. I’m pretty good at putting things together. I even have my own tools.”

“You, young lady, are full surprises.”

Will approached them. With him was a lovely dark-haired, blue-eyed woman. Will asked, “Hey, you two, mind if we join you?”

“Not at all,” Steph answered.

Will said, “This is my wife, Katie. She’s a police officer so watch yourselves.”

They greeted each other, then Steph asked, “What do you do now that—” She pointed to her small baby bulge “-you can’t be in the field.”

“I’m training the younger officers. Believe it or not, it’s a full-time job.”

“That’s what happens in security, too,” Will put in. “And in the Secret Service.”

Steph’s expression was revealing as she asked about the pregnancy. He saw a longing there.

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