Hope Flames

Chapter 3

LUKE DROVE DOWN the main highway. It was after rush hour, so the streets weren’t full of cars like they’d been an hour ago.

There wasn’t a lot of crime in Hope. It wasn’t a large town. Big enough to have a city council and a police force and a mayor, which Luke was glad about. It had given him a job and a purpose and a chance to show off what he was worth, but sometimes it got downright boring.

He wrote a lot of traffic tickets, and because the state highway ran through town, there were a lot of fender benders. He worked those, sometimes side by side with the highway patrol, which meant he often got to hang out with his friend Will, who was a state highway patrol officer.

But major crime? Yeah, not so much. Meth labs were big in Oklahoma, and small towns bred them, so there was that. A few drug arrests, break-ins, drunk and disorderlies, and kids doing shit they shouldn’t do, but the opportunities to use his gun were rare. Which was a good thing, although he did continue to hone his shooting skills at the firing range or out at the family ranch.

Someday he’d end up on a big-city police force. Tulsa didn’t have openings, and with the current budget cuts he was damn glad to have the job he held, so he wasn’t complaining. But he kept his eyes and ears open to the possibilities. Will often suggested he move over to HiPo, but he enjoyed being a city cop and it looked like that’s where he was going to stay for the moment.

Which was fine. He liked being in this town. This was home, and protecting it meant something to him.

The past few days he’d made some drive-bys around Dr. Emma Burnett’s place. Each time her parking lot was full of cars.

Good for her. He was glad to see she had customers.

“She seems to be doing fine so far, Boomer.”

Boomer, asleep in the backseat of Luke’s patrol car, had no comment. Likely because he was still pouting about not getting to run the past few days.

“You’ll be back in action soon enough, Boom.”

He should stop by the doc’s office and have her take a look at Boomer’s leg. Luke was due for his break anyway. Not that there was anything wrong with the leg, but it was almost closing time and she didn’t seem to have any clients right now. No point in not being diligent about his dog.

Yeah, and you want to see the hot doctor again.

No, that wasn’t it at all. Emma seemed like someone a guy dated more than once, which wasn’t at all his type. He pulled in and turned off the engine. Boomer’s ears perked up.

He called in to dispatch that he was taking a break, and he’d be temporarily unavailable.

“Come on, buddy,” he said, grabbing Boomer’s leash.

He remembered Rachel from the other day, when he’d stopped by to pay the bill he owed for Emma treating Boomer’s injury. He hadn’t seen Emma at all that day. She’d been in the back with patients.

“Hi, Officer Luke,” Rachel said with a wide smile.

She was good at remembering names. “Howdy, Rachel.”

She frowned and glanced down at the computer. “I don’t have you on the books for an appointment. Did I miss one?”

“No. And I know you’re about to close. I was just driving by and thought if Emma—if Dr. Burnett had a second, maybe she could do a recheck on Boomer’s leg.”

“Oh. Sure. Let me find out for you.” She picked up the phone and hit a button. “Hey, Dr. Emma. Officer McCormack is here with Boomer. Do you have a second to take a look at Boomer’s leg?”

She waited, smiling up at Luke the whole time. The girl was adorable, couldn’t be more than twenty-one or so, with short dark hair and glasses that only added to her appeal. She probably had ten boyfriends.

As it should be at that age.

“Okay, thanks.” She hung up the phone. “She’s finishing something up in the back. She told me to take you into one of the exam rooms, and she’ll be right there.”

“Great. Thanks.”

Rachel led him back to one of the rooms and he took a seat. Boomer, always happy to get out of the car, wagged his tail and paced around the exam room.

“You’re just bucking for another treat, aren’t you?”

Boomer showed his teeth in a wide smile and wiggled his butt.

“Yeah, some fierce police dog you are. Some burglar will wave a cookie at you, and you’ll let him run right by.”

Luke grinned. He knew better than that. On command and on duty, Boomer was as good a cop as any of them out there.

Emma opened the door and her dog Daisy came bounding in behind her, greeting Boomer with a fierce wag of her tail and a sniff. Boomer did the same.

Emma smiled at him, and he felt the gut punch. Not sure why someone in pink scrubs and tennis shoes with her hair messily piled up on top of her head could spark his libido, but there it was.

No. Not your type, remember? You’re here for the dog.

“Hi, Luke,” she said as she closed the door behind her. “Is something wrong with Boomer’s leg?”

“Honestly? Not a thing. He seems to be healing up fine, and I’m taking him on walks every day. But I had a free minute while I was on my shift tonight, and I saw you hadn’t closed yet, so I thought I’d drop by and have you take a look.”

“Oh, I’m glad you did. I’ve been thinking about . . . him.”

He couldn’t help but smile and wonder if it had really been Boomer she’d been thinking about, because there were those telltale spots on her cheeks again.

She was gorgeous when she blushed.

Okay, she was gorgeous without needing to blush.

She took Boomer with her and left the room, Daisy following behind them. He went, too, watching as she walked all around the clinic with Boomer, testing his leg strength. When they came back in, she moved Boomer’s leg back and forth, pressing on various parts of it. He tensed, waiting for Boomer to show signs of pain.

She looked up at Luke, her easy smile relaxing him. “He’s healing very well.”

He breathed out a sigh of relief. “That’s great news. He seemed to be doing okay, but I’m glad to hear it from you.”

But then she frowned. “You said you were on duty?”

“Yeah.”

“Why’s he with you?”

“Oh. He goes everywhere with me. But he’s not on duty. If I get a call, I keep him in the back of the cruiser. He’s just riding along so he doesn’t have to stay home.”

She nodded. “I’m glad to hear that. He’s doing great, Luke. His leg is steady. He’s putting all his weight on it like it’s not causing him any pain at all, so you’re doing a fine job with his rehab. Give it another couple days of rest, then I think you can start running him again.”

She bent and petted Boomer and Daisy simultaneously, not seeming to mind at all when they both licked her face.

You had to appreciate a woman who didn’t object to a little dog spit. A lot of women didn’t want to be mussed up. Obviously Emma had no problem with it.

“Thanks. I’m relieved to hear that, and I appreciate you taking another look.” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “I worry about him. It’s stupid, I know.”

She stood and laid her hand on his arm. “It’s not stupid at all. I treat Daisy like she’s my kid. Animals can’t speak for themselves, so they rely on us to be both their caretakers and their playmates. I’m so happy you’re doing such a good job of caring for Boomer.”

He looked down where her hand lay on his arm. Just as quickly, she jerked it away, then reached into the jar on the counter and gave Boomer and Daisy a treat.

“Anyway, I’m glad he’s rehabbing so well.”

She walked him out front. “I’m sorry to say that everyone’s left for the night again. Rachel had a date so I let her leave, and Leanne had already taken off.”

“So . . . alone together again, huh? This is getting to be a habit.”

She looked at a loss for words. She wrapped her arms around her chest, then shoved her hands in the pockets of her lab coat.

Huh. Interesting. “Emma. Do I make you uncomfortable?”

“Yes.”

Well, at least she was honest. “I’ll take off, then, and drop by tomorrow to settle up my bill with Rachel.” He led Boomer to the door.

“No. Wait.”

He paused and turned.

“It’s not you, Luke. It’s nothing about you.”

“Okay.”

She shook her head. “It’s . . . nothing. It’s me.” She smiled. “Honestly. I’m just not comfortable around guys.”

He popped up an eyebrow, then it hit him. “Oh. I get it. Sorry.”

Her eyes widened. “No. You are not getting it at all. That’s not it.” She took a few seconds. “I’m not explaining myself well. Look. It’s been a long time.”

He cocked his head to the side. “Huh?”

“Um, you know.”

“No. I don’t.”

She bit down on her lower lip, then said, “First, there was four years of vet school, and after that I had to dive in and work with several doctors at a practice. Getting my feet wet, you know? It was nonstop work. There was no time in my life for the whole dating thing.”

Now he really did get it. He came toward her. “So, you’re saying you’re . . . rusty?”

This time, at least, she didn’t back away like he had the plague.

“Yes. That’s it exactly. I haven’t dated anyone in years.”

He found that hard to believe. “Years?”

She tilted her head back and looked up at him. “Yes. Years. It’s a little embarrassing.”

Up close, she was more than the pretty face he’d first thought. Her eyes were wide pools of whiskey brown, her lashes so long she’d never need makeup, and her lips—damn, she had a sexy mouth. “You need to get back in the game, Emma.”

She sighed. “Tell me about it.”

“With someone you can trust.”

She looked toward the door. “Easier said than done.”

“Let me take you out.”

Her head jerked up and her gaze met his. “What?”

Yeah, what exactly. He couldn’t believe he’d said that. But now that he had . . .

“You heard me. Let me take you out. We’ll go out somewhere and eat. Use forks and knives. Have a nice conversation and a drink. Then I’ll take you home, walk you to your front door, and call it a night.”

She had this wary look on her face that would have made him laugh if he wasn’t sure she was taking this so seriously.

“That’s it?”

He grinned at her. “Well, that’s not how I usually do it, but for you, sure. That’s it.”

She frowned. “How do you . . . usually do it?”

“Look, Emma. I’m not the dating type. But I like you. And I can see you want to ease into this. I want to help. I want to be your friend.”

Her gaze narrowed. “My friend.”

“Yeah.”

“But I’m not your type.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You implied I wasn’t the type of woman you typically did . . . whatever it is you do with women, since you just said you’re not the dating type.”

He resisted rolling his eyes. This was why he didn’t like having extended conversations with women. It usually led to him getting in trouble for something he said that he didn’t really say, but the woman thought he meant what he didn’t say in the first place.

Women drove him crazy.

“I didn’t imply anything. I just asked you out on a date.”

She crossed her arms, only this time it was in irritation, not defensiveness. “I don’t need a pity date, Luke.”

Shit. Foot-in-mouth struck again. “I don’t pity you. I like you.”

“You already said that. As a friend, of course.”

He clenched his jaw. “Is there something wrong with that?”

“No. I love being your BFF. It’s exactly how I want you thinking of me. Thanks for the offer, Luke, but I’ll pass. If you have any more problems with Boomer, don’t hesitate to call me.”

She pushed him toward the door, opened it and herded him out, then locked it behind him.

With him on the outside and her inside, he could do nothing but stand there and stare at her, struck utterly dumb by whatever the hell had just happened.

She’d been pissed. Even now, she stared at him as she shuttered the blinds closed, and he could see the hurt in her eyes.

Women were one fucking mystery after another. His ex-wife had driven him batshit crazy, and he’d sworn he’d never get involved with another one.

He’d tried to be nice to Emma, tried to help her out. Hell, he’d even asked her out after hearing her story about not dating for years, figuring she’d be happy to have a night out. He found her hellaciously attractive, but he knew limits, and when a woman was skittish, he could stay hands-off. But instead of being grateful, she’d acted as if he’d insulted her.

He should have left Emma alone. He’d broken his own cardinal rule, and look where it had gotten him.

Tossed out on the sidewalk.

He looked down at Boomer, who stared up at him and wagged his tail, oblivious to what had just happened.

“Let’s go, Boom. Time to get back to work.”

A MERCY DATE. Mr. Hot and Sexy had asked her out on a mercy date.

The sparks between her and Luke had been out of this world. Twice she’d been alone with him, and she might have been a little wary, but she hadn’t been afraid. He was nice. Luke had a good sense of humor, and he was oh-so-fine-looking. And he had a great dog that Daisy loved. If she was going to go out with someone—which she wasn’t—he’d be the right guy.

But then he had to treat her like she was some poor, pitiful misfit who couldn’t get a man to ask her out if she’d put a front-page ad in the hometown newspaper begging for one.

Take her on a date. As a friend. Just to help her out.

“What a colossal douchebag.”

She wanted to throw something. Unfortunately, everything in the clinic cost too much to hurl across the room.

She stormed into her office to grab her bag, Daisy bumping into her leg to shove her head under Emma’s hand.

There was the calm she needed. She absently petted Daisy, then sat in her chair and nuzzled Daisy’s neck.

Was she really that pathetic?

She’d felt the chemistry between her and Luke, had been excited to have those feelings again. She’d thought that maybe . . . just maybe, at some point she could take a shot at having a normal life again after all the hell she’d been through. But she was obviously throwing off some kind of odd signals that screamed she was helpless and pathetic.

Ugh.

She was not helpless, and she didn’t need a guy to rescue her from her self-imposed dating exile. Just because she didn’t have a man in her life didn’t mean she was miserable.

She was fine. Perfectly fine. She had her shiny new practice and her patients and her dog.

What more did she need to be happy, dammit?

She finished up at the clinic and took the dogs home, got them fed and settled, then wandered the kitchen, searching for something to eat.

Nothing sounded good. She felt unsettled, as if there was something she should be doing, but wasn’t.

Her thoughts wandered back to Luke, which got her irritated all over again. Now she had a full steam of mad and nothing to do with all that pent-up emotion.

Since sex was out of the question, she needed an outlet. She’d already gone to the gym before work this morning, though nothing said she couldn’t go again. Then again, that’s not what she wanted.

Routine was her problem. She finally decided she needed to get out of the house. Too much sameness wasn’t good for her, and she’d spent the past week doing the exact same thing every day—going to the clinic, coming home, and spending the night alone.

If she continued that, before long she’d have two dogs and a house full of cats, and she’d park her butt on the sofa watching one too many of those Real Housewives of some city or other.

She refused to let that happen, so she changed into jeans and a sweater, grabbed her keys, and drove to Bert’s, the town’s best diner. A bowl of chili for dinner sounded really good.

The good thing about showing up late was avoiding the normal four to six p.m. dinner crush. Bert’s was a popular place, and Hope was a very small town. Tuesday was meat-loaf night, and she’d had Bert’s meat loaf before. It was awesome. So was his chili.

The place had pretty much emptied out, so she grabbed a table. Anita, one of the waitresses who’d been there “forever” according to her, hustled over.

“How ya doing, honey?” Anita asked, grabbing the pencil from her multicolored hair.

“Great, thank you.”

“You’re in late tonight. I hear the new clinic is keeping you busy.”

The one thing about Hope—and Bert’s diner—was that there were no secrets, and everyone knew your business. Which for Emma’s business could be a very good thing. “It has been busy, which makes me very happy.”

“And hungry, I hope. What can I get for you?”

“I’ll have a diet soda and a bowl of chili. Can I get macaroni with that?”

“You bet. I’ll bring your order right out.”

She’d brought a book with her, determined to settle in and enjoy taking herself out to eat.

Who needed a guy? She didn’t.

“Hey, Emma.”

She looked up and smiled as Jane Kline and Chelsea Gardner appeared at her table. She’d gone to high school with both of them, and had recently renewed her acquaintance with Jane because they worked out together at the local gym.

“Hi. Are you two here to eat?”

“Yes,” Jane said. “We had a very long school meeting.”

“Which means we’re starving,” Chelsea added. “Are you eating alone?”

“Yes. Would you like to join me?”

“Love to.” Chelsea pulled out a chair.

“Are you sure we’re not intruding? Maybe you want to be alone,” Jane said, looking unsure.

Emma laughed. “I spend plenty of my nights alone. I’d love some company.”

Jane took a seat, too, and Anita came over.

“A late rush tonight, I see.”

“Meetings,” Chelsea said. “Ugh.”

“Oh. No wonder you two look so miserable. Do they like to torture you poor teachers by making you spend all day long with those kids, then all night with a bunch of bureaucrats?”

“Yes,” Chelsea said while perusing the menu. “All just perks of the job, you know.”

Jane nodded. “But it’s over now and we can finally eat. What are you having, Emma?”

“Chili.”

“Oh, that sounds good. I’ll have that, too.”

Chelsea ordered the soup of the day, and Anita brought their food over within a few minutes. They all dug in.

“It’s a good thing Will took an extra shift today,” Jane said. “At least he’s not fending for himself, alone with the kids.”

“Oh, for God’s sake,” Chelsea said. “The guy can open a can of SpaghettiOs or make a grilled cheese sandwich, Jane. He doesn’t need you to be there to cook dinner for him.”

“Oh, I know. I just like to cook. I always cooked for the kids and me before Will came along, you know. It’s just nice to have a man in the house again.”

“Women in love. Spare me,” Chelsea said to Emma with a roll of her eyes.

Emma laughed. “Will is rather spectacular-looking. It’s a wonder you don’t have him locked in a closet somewhere, Jane.”

Jane grinned. “He is a hottie, isn’t he? I don’t know what he’s doing with me.”

“Uh, because you’re a rockin’ sexpot?” Chelsea said.

“Oh, sure. A rockin’ sexpot with two kids.”

“That just meant you know what you’re doing. And who says women with children can’t be sexy?” Emma said. “Look at you, Jane. I sometimes can’t believe you’ve had two children. You have an amazing body, you’re a wonderful teacher, and those blue eyes of yours are knockouts. You’re smart and gorgeous. Maybe Will should be the one locking you up in a closet so no other guy gets within five feet of you.”

“Hell, yeah,” Chelsea said, toasting that comment by raising her glass of iced tea.

Jane’s cheeks pinkened. “If I’d known it was going to be Build Jane’s Ego Up Night, I’d have dressed better. Thank you, ladies.”

“Just stating the truth.”

“Will tells me you treated Luke McCormack’s dog, Boomer.”

Emma’s spoon stilled on its way to her mouth. She looked up at Jane. “Will knows Luke?”

Jane smiled innocently at her. “They’re best friends. Is Boomer all right?”

Okay, dog talk she could handle. “He’s doing fine. Luke brought him in for a follow-up tonight, as a matter of fact. He’s healing up nicely and should be able to return to active canine duty within a few days.”

“That’s great news. The kids love Boomer. And I’m weakening in the get-a-dog department. Ryan and Tabby are really giving me the full-court press about one. And Will says he thinks it would teach the kids responsibility. Secretly, I think it’s Will who really wants the dog.”

“Dogs are great companions for kids, providing you get the right breed, one that’s good with children.”

“Maybe you could come over and talk to all of us about that. I don’t want to make the wrong decision.”

She nodded. “I’d love to.”

“I’ll cook for you, too,” Jane said with a wink.

“Sold.”

“See, I have nothing to offer. No dog advice, nothing. No wonder I don’t get invited over for a home-cooked meal,” Chelsea said.

Jane nudged her. “You have an open invitation to come over anytime and you know it, so quit with the false complaints.”

“Fine. I’m coming over when Emma does. Maybe she can talk me into a dog, too.”

“You?” Jane asked. “As fussy and as much of a perfectionist as you are? I can’t see you as a pet owner.”

Chelsea lifted her chin, her hair flawless and still perfect, despite the horrible lighting in the diner and after a long day at work. It was difficult for Emma to be around Chelsea because she was gorgeous, with her red hair and stunning blue-green eyes, and she was built like a centerfold. And to top it off, she had a funny, dry wit and an easygoing personality. She was quite possibly perfect. Emma had loved her from the moment Jane introduced them.

Someone like Chelsea probably went on a lot of dates. Maybe she would be the person to ask for advice about how to handle reintroducing herself back into the world of men. Not that she was looking to do that or anything, but eventually her self-imposed exile would have to end, and she hadn’t exactly dealt with Luke’s invitation all that well.

Then again, she wasn’t sure if that was her fault or his. “So, I sort of got asked on a date tonight. I think, though I’m not really sure.”

“Really? That’s exciting,” Jane said, grinning. “Who’s the guy?”

“Uh . . . Luke McCormack.”

“Real-l-l-ly,” Chelsea said. “Luke asked you out? That’s so interesting.”

“Well, he didn’t ask me out on a date. More as a friend?”

Chelsea frowned. “What do you mean?”

She told them about her exchange with Luke at the vet clinic.

Jane rolled her eyes. “Men can be so dumb sometimes. He thought he was doing you a favor by asking you out? What an idiot.”

“I’m with Jane. He’s an imbecile. I’d like to kick him in the nuts.”

Emma laughed. “Thank you. I thought I was being overly sensitive, or maybe I read the situation wrong.”

“No, you definitely didn’t read it wrong,” Chelsea said. “As if you need a mercy date. You’re hot, Emma. You could walk out this door, and ten guys would fight each other for a chance to go out with you. Luke’s a moron, and you should tell him to shove it. Never mind, I’ll tell him to shove it.”

She laid her hand on Chelsea’s arm. “Oh, please don’t say anything to him about this. You, either, Jane. I just wanted some advice, but I’d like this to stay among the three of us.”

“You’re no fun,” Chelsea said. “I love reading the riot act to Luke. We’ve been sparring for years now. I’m an only child, so I never had brothers and sisters to fight with. He’s like the brother I never had.”

Emma laughed. “Well, no fighting with Luke on my account, though I appreciate it. I think I made my thoughts on the matter clear enough.”

“Okay. Still, I think he’s a dipshit.”

“Me, too,” Jane said. “Why are men so obtuse when it comes to women?”

Emma wished she knew. If she’d understood what made men tick, she likely could have avoided a lot of heartbreak years ago.

But as it was, she had no more understanding about the male mind now than she had then.

Men were just a mystery to her.