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Wanting him to stay wasn’t what she needed to feel. Only she wasn’t sure she could not feel that and so much more where Justin was involved.
She needed to be careful or she was going to end up hurt.
* * *
Riley wondered how Justin would be at the hospital the next time she saw him. Would he make a big deal over the fact they’d spent the weekend together or would he pretend it had never happened?
Good was her answer. He was good. Great, even.
Without saying anything untoward, he let her know with his smile, his wink, that he wanted to say more but would take his cue from her and wouldn’t push it.
Even now, in the midst of repairing a torn medial meniscus, his gaze would connect with hers every so often, and in those brief moments she knew he was smiling beneath his surgical mask.
“Scalpel,” he said, and the surgical assistant handed him the instrument.
The surgery went without any issues. And when they were finished Justin winked, then left the operating room.
The crew cleaned up the suite, then moved on to prepare for their next surgery—a knee being replaced by another orthopedic surgeon.
* * *
Two weeks passed, and with each day Riley found herself depending more and more upon the calls and texts she had from Justin.
And the time she spent with him.
Her brain kept screaming for her to put a halt to whatever was happening between them, but her lips could never sever their ties.
Tonight he’d invited her to the movies with the kids, showing up in a large SUV so they could go to pick up each boy.
Besides Stephen, six of the other boys planned to go. Four were currently with foster parents, including Kyle, and the two others were with their birth parents.
One birth mother seemed to have gotten her act together—was holding down a job and living with family members.
The other... Well, Riley knew she was going to struggle to drop Jevon back at the junked-up little house where several other people besides he and his birth mother were living. It wouldn’t be so bad, but two of the men living there had given Riley the creeps, and she was pretty sure they’d been carrying out a drug deal when Justin had pulled the van into a driveway crowded with vehicles.
Stan and his wife met them at the movie theater. Riley found her to be every bit as nice as her husband and liked her at once.
Justin bought hot dogs, popcorn, and drinks for everyone, and when they were settled into a row he and Riley sat at one end and Stan and his wife at the other, with all seven boys in the middle.
Riley leaned over and whispered, “You’re a really nice guy, Justin Brothers.”
“You only just now figuring that out?” He grinned.
“I’m a slow learner.”
“I don’t buy that—which means I’m not nearly as nice as you think.”
“Probably not, but what you’re doing for these boys is wonderful.” Riley glanced at Kyle, who’d insisted upon sitting next to her, then back at Justin. “I hate that he’s upset I didn’t bring Daisy,” she whispered. “I had to remind him multiple times that pets aren’t allowed in the movie theater complex.”
Justin chuckled. “I’ll plan something soon that Daisy can attend.”
“Or maybe I can bring Daisy to visit him.” She frowned. “Is that allowed? For me to visit the boys?”
“It shouldn’t be a problem. I can talk with his foster parents and set up something.”
“I’d like that,” she said, and meant it.
“They’ll likely want me there, too, until they get to know you.”
