A Nurse to Tame the ER Doc

“They’re making this look too easy,” a guy complained. “Someone get them a drink. We’re going to add a new element to the competition to speed things along.”

Two drinks showed up within seconds and were handed to Will and Jack.

Jack finished off his drink, keeping his sack in the air. Will did as well, but with kicks that sent the sack high into the air over his head, and he’d kick it back up from behind him, then repeat the motions, all while chugging his drink. His movements were so fluid he looked as if he’d done the trick a zillion times.

When he’d finished his drink, loud cheers went out.

Laughing, Jack caught his foot bag in mid-air and bowed. “You are the master.”

The crowd clapped. Soon a group game started up of sacking it up.

“Come on,” Jack encouraged, taking Taylor’s hand. “You have to play, too.”

Taylor wanted to say no. It’s what the old Taylor would have done, claiming she just wanted to watch.

But she didn’t want to just watch.

She wanted to do more than sit on the sidelines.

Even if she failed miserably.

She wanted to live. Not just exist but live.

The sack made it all the way around and Taylor managed to catch Jack’s toss with the center of her foot and kick it to the person to her left without letting it touch the ground.

She was unable to hold in a big “Yes!” and do a little victory dance.

A giggly girl with flowers in her hair and an itty-bitty bikini on her equally itty-bitty body missed her toss during the second round.

No one seemed to mind and they started back over at round one.

The few times Taylor recalled being involved in games, there had been such a competitive element she hadn’t had fun. She wasn’t even sure those games had been about having fun, just winning. That wasn’t what this was about. The smiling, happy people around her just wanted to enjoy being alive and at the festival. Wow.

Taylor wasn’t sure how long they played, but they did so until a midday comedy show drew several away. Taylor took a break to rehydrate and reapply sunscreen.

“Need help with your shoulders and the back of your neck?”

She started to tell him she had it, but only a fool would turn down Jack’s offer. “Please.”

Squirting a generous portion of lotion onto his palm, he then rubbed his hands together.

“I doubt that’s needed today,” she mused, appreciative, though he’d thought to warm the lotion prior to applying it. Jack was a thoughtful man. She liked that.

She liked him.

“You’re probably right.” He placed his hands on her exposed shoulders, running them slightly beneath the edge of her sleeveless T-shirt, then down her arms.

Goosebumps prickled her skin.

Um...yeah, she liked that, too.

Next he got her neck. “Turn.”

Knowing it wasn’t the heat that melted her insides, Taylor turned.

“Here.” He carefully applied fresh sunscreen to her face, then smiled. “You’re quite beautiful, Taylor.”

Despite the lack of make-up and grooming, despite the damage the sunshine and heat from the games had likely done, the way Jack was looking at her made her feel beautiful.