Free Divorced, Desperate and Dead (Divorced and Desperate Book 5) by Christie Craig Page A

Kelly spouted, pulling his gaze back to her. “I’m telling you that you are not fine. I’m the only one in this room who has any medical experience.”
    “You’re a receptionist for a foot doctor,” he said. “And my doctor just said I was going to be fine.”
    “No, he said you should go home with me.”
    “After you practically threatened him if he didn’t.”
    “I did not threaten him.”
    He exhaled. “Sisters.”
    “Don’t you ‘sister’ me! You’ve been in a coma for two days. You almost died. I heard Turner say that the paramedic who brought you in told him they must have gotten to you in the nick of time, because he couldn’t even feel a heartbeat when he first assessed you. If it hadn’t been for those two skateboarders . . .” She hiccupped. “You’re giving up working for the force.”
    Cary rolled his eyes and looked at Beth, mentally pleading for her to do something to control his out-of-control sister.
    She must have gotten his subliminal message because she spoke up, “You know what, why don’t we let him recover just a bit before we kick his ass?”
    “Now there’s a thought,” he said sarcastically.
    That’s all it took to bring Kelly to tears. Wet liquid sadness filled her eyes, and that’s all it took for him to feel guilty. Eight years his senior, Kelly had put her life on hold after their mother passed away to get both him and Beth through high school and college.
    “I was so scared we were going to lose you.” She grabbed his hand and held it so tight the bones in his fingers cracked.
    “I’m too mean to die,” he said, and again thought about the dream he’d had—crazy old people, a cupid named after pork, and a hot brunette. He recalled the part of the dream about sharing secrets with that brunette and crawling into her bed and kissing her. He recalled how he’d felt when she’d told him about her ex fiancé and how he’d longed to fix the wrong done to her.
    Closing his eyes, he ran a palm over his eyes. Good thing she wasn’t real. He didn’t want a woman like that. Not one he’d be tempted to confide his secrets to. Not one he wanted to bundle up close and protect. Not one he could love. He’d been there. Done that. He wasn’t getting back on that bull.
    The door to his room swished open and in walked Turner and Danny. “About damn time you woke up,” Danny said.
    “Yeah,” Turner said, “You get shot and expect us to find the guy without telling us shit.”
    “That’s in part because he’s quitting the force,” Kelly said.
    Cary turned and glared at Kelly and then sent another begging look at Beth.
    She got it again, and said, “Why don’t we go down for coffee and let these guys argue with him for a while.”

Chapter Eight
     
     
    The moment Chloe pulled up in front of the bakery and saw two Channel 34 vans parked out front next to her friend, Sheri’s car, she smelled trouble. As soon as she stepped out of her car, she smelled something else. Burning cake. Hurrying inside, she spotted Sheri standing in the corner chatting with the news media personnel, and Amber refilling coffee. She bypassed both of them to run to the kitchen.
    Smoke was billowing out of the ovens. “Crap,” she said and hurried to snatch a pair of oven mitts. She knew it was too late to save the cupcakes, but maybe she could save the bakery from burning down.
    Amber came running in behind her. “I’m so sorry. It’s been a zoo here today.”
    Chloe set the extra brown cupcakes on the counter and looked back. “It’s okay. I burn a batch at least once a month.” Or she used to when she was writing regularly.
    “Did you see Sheri is here?” Amber asked.
    “Yeah, I spotted her.”
    “I hope it’s okay. I was going to call you, but I was afraid you were still talking to cops. So I called her when the press showed up and started hounding me with questions. I tried to answer some, but then I got afraid I was making a mess of things, so I called her.”
    Chloe