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“Who do you think you had dinner with last night?”
“Someone who refused to let herself relax and enjoy being with me.”
She closed her eyes. “Okay, I’ll admit it. I don’t want to want you, Jack.”
“I know.”
Her eyes opened. “Actually, the truth of the matter is wanting you at Rockin’ Tyme thrilled me. It had been so long since I’d felt anything regarding the opposite sex. But now that I do feel, well, attracted...” she sighed, her warm breath caressing against the curve of his neck, “...it’s inconvenient and doesn’t fit with who I am or the life I want to make here. So, I want you but I don’t like it.”
There was so much sincerity, so much emotion in her voice it made his heart hurt for her. Made him want to protect her from ever adding to her leeriness or pain.
“We don’t have to do this.” Although convincing his body wouldn’t be easy when she was melted against him so completely. “I was serious when I said we could be friends.”
“I guess we’ll see.” She gestured beyond him. “The waitress has almost finished taking everyone’s orders. We should join them.”
* * *
Taylor wasn’t sure who’d pulled what strings, but Amy was her orientation trainer. Amy had been an excellent nurse when they’d graduated. Her skills had only become more fine-tuned over the years since then and working with her was informative and enjoyable.
Working with Amy meant being on the same schedule as Jack.
Something Taylor was taking one day at a time.
Over a week had passed since their dance. A week in which she’d seen him more days than not, but always at work or in a social setting with others, sometimes just Amy.
Amy, who had bounced around with excitement and squeals of “I knew it!” when Taylor had confessed the truth about Rockin’ Tyme.
Currently, Amy had gone to the lab to drop off a vial of blood she’d drawn as the phlebotomist had been tied up with another patient. She’d sent Taylor to assist Jack on a thirty-something man who had a laceration requiring closure.
Working with Jack was almost as awesome as working with Amy. He brought the same laidback professionalism to the emergency room that she’d gotten used to at the music festival. He didn’t get overly excited no matter what drama was unfolding, but was always on top of things medically. He treated everyone, staff and patients, with care and consideration.
He really was a great guy and a gifted physician.
“You want to finish closing this wound?”
Surprised at his question, Taylor glanced up to see if Jack was teasing.
He wasn’t.
She’d only sutured a few times and none over the past few years as the opportunity hadn’t arisen in the intensive care unit where she’d been working.
Did she want to? Not really. Especially not with Jack watching. But she wasn’t going to say no to a learning opportunity and Jack was a great teacher.
With trembling hands, she took the needle holder from him.
Following the pattern he’d made along the man’s gashed arm, she positioned the needle, then looked at Jack.
“Perfect,” he reassured her as she pushed the curved needle into the man’s anesthetized skin and out the other side of his wound.
Pulling the thread through, she released the needle, wrapped the ethilon around the tip of her needle-nosed holder multiple times, then tied off a knot. She repeated the knot-tying process several times. She wrapped one direction one time and the opposite the next, to make sure the knot didn’t work loose as the man returned to his normal activities of daily living and increased tension was placed on the sutures.
“Beautiful stitch,” Jack praised.
Glancing up, Taylor smiled.
“It is, isn’t it?” she teased, pleased with both his praise and the suture.
She put the next three stitches in, getting faster with the last one.
