Her Kind of Hero - Cindy Kirk Page 0,25
curious how she and the kitten were getting along. All afternoon he’d had the feeling this was the day their paths would cross again. But he couldn’t hang around and wait any longer. Keenan had discovered Ben Campbell was an aviation medical examiner.
He’d been able to secure a late-afternoon appointment, scheduled after the doctor saw his last patient. He arrived a few minutes early, eager to complete the first step toward getting his pilot’s license.
Spring Gulch Orthopedics was an impressive structure, brick edged with stone with a massive timbered entry. As Keenan walked through the heavy wooden front doors with edged glass, it struck him how far apart his world was from the one Mitzi now inhabited.
They may have started out in similar situations but they were in far different places now. Not that it mattered. They were simply friends.
After checking in, Keenan took a seat in the waiting area and picked up a magazine.
“Mr. McGregor.” The receptionist, a cool and composed woman, with streaks of gray in her brown hair and steely blue eyes, motioned to him. “Dr. Campbell can see you now.”
As expected, the exam was over quickly. Afterward he and Ben talked for several minutes, catching up. The doctor mentioned he’d married one of Keenan’s classmates and they’d recently had a son.
“Because of my family, I like to stick close to home,” Ben confided as they strolled to the lobby. “I used to fly myself to the rural clinics, which was a good opportunity to get in some air time. Going forward, Dr. Sanchez will be making those trips. We’ve contracted with Grand Teton to provide the plane and the pilot.”
Keenan’s ear perked up. Grand Teton was the firm Bill’s brother, Steve Kowalski, owned. Keenan had high hopes that once he got his license, Steve would hire him to fill in as needed.
“Ben, are you busy?”
From the back of the medical office building, a feminine voice called out.
Keenan recognized the sultry lilt immediately. His heart lurched. Mitzi.
“In the lobby,” Ben said.
“I stopped in to see Mrs. Roth while I was at the hospital and—”
Surprise skittered across Mitzi’s face. She wore a white lab coat over a dress of vivid blue. Her hair was pulled back in some kind of twist. While her heels were incredibly sexy, simply looking at the high arch made Keenan’s feet ache. A stethoscope peeked out from one pocket. “Keenan. What are you doing here?”
Before he could respond, she flushed. “I’m sorry. Not my business.”
Ben’s gaze shifted from Mitzi to Keenan. “You two know each other?”
“I work for Joel Dennes,” Keenan spoke easily. “His company is building Dr. Sanchez’s new home.”
Puzzlement filled Mitzi’s eyes. He could see her trying to decide if he was simply answering the question or deliberately distancing himself from her.
“I’ve been pleased with the results.” Mitzi’s gaze shifted from Keenan’s legs to his arms. Worry filled her eyes and the look of puzzlement returned. “Okay, it’s not my business, but...did you injure yourself?”
“Nothing that exciting.” Keenan chuckled. “Aviation exam.”
“Oh. Good.” She expelled a breath, her fingers fluttering to her hair.
“I need to run.” Ben extended his hand. “It was great seeing you again, Keenan.”
Ben turned to Mitzi. “Mrs. Roth?”
“Nothing urgent. I can update you in the morning.”
“Sounds good.” Ben glanced at the door. “You’re the last one here.”
“I’ll lock up,” she told him.
When Keenan started to walk out after Ben, Mitzi grabbed his arm. “May I speak with you a minute?”
“Sure.”
Silence descended as the door clicked shut. The past few days Keenan had found himself hoping their paths would cross. He’d missed seeing her, talking to her, laughing with her. Now, she stood less than a foot away and he was as tongue-tied as a sixteen-year-old.
Mitzi cleared her throat. He wasn’t the only one having difficulty finding a voice. “I want to thank you for watching out for Itty Bitty.”
Keenan grimaced. “That’s what you decided to call her?”
He conveniently disregarded the fact that he and Bill had taken to calling the gray puff of fur “Miss Kitty,” which wasn’t much better.
Mitzi looked amused. “You don’t approve?”
“Seems a little...lame.”
“This from a man who had a cat named Mr. Tubs?”
“I was a kid when I came up with that name.” Then he thought of “Miss Kitty” and surrendered. “Itty Bitty is as good of a name as any. And there’s no need to thank me since I haven’t done anything.”
“I beg to differ.” She took a step closer and a familiar sizzle sparked in his belly. “When I get home, her