Page 65 of Guarding Over You
He didn’t want to blush with the way Steven’s gaze was moving over his chest, but he might not be able to control it.
“Arden and I are friends. I told you she lives by me. Her daughter rides her bicycle around our area so I see them out at night.”
Not really a lie.
“And you’re making them feel welcome,” Erika said. “That’s nice. I had a boyfriend once a few years ago like that. Always out extending himself to anyone who needed it. Such a great guy.”
“What happened with you two then?” Maddy asked. “If he was that great?”
Erika shrugged. “It didn’t work out. He’s not around anymore.”
“You don’t think Toby is great?” Steven asked. “You talk about him like he is.”
Erika waved her hand. “He’s good. Just different. No one can be the same as the next. But I loved that quality in my ex.Just can’t seem to find it anywhere else. You know, that fierce protectiveness, even for strangers.”
Blaze grinned over that description. “Not so sure about that. I come across strangers daily and don’t need to make friends with them.”
Erika’s eyes held his, then she nudged his arm. “You know what I mean. I bet you love kids too and it has more to do with that.”
He looked at Steven and Maddy hanging on his next words. “I need to get back to my patients,” he said.
“We are just having fun with you,” Maddy said. “You know that.”
“I do, but I also know how things travel in this place.”
He moved aside with his laptop to listen to their laughter. He said without words more than he wanted to.
In the afternoon, he was back at the desk, no one around but Maddy typing into her computer.
She lifted her eyes to his. “Are you mad at me for bringing up Arden’s name?”
“No,” he said. “Why would you say that?”
“You left quickly and have been quiet. It’s not that busy in here today. Nothing more than normal.”
Shelly was walking by, almost slowing her pace as if she wanted to listen in, but Maddy sent her a glance to keep moving.
“Not mad in the least. Don’t think that.” He looked around but didn’t see anyone close by for the moment. “I’m not sure what is going on with me and Arden, but I know how rumors start and I’d like not to get caught up in them too much.”
“Then you shouldn’t be seen talking to her at work,” Maddy said, winking. “But ignore everyone. Shelly, she’s always looking for gossip, the same with Steven. Erika is just looking for the perfect guy. She sees or hears things and hopes her boyfriend gets it or compares. Everyone is harmless.”
Harmless or not, he didn’t want to get caught up. “I talk to many people at work,” he argued. “Even you. No one is saying that there might be something between the two of us.”
“You couldn’t handle me,” Maddy said. “You might want to try, but I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve.”
Yep, there went the blush. Maddy was about five two, a good thirty pounds overweight, a mixture of black and gray hair with an attitude to put the toughest patient in their place.
She loved to bust his balls more than most and he was good with it because she had a heart of gold and was in his corner giving him support from his first day on.
“You scare me,” he said. “You’re right, I couldn’t handle you.”
“Bet you can handle Arden just fine. Or more like she can handle you. I see how you smile at her. How she returns it, then you both put on your boss face and get to work. That’s the thing people notice.”
“Huh?”
“Blaze. It’s not that you’re seen together talking. It’s about the looks you both have. The softness that you only show when you’re dealing with kids. Not even scared patients. Though you’ve got patience, you don’t get all soft and squishy like you do with kids.”
“I like kids,” he said.
