"Hospital? Where? How badly were you hurt? Are you okay now?" Concern for Zach - horror at the thought that she could have lost him before she ever got to know him--pushed aside her doubts.

He squeezed her hand. "Settle down, darlin'. I'm fine - all in working order, or even my father wouldn't have taken me on in the sheriff's department. There are some scars, though - you should probably know that, before you see me naked."

"We all have scars, Zach. Some are just less ...