Her McKnight in Shining Armour. Teresa Southwick

was the case, since this was her first time driving with a broken left ankle. She used her good foot to press the gas and brake pedals, but even it felt heavy. The injury somehow threw off her timing, but she made the trip in one piece.

      And that was when her problems really started.

      After parking in her assigned space, she saw that Adam Stone’s car wasn’t there, because he and his bride were on their honeymoon. Then she opened her driver’s door and grabbed one of the crutches to get herself out. Because the interior was compact and the thing was unwieldy, it was impossible to maneuver, and she kept getting hung up on the dashboard, windshield or steering wheel.

      “Now what?” She was frustrated and close to tears. “You can do this, Ellie. You’re a Hart and an architect. There’s no crying in this big girl world. Pull yourself together. You are woman. W-o-m-a-n. Roar, girl.”

      She thought for a moment, then decided they would probably come out the same way Alex had put them in. From the outside. The only challenge would be doing it on one leg, but she could hop around to the other side and use the car for support.

      It worked, but even though she didn’t put weight on the leg, the jarring movement sent shards of pain through her ankle, and she was sweating by the time she’d braced the crutches under her arms. Her gaze landed on the purse in the passenger seat. There was no way she could balance and walk with the monstrosity on her shoulder, so she hung it around her neck.