The Marriage Beat. Doreen Roberts

who don’t have full-time jobs,” Megan said gloomily. “I guess I’ll have to ask my mother to step in. Much as I hate to do that.”

      Tyler cleared his throat. “I do have one suggestion.”

      She glanced up at him, but he was staring straight ahead, his jaw set at a grim angle. “What’s that?”

      “I could take care of you.”

      She almost laughed out loud. “You? I don’t think so. But thanks.”

      His light blue eyes were full of indignation when he looked at her. “I’m quite capable of taking care of you. I have some leave due to me. I never take it, so it’s adding up. I could put it to good use helping out until your arm is healed.” He nodded at an arrow that pointed the way to the pharmacy. “It’s down here.”

      She followed him, finding it hard to believe he was serious. Arriving at the counter, she handed over the prescription to a young man, who told her it would be about ten minutes.

      She sat down in one of the comfortable armchairs and watched Tyler lower himself into the other. “That’s very nice of you to offer,” she said, still not quite sure if he was joking, “but really, I’ll be fine. I’m sure my mother will be happy to have me stay there.”

      “Where will you sleep?”

      “Gary can sleep on the couch. He’s used to roughing it. He’ll be okay.”

      “No. It was my fault you were injured. As your instructor I was responsible for seeing that you didn’t get hurt. I should be the one to take care of you.”

      She eyed him suspiciously. “I’m not going to sue, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

      His mouth tightened. “That’s not what I’m worried about. I feel bad about what happened and I want to make up for it. This is one way I can do that.” His frown deepened. “You can trust me. I’m not going to make any moves on you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

      “That’s not what I’m worried about.” For heaven’s sake the man was serious. She stared at him, trying vainly to think of a way to let him down lightly.

      “I’m not going to take no for an answer,” Tyler said quietly. “So don’t even try.”

      She said the only thing she could think of. “I only have one bedroom.”

      “I’ll sleep at my place, of course. But I’ll be around in the daytime if you need me.”

      Well, that was a relief. For a moment she thought he was proposing camping out on the floor. “I really don’t think—”

      “Don’t think. It’s all settled. I’ll take you home and cook you dinner.”

      “That won’t be necessary. I can pick up something from a fast-food place on the way home.”

      “Fast food isn’t good for you. I’ll cook.”

      “I have to get my car from the gym.”

      “I’ll have one of the officers drive it over. I can take him back to his car.”

      Megan stared at him, torn between a possible solution to her problem and the utter stupidity of accepting his offer. There was no way the two of them could spend five minutes in each other’s company without jumping at each other’s throat.

      Tyler Jackson was too domineering, too patronizing, too dam arrogant, too fond of handing out orders and would drive her crazy. On the other hand, her mother would also drive her crazy. At least this way, if things got too unbearable, she could simply tell Officer Jackson to leave.

      She ignored the little voice that warned her she would live to regret her decision. She also ignored the sudden thumping of her heart at the thought of being alone with the rugged cop in her tiny apartment. It was only for a few days. She could survive for a few days.

      “All right,” she said, looking him straight in the eye. “I accept your offer.”

      His steely gaze faltered for a moment, then he gave a brief nod. “Fine. I have to call the station, then I’ll be right back.”

      She watched him disappear around the corner, wondering if it was her imagination, or if he really did look as if he were preparing for battle.

      Tyler kept his head down and didn’t stop until he burst through the main doors of the hospital and erupted into the parking lot.

      The soft evening breeze rustled the leaves of the flowering cherry trees, cooling his brow as he strode over to his car. He needed all the help he could get, he reflected, as he unlocked the door. Of all the crazy, lamebrained ideas he’d ever had, this one had to be the absolute pits. What the hell was he thinking of?

      He’d more or less made the suggestion on a wild impulse that he’d instantly regretted. When Megan Summers had refused him at first, then started to argue with him, for some reason he’d felt compelled to dig in his heels. He wasn’t satisfied until he’d won the point. Now he was stuck with it.

      She brought out the worst in him, he thought savagely as he reached for his cell phone. She had a way of stepping on his toes and hitting all his buttons in one go. She drove him crazy and now he would have to live with that for ten days. Maybe more. Damn the captain and his self-defense lessons. It was all his fault.

      Tyler scowled as he jabbed out the captain’s home phone number. He hoped Stewart was in the middle of dinner. He jumped when Lacey Stewart, the captain’s wife, answered.

      “It’s Tyler Jackson,” he said, softening his voice. “Is the captain there?”

      “He’s in the den,” Lacey said, sounding worried. “I’ll get him.”

      A few seconds later Stewart’s voice spoke in his ear. “Jackson? What’s up?”

      “There’s been...a little accident,” Tyler said, gripping the phone with tense fingers. “I’m going to need the next couple of weeks off.”

      “Where are you?”

      “I’m at the hospital.”

      “Are you hurt bad? What happened?”

      Tyler sighed. “I was giving Ms. Summers her self-defense lessons, as you ordered, and I screwed up. She’s hurt her arm and can’t use it.”

      “Oh, geez.” Stewart paused for a moment. “How bad is it?”

      “She’ll be out of action ten days or so, according to the doctor.” Tyler looked up at the sky through the windshield. “I offered to take care of her,” he mumbled.

      “You what! Say that again, Jackson?”

      Tyler gritted his teeth. “You heard me. I’m going to take care of her. She doesn’t have anyone else and I feel responsible.”

      There was a long pause on the end of the line, then the captain spoke again with an odd tightness in his voice. “I understand. Go ahead, Jackson. Do what you have to do.”

      “Yes, sir. Thank you. I’ll need someone to pick up her car. It’s at the gym. The address is in the report of the mugging.”

      “I’ll send someone. Just make sure he gets back to his car.”

      “I’ll do that. Thanks, Captain.”

      “And...good luck, Jackson. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

      “Yeah, thanks.” Tyler hung up, frowning. It sounded for all the world as if the captain was trying desperately not to laugh. The thought didn’t improve his temper any.

      He slammed out of the car and stood for a moment trying to calm his frisky nerves. He’d made the suggestion, and he couldn’t back out now. It was true what he’d told the captain. He felt responsible.

      He’d messed up and it was