Charge to My Line

by Lani Lynn Vale

  “Is she okay?” He asked in his deep, rumbly, growl.

  I nodded. “We had to use her EpiPen. She’s good, though. Her heart rate’s a tad fast, but her breathing’s normal. Her lips are no longer blue. She was stung by a bee on the playground.”

  I saw the large man visibly wilt as he finally made it to my side.

  His large, scarred, tattooed arm lifted, resting his enormous hand on the small girl’s head, sifting his fingers through her long dirty blonde hair.

  It was really sweet, and I could tell instantly that he was a wonderful father.

  His eyes lifted as he caught me watching them, and something hard and unyielding snapped down, veiling his emotions from me.

  I blinked in surprise. That took skill right there.

  Must by a cop thing.

  Leaning forward, I let the girl’s head drift off my shoulder into my waiting hand. The dad understood instantly, holding out his arms, taking the child from me.

  He took in my spunky Captain America scrubs and shook his head. A small smirk kicking up the side of his top lip.

  “Luke!” A woman’s voice called from the entrance.

  I turned to see a beautiful blonde coming through the front entrance. A paramedic.

  Another woman with red hair followed behind her, pushing the stretcher.

  His face showed instant relief at the sight of the woman who charge forward and threw her arms around the man and child.

  Wife.

  Had to be.

  “What’s going on, is she okay?” The woman asked worriedly.

  I explained, cutting off the man’s words. “She was stung by a bee on the playground. A little over seven minutes ago,” I said looking down at my watch. “We used the EpiPen on her. Lower left thigh.”

  As I explained what had happened, and what her stats were, the red headed woman started taking down notes on a clip board, documenting what I was saying.

  The other woman, the blonde, watched me with an intentness that showed her concern for the small girl.

  When they all left together, five minutes later, I watched as the big man stepped up into the back of the ambulance, and the red head shut the doors behind the couple.

  My heart panged as I wished I had something like that, then I ruthlessly shut that thought down.

  Love was a fucking joke.

  I should know. I’d been in love before. I’d also had that love ruined, forever tainted by my ex.

  Nope, no more love for Reese Doherty anymore.

  Or so I kept telling myself.