Touch of Red (Tracers #12)(93)

“Any news?” Alex asked.

“Not yet. But Gage is taking the whole operation very seriously. The man is determined.”

“Give a SEAL a mission . . .” Maddie smiled and bit into a muffin.

“But enough about my tireless husband.” Kelsey put down her cup. “We’re here to talk about you. How’s the fibula?”

“The fibula is fine, Dr. Quinn. Thanks for asking.”

“And how’s everything else?” Maddie asked with a worried look.

“Fine. Or better, I should say.”

Brooke knew what Maddie was asking, but she wasn’t ready to talk about Sean. He’d seemed so pensive lately. So quiet around Brooke. She worried something was wrong, but whatever it was felt private between them.

“They had an article in the paper this morning,” Kelsey said. “Evidently, they think Mahoney may have had dozens of victims over the years.”

“I saw that.” And even if Brooke hadn’t seen the article, Sean had been keeping her updated on the case.

“It makes me sick,” Maddie said. “It’s always the most vulnerable people. I hope they throw the book at him.”

“That’s the plan.” Brooke picked up her tea. It was her favorite kind, but she didn’t feel like drinking it. She still didn’t feel back to normal yet. Maybe she never would.

“How’s Cameron Spence doing?” Kelsey asked. “He’s, what, ten years old?”

“Eleven. I talked to his mother yesterday, and she said he’s doing okay. Some nightmares about what happened, which I guess is to be expected.”

“And you?” Maddie asked.

Brooke shrugged. “Some.”

“Your doctor should be able to prescribe something for that,” Kelsey said.

“I don’t know. Sean’s been good about it. I’d rather have him than a pill.”

All three of her friends smiled at her.

“Aww . . . that’s so sweet.” Kelsey dabbed her eyes.

“Oh, God. Are you actually crying?” Maddie asked. “Maybe you are pregnant.”

“What? It is sweet.”

“It’s not sweet, it’s hot,” Alex said. “I’ll take sex therapy versus a pill any day.”

“Damn, me too.” Maddie winked at her. “Especially with those sexy law-enforcement types.”

A noise at the back door had everyone turning to look at the kitchen as Sean walked in. He wore jeans and a leather jacket and had his badge clipped to his belt. The layer of stubble on his jaw reminded Brooke he’d been called out of bed early this morning.

“Speaking of . . . ,” Alex mumbled.

Sean seemed unfazed by all the women in his living room. “Ladies.” He nodded at them.

“Hey, Sean,” Maddie called. “Hope you don’t mind we invited ourselves over.”

“Don’t mind at all.” He deposited a brown sack on the kitchen table and walked into the living room and leaned over the back of the sofa to kiss Brooke’s cheek. “Brought you some lunch.”

“Thanks.”

He returned to the kitchen as her friends watched her, every one of them grinning.

“Well, look at the time.” Kelsey jumped up. “Better get back to work.”

Alex and Maddie stood, too, and Brooke grabbed her crutches.

“No, don’t get up,” Maddie said. “We can see ourselves out. Bye, Sean. Take good care of Brooke for us.”

“Will do.”

Brooke rolled her eyes and followed them to the door, where they said good-bye with hugs and teasing and even a few tears from Kelsey. Then Brooke crutched her way over to the kitchen, where Sean was unpacking deli sandwiches.

“You guys were talking about me.”

“How would you know?”

He gave her a sly smile. “I’m a detective.”

He grabbed a Coke from the fridge and popped it open. “What did you tell them?”

“That’s confidential.” She propped the crutches against the counter and leaned into him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, and she felt a familiar rush of warmth. She loved the feel of his arms around her.

“Missed you this morning. I didn’t even have time to make coffee.”

She pulled back. “You didn’t have time to shave, either.”

He rubbed his jaw.

“I like it.” She leaned her hip against the counter. “So, hey, I wanted to let you know I decided I’m going back to work on Monday.”

“Already?”

“I’m getting way behind.”

He took out a few plates and put the sandwiches on them. “I thought your doc said no driving for another week.”

“Roland can drive me. He lives across the park from here, so it’s on his way in.”

Sean lifted his shoulder. “Makes sense.”

Brooke watched him, trying to read his reaction. “That’s it? You’re not going to try to talk me out of it?”

“Sounds like you’ve made up your mind.”

“I have.”

“Then, I hope you’ll take it easy until you’re back to feeling one hundred percent.”

She tried to read the expression in those hazel eyes of his. “So . . . you don’t have an issue with Roland?”