The Nurse's One Night to Forever

Giving in to one’s desires? Easy as pie.

Are we talking dessert or the numerical pie? For the record, I never was good at math, so if you want to impress me, better make it dessert.

Why was she being flippant? Because she didn’t want to discuss her reasons for being so afraid to give in to all the things she wanted to do with Justin? Because she was afraid? Or because she’d learned better than to take that risk when Johnny stood her up?

Any flavor you want. Just name it.

Sighing with a mixture of wistfulness and resignation at how Justin tempted her, Riley typed back.

I’ll have to think on that one. Night, Justin.

Night, Riley. Text me if you change your mind. We could stargaze together.

Struggling with a mixture of giddy anticipation and leeriness, Riley reread her messages, typed some words...

Bring Key Lime!

Doing so made her smile even when she knew she’d never send them.

That was when it hit her. Prior to last Saturday she’d have thought Justin would have been out on a date. Never would she have assumed he’d be at home stargazing when he was off work the next morning.

She’d seen him with several different women over the months she’d known him. Why was he alone now? Had she misjudged him? Would a player really be alone on a Thursday night? Why was she so glad he was alone?

CHAPTER FIVE

“PLANS TODAY?”

Tell Justin yes, Riley ordered herself, even as she heard herself say rather sleepily into the phone that had just awakened her, “Nothing specific. Why?”

“I’m taking my Wilderness Group out on a kayaking trip in the Congaree National Park. One of the other adults canceled and I need a certain adult-to-child ratio.”

Riley yawned and then, making sure not to disturb Daisy, who was curled next to her, rolled over in bed to look at her clock.

“I thought you might want to go,” Justin continued.

“On a kayaking trip with your Wilderness Group?” She didn’t even know what a Wilderness Group was.

“Nothing like a bunch of seven-and eight-year-olds floating down a river, right?”

“You’ve lost your mind.”

He laughed at her comeback. “That means you want to go with me! I’d hate to disappoint the kids...”

Ugh. Justin was emotionally blackmailing her with the thought of seven-and eight-year-olds.

“How many kids are we talking about?”

“Nine signed up for the trip. I’m hoping they’ll all show.”

“You’re taking nine kids out on the river?”

“They’re great kids,” he assured her. “Plus there’ll be another adult there, and a guide.”

Still, nine kids on a river... Sounded rather sketchy.

“You’re sure it’s safe?” Because she wasn’t sure. They seemed too young.

“We’ll have life jackets on the entire trip,” he assured. “Besides, it’s a slow float—not a white-water rafting trip. And the water isn’t up as we’ve not had a lot of rain. We just need one more adult. Say you’ll go.”