A Nurse to Tame the ER Doc

“We win!” She bounced around in Jack’s arms, waving the Frisbee over her head. “We won!”

Jack tossed her back over his shoulder, bum in the air, and carried her over to his teammates. “What should we do with this one? Pretty sure she deserves punishment.”

A few lewd suggestions went up.

“Put me down, Jack Morgan,” Taylor demanded, laughing so hard she could barely talk, and lightly smacking his bottom.

“Be careful what you start, Taylor.”

For that, she pinched his very nice bottom.

“Remember, you asked for this.” He lifted her from his shoulders and put her on her feet.

His words echoed from her past and a surge of panic hit. Taylor braced, preparing to defend herself, if needed. Her heart beat hard and heavy and she fought wincing.

But all Jack did was lean in and pop a kiss on her lips.

A very sweet kiss that was much more a reward than punishment.

Taylor’s muscles sagged with relief, relaxing from the tension that had overtaken her. She should have known, maybe she had, but old habits died hard.

* * *

Taylor was having fun. Jack could tell by the big smile on her face as they danced to the beat of his favorite band. The group hadn’t started playing until almost midnight. The crowd was really big so they hadn’t tried spreading the blanket tightly folded inside his backpack.

Just as well. He liked watching the gentle sway of her body.

He liked how she looked relaxed and was soaking up the music. There was no hesitancy in her eyes, just trust when she looked at him.

Except for that moment when they’d been playing Frisbee and her big brown eyes had filled with uncertainty and fear.

He’d instantly connected her tension to his thoughtless words.

Her ex had a lot to answer for.

Thank God that look had been fleeting in her gaze and she’d shaken it off as quickly as it had appeared. Jack wanted her trust.

Wanted to deserve it.

He also wanted her.

But no way could he act on that want without the other medical staff realizing. Not that any of them would care, but being seen leaving Taylor’s tent or her leaving his would cheapen what was between them, make her no different from anyone else he’d ever met.

Taylor was different.

He’d known it the moment he’d noticed the photo at Amy’s and been drawn to it. Amy had come over and commented about how much she missed her friend since she’d married, how she worried things weren’t as great as Taylor pretended. Knowing she was married, Jack had immediately written off his interest, but he’d never forgotten the smiling woman in the photo.

Taylor was unlike anyone he’d ever known and the way he felt about her was completely foreign to him.

So he enjoyed the moment they were in and let it be enough. When the crowd jumped up and down in time to the music, he and Taylor jumped. When the crowd jammed, they jammed.

Through it all they laughed and smiled and laughed some more.

It was an amazing night.

An unforgettable night that he didn’t want to end.

* * *