“Two, as a matter of fact. I need to get Ethan on board with helping out Jimmy’s father with his rehab.” She pushed aside the remainder of the soup, ignoring Jerry’s disapproval. “I should get over to the clinic before he leaves. I want to catch him today.”
Jerry heaved a resigned sigh. “Okay, then, let’s go.”
She regarded him with surprise. “You’re coming, too?”
“How are you going to get there if I don’t? I drove you in to work this morning, and Samantha just left with your car.” He gave her a worried look. “You didn’t forget all that, did you?”
“Oh, stop with your worrying. My memory’s fine. I just have too much on my mind.”
“Of course you do,” he said wryly. “All these sneaky shenanigans of yours take up a lot of brain space.”
She gave him a look that would have daunted a lesser man. He only smiled, even as she warned, “If you’re not prepared to help, you can wait in the parking lot.”
“Believe me, I can’t wait to see how you manipulate this situation,” he retorted. “I’ll be right by your side.”
She wasn’t sure that was the attitude adjustment she’d hoped for, but it would have to do. “That’s good, then. It’ll be good to have your impressions of Ethan. I know he’s a fine man and a fine doctor, but is he the right one for Samantha?”
“You’re admitting to doubts?” he said, his expression incredulous.
“I’m admitting it won’t hurt to have a man’s perspective. A lot’s happened to Ethan. The injury he suffered serving in Afghanistan could have left scars far beyond the physical ones.”
“He lost a leg, Cora Jane. He’s entitled to a few bitter moments.”
“I know that. I also know he hasn’t been seeing anyone since his fiancée left him. Could be there’s a reason for that. Maybe he’s too bitter for a relationship. That’s not what I want for Samantha. I know she comes across as confident and sure of herself, but she’s an actress, after all. That’s what she wants people to see. She’s taken a lot of hits, things haven’t always gone the way she wanted them to. She needs a man who’s strong and compassionate, not one who’ll drag her down.”
Jerry nodded. “I’ll be sure to take along my checklist.”
Cora Jane frowned at him. “You’re not taking this seriously enough.”
“How can I? Falling in love is not an exact science. Lord knows if it were, I’d have picked someone a whole lot easier and less complicated than you.”
Despite the very evident frustration in his voice, Cora Jane chuckled. “Maybe so, but you’re stuck with me now.”
He put his arm around her shoulders and pressed a warm kiss to her cheek. “I surely am.”
To her shock and immense satisfaction, it didn’t really sound as if he were complaining.
* * *
As soon as Cora Jane explained the situation with the Templetons and the opportunity that might be coming Jimmy’s way, Ethan jumped on board without a single instant of hesitation.
“I’ll see that Rory gets the rehab he needs,” he promised. “And we’ll work out payments he can live with. If this accident happened on the job, shouldn’t workmen’s comp have kicked in?”
Cora Jane shrugged. “I honestly don’t know the details. I just know that he hasn’t been able to do the rehab, so going back to work has been out of the question. Whatever income he has these days, it’s not nearly enough. Jimmy’s been doing his part to keep the family afloat financially, but his heart’s in this biomedical research the way my Sam’s is. You should have heard the two of them. I swear that boy was as up-to-date on the latest journal articles as Sam was.”
Ethan grinned. “He sounds like an amazing kid. I’m happy to do whatever I can to help.”
Cora Jane beamed. “I just knew I could count on you, Ethan. You were great when we brought B.J. in here after he’d cut himself, and Boone has always spoken so highly of you.”
“Boone’s a good friend,” Ethan said, regarding her suspiciously as if he feared where she might be heading.
“I’m real pleased that he and Emily have finally worked things out,” Cora Jane said.
Ethan merely nodded, clearly waiting to see what she really had on her mind.
“And you? I was real sorry to hear about you and your fiancée. She wasn’t a local girl, was she?”
“No, we met in college. She was from Durham.”
There was no mistaking the icy tone that accompanied the terse response.
“And you’re not involved with anyone at the moment?”
A surprising smile tugged at Ethan’s lips. “Cora Jane, where are you going with this? My social life isn’t really any of your concern.”
“I just hate to see a handsome professional man sitting on the sidelines,” she said easily.
“I’m perfectly comfortable on the sidelines, thank you.” He gave her a pointed look. “And I know all about your tendency to meddle. Boone has filled me in. If you’re even thinking about getting involved in my life, don’t.”
Beside her, Jerry chuckled. “I think that’s clear enough, Cora Jane. Let’s go before he decides that helping Rory Templeton is going to come at too big a price.”
“One thing has nothing to do with the other,” she said indignantly, then studied Ethan worriedly. “You know that, right?”
“I know that. Don’t worry. Rory will get his rehab.”
Cora Jane gave a satisfied nod. “Okay, then. We’ll be on our way. Stop by the house sometime, Ethan. We’d love to see you. Or come by Castle’s, maybe for lunch one day. It’ll be my treat.”
“That’s a generous offer, Cora Jane. Maybe I will.”
As she and Jerry walked back to his truck, she allowed herself a smug smile. “That went well,” she said.
Jerry didn’t seem nearly as certain of that. “You really think so?”
“Well, of course it did. He’s going to help Rory, and one of these days he’ll drop into Castle’s. I’ll make sure Samantha waits on him, and we’ll be off to the races.”
Jerry shook his head. “Darlin’, I love your
