Second First Kiss

“You’ve been such a good surgeon. Your grades and reports were always so good in school. Maybe they’ll hold it.”

Maybe. Maybe not.

But that was something kind of strange. Yes, Jasher had been a good surgeon. Not top of his class, not exceptional, but he’d ranged between competent and highly competent. Coming to Mendon, he’d been confident in his skills enough to request privileges at Mendon Regional Medical Center.

But the second he set foot in that O-R on Dooley’s appendectomy day, he’d transformed. Morphed into Super Surgeon.

The difference?

Clear as day.

His exceptional surgical skills had appeared the first moment he’d been watched by a pair of violet eyes. That appendectomy on Danny Dooley had been textbook perfect. No, better than. Even Jasher had been taken aback by how well it had gone.

Then, Babbage’s hand surgery. Yes, Jasher had done an osteopathic surgery internship, but he’d never been trained on metacarpals—and that surgery went like a dream.

Sage had been there then, too.

A dozen more ensued. All just stellar. And that wasn’t exaggerating or being boastful. His dexterity improved when she was watching.

And it waned when she wasn’t at his side—or disappeared altogether. Sage hadn’t been there today for Lloyd Dolan’s bone spur—and Jasher had reverted to the pre-Sage-at-his-side levels.

Her absence had jarred him so thoroughly that he’d had to leave.

“I need her, Mom.” Jasher set down his empty water glass. “Without her, I’m not the man I want to be.”

Mom’s face softened, and she blinked a few times. “Those are just the words your father said to me when he proposed.”

Proposed. Oh. The ring. Jasher still had it, and Sage had rejected it based on her mistaken notion.

He had to prove to her that she had that all wrong.

“Where are you going, Jasher? You didn’t even eat a taco. Maybe you can grab something at one of the vendors at the rodeo.”

“Tell Redmond I said goodbye. I’ve got to do some research.” And find a few assistants—people who could possibly help him convince Sage of the truth—so she could be at his side again.