Page 16 of Guarding Over You
“Gracie, this is Dr. Ridgeway. He’s a doctor in the ER.”
“Blaze,” he said. “You can call me Blaze.”
“Dr. Blaze,” Gracie said, still standing behind her mother. “Like a fire.”
His grin widened. If that was what she wanted to call him, that was fine. “Yes, like a fire. Though I’ve got a brother who is a fireman and his name is Ash.”
“Really?” Arden asked.
“Yes. My mother, she’s unique. There is a theme to the names of her kids.”
“I’d like to hear that sometime.”
“I think I’d like to tell you.” It’d been a long time since he’d offered any part of his life to any woman and was surprised those words tumbled out so easily.
5
BORING PEOPLE
Arden should have stayed on her property rather than walking over to see the smoking doctor again.
He had this pull that no one ever had over her before.
A quiet strength that could control a room.
A powerful voice that demanded attention.
Looks that could wet a woman’s panties and make her forget everything else around.
The easy way his voice and personality changed when dealing with Abigail this morning. As if he weren’t the one in control but handing it over to the frightened little girl so that she could help conquer her fears.
“Sorry if Gracie was a little loud out here playing. She’s not used to having all this land to run around on.”
“It’s fine,” he said. “It’s pretty quiet here and the sound of a child’s laughter is welcome. As you know, we don’t always hear it at work.”
There he was again, showing another side. “And you saidIwas an onion.”
He smirked, his dark blue eyes almost lightening a fraction. Or maybe it was the stress and pressure of their jobs that left him troubled thoughts.
If she thought her job was tough on a good day, his had to be more so.
“I think it could be said for both of us. Do you like your new house, Gracie?”
She nodded her head. “I have a bigger room.”
She didn’t make a habit of opening up much, but he seemed harmless enough. She’d done a quick search when she realized the Sheriff of Warren County had the same last name and noticed they were siblings. She hadn’t read much more on his siblings though. Just that his family owned an apple orchard and were a staple in the community.
“Did you get a chance to decorate it? My sister, Gale, loved to change her room.”
“We painted it pink before we moved in,” she said. “We closed on it over a week ago, but spent some time getting a few things changed prior since my lease didn’t run out until the end of this month.”
“Got everything all set now?” he asked.
“We do. Well, everything is here, but not completely put away. I should do that, but all work and no play...”
“Makes for boring people,” he said. “I don’t think there is much boring about you.”
“Sometimes I wish there was.”
