Protect and Correct Read Free Page A

the new face and body that greeted her in the mirror every morning. Collin had been by her side during the entire healing process, urging her to remembrance. She knew he was disappointed to learn that she had nothing new to share other than her previous job situation and the emotionally neglectful marriage she had been involved in. No memories of the abduction had surfaced as of yet, nor was she eager to explore them.
    “Ready to go, kiddo?” Collin asked, entering her room.
    Brooke looked up. “I hate when you call me that. I must be the same age as you.”
    “Wrong. I have several years on you, even in your old life. But thank you. It’s nice to know I still look young. And if I want to call you kiddo, I will. We are married now.” He offered a lopsided grin.
    “What?”
    Collin laughed, catching the hat that she flung at him. “Chill, pipsqueak. It is our paper trail, a ruse. It looks better for a couple to set up residence in a new area. Especially a happily married one.”
    “Why the hell would I be happily married to you? You are nothing but a bore! An arrogant, self-righteous…”
    “Are you still angry with me for refusing your help on tracking this criminal? I told you ‘no’. It was ‘no’ the first time you asked me and remained ‘no’ every day for the last six weeks. Simple as that. I don’t care if you have a background in investigation, a master’s in forensics, or even if you served as one of Santa’s elves for the last two thousand years. You are emotionally involved in the search, and your findings would be considered biased. The answer is still ‘no’, and I am not going to keep repeating myself.”
    “I swear I will wear you down with this. I know what I am doing!”
    “Listen up, little girl,” Collin drew his tanned face close to hers and whispered into her ear, “if you wear my patience down, I promise to wear your tail end down. Don’t push me. I assure you that you will receive no enjoyment out of the bare-assed paddling you will get from me.”
    Brooke gasped, glaring at him. “You are unbelievable. Why don’t you just lay off with the threats already?”
    “I don’t threaten, dear. I thought I made that clear in the beginning. Let’s get moving; we have a long drive ahead.”
    Before Brooke could comment, Dr. Nguyen walked across the room, carrying a basket of bath soaps, oils, and lotions.
    “A wedding gift! Thanks, Doc,” Collin exclaimed, reaching for it.
    “Keep your grubby hands to yourself, Detective. This is for Brooke. I am gonna miss you,” she said, hugging the younger woman.
    “I will miss you too, Doc. And tell your Neanderthal friend here to stop making threats against my person.”
    “Collin! Are you still threatening to spank this girl? You look like the proverbial cat who swallowed the canary. You need to stop,” Dr. Nguyen scolded. “She has already suffered enough mental anguish without you adding to it.”
    “You know damn well I never threaten, Denise. You might want to tell her that, as well as to stop gawking at me and get a move on. I want to make some tracks before I fall flat on my face from exhaustion,” Collin commanded, flicking Brooke’s nose.
    “It might be an improvement to that mug. I don’t know about the pavement,” she retorted as her hand flew to the offended tip, making him laugh.
    Dr. Nguyen once again hugged the young woman. “You’re good to go, my dear. You have healed 100% and can do anything you wish with this wonderful, new body of yours. If you need me for anything, go through the bully. Listen to his instructions, even if you don’t care for them. They are in place to save your life.”
    “Would it be okay to contact you in the event I am tempted to cause him bodily harm?” Brooke asked wearily as the tall man impatiently tapped his foot and watch simultaneously.
    “Only if he needs his pretty face fixed. Be safe.”
    Collin said quick farewells and led Brooke down the emergency staircase to the