Free Fated by Carly Phillips

professional.
    â€œI was just leaving for work. I’ll let you two visit.” She gestured for Mike to take the chair she’d vacated by the side of the bed.
    â€œDon’t let me run you off,” Mike said. “I’m sure your boss won’t mind if you’re a few minutes late for your shift.”
    Cara pursed her lips. “Oh, I don’t know about that. He’s quite the hard-ass sometimes.”
    Sam burst out laughing, then groaned and shut his eyes.
    â€œI’m sorry.” Cara leaned over and pressed her hand to his cheek. “Are you okay?”
    He nodded. “Maybe you should go. I may burst my stitches if you stick around while he’s here.” Sam inclined his head toward Mike.
    He frowned, not liking that Cara hadn’t yet removed her hand from his brother’s cheek. “I’m her boss,” Mike reminded them. “Doesn’t that warrant at least some respect?”
    â€œOnly when you’re on duty, big brother.” Sam swallowed what was sure to be another laugh.
    Cara shook her head, her smile coming through as she finally pulled her hand away.
    Apparently she’d taken his sister’s words to heart and decided she could give him a hard time off duty. Her sassy mouth was one of the things he’d enjoyed about her when he’d visited a few months ago, and it could definitely get him in trouble again now.
    â€œI’m going, I’m going,” Cara muttered. “But I’ll be back after my shift. You,” she said, wagging a finger at Sam. “Behave and listen to your nurses.”
    â€œBring me a burger from The Family Restaurant?” he asked.
    Cara shook her head. “Not until the doctors say it’s okay.” She glanced at Mike, meeting his gaze with a wry smile, showing off two dimples in her cheeks.
    Damn. How could she be professional, cute, and sexy all at the same time? He’d worked with many women over the years, and he’d never been affected like this. Never mixed business and pleasure on the job because that made a situation harder to walk away from.
    â€œWho’s her partner while I’m stuck here?” Sam asked.
    One of the changes Mike intended to make within the department was eliminating partners. The way he viewed it, the force was small, as was the town. No need to tie up two officers together who could cover more areas separately. He’d planned to schedule a meeting with his officers next week, but now he’d wait a little while longer until Sam was up to speed.
    â€œI paired her with Dare,” Mike said, giving her a heads-up.
    â€œDare and I work well together, so thanks,” she said, sounding surprised.
    Did she really think he’d deliberately put her with someone more difficult after the day she’d had yesterday?
    â€œDon’t forget to save the fun stuff for me,” Sam said, sounding suddenly intense.
    Cara met Sam’s gaze. “You know it,” she said.
    Which, to Mike, sounded like a promise. He glanced from his brother, who lay prone in his bed, to Cara. She stood by the door, massaging the muscles in her neck.
    â€œAre you sure you’re up to working today?” Mike asked. “No whiplash, pain, or trauma?”
    â€œNah. I’m tougher than I look. And definitely tougher than my partner.” With a wink at Sam and a quick gaze at Mike, she ducked out the door, leaving the brothers alone.
    â€œSit,” Sam said in a no-argument tone that belied the fact that Mike was the older brother and Sam was laid up in a hospital bed.
    Not wanting to upset Sam in his condition, Mike lowered himself into the chair. Folding his arms across his chest, he leaned back. “What’s up?”
    â€œWhat’s going on with you and Cara?” Sam asked.
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œYou haven’t discussed what happened between you two yet?” Sam asked, or rather croaked through his dry throat.
    Mike handed his