Chapter 23
Madi
“There was a fire at The Chophouse yesterday.”
Ignoring the sinking feeling in my gut, I asked, “Is everyone okay?”
“Yes, it happened in a dumpster behind the building.”
Matt let me process the information.
“It’s about me, isn’t it?” The fear in my voice embarrassed me.
Well, fuck that. I’m a strong, independent woman, and I won’t let Paul intimidate me.
“We think so.”
“Paul?”
“He has a mostly solid alibi.”
“Mostly?” I prided myself on how even my voice sounded.
“He was on duty, but no one thinks twice if a firefighter leaves the station.”
I stared out the window, my eyes darting back and forth across the houses and yards as Matt drove down the street.
“I won’t let him, or anyone, hurt you.”
That was all fine and dandy, but I lived with my brother and his family.
“But what if he hurts someone else?” I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to them.
“Everyone is on high alert, and Jack’s adjusting his security system.”
It was like he’d read my mind and wanted to put my fears to rest.
“That’s good.” I’d ask Jack about it when I got home.
“Jay has a plan.” I didn’t want to take credit, or the blame, for using her, us, as bait.
“Am I going to hate it?”
“I hope not,” Matt glanced over and smiled. “How would you feel about going on another date Friday night?”
I put two and two together.
“What the fuck! Jay wants to use me as bait?”
“Us. But he has a solid plan.”
“Which is.”
Matt pulled into the parking lot of a small diner. “Give me a second.”
I waited for him to open my door; this time appreciating the chivalry.
As a modern woman, I was perfectly capable of opening my door.
As a modern woman being stalked by a deranged firefighter, I appreciated having a chivalrous knight in shining armor at my side.
Matt held out his hand. My gaze drifted up his muscled, heavily inked forearm.
No, he’s not a knight in shining armor. Shining armor means the knight was never tested in battle. Matt’s armor would be dull and dented. He was the man you wanted protecting you because he’d never back down.
“Madi?”
“Yup.” I erased the emotions threatening to take hold and reached for his hand. “Let’s go.”
He held my hand as we walked across the lot.
He opened the door for me before placing his hand on my lower back.
Strong, independent, career-minded women didn’t need men to stake claims on them.
But this one secretly enjoyed it. Everyone in the restaurant would read his gesture and think I was his. And he’s mine.
Damn it. I willed the thought out of my head. Catapulted it to the next county. I didn’t want or need a relationship complicating my life.
At the counter, Matt let me order first. The cafe was known for its soup and salad combo, so I ordered a broccoli cheddar soup and a chopped salad with avocado.
Matt ordered a turkey club sandwich and a side salad.
“Anything to drink?” the cashier asked.
“Iced coffee, please.”
“I’ll have a large hot coffee,” Matt added. He tapped his card on the reader. “Can you deliver it to our table?” He asked the guy behind the counter.
“Sure thing.”
With receipt and table tent in hand, Matt filled his coffee cup while I waited for my drink.
At the table I pestered Matt with questions.
“Let them deliver our lunch, first,” he said, taking my hand.
I’d never admit it, but his calm presence was comforting.
Even if his constant presence is wreaking havoc on my libido.
Matt was Hollywood gorgeous with his wispy, dirty blond hair and dark chocolate brown eyes.
Eyes that stared at me with lust written all over them. Then he’d blink and sadness would replace the desire.
I wonder if he sees the same thing in my eyes.
Matt accepted the tray from the cashier before tipping him.
“Your lunch, m’lady.”
I laughed. Now he even sounds like a knight of yore.
“Thank you.”
While we ate, Matt filled me in on the broad details of the plan.
“So we’re not double-dating with Jay and Cate?”
“No, they’ll be in the restaurant observing.”
“Observing us?”
Not that I didn’t understand the concept, but I couldn’t wrap my head around going on a date with my baby brother and his fiancée staring at us.
“It’s not like that. In fact, the job requires them to watch everyone but us.”
Duh. Watching us wouldn’t give them any information.
“I wouldn’t put it past Jay to watch us as much as he’s watching everyone else.”
“Really? You think he’d risk your life just to be petty?”
Busted. Call me an idiot without calling me an idiot.
“You’re right. Jay’d never do that; he’s a professional.”
“It’s more than that. Jay doesn’t like it, but he thinks we can draw out the threat and put an end to it. He just wants you to be safe.”
Properly chastised, I agreed to the date. “I just want this to end.”
I tilted my head down but watched Matt. His eyes rarely stopped moving, usually only if he held eye contact with me.
He wiped his mouth after dribbling mayonnaise onto his scruff.
I’ll miss him when this is all over. Nope. I shoved the thought way back down into the black hole it belonged in.
Catching feelings wasn’t on my to-do list. At least not yet. Maybe after I buy the clinic and complete the changes I want to implement.
When I told Carol my ideas, she encouraged me to start right away.
That meant reading a lot of peer-reviewed papers and contacting leading researchers in the field. My mind was bursting with new information I wanted to share with my mom.
Beth too. She was old enough for her hormones to decline, but young enough to make changes that could minimize the effects of hormonal upheaval.
“What’s going through that pretty little head of yours?”
“Pretty little head?” I asked, duplicating the tone my mom used when she wanted us to see the error of our ways.
“Sorry. You look contemplative. What’s on your mind?”
Good boy.
“Though you do have a pretty head.”
“That’s such an odd compliment.”
“Did I redeem myself?”
I laughed. “Yes. And for your information, I was thinking about a peer-reviewed paper I’m reading. I emailed the authors asking them to mentor me as I make changes at the clinic.” Pretty little head, my ass. “I want to give my patients the best care modern medicine can provide.”
“Smart and beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I dipped my head and focused on my soup to hide my pink cheeks.
Matt behaved himself as we finished our lunch and was the perfect gentleman during the drive back to the clinic.
“I didn’t get that feeling.”
“Like you were being watched?”
“Yeah. Did you?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down.”
“I know.” Remembering that wanting to get my license to carry a gun so I wouldn’t feel so unprepared, I asked, “Hey Matt, would you mind taking me to the range?”
“SSI owns a range, why not ask…” he chuckled. “Right, do I need to keep it a secret?”
“No, I just don’t want my brothers being obnoxious about helping me.”
I’d learned to shoot pistols when I was young. Dad had insisted on teaching us all a healthy respect for guns and how to handle them safely, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d shot one.
“Happy to help. How much training have you had?”
“I know the basics and was a decent shot when I went to the range regularly. But it’s been a while.”
“So, a refresher.”
“Exactly.”
“Tell me when. Maybe we can find somewhere we can fling some arrows too.”
A day spent shooting guns and learning archery with Matt sounded like the perfect distraction to take my mind off recent events.