Free In His Sights by Jo Davis Page A

him.”
    â€œThat doesn’t mean it has anything to do with
me
.” Though she sort of hoped it did.
    â€œIt’s you, trust me. I don’t think he’s ever heard the word
no
before. Women are usually throwing themselves at him.”
    That
was an annoying thought. “First time for everything,” she muttered.
    Shea laughed. “You’ve got it so bad. You two are going to be a perfect match. I just know it.”
    â€œUm, we’ve only met a couple of times and I haven’t even agreed to go out with him.”
    â€œBut you will!” She leaned forward. “You like him and he likes you, so let me ask—what the hell are you waiting for?”
    Some of the old hurt rose and she tamped it down with an effort. “You know why I don’t date, Shea. It’s been tough to let myself get too close to a man. Or anyone new at all, for that matter.”
    â€œI get that. But, honey, it’s not like he’s proposing marriage. What’s it going to hurt to have a meal with the man?”
    â€œI don’t know if—”
    â€œLook, at worst, you’ll hate each other, which I don’t think is going to happen. At best, you get closer to someone who could become a good friend and companion, maybe more. What do you have to lose?”
    â€œMy peace of mind?”
    â€œDo you really have much of that?” Shea questioned gently. “You stand to gain so much more than you’d lose at this point. And you know, if we were talking aboutanyone but Chris, I wouldn’t be pushing. I know my cousin, and he’s solid gold.”
    Robyn bit her lip, thinking about everything her friend had said. “It’s not just me. I have to think about Maddy, too.”
    â€œYes, and that’s understandable after what both of you have been through. But you can’t cushion her with bubble wrap. Didn’t she have a great time at the party the other day?”
    â€œShe did.”
    â€œAnd didn’t she hit it off with Chris right away?”
    â€œYes, and he was wonderful with her,” Robyn admitted. “She hasn’t stopped talking about him since.”
    â€œWell, there you go.”
    Doesn’t Maddy deserve an awesome man like that in her life? Don’t I?
    â€œListen, I’ll think about it. That’s all I can promise right now.”
    Shea beamed at her, probably sensing Robyn was ready to cave. “That’ll do.”
    â€œSo glad you approve.”
    Ignoring Robyn’s sarcasm, her friend pulled out her cell phone and sent a quick text. Immediately, Robyn’s phone vibrated and she saw that Shea had texted her Chris’s number.
    â€œThat’s his cell,” Shea told her.
    â€œOkay. Thanks.”
    Then Shea launched into the most recent hospital gossip. Robyn, however, was listening with only half an ear while the other woman chattered about who was dating whom, hospital politics, and whether any moneywould be spent to improve the staff lounge. There wasn’t a ton of hope among the staff for the last item.
    By the time she and Shea departed and Robyn had thrown away her unfinished lunch, she’d come to a decision. One that involved making a phone call to a man she hoped hadn’t yet written her off.
    Checking her watch, she decided she had just enough time to find out if Chris was still interested. Excited, she hurried outside, pushing through a side door into a peaceful area sculpted to look like a garden. Visitors and staff alike were welcome to use it to take a break, gather their thoughts, or whatever they needed. It was currently unoccupied, and the perfect place for a private call.
    Quickly, she checked the text again and repeated the number to herself. Then she placed the call, waiting on pins and needles as it rang. A familiar voice answered on the third ring.
    â€œDetective Ford.”
    She tried to sound confident, not nervous, and wasn’t quite sure she succeeded.