12
Jason
It’s building up, all the attraction, yearning, and desire I have for Karly. We’ve been on friendly terms for a couple of weeks now, and I’ve worked up to six hours without needing my cane to give my knee a break.
I’m confident that I’ll be able to ditch the cane completely in time, and because Karly has helped me see that I can, I start to think maybe she would agree to go out with me if I asked her.
She seems to get even more beautiful each day I see her, and the days that I don’t seem longer and monotonous.
Even as I’m considering asking her out, I hear Harrison, a ranch hand that helps to break and train the horses intercept Karly, who was on her way to the house. “I noticed you like to look at the horses.”
“Yeah, they’re beautiful, that’s for sure. I’ve always wanted to ride one. I’ve just never had the opportunity.”
I have already pushed past eight hours without the cane, and I look down at it in my hand feeling pathetic and jealous as Harrison asks her out on a date.
“That’s kind of you to invite me, but I’m afraid it’s not a good idea. I work quite a bit, and beside that, it’s a conflict of interest for me to date someone who works for my patient. I hope you understand.”
I know it’s a total jerk move to be smiling as large as I am at Harrison getting turned down, but I don’t care.
Derrick joins me on the deck about then. “What are you grinning about?”
“Nothing,” I say quickly. I am watching the corner that I know Karly will come around. When she does, she’s even more beautiful than the last time I saw her, impossibly so.
How did I think she was going to want to go out with me?
“How are you, Karly?” Derrick asks her.
“Good. Just admiring your horses.”
“And turning down the free horse-riding lessons?” I ask because I’m still a little jealous even though she said no to Harrison.
Karly laughs. “Yes, actually. Though I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep saying no. I’ve always wanted to learn to ride a horse.”
Derrick looks pointedly at me.
What? Like I can teach her? I haven’t completely remastered walking yet. Get real.
Karly
Usually, I’m sort of a bear in the morning but with the extra sleep I’ve been getting, not to mention the rewarding work I’ve been doing with Jason, I’m up and raring to start the day today.
Since Derrick and Olivia invited me over for breakfast before the workout with Jason, I’m not even going to have to cook. Man, when I do go back to my apartment in Knox and my job at the hospital, it’s definitely going to take some getting used to. Not to mention how much I’m just going to miss all this sunshine and fresh air. And Jason. Of course my thoughts go to Jason. I shake my head as if I’m trying to get the thoughts out.
Walking to the main house, I see Jason leaning up against the corral. Just watching him, my heart aches for him. Even from here, it’s clear from the look in his eyes that he wants to be up astride a horse, probably at a full run, knowing him.
One day at a time, Jason.
I wait for him to catch up to me, and we walk to the main house together. “You’re walking really well. Every day I see improvements. Pretty soon you won’t need the cane at all.”
He has a sexy grin that makes my stomach flutter and squeeze. “I think so too, thanks to you.”
“You did the work; all I can do is encourage you and offer suggestions.”
“You do more than that,” Jason says as he tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His touch sends tingles through my entire body.
Keep it together, Karly. Nurse and patient, nothing more.
“Maybe, but I should be thanking you too. Usually, in my line of work I only get to work with someone for a limited amount of time, and then I have to give them a stack of pictures of workouts and hope they use them. You’ve given me a real gift to see the therapy work to the end.”
“The end?” Jason asks.
Olivia opens the door. “Come on in,” she says.
I smile over at Jason, assuming we’ll finish our conversation later, but the smile that was there only minutes ago is now gone.
Over breakfast I want to avoid talking about when I won’t be able to work with Jason anymore, so I ask him about the horses. “I saw you out by the stables. Are your horses doing okay?”
“The horses are doing great.” Olivia beams. “We’ve got a mare getting ready to have a foal, and she’s been perfectly textbook.”
“That’s exciting,” I say, but I’m watching Jason. “Were you looking in on the mare?”