Free Long Simmering Spring by Elisabeth Barrett

line was finally starting to improve, but there was always more she could do.
    She blinked and got back to the issue at hand. “You have nothing to say about the fact that it’s Cole Grayson?”
    Lisa laughed. “Like always, you’re thinking about things way too much. It’s just a date! And he’s the sheriff, not a serial killer. Cole seems like a stand-up guy and if he wants to take you out and give you a night off work, I’m all for it. Plus, he’s completely edible.” Lisa flicked her hip off the door frame and righted herself. “Just relax. I’ll finish up with the sheriff.” Then she turned on her heel and walked down the hall.
    Julie got up and shut the door to her office. First Lexie and now Lisa. Who else in town thought she was working too hard? Probably everyone. Star Harborians had a tendency to gossip, and opinions had a way of circulating faster than Jimmy Bishop’s speedboat. Was that why Babs kept inviting her over for dinner, integrating her into town life? Into her life. Or why, whenever Mitch was away, Lisa would ask her to catch a late-night movie? She couldn’t deny that she liked it. These friendships were deeper than the casual friendships-of-convenience she’d made while in med school. But none of them were big distractions of the kind generated by a relationship.
    She loved her work, but surely she couldn’t live the rest of her life an empty husk.
    Her mind flickered to Cole. He was dangerous, for the very reason that she couldn’t control her reaction to him. Julie swallowed. Who said she needed to control her reaction to him? She didn’t need—or intend—to fall in love with Cole. She just needed to get her mind off work, and right now, the sole question she needed to ask herself was whether she could handle a date with him.
    Well, she was about to find out.
    “Okay, Sheriff Grayson,” Lisa said. “Dr. Kensington has informed me that we’re transferring your records to the VA, so we’re not going to do any blood work today. Let me get your paperwork squared away and we can get you out of here.” The tiny woman moved expertly around the patient room. “You can get dressed after I leave.”
    Cole grunted. He was still reeling from his interaction with Julie. When she’d touched his leg, massaging his thigh with those long, strong fingers, Cole knew he had only seconds before he was going to embarrass himself. So he’d placed his hand on hers, stopping her from rubbing him. But that had been a mistake, too. Her pulse had throbbed in her wrist, the same way his body throbbed when she touched him.
    “You interested in Julie?” Lisa asked sharply.
    Cole was surprised as much at being snapped out of his thoughts as he was at her forthrightness. But he wasn’t a man to mince words. “Yeah. I am. Very interested.”
    Lisa didn’t back down, taking an aggressive stance. “She’s a special woman, don’t you forget that.”
    “I won’t.” He had to hand it to Julie’s nurse. It had been a long time since anyone had stood up to him like this. Usually, folks were too cowed by his physical presence. Either that or his reputation preceded him.
    As she stared him down, Lisa’s curly red hair burned against her white skin, and there was fire in her eyes. He couldn’t believe he was facing off against this sprite of a woman. Before he could help himself, a smile crept up at the corners of his mouth.
    “Something funny, Sheriff?” Lisa asked coolly.
    “No.” He composed his face into an impenetrable mask and looked at her politely.
    “There are people who love Julie and don’t want to see her get hurt. Lots of people.”
    “I don’t intend to hurt her.”
    “Good, because if you do, I’m coming after you myself.”
    This time, Cole couldn’t help but smile. “Ma’am,” he said politely, before dipping his head to hide his grin.
    With a sharp sniff, Lisa turned, red curls bouncing on her shoulders. Cole just caught her own secretive smile as she exited the