“And that is why you’re going to have all the Mirandas and Annies chasing after you. You’re a good man. I like the new doc. What are we supposed to call her? Nurse Daley? That seems weird. Everyone will end up calling her Doc so she should get used to it. Anyway, I met her the other day out at Guidry’s and she seems solid. Practical. I guess that’s why I don’t see the two of you together.”

“Maybe we won’t be. I don’t know her all that well, but I’m attracted to her.” He knew her way better after the night before. He knew there was a soft woman under all her armor. A mystery. He’d told her the truth about that. She was a mystery, and it had been far too long since he’d had one to solve. “She’s complex and complicated and makes no apologies for it. I like that she’s forthright.”

“I liked that about her, too. I don’t get all the Southern stuff, to tell you the truth. Like why does every woman in town bless everyone’s hearts? It’s weird. I’ve been here for a while and I still don’t get it.”

He would have to get her a translation guide. “When a Southern woman blesses your heart she means you’re an idiot. Southern women are good with the polite passive aggression.” He bet Lila would simply call him an idiot. No hiding behind social niceties. He kind of liked that. He hadn’t given much thought to how the transition had gone for his deputy. Like him, she’d come from a big city job. Unlike him, she hadn’t grown up here. Not even close. “Do you miss New York?”

“Often.” She stared out at the water. “And then I remember how crappy it could be. I’m happy I’m here, Armie. Even if I don’t always get the people.” She seemed to shake something off. “Speaking of people, I haven’t met this Carrie. I thought I’d pretty much met everyone in town. Why does the doc think she’s being abused?”

He was going to have to figure out the name thing. Nurse Daley did feel weird. “Lila doesn’t know what it’s like out here. She also had a friend who was abused by her husband.” He hesitated to say anything else. It was her story to tell. “I’m worried she’s seeing something that’s not there, but I think we should check it out just in case.”