A Nurse to Tame the ER Doc

“Better yet, I’ll show you.”

* * *

Having already placed his steak away from the flame, Jack turned skewered vegetables on the grill next to Taylor’s steak.

When she came to the backyard to find him, he glanced up.

She’d left her hair in her double braids and had changed into a different pair of shorts and tank top from the ones she’d kayaked in earlier. Her skin glowed a rosy pink, hopefully from her shower and not from too much sun. Her eyes sparkled, and her expression was soft, relaxed.

Relaxed looked good on Taylor.

Like it belonged, and she should wear it more often.

The back of the house had a patio and grill and if he cooked, it was usually there. Other than a few friends from work and Duffy a few days prior to Rockin’ Tyme, he’d never had company at the farmhouse.

“Something smells good,” she said, coming close to peek at the food on the grill.

“Yes, you do,” he offered.

“Ha, I probably smell like you because I used your bath wash.”

Lucky bath wash.

“Positive I’ve never smelled as good as you. This is almost done.”

“Yay. Something about being around you makes me hungry.”

“I know the feeling.”

Her gaze lifted to his and she smiled. “Oh?”

He nodded. “Being around you increases my appetite, too.”

“Um...guess we’re both just hungry people around each other, huh?”

“Apparently.” Jack cut into one of the steaks, making sure it was cooked somewhere between medium and medium–well done. “Perfect.”

“Unlike your raw one there.” She crinkled her nose.

Placing her steak on a plate, Jack laughed. “It’s called rare, not raw.”

She gestured to his steak. “Same difference, apparently.”

He put his sirloin on a plate then put a vegetable skewer apiece on the plates. “Dinner is served.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“I ATE TOO MUCH,” Taylor said, rubbing her belly. They’d cleared their dishes and had gone back outside to sit on the front porch.

She was sure Jack would have gone back outside, but she’d wanted to sit on the front porch. It had been so inviting. She wanted to rock.

So she rocked.

Jack was in the chair beside her but seemed more interested in watching her than in rocking his chair.

“Everything was really good, though,” she continued, not content to sit in silence. Surprising because she felt sure she could while away many hours on this porch and feel at peace, but at the moment silence toyed with her sanity.

When he still didn’t say anything, she frowned. “Jack, talk to me.”