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4.

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PERCI ESCAPED EARLY the next morning, catching a ride to her house with Phoebe and Joel, who’d stopped by for breakfast. Joel waited until she’d changed into clean scrubs, then drove her to the hospital.

Thankfully, this brother-in-law wasn’t the teasing type. He didn’t say a word about Nate.

Perci had almost thought her day was going to be uneventful. Until she was working the intake desk while Tiff took her lunch.

She looked up when the pneumatic doors slid open with the familiar hum. A dark-haired older woman in an expensive pantsuit stood there, looking around.

Perci knew exactly who the woman was.

Nate’s mother walked right in like she owned the hospital—which as far as Perci knew, she still did—and came straight to the desk.

To Perci.

Like Perci had been her target all along.

She had the same eyes as her son. The color and shape were exactly like Nate’s. So was the rich dark hair. She smiled at Perci across the intake desk. “Hello, Persephone, how are you?”

“Dr. Masterson, I’m doing...well.” She didn’t have any idea what she was supposed to say to the woman who was now her sisters’ mother-in-law. She’d only met Rhea Masterson once, when she’d interviewed Perci for her current position. The woman had been calm, no-nonsense, and professional.

Her eyes had looked through Perci like she could see right through her and read every thought she’d ever had.

“You’ve healed all right? Compound fracture of the tibia?” Rhea’s gaze dropped to the cast still on Perci’s leg.

“Yes, ma’am. I bumped it last night when a patient fell on me. Nate and Dr. Peterson are being cautious. I’ll be out of it within a week.”

“Good. See you don’t overdo it, dear. Is my son around?” She smiled, revealing an expression just like her son Levi’s. “None of the boys know I’ve made it back. I’d like to surprise them.”

“Nate’s in his office, as far as I know.” She’d made it a point to avoid him since The Kiss That Changed Everything, as she’d been calling it to herself. Whenever she thought about it. Which was far too often for her peace of mind.

They’d passed twice in the hallways, but he’d been with other people. He hadn’t said a word. But she’d felt his gaze on her.

“Great. I’ll sneak back and surprise him. Are you free for lunch?”

“Yes...”

“Good. We’ll go to the diner. I’ve been craving those onion rings for days. Ever since I decided to come home.”

As far as Perci knew, her sisters’ mother-in-law had been out around the country doing medical relief after natural disasters. Rhea had been flooded in for Phoebe’s wedding, had a recently broken arm and sprained knee for Pip’s, and was dealing with a measles epidemic in Mexico for Pan’s.

Her sons had been disappointed she’d not been there, but they’d also joked about it. Apparently, if she could have been there, she would have. And they’d been secure in that knowledge.

But why on earth did she want to have lunch with Perci? Surely, she didn’t believe the hype about Perci and Nate being involved?

Half the town thought they were, no matter what she had said to the contrary.

She had no idea how to deal with that man. Nate confused her on so many levels.

Part of her just wanted to pick up and run away. But that was the coward’s way—Tylers did not run when things got bad. Period.