This time he exerted more force, and she was pushed into moving. She grumbled something he didn’t quite manage to hear, and he had to hold back laughter. Though he wouldn’t go so far as to call Chloe predictable, he would definitely say she was stubborn. If something wasn’t her idea, she tended to veto it. She’d have to learn to bend as long as she was in his life.

That thought sent an unwanted pang through him. He wasn’t sure how much time he had left with Chloe. He had no doubt she would be ready to run out the door without looking back the second he was pronounced good enough to be on his own. He didn’t think he wanted that to happen. Nick enjoyed being with this woman. This was his chance to see if he wanted to maybe date her after all the physical therapy stuff was finished.

Nick didn’t normally enter into long-term commitments, but for this woman he might consider it. He could almost visualize the unbearable teasing he would have to take from his brothers if that were to happen. But Chloe was a one-of-a-kind woman. She might be worth the good-natured ribbing.

When they rounded the bend, Chloe once again stopped and Nick looked up. His brother had done well. The dock had a beautiful gazebo built on the end of it, and Cooper had hung a lantern that was glowing softly. On the ground was a thick blanket and a basket he was sure held excellent food. There was a bucket beside it with a bottle of wine chilling.

It was a warm summer evening, but even that didn’t matter. Nick had known from the moment he’d bought the property that he would spend a lot of time at the end of the dock, fishing, soul-searching, sitting back playing guitar, whatever he wanted. He preferred being outdoors. He didn’t love being cold, though, so he’d installed a gas fire pit that did a great job keeping the gazebo area nice and warm. Flames flickered in it, adding to the entire atmosphere.

“What’s going on, Nick?” Chloe asked. She didn’t seem anxious to get down to the place.

“I thought we could have dinner down here by the water,” he told her.

“How did you manage to get this all set up?” she asked. He couldn’t tell by her tone if she was pleased or not. She should be―it was damn creative, if he did say so himself.

“I called my brother earlier and had him do it for me. Soon, I’ll be moving around a lot better and can do it all on my own,” he said. It still bothered him that he was depending on other people to do the simplest of things for him. Nick didn’t like asking for help. He was the one who was normally being called for assistance.

“This is a bit much, don’t you think?” she said, but he saw the beginnings of a smile on her lips. That gave him hope.

“Not at all. When I’m my normal self, I eat down here all the time,” he said. That was honest at least. “I’ve missed being here.” The hint of vulnerability he allowed to touch his voice changed her mind. She was beginning to cave.

“With low lighting, wine, and a blanket?” she said with a touch of sarcasm.

“Well, I wanted to make sure you were comfortable,” he said. He tugged on her and was grateful when she fell in step with him.

“What am I going to do with you?” she said, but a soft chuckle escaped, and the sound was music to his ears.

“I can give you a few suggestions,” he told her with a wide smile.

Normally, at this point was when she pulled away from him. This time, though, she simply laughed, which encouraged him greatly. Damn! He should have tried the romance route a hell of a lot sooner.

“Sit down, Romeo,” she told him when they reached his perfect setting.

Getting up and down was still a chore for Nick, especially with the brace giving him only limited movement. There was no graceful way for him to slide onto his butt. Bending his good knee, he went down, and then slowly shifted until he managed to get all the way down. He was more than a bit disgusted with himself when he found his breathing strained from the effort.

“Join me,” he said, holding out his hand.

She looked back up the dock, and he nearly panicked when he realized she could rush away and there’d be nothing he could do about it. He couldn’t catch her yet―soon, but not yet.

With a sigh, she sat across from him and lifted the lid to the picnic basket. Nick hoped his brother had done what he’d asked and not tried to be funny. Chloe pulled out fried chicken, fruit, salad, crackers, cheese, and olives. She looked at him and smiled again.

“I approve,” she said. Her compliment had him practically glowing. How far he’d sunk into the pits of what he’d once considered hell. He’d never been so worried about impressing a woman before. He didn’t appreciate that he cared right now.

“I’ve learned a thing or two about you the past few weeks,” he assured her.

She raised her eyebrows and looked at him with skepticism. “Really?” The word was drawn out, and she was letting him know she doubted he was speaking the truth.

“I pay attention, doc,” he said, accepting the plate she handed him with a little bit of everything on it.

“Prove it,” she told him.

Nick’s heart raced as she picked up some cheese and a piece of fruit and popped them into her mouth. This was a test. He was sure of it. And never in his life had he been so worried he wasn’t going to pass.

But Nick had been through hell and back in his job, and he’d never run away from a challenge. He would ace this one―and then he’d have Chloe exactly where he wanted her―in his arms and in his bed.