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her.
    â€œAmber?” a deep voice said from behind her.
    She recognized the voice and turned toward Garrett. “You’re going home? That’s a relief.” He still looked very miserable.
    â€œYeah, Nick’s going to drop me off at our folks’ house so they can keep an eye on me. Dr. Call won’t let me go home to an empty house. Could we give you a ride somewhere?”
    Nick glanced at his watch, then to Amber. “Are you going to the bakery or home?”
    She smiled. “Oh, the bakery is home now. My grandmother has moved to the senior center, so I’m the resident baker. After you and your partner scared the wits out of me that night, Bomma and I decided it was much safer for me to live there than come and go in the middle of the night.” She shrugged. “I’m getting to like it. It saves a lot of time, and if I get a chance to take a few minutes to rest, I’m right there.”
    â€œWhy don’t we cancel your call for the VA and drop you off. We can make sure no one is hanging around,” Nick said.
    Amber saw a look of concern on Garrett’s face. “I appreciate the offer, Nick, but I’ve already caused your brother enough trouble. The victim’s advocate, Samantha, I think it was, said she’d give me a ride. You should get your brother home so he can rest.”
    Garrett’s mouth formed an irresistibly devastating grin. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m going to be fine. It’s no bother….”
    Amber smiled back, wishing they’d met under better circumstances. The shadow of his beard accentuated the strength of his jaw. Even sitting in a wheel-chair with his bulletproof vest across his lap he looked just as strong and virile as he had when he’d stood tall from his toppled vehicle. She pulled her mind back to their conversation and to the fact that he was a cop. “I hope you’re right about being fine,” she said, “but I don’t think your boss was too pleased to see me here. I don’t want to get you into any more trouble….” She knew she shouldn’t let herself read anything into Garrett’s chivalry, but it wasn’t easy. She hadn’t had anyone look at her like that in months. Apparently she needed to dress up more often. Why, of all the men in the county, did the one to catch her attention have to be a cop?
    From the corner of her eye Amber noticed the victim’s advocate pull up to the door. “My ride’s here. Take it easy, okay?” She hurried out the door and to the police car before she was tempted to accept their offer. She had a lot of problems to work through before the shop opened in the morning. Number one was getting Garrett Matthews off her mind.
    She directed Samantha to the Old Town shops, uncomfortable with the thought of going into the dark building alone, tonight more than usual.
    Samantha Taylor must have read her mind. “I’ll go in with you, if that’s okay, just to check things out.”
    â€œSure,” she said, “I’d appreciate it.”
    â€œSo you’re a party planner, huh?” the young woman asked. “Sounds interesting.”
    â€œThat’s a good way to describe it. No two parties come off the same,” Amber said. “I mainly coordinate weddings, but I also help arrange engagement parties, anniversaries, and even a few extraordinary birthday bashes.”
    â€œRumor has it Sergeant Matthews, the brother of the cop you ran into, is unofficially engaged to his trainee. I don’t suppose they’ve contacted you to plan their wedding, have they?”
    Amber had been caught off guard at the accident when Garrett had asked her if the wedding shower was for Sarah. She wasn’t going to slip again. “I don’t discuss my client list—sorry. I do have several people willing to give a reference if you’re looking for a planner….”
    â€œNo, I was just