Honor (Heroes of Big Sky 0.50)

“But I was like, no way. I’m finishing my nursing degree. And I’m glad I did. He just wasn’t meant for me. And, finally, a few months ago, I sat him down and told him it was over. Said I wanted to break up.”

I mix the butter and herbs and then reach for the salmon and coat it with the mixture.

“He didn’t take it well. Ended up hitting me.”

“What the fuck?”

I glance up in surprise and feel my eyes widen at the look of absolute horror and the promise of violence on Nick’s face.

“Don’t freak out,” I say and turn my attention to the asparagus. “I called the cops, and he was arrested. I’m not the kind of girl to drop charges. I put up with a lot of crap from Jeremy over the years, but that was the end for me. So, while he sat in jail and figured that out, I packed my stuff and moved home.”

“Good for you.”

“Yeah. It was good for me. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed Montana until I was here about a week, and the leaves had turned and crunched under my feet. That doesn’t happen in Arizona. I missed the change of seasons.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have interfered today,” Nick says as he watches me prepare the food. “But you looked uncomfortable, and I didn’t like the looks of him.”

“It’s fine. I’m not scared of him, but I’m also not eager to chat with him, you know?”

He laughs and nods his head, and I can’t look away from him.

“You’re seriously beautiful when you laugh.”

His face sobers, and he blinks at me.

“Sorry. So, anyway, now you’re up-to-date. Jeremy Dunnigan is solidly in my past. And now, for the present, I’m going to cook up these amazing pieces of salmon and—”

Suddenly, Nick turns me to him and lowers his mouth to mine. The kiss starts in a frenzy, but after a few moments of our lips being fused, he lightens his grip and sort of sinks into me. It’s like how they do it in the old movies, where it looks as if the guy might die if he doesn’t kiss the girl.

I don’t think I’ve ever been kissed like this before.

Nick’s hands roam from my shoulders up to my face, and with the lightest touch, he frames my jawline and kisses me lightly yet thoroughly.

When he pulls back, his blue eyes are bright and pinned to mine.

“That’s the only way I could get you to stop talking.”

“Well.” I swallow. “I guess it worked. Of course, it can’t happen again.”

His hands drop from my face down to my hands, and then he lets go and steps back.

“Why not?”

“You’re my client.”

A half-smile tickles his lips.

“Nina hired you, Jordan. Not me. If I had my way, I’d fire you and keep kissing you.”

I bite my bottom lip at the thought, and his eyes shoot down to my mouth.

“You’re not helping things,” he growls.

“I really need this job,” I say and frown at the asparagus.

“No one is saying you have to leave it,” he replies. “But if it makes you feel better, I’ll keep my hands to myself.”

Well, no, that doesn’t make me feel better. Because he’s freaking hot, and that was maybe the best kiss of my entire life.

“Is that what you want?”

“I think, for right this minute, I want to cook dinner,” I say slowly and glance up at him. His face has relaxed, and his eyes are warm as they watch me. “Because I’m hungry. Then, we’ll take it from there.”

“Fair enough.” He turns to walk away but then stops short. He looks back at me. “You’re safe with me, Jordan. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize you or your job.”

“Thanks.” I smile and watch as he walks out of the room.

What in the hell do I think I’m doing? I take a big sip of my wine and then fan my face. Nick leaves quite the trail of heat when he exits a room.

Of course, it’s nothing compared to the inferno he ignites when he’s in the room.

I’ve never thought of having an affair with a patient or client before. Of course, if I worked for the hospital or were under contract, that would be against the rules.

But I’m not under contract. And like Nick said, I don’t work for him. I work for Nina. And even if I do kiss him once in a while, I’m still capable of doing my job.

I push the fish and asparagus into the oven and then take a deep breath.

The truth is, I didn’t want him to stop kissing me. And when he laughed, I thought I might melt into a puddle right on the kitchen floor.

So, maybe I’ll just see where this goes. Perhaps it’ll go nowhere. Maybe the chemistry won’t be there, and we’ll go back to the way things were.