The Nurse's One Night to Forever

Confused, he stopped walking. “Not sure I follow.”

“My leaving made things simpler for both of us.”

“By...”

“By letting us not have to pretend what happened meant anything.”

Having to remind himself that they were in the hospital’s parking lot, Justin contemplated what Riley said. “Who says it didn’t mean anything?” he asked.

Her gaze cut to his. She looked stunned for such a brief moment that he thought he might have imagined the flash of vulnerability.

“Good sex counts for something, eh?” she said.

His faltering ego surged a little. “You admit the sex was good?”

Her cheeks went bright pink. “Would you believe me if I denied it?”

“No.” He knew better. “Which is why I was shocked to find you’d left. We could have spent the day together.”

She shifted her weight, looking more and more uncomfortable with their conversation. No wonder. They were still standing in the employee parking lot.

“This isn’t the best place to have this conversation,” he admitted. “Maybe we could grab a bite to eat?”

Obviously shocked at his suggestion, she met his gaze and appeared ready to tell him no. It wouldn’t be the first time.

“No strings attached,” he added. “Come and talk with me so we can get past this weirdness between us. It seems neither of us likes it.”

“I—I have to let Daisy out. Sorry.”

He started to point out that they could meet up afterward, but she’d already taken off toward her car.

Well, that hadn’t gone the way he’d hoped.

Then again, what had he expected? She’d left his bed without waking him.

* * *

Riley tapped her fingers against the steering wheel as she drove toward the park. She’d have plenty of time to hit the trail before sunset. She had to get out of the house and burn some of her nervous energy. And she needed to run as she hadn’t exercised over the weekend.

Sex with Justin had burned more than few calories, though.

Ugh.

“I have to stop thinking about him,” she said out loud, hoping that would make it happen.

Not true. She needed to think about him and figure out what his odd behavior in the OR meant. What his asking her to dinner meant. Even more, she needed to figure out why it mattered so much.

Shouldn’t she just let it go? Not worry that their working relationship felt changed forever and just be grateful she’d escaped unscathed otherwise?

Only she didn’t feel grateful. She felt bereft of his friendship.

So why had she refused dinner?

She gripped the steering wheel tighter. He’d said no strings attached when she’d hesitated. Why hadn’t she gone?

For the same reason that for so long she’d only interacted with him at the hospital.

Justin was dangerous to her peace of mind.