Rex took it, one side of his mouth tipping up. “It’s nice to meet you as well. I hope you don’t mind being outside.”
Lauren looked down at their clasped hands, wondering why she was suddenly overtaken by nerves. Her fingers were wrapped in his warmth, and it was okay. A little better than okay. She pulled her hand back and glanced away before taking her seat. Why did she suddenly have the feeling she was in trouble?
“No, I don’t mind being outside,” she said.
CHAPTER FIVE
Rex stared at Lauren an embarrassingly long time, but he couldn’t help himself. She was stunning. For months he’d scoffed at Gen, arguing against the set-up, but maybe she was onto something.
Lauren was taller than average. Rex thought the top of her head would rest perfectly under his chin. That was a strange thought, because he hadn’t desired physical closeness from a woman for a long time. Or maybe he’d just shut down that side of his personality. When people got close, they asked questions.
But her face, and her blue-gray eyes… Why did she look familiar to him?
She must have seen he was trying to tease it out, because she smiled slightly. “Not sure if you remember me, but I responded to the robbery at the Quik Stop.”
Her gentle words hit him like a ton of bricks. “You were the cop…”
She smiled again, a little broader this time, and images clicked into place. It had been a chaotic night, but there were flashes of calm, usually when he was looking into her eyes. She’d been completely indefatigable, a harbor in the storm, as he tried to get his bearings.
“That was me,” she confirmed. “I didn’t realize who you were until I talked to Gen the other day, and she mentioned your name again. There aren’t that many male nurses named Rex at Santa Rosa.”
He snorted, sinking down into the chair opposite hers. “No, there aren’t. I think I can count on one finger how many.”
She gave him a broad, knowing smile, and Rex grinned back at her. His mood had shifted. Dread had ridden him for days, but now that he knew who she was, the dread drifted away on the cool evening air. It didn’t mean they clicked completely, but she already knew he struggled with posttraumatic stress, which was the biggest hurdle he had in relationships.
And she was a cop, so she understood probably a lot more than the average person did.
Rex realized he was just staring at her, and he looked away. “I’m sorry. Don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. You just… whether you realize it or not, you really helped me temper that night. When I think about what might have happened…”
“I think you would have been okay,” she said, leaning back in her chair and crossing her forearms over her lap.
Rex shook his head. “No. I’ve been thinking about it. Worst-case scenario, I would have gotten lost in a flashback when they strapped me down, and I would have ended up in a psych ward somewhere. But you recognized it, didn’t you?”
Lauren nodded. “My ex-husband served, and he didn’t control it well.”
“Hence, the ex, I assume,” Rex said, carefully.
Nodding, she reached out for the water glass, taking a sip. “And there were other reasons,” she said softly.
“This got serious way too fast, didn’t it? We haven’t even gotten through the basics yet. Hi, I’m Rex Neptune. I’m an RN at Santa Rosa and I like to hike.”
Grinning, Lauren reached out and clasped his offered hand. “Hi Rex. I’m Lauren Collins and I’m an SAPD officer. I have a twelve-year-old son named Keegan and I like to watch trashy reality TV.”
They laughed together, and it was strangely easy. A server arrived, offering appetizers, and Rex chose a couple from the menu. Then he sat back and just looked at her. “How long have you been a cop?”
She tilted her head, her long honey colored hair sliding over her shoulder. “Going on twelve years now. “
“That’s amazing,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s a hard job.”
She nodded. “Yes, sometimes. It’s getting more dangerous, but…” she shrugged. “What can you do? Your job isn’t a walk in the park, either. I’m sure you have stories.”
Rex snorted. “Oh, I do. And I’ve been in my share of fights in the hospital, too. I tend to get called when the crazies come in.”
“Well,” Lauren said, quirking a brow, “look at you. I think you can handle most things that walk through the door.”
Rex grinned, and they spent a few minutes comparing crazy suspect/patient stories until the server brought their appetizers. They both reached for food, and it gratified Rex that Lauren was actually eating. He couldn’t stand it when women tried to pretend to be something they weren’t. He saw it all the time at the gym.
“This is fantastic,” he murmured. He’d ordered some kind of stuffed mushroom, and the topping was phenomenal. Crusty and cheesy. “I’ve never been to this restaurant.”
Lauren lifted her brows at him. “You must not be from here, then. This place has been in business a long time. I wasn’t sure you’d like it.”
Rex tilted his head. “So far, it’s fantastic. And no, I’m not from here. I’m originally from Virginia. Most of my family is from the Carolinas. Though we have a few strays in West Virginia and Ohio.”
Lauren snorted. “I get the stray thing, but I think I’m the stray. Most of my people are in Montana. They’ve never understood my need to be in Texas.”
Rex couldn’t help but grin. “I love Texas. It feeds my soul. I love the expanse of it.”
Lauren nodded. “We have a little place outside of town, enough for some critters for the boy. We absolutely love it.”
Rex was surprised. She was too put together. He couldn’t imagine her mucking stalls or cleaning pens. “Critters, huh? Like dogs and cats?”
Lauren gave a cute little wince. “And a guinea pig, a rabbit, three horses, some chickens, two alpacas…”
Rex blinked. “Damn,” he breathed. “Now that’s a lot.”
“My parents believed in pets for children, and I do as well. I think it makes them more rounded individuals.”
“I agree,” Rex told her. “I wish more people had had pets as kids. Maybe we wouldn’t have so many assholes.”
Her head tipped back and she laughed, and Rex felt like he’d won a medal or something. Lauren appeared very collected, and her personality was a little difficult to uncover.
The server arrived then, bringing their entrees. Lauren had ordered a fire-roasted chicken, and he’d ordered a filet. Both plates looked amazing.
“Not gonna lie, my mouth is watering,” Rex told her.
“Dig in, then,” she told him.
Rex cut into the steak, and it was as good as it looked.
“Not to be too forward but try a piece of the chicken. I haven’t used my fork yet.”
She ripped a piece of chicken from the bone and reached across to set it on his plate. Rex blinked, looking down at the piece. It had been a long time since he’d been fed. He popped the piece into his mouth.
“Oh, man,” he groaned. “That is so good. The smoke on that is amazing.”