As she entered the house, it was clear the activity was centered in the living room to her right.
“Ah. Cara.” Mouth contorting into a rueful twist, Natalie lifted a hand in greeting from her seat on an upholstered chair. “This wasn’t the welcome I had planned for you. I’m sorry for all the turmoil.”
“No worries.” Cara crossed to her, and the hovering EMTs moved aside. She perched on a chair beside the older woman, whose leg was propped on an ottoman. “Are you okay?”
“I feel fine now. I know Lydia meant well, but she overreacted. The lightheadedness has passed, and my leg will heal.”
Cara inspected the woman’s exposed black and blue knee. “Do you think it would be wise to have a doctor weigh in on that?”
“No.” Her tone was decisive. “I’ve seen too many doctors in my day. And I know my body far better than they do. I can’t explain my earlier fuzzy-headedness, but that happened before I fell. I didnothit my head. My brain is working fine,and no harm was done to my knee other than a bruise. This is much ado about nothing.”
Cara gave the sheriff a slight shrug and telegraphed a silent apology. She was in no position to push the woman, who seemed in total control of her faculties and fully capable of making decisions about her health care.
He acknowledged the message with a slight nod and joined them. “Ms. Boyer, the EMTs will have you sign a form indicating you declined transport and further treatment. Once you do that, we’ll leave you in peace.”
“Thank you, Sheriff. I do appreciate your prompt response. I’m sorry to have wasted everyone’s time.”
“To tell you the truth, we prefer calls that end this way.” He smiled at her, displaying a killer dimple.
Cara’s pulse picked up as she gave him a closer inspection. Broad shoulders that seemed capable of carrying a heavy load. At least half a foot taller than her five-six frame. Toned physique, suggesting workouts were part of his regular schedule. Light brown hair, neatly trimmed. Green eyes the color of imperial jade. Strong jawline. Firm lips, softened now into an appealing flex, that looked like they knew how to kiss.
She blinked.
Where on earth hadthatfanciful notion come from?
As if sensing her scrutiny, the sheriff transferred his attention to her.
Warmth suffusing her cheeks, Cara shifted away on the pretense of watching Natalie converse with the EMT who’d handed her a clipboard while the other medical technician spoke into his radio. Ogling wasn’t her style, even if a man was ogle-worthy. Nor was it her practice to dwell on a stranger’s physical attributes.
Besides, getting carried away by a handsome stranger was foolish. Her focus this fall needed to be on her research, noton the opposite sex. Just because her sister and brother had both found The One over the past eighteen months didn’t mean the same kind of happy ending was in the cards for her. That was a reality she’d accepted long before Cupid came to call on Bri and Jack.
So getting all hot and bothered about a man she’d met mere minutes ago and would have little or no contact with in the future was crazy. She ought to—
At a touch on her shoulder, she swiveled back to find the sheriff watching her with a quizzical expression.
Whoops.
She must have missed something he’d said.
“Sorry. Did you ask me a question?”
“Yes. Would you mind walking out with me while Ms. Boyer finishes up with the EMTs?”
Hard as she tried, she couldn’t come up with an excuse to refuse his request short of telling him he discombobulated her. And that wasn’t an option.
“Of course.”
She rose and followed him to the door, keeping her distance from the captivating aftershave that was obviously messing with her brain.
After letting her precede him onto the galérie, he took up a position near the railing. “Are you familiar with Ms. Boyer’s situation here?”
A faint scent of spice and sandalwood tickled her nostrils, and she eased farther away. “Not in any detail.”
“Let me fill you in on what I know, which isn’t much. She’s a very private person. More so since she retired eight years ago. As I understand it, her housekeeper is only here two days a week. A groundskeeper who doubles as a handyman lives on the premises, but I doubt he interacts with her on a daily basis. He has a few ... issues ... and tends to keep to himself. You’ll be seeing more of her than anyone. Falls ather age can be dangerous, and injuries don’t always manifest themselves immediately. I’d appreciate it if you’d keep an eye on her for the next several days.”
The sheriff had a caring heart under his badge.
Nice.
