Chapter Ten
“DID YOU KNOW there are about four hundred fifty dog breeds out there? However, only around three hundred seventy of them are recognized by kennel clubs,” Pup exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Doc sighed, feeling the urge to strangle the kid. Sure, he understood the handler’s love for dogs, but seriously—was that all he could talk about? Casey, that adorable pup, lay curled at Julie’s feet, looking like she was his entire world. Doc had reached his limit. “Hey, Pup, don’t you think it’s time to recheck the perimeter?”
With a bounce, Pup was up on his feet, and so was Casey, both eager to jump into action. “Absolutely, Doc! We’re on it.”
After the agent and dog exited, Doc turned to Julie. “I’m sorry about that.”
She laughed, and it touched his soul. “It’s okay. He’s excited and a little obsessed.”
Doc nearly snorted while laughing. “You could say that.”
Julie let out a loud yawn, her body arching gracefully as she stretched her arms high above her head, her chest thrust outward, undeniably drawing Doc’s gaze. He cleared his throat, feeling a mixture of admiration and discomfort, and quickly averted his eyes.
“It’s been an exceptionally long day. We need to go over the plan for tomorrow’s trip to the courthouse,” he suggested, his voice steady despite the flutter in his chest.
With a reluctant sigh, she let her arms fall to her sides, and Doc noticed a noticeable change in her demeanor—it was as if the air around her had become heavier. “I almost forgot about that. Is there anything different from today?” she asked, her brows furrowing slightly, revealing her worry.
“Not really, but we don’t have approval to carry our weapons in the courtroom,” he replied, a hint of frustration in his tone. The rule bothered him, yet he respected it to maintain good relations with the police chief and law enforcement. They worked in a close-knit community where stepping on toes was avoided at all costs.
“Does that matter? I mean, won’t I be safe in the courtroom?” Julie asked, her expression marked by concern, her eyes wide and searching.
Doc snorted softly, the sound escaping before he could hold it back. “You’d think,” he muttered, quickly realizing he had unintentionally added to her worries. “Yes, many officials will carry weapons. But you’ll still ride with us and stay close, just like when we went to the hospital. We’ll leave at zero eight hundred sharp,” he reassured her, his voice softening as he tried to alleviate her anxiety.
Julie nodded, then sprang to her feet, throwing a playful salute like a soldier in a drill. “O’eight hundred sharp!” she declared, her tone teasing as if addressing a no-nonsense drill instructor insisting on a quick retort. With a mischievous smile dancing on her lips, she pirouetted and made her way toward the stairs leading to her room—the one that had Doc crossing his fingers, hoping she’d call for him any night of the week for any reason.
Doc wiped his weary face with a hand. Boy, oh boy, did she get to him—just that small, playful gesture stirred something inside him, warmth he hadn’t anticipated. That little unexpected joy endeared her to him even more, making him realize how deeply she touched his heart. So, he’d have a wife with a vibrant sense of humor and lively feistiness—a combination he found utterly irresistible. Life was good, he thought, as a smile crept onto his lips despite his fatigue.
Before he could follow her to see if she needed anything, a knock echoed on his door. Cursing, he approached it and let Jesse, Brad, and Matt inside. The men filled his living room with their larger-than-life personalities. The brothers, who had founded and managed HIS, were rarely involved in cases. That’s why it meant so much to Doc that they stepped in on this one.
After distributing the cold beers among the group, they found a comfortable sitting spot. The sun had set, but the moon cast a warm glow over everything. Jesse, leaning back slightly with a relaxed smile, broke the silence and asked, “How’s everything going with you all?”
Doc shrugged. What answer was he supposed to give? That he didn’t believe she could be the target because who would have anything against such a fantastic and caring woman? Or that he needed more time with her to persuade her that she would ultimately be his? Finally, he said, “Good.”
Jesse lifted an eyebrow and smiled. “Hmm. That’s impressive, huh?”
“I’m not quite sure what you mean, but yeah, there’s nothing new to report. What about you? Have you narrowed it down to the hospital?”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Brad said, “That’s the rub. We haven’t been able to figure that out. As far as we can tell, the hospital wasn’t the target, which leaves Dr. Banks.”
Doc sighed as he gazed up at the ceiling beneath Julie’s room. He found himself deeply torn between the urgent need to protect Julie from the looming threat posed by a sinister madman and the desire to cherish the precious, fleeting moments they had shared throughout that day. Every laugh, every glance, and every whisper felt like a thread woven into the fabric of his heart, making it even more challenging to consider letting go, even for her safety. At that moment, he was painfully aware that he wasn’t ready to relinquish the warmth and joy their time together had brought him, especially when danger might be so close.
For the next hour, Doc and the Hamilton brothers gathered around the cluttered table, poring over every scrap of evidence they had collected on the case. The atmosphere was thick with frustration as they sifted through the details, their brows furrowed in concentration. They ultimately reached a sobering conclusion: they knew almost nothing that could help solve the mystery. Yet, Doc’s unwavering determination cut through the uncertainty, compelling them to stay the course. They would remain vigilant, guarding Julie like sentinels until a clue appeared that would guide them in a new direction.
As Doc bid them goodnight, he glanced up the stairs and noticed Julie sitting on the top step, her head buried in her hands. A wave of concern washed over him. How much had she heard? Were there any words exchanged that might have unsettled or frightened her?
“Julie,” he said softly, his voice infused with an unsettling calmness as he approached the steps, climbing to a position just below her. He sat sideways, his gaze searching her face intently, eager to gauge her reactions. “How much did you hear?”
When she finally looked up, a deep ache pierced Doc’s heart. Her expression conveyed utter devastation, as if her entire world had crumbled into nothingness. “Enough,” she whispered, her voice trembling with raw emotion.
He gently reached up, his fingers brushing against her soft cheek as he wiped away a single tear that glistened there. “I’m truly sorry,” he murmured, his voice filled with sincerity and regret.
“So,” she said, stifling tears. “It’s really possible I was the intended target, that someone actually tried to blow me up.”
Doc cringed as her words lingered in the air. Although he didn’t appreciate how she expressed her concerns, it didn’t lessen the truth behind them—a truth he couldn’t ignore. He refused to lie to her. There was no reason to do so, especially when she was a formidable woman capable of facing any challenge.
“With someone attempting to break into your home on the very same day, it’s a legitimate concern. Yes,” he affirmed in a serious tone.
“How will we know when I’m safe? I mean, what if they never try again? Will you stay by my side forever?” Her voice trembled slightly, exposing the vulnerability beneath her strong facade.
He intended to be by her side forever, but not in the role she envisioned. He would be her husband one day, but this wasn’t the right moment for that discussion. She wasn’t ready for such a leap. “If necessary,” he replied, his voice steady and honest, promising his commitment through his words, even as uncertainty lingered in the air.
“What did I do wrong?” she asked as another tear rolled down her cheek.
He longed to pull her into his arms, feeling the warmth and comfort it would bring, but he knew this conversation was too important to avoid. If he held her tight, the words might slip away from him. “It’s possible that some madman has targeted you, perhaps simply because you’re a tall woman or an exceptional doctor. The reasons can be as confusing as they are terrifying. But I promise you this: we will dig deep, and I won’t rest until we uncover the truth before it’s too late. You have my word on that.”
Julie studied him intently, making him squirm under her piercing gaze. She knew he hadn’t saved Simon, and this realization must have sparked doubt about his ability to protect her when the moment truly arrived. How could she trust him now?
Realizing he needed to end this conversation before it went too far, he stood up and extended his hand to her. “Come on. It’s time to get some sleep. You have a big day tomorrow.”
She nodded and took his hand, getting to her feet with his help. “Thank you, Rodney. I’m not sure I’ve mentioned it, but I appreciate your support in this matter.”
“Well,” he said, “I owe you.”
As they walked toward their separate rooms, Julie turned around and smiled. “Like I said, most people just pay the bill.”
Doc realized she would be okay if she could joke after everything she’d heard and their conversation. Now he had to keep her safe from an unknown threat. It wouldn’t be the first time HIS had been in that situation. In fact, that was generally the case, but they had no leads to go on. Even the police hadn’t found a signature on the bomb that would point them toward a specific criminal. They were almost at square one, and he didn’t like it.
“The check is in the mail,” he said with a smirk, an eyebrow raised in playful challenge.
She chuckled, shaking her head as she turned toward her room. “You don’t know how many times I’ve heard that line. Goodnight, dreamer.”
“Goodnight, Julie,” he whispered to the closed door, a secret smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Goodnight, my future wife.”
Doc underwent a profound and unexpected transformation: from a wild bachelor to a man enchanted by this woman's captivating beauty, ready to do anything to win her heart. This change was truly remarkable.
“My, how the mighty have fallen,” he heard Pup comment from the bottom of the stairs, the truth hanging heavily in the air.
Doc looked down, narrowing his eyes at the agent, sensing the weight of unspoken vulnerabilities. How could he correct the kid when every word rang true? At that moment, the stakes were high. If anyone found out about his feelings for Julie, they would likely intervene, pulling him away from her. That was unacceptable. He resolved then and there to be her unwavering protector, her shadow until the time was right when he could confidently step forward and claim the role of her partner for life.
“Find something productive to do,” he told the agent, then turned abruptly and stepped into his room. With a wave of emotion, he held back the urge to slam the door, instead shutting it firmly and quietly behind him, reflecting the strength of his resolve.
If he couldn’t hide the chaos of his emotions from a naive, inexperienced kid, how in the world could he keep up that facade in front of seasoned agents carefully trained to notice even the most minor details?