Forever Saved - Kathleen Brooks Page 0,26

her eyes at him in response.

“Keep meditating and also sleeping on your left side. That will help with your circulation and can help ease your high blood pressure.” Jace looked over at Matt. “I’m sorry, but I don’t carry that medication here. You’ll have to go into Lexington. I’m sending it in now to the pharmacy. It’ll be ready by the time you get there.”

“Not a problem. I’ll do anything for Riley and our baby.” Matt helped Riley up from the exam table and once she was standing, turned back to him. “Oh, and I’m sorry to hear Stella had a problem last night. It’s so strange. She’s such a nice person. I don’t know who would do that.”

Jace froze. His heart stopped beating as he processed what Matt said. “What happened to Stella last night?”

Matt bent down and picked up Riley’s purse. “She got a bunch of nasty texts. Over a hundred and sixty of them calling her a whore for having dinner with you last night.”

“What?” Jace didn’t believe what he’d heard. That couldn’t be right.

“Yeah, some unknown number texted her that they’d seen her having dinner with you and then called her a cheap whore a hundred and sixty times,” Matt explained as he wrapped his arm around Riley who was shaking her head.

“That’s so sad. It’s a horrible way to welcome someone to our town. You have to bring her over to our house so I can meet her,” Riley said.

“How is she?” Jace asked Matt, ignoring Riley’s invitation for the moment.

“Shaken up. Andy made sure she was safe and left her last night with her brother. He called Detective Braxton this morning and stayed over the end of his shift so he could drive into Lexington to talk to an ex-boyfriend of Stella’s,” Matt explained.

“Was he arrested?”

“No. He showed them his phone and there were no text messages anywhere on the phone that Andy could find. He was home alone at the time the texts were sent. There’s not enough evidence to do anything.”

There had to be something, but Matt would have done it if there were. “So we just wait for this asshole to screw up?”

“Unfortunately. Night shift will be doing a drive-by at least once a night. Andy said he’d do them at least twice for a while.”

“Thanks for telling me,” Jace said before finally remembering to breathe.

“I thought you might be interested after I heard about your date last night and the amount of bets being placed on you two right now. The sad thing is I don’t know if it’s better for you to be around her to protect her or stay away from her to protect her.”

There was no question as to which action he’d do. He’d already sent her a text that morning asking her out again. Stella was constantly on his mind. He couldn’t step away now when she was in danger any more than Matt could walk away when Riley needed him.

Matt grinned at him. “Well, I see you already came to the same conclusion I did, which is why I told you. Be safe, Jace. You’ll have a new cousin to take care of soon.”

Jace walked them to the clinic door and locked it behind him. They were technically closed that day, but he saw emergency cases and always scheduled Riley for the open day. The second he locked the front door, he was out the back and in his car heading for Stella’s.

Jace was pulling into the bustling garden center less than ten minutes after closing his clinic. He saw cars with license plates from all the surrounding counties as he parked. Jace spotted Karl first. He was leading a woman with a cartful of flowers toward the barn.

“Dr. Davies!” was the only warning Jace got before April flung herself at him. Jace caught her and lifted her up so she could wrap her little legs around his waist. “Did you bwing Cwicket?”

“I didn’t, but I can ask my mom if she plans on stopping by today.” April nodded her head, sending her blonde pigtails swinging into his face.

Jace sent the message and his mom instantly responded. “She said they are going to come over to see you in just a little bit. Now, can you tell me where Aunt Stell is?”

April shrugged. “I can’t keep up with her. My mommy is in the barn taking money and my daddy is cawying heavy things to cars for people. Aunt Stell is walking around answewing questions.