“If you like that about me, why are you still worried I’m going to break your heart?”
Jack’s question caught Ivy by surprise. “Because … for the first time in forever … someone actually has the power to break my heart.”
“Honey, I’m going to do my absolute best to keep your heart – and the rest of you – intact,” Jack said. “I would never purposely hurt you. Please tell me you know that.”
“I do know that,” Ivy said. “I just can’t help but worry that you’ll push me away in some lame-brained male attempt to protect me down the road.”
This time Jack’s laughter was almost raucous. “I’ll try not to be lame-brained.”
“Good.”
Jack pressed his lips to Ivy’s cheek once more for good measure and then sighed. “I don’t want this to end, but I have to get back to work.”
“I know. I do, too. I … do you want to come over for dinner?”
Jack’s heart jumped. He had a feeling she was suggesting something else, or maybe that was merely wishful thinking. “I would love to have dinner with you.”
“Do you have any special requests?”
“I’ll eat whatever you serve, honey.” Jack pushed Ivy to her feet, climbing to a standing position and lowering his mouth to hers for a proper kiss. “You make me feel better just by showing up. It’s pretty impressive.”
“You make me feel better, too.”
Jack pressed another soft kiss to Ivy’s lips before taking a step back. “Is it getting hot out here, or is it just me?”
“It’s not just you,” Ivy said, chuckling as she leaned over to gather the picnic basket. “In fact … .”
She didn’t get a chance to finish what she was saying, the sound of a gunshot echoing through the park at the same moment severe pain slammed through her shoulder. The force of the bullet spun her, toppling her to the ground as Jack’s anguished scream filled the air.
“Ivy!”
She didn’t get a chance to answer before the blackness claimed her.
Five
Ivy woke up in the ambulance, the blaring siren causing her ears to ring as Jack clutched her hand and a paramedic worked on the opposite shoulder. Jack was ashen, his jaw clenched, and he looked as if he was going to pass out at any moment.
“What happened?” Ivy’s voice was thick as she tried to make her muddled brain work.
“You’re okay, honey,” Jack said, his voice cracking. “You’re … .” A tear slid down his cheek. “Oh, thank you for waking up.”
Ivy was stunned by the show of emotion. Despite the pain raging through her shoulder, her only concern was for him. “Are you okay?”
Jack barked out a harsh laugh. “Other than having a heart attack, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Focus on yourself.”
Ivy shifted her attention to the paramedic working on her arm. She recognized him as Jimmy Douglas. He was one of Max’s friends and graduated a few years ahead of her. “I’m not going to die, right?”
Jimmy smiled. “You’re not going to die. It’s just a flesh wound. It’s going to hurt like a bitch for a few days, but you’re going to be fine. You shouldn’t even have any scarring.”
Ivy turned back to Jack. “I’m fine. I’m going to worry about you now.”
“Don’t … honey … .” Jack struggled to collect himself. “Please don’t do that. Focus on yourself. I … I’m so sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” Ivy was confused. “You didn’t shoot me, and I’ve given you plenty of reasons to take a shot since we met.”
Jack pushed Ivy’s hair away from her forehead with a shaky hand, his other hand tightening as he gripped hers. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I know it’s going to be okay. You don’t have to keep saying that. You’re starting to freak me out.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Jack promised. “I … I’m so sorry.”
“WHERE is she?” Max hurried to Jack’s side thirty minutes later, the fatigued police officer taking a break from his incessant pacing to lean against the lobby wall.
“She’s being treated,” Jack replied dully. “They wouldn’t let me go back with her because they said I was too much of a distraction. They forced me to stay out here. I … she’s going to be okay.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know,” Jack answered. “We were having a good time. She brought me a picnic. I … she bent over to pick up the picnic basket and the next thing I knew she was spinning around. I didn’t even hear the shot until it was already over.”
Max studied Jack’s wan face. “She’s going to be okay, right? Jimmy said she was going to be fine when he called. I’m a little worried given your reaction.”
“She’s going to be … fine.” Jack almost choked on the words. “It’s not a deep wound.”
“Well, we’ll never hear the end of it,” Max said, going for levity. “She’s a hypochondriac. You’re going to have to get used to that. Whenever she gets a cold in the winter she acts as if the world is ending.”
“This isn’t a cold, Max,” Jack said, his tone harsh. “She was … shot.”
“I know she was shot,” Max retorted. “Don’t you think I know that? I almost had eight different heart attacks while I was driving here. I’m trying to make you feel better. I’m worried you’re going to keel over.”
Jack pressed the heel of his hand against his forehead. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Worry about your sister.”
“Yes, well, my sister is going to be more worried about you than herself,” Max countered. “Pull yourself together. She needs to see that you’re okay.”
Jack sucked in a steadying breath. “I’m sorry. I … .”
“I know,” Max said, lowering his voice. “It’s going to be all right. Come on. Let’s go and see Ivy.”
“They said I couldn’t go back there.”
“And I said you could,” Max said. “Come on. I promise it’s going to be all right.”
“THAT hurts,” Ivy turned her
