Page 39 of Broken Dreams

“Yeah, that's what she said, too. And therein lies the problem. Like I said, I understand both sides of this.” He followed Alec’s gaze, then sucked in a quick breath. Cuddling Ben close, Amber’s face held nurturing expression. One that he could easily envision her bestowing on her own child. His child.

Their child.

Wait a minute, where had that thought sprung from?

He wasn't ready to have kids, not by a long shot. He couldn't even support himself. He swallowed hard and glanced away. He wasn't ready for children, or marriage for that matter. But if there ever came a time for him to want a child of his own, he couldn't imagine a better mother than Amber.

“I have to go.” He dug the key fob from his pocket and handed it to Alec. “She borrowed your car, right? I’m sure you’ll give Amber a ride home.”

Alec stared at him for a moment. “How are you going to get back to your hotel?”

Nick shrugged. “I'll call a ride share.”

“I'll drive you. I have a police cruiser parked outside.” Alec leaned over to his father, who was sitting next to his wife. Nick couldn't hear what Alex said, but then he straightened, and turned toward the door. “Let's go.”

He hesitated and glanced at Amber, but she was preoccupied with the child in her arms. She was knee deep in conversation with her family and he didn't think it was prudent to interrupt. He had no business being here. Clearly, this was a family matter. He turned and followed Alec outside.

Once they were settled in the cruiser, Alec said, “So, tell me more about this guy Roland.” Alec turned down the sound of the volume of his police radio as he pulled out into traffic. “Where can I find him?”

“At the VA hospital.” Nick raised a brow. “You can't do anything about Roland if Amber won't press charges.”

“That may not be the case, depending on what he did to her.” Alex sent him an enigmatic sidelong glance. “What happened?”

He explained the altercation he'd witnessed near Roland’s sporty blue car. When he finished, Alec was scowling.

“I can't believe it!” Alec thumped a hand on the steering wheel. “Why in blazes wouldn't she press charges? The guy is a menace.”

Considering how badly he'd wanted her to press charges, he knew exactly how her brother felt. Still, now he wasn't so sure. Hadn't Roland come in that morning to make rounds? Maybe the guy was just going through a bad time. Based on Johnson’s ultimatum, he felt sure Roland likely leave her alone now. Nick offered a wry grin. “I don’t think you have to worry. I may have happened to mention how Amber's brother was a cop.”

“Good.” Alec didn't so much as crack a smile. “What's his first name? I'll run him through the system, see what pops.”

“Douglas. But I doubt you’ll find anything. All physicians have criminal background checks done on a regular basis. If there was something there, he wouldn’t be in his current position.”

“Still can’t hurt to check.” Alec pulled into the parking lot of The Cozy Inn. “Thanks again for being there for Amber.”

“You're welcome.” He was surprised Alec hadn't continued to grill him over what he and Amber had been doing down at the lakefront. Not that their heated kiss was any of her brother’s business. So why did he feel guilty?

He pushed open the car door and swung his legs out. The muscle of his left leg spasmed badly. This was the price he'd paid by not taking any pain meds. It galled him to show his weakness in front of Amber’s brother. Gripping the door with one hand and the frame overhead with the other he gritted his teeth and pulled himself upright.

Darkness blurred his vision and for a moment he slumped against the door. When he heard Alec’s car door open, he gathered himself together with an effort.

“Need a hand?” Alec's previous hostility was gone. The guy watched him warily.

Embarrassment crawled up the back of his neck, settling on his shoulders like a living, breathing beast. “No.”

In response, Alec pulled out his cane and handed it to him. He forced himself to take the stupid thing, and to slowly, painfully, make his way toward his room. Alec walked behind him, is if waiting for him to fall. Sheer grit and determination kept him moving forward until he could unlock his door and step across the threshold.

As he glanced back over his shoulder Alec gave him a nod then turned to climb back into his cruiser.

He should have appreciated the way Alec had looked after him, but instead his ego felt as if someone had dug into an open wound with sharp fingernails. Once inside his hotel room, he collapsed on the bed. The fiery pain in his leg throbbed, and he took several deep breaths in a vain attempt to control the sharp edges slicing through him.

Only when the pain receded to a tolerable level did he allow himself to think back to the day he'd spent with Amber. Sharing a meal, talking, laughing, sitting close in the darkness while watching the drone show. And kissing her.

His chest tightened and his eyes flew open in alarm as the realization hit.

He loved her.

He wasn't sure how it had happened, or why. He hadn't been looking for this. Yet somehow, he'd fallen in love with Amber Monroe.

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