A Nurse to Tame the ER Doc

Around them people were dancing and singing along. The band was one Taylor knew and soon, to her astonishment, she was singing along, too. Probably because the music was so loud no one could discern her voice over anyone else’s anyway.

The group led into one of their most popular hits and the crowd went wild, cheering, screaming, and jumping up and down. Jack stood and held his hand out to her. Not sure what he intended, Taylor let him pull her to her feet.

The next thing she knew she was in front of him, dancing, his arm around her waist as they sang along with the band.

It might have been the beer. Or it might have been Jack’s arms around her, but Taylor felt good.

Really, really good.

And free.

She’d never felt comfortable singing or dancing in front of others, but as she swayed to the beat and sang the words, she felt great.

The song ended, and another started. The crowd was really into the music and someone had started hitting a giant beach ball around.

When it bounced her way, Taylor tapped it back up into the air, thinking, How fun.

“Good hit,” Jack praised, taking her hand into his then turning his attention back to the stage.

His hand holding hers stole all Taylor’s attention.

Jack. That was the song she was interested in singing. In dancing to.

Jack.

Jack.

Jack.

He turned toward her and she realized she’d said his name out loud.

Caught up in the moment, she stretched forward and planted a kiss on his lips. A habit she seemed to be developing.

Surprise lit his eyes, then he grinned. “Enjoying yourself?”

“Immensely,” she answered, then laughed and spun around. As she did so, a young man in his early twenties grabbed her hand, bowed, then spun her again.

Laughing, Taylor shrugged at Jack and let the man lead her in another spin, after which he handed her back to Jack and moved on to another nearby lady to do the same.

Taylor’s gaze met Jack’s. He was smiling. It struck her that Neil wouldn’t have been. First off, she couldn’t imagine him at a music festival. But if he had been and had witnessed her dance, he’d have accused her of flirting with the man, of egging on his attention. Despite her efforts to reassure him, she’d have paid the price for the young

man’s foolery.

Tension started tightening her neck muscles, but she shook it off. Neil was no longer in her life and never would be again. She wouldn’t let him ruin the present or her future the way he’d tainted her past.

She squeezed Jack’s hand. “Thank you.”

Jack’s brow lifted. “For?”

“Not being upset.”

Genuine confusion shone on his face. “Why would I be upset?”

Exactly. He shouldn’t have been.

Still holding her hand, he pulled her to him. “I want you to have a good time, Taylor.”

“Because you promised Amy?”