“Before I could stop myself, I punched his arm.“Careful,” he said in a low voice. “They might thinkwe’re flirting.”

“I like you,” he rumbled. His voice was low and husky, and it sounded as if he hadn’t spoken in awhile. Unable to stop myself, the words just spilled from my lips. “And I should care because?”

“Be still,” he said, voice harsh. “I might not be able to control myself if you step away.”

“This is crap," Shaun said, withdrawing his arm."Right," I agreed. "Absolutely fucking crap.""No argument.""I want to punch somebody right about now.""Not it," Rick said."I punch back," Steve said.”

“At the end of the day, he said, "I will take care of you," his voice thick with emotion. She stood before him and nodded. He zipped her coat for her.”

“Is it still there?" I asked, staring at his head, bent over, as he wedged the stethoscope beneath my left breast. And then, before I could stop myself, "Does it sound broken?”