Page 60 of The Moment He Couldn’t Walk Away

Sisters, he thought. They were the best and worst of their brothers.

He’d then walked in to find JD’s room full of people, with Nina in the middle. They were interrogating her, and his first thought had been to roar at them to stop. But that wasn’t his job. He wasn’t her man and was never likely to be, so he’d stood back and watched—her.

She’d surprised him by telling them things about her past, but unlike with him, she hadn’t told them everything, and he was pleased about that. The fewer people who knew the name Dale Falcon, the better.

“I could totally see you as a Claudia,” Jonathan said from the tattoo bed, which he was reclining on.

“Idiot,” Nina said. “Now everyone can move on, as we have work to do,” she added, making shooing motions with her hands.

Everyone filed out except Finch. Pushing off the wall, he stepped in front of her as she headed for the door. “Are you doing okay, Nina?”

“As okay as can be expected.” She looked up at him, and he couldn’t read anything in her eyes.

“About—”

“No,” she whispered. “We’re not talking about what happened that night, and especially not here.”

He nodded and stepped to the left, and she walked out. Finch followed and went back to the reception area, where his little sister was again seated behind the desk.

“Jessie will be ready for you soon.”

“Imagine my excitement.”

She raised her eyes from her monitor to stare at him. “Is your head sore?”

“A bit.”

“Your eyes are squinty.”

“I’m okay, Birdie. It just happens sometimes if I spend too long staring at my phone. But I’m getting better all the time, I promise.”

She frowned, which made her look cute. Not that he’d tell her that.

“You hate doomscrolling and say it’s the pastime for people who don’t have enough to occupy their time,” she said.

He shrugged, remembering saying those exact words a few years ago when he’d come home on leave. “I’ve changed.”

“Not that much.”

“Birdie, stop dissecting my life. You have one of your own to deal with.”

“I can do both.” She had a determined look in her eye.

The relief of the door opening was short-lived, as he watched Dr. Hannah walk in. Her eyes settled on him with laser focus. “I’ve asked you repeatedly to come and see me, and so far, you haven’t, Finch McAllister.”

“Dr. Hannah⁠—”

“I am your doctor and have been since I delivered you in that barn.”

“Wait,” Birdie said. “What barn?”

“I’m sure you’ve heard this story,” Finch said scowling.

“She may have forgotten, so let me tell you again, Birdie,” Dr. Hannah said. “Your mom insisted on going out to feed the cows even though she was in labor and didn’t make it back to the house, so I delivered Finch in the barn, as I happened to be there getting some greens. It was a near thing, and he just about landed in a cowpat, but I caught him.”

Birdie started laughing. Soon she was hiccupping and bent over at the waist.

“Why is that amusing?” Finch demanded.