The Nurse's One Night to Forever

“For that matter,” she continued, “Daisy gives me the perfect excuse if I fall behind.”

He’d walk if that was what it took to spend time with her. They needed this. At least he did. From the moment he’d awakened to find her gone he’d been trying to figure out where he’d gone wrong.

“How many days a week do you run?” she asked as they fell into step beside each other, Daisy trotting along beside them.

Moving more slowly than he normally would, he shrugged. “Depends on my surgery schedule. Every day, if I can. I enjoy running. It keeps me sane. How about you?”

“I don’t run because I enjoy it.”

He glanced toward her. “Then why?”

“It’s part of my weight-loss plan.”

Her weight-loss plan? “I’ve seen you naked. You don’t need to lose weight.” Realizing what he’d said, worrying she would shut him out, he grimaced. “Sorry.”

Jogging, Riley remained silent.

Wanting to move past what he’d said, he asked, “What kind of weight-loss plan are you on, Riley?”

“Low-calorie, low-fat, low-carb, regular exercise, water only—and weekly séances and exorcisms to rid me of the starving little demons inside me who love to eat. You name it, I’m trying it.”

Thankful that she’d not clammed up, Justin felt his lips twitch at her reply. “How’s that working out?”

“Not as well as I’d like—obviously. And I find no humor in it. Not everyone can look as good as you, Mr. Washboard Abs. Some of us have to torture ourselves just to maintain a semi-healthy weight.”

“Thanks.” Trying not to puff out his chest at her compliment, he grinned. “For the record, I think you look amazing.”

She rolled her eyes. “Flattery will get you nowhere. I have eyes, a mirror, and thighs that are more flab than fab. But I’m working on that.” She let out a sigh. “Thus the torture.”

He gave her a skeptical look. “What exactly is it you’re hoping to accomplish with all this torture?”

“To drop fifteen pounds.”

From his vantage point beside her he let his gaze travel down her body, then shook his head. “You don’t need to do that. You look great just as you are.”

“Yeah, if you like chunky.”

Did she really believe that? Despite her light tone, he realized that she did. She was always so confident at the hospital, and had seemed so in charge on Saturday night, that to hear the very real vulnerability shocked him.

“I don’t know why you’re under the impression you’re chunky. Take it from me—your curves are sexy as hell.”

“I...um...thank you.”

She didn’t say any more, just ran in silence, but he could tell his compliment had both pleased and disconcerted her. Was it her ex who’d put the crazy notion that she was overweight in her head?

Justin wished she could see herself through his eyes—then she’d know how beautiful she was.

“Daisy does like jogging, doesn’t she?”

Having teased her about the dog for months, he deemed that the safest topic. Not that he necessarily wanted safe conversation, but he’d tried being direct earlier and that had gotten him nowhere.

“I told you,” she reminded him, smiling as her gaze dropped to where the dog was happily keeping up. “She’s a good girl—aren’t you?” She baby talked to the dog. “Of course she prefers riding to exercising, and I’ll be having to carry her before we’re done. Takes after her mama, don’t you?”

Justin laughed. Riley obviously loved her dog. She talked about her at work often enough. He’d teased her into telling him about Daisy’s adventures numerous times since learning of her pet. Seeing her with the dog now, introduced another side of Riley.

“How long have you had Daisy?”

“I adopted her from a local shelter after...last year. I went to the shelter planning to get a guard dog.” She gave a self-derisive laugh. “I left with this sweetheart instead.”