Page 43 of Tacos & Toboggans
“For a chance to see the snack shack? Absolutely.”
My snort was loud in the quiet morning. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”
“It’s a great name. I’m just teasing you, but I’d love to ride along. I promise to stay out of your hair while you’re working. I can tour the store and walk among the trees.”
“Come on then,” I said, motioning him toward me.
He held up his finger and disappeared inside. I assumed to grab his coat, so I climbed into my car and fired it up to let the heat run and steal the chill from the air. When he walkedto the car a few minutes later, I noticed his gait was smoother and the smile was firmly back on his face. That was good. Whatever the problem had been last night, he’d resolved it.
Once he was settled in the seat with his belt on, he offered me a winning smile. “Thanks for the invitation. Have you eaten?”
“No, wasn’t feeling it this morning.”
“Are you ill?” he asked, his hand on my shoulder in concern.
“Not at all,” I assured him. “Mostly, I was mad I didn’t bring a cinnamon roll home from the bakery last night.”
His laughter was accompanied by a grin. “I’m sad about it now, too. How about stopping for a roll and coffee before we head to the farm? Do we have enough time?”
Something he’d said floated through my head, and I turned to him. “Have you been to Crystal’s Coffee Bar? You mentioned a few weeks ago that you haven’t stopped in.”
“Not yet. The last few times I’ve been by it, they were closed.”
I shifted the car into reverse and steered it in that direction. “We’ll go there. Her Brown Bear Honey Latte is so amazing, and she sells rolls from the bakery there as well.”
“Two birds, one stop. I’m sold. Lead on.”
“Did you solve your patient’s problem last night?” I no longer had to specify that I knew he couldn’t give me details about the patient, but we’d fallen into an easy way to discuss his work without revealing specifics.
“It was a complicated case as this wasn’t the first, or even the fifth, time they’d popped the hip out. After discussing it with the patient, we decided that I would perform a revision with a smaller cup. That’s the part that holds the ball of the femur to your pelvis.” I nodded, so he continued. “And then I had to do some repair of their muscles and tendons, but I think they’ll have much better success with it now.”
“I didn’t know you could do all that once you had it replaced,” I said, searching for a parking spot by the coffee shop. It was always busy on the weekends, and today was no different.
“Everyone responds to joint replacements differently, and this patient had other conditions that made it harder for their muscles and tendons to hold the joint in place. One of my specialties is joint replacement revisions.”
Hearing him sayone of my specialtiesmade me grimace. I was delusional to think he had any interest in me beyond being a friend. I prayed my face remained neutral.
“I’m glad you were able to help them,” I said instead, finding a spot and slipping my Subaru into it.
“And I’m glad you were able to get a ride home last night,” he said, squeezing my shoulder. “I was worried until you texted me that you were home.”
“No need to worry in Bells Pass,” I promised, smiling before we climbed out of the car. “Someone is always ready to lend a hand.”
“Like the girl gang,” he said, coming up alongside me and taking my right hand as we walked across the street. I glanced down at it but resisted the urge to pull it away. He helped me up onto the sidewalk, and we headed for the coffee bar.
“To name a few,” I agreed while laughing. “Fair warning, the shop will be busy, but it will be worth the wait.”
“I’ve got a beautiful woman by my side, so I am not in a rush,” he assured me, dropping my hand to grab the door handle. Before he could open it, we heard a voice from the sidewalk.
“Jaelyn!”
When I turned, Mayor Tottle was hurrying toward me, waving something in the air. His signature tan trench coat was blowing in the wind, and his face was ruddy from the crisp morning air. We stepped out of the way of the door and walked toward him, meeting him on the sidewalk.
“Mayor Tottle,” I said when he reached us. “I assume you know Major Warren?”
“Of course, of course,” he said, shaking Major’s hand. Major’s other hand was braced at the small of my back, which I liked a little bit too much to be smart. His heat soaked into me and gave me a taste of what it would be like to touch him unencumbered. “How are you this morning?”
“I’ve got fresh, crisp air to breathe and a beautiful woman by my side. Once I’ve got a cup of coffee in my hand, there won’t be a thing to complain about,” Major answered.
