Gilly found out that Sydney’s notion of hosting the planning party was to keep the pitchers of margaritas coming. The suggestions tended to flow better when alcohol was involved.

“The best idea so far is Gilly’s masquerade ball,” Sydney announced. “And if we act on that we need to get moving on making it happen, settling on a venue.”

“Nick’s not exactly thrilled about wearing a costume,” Jordan admitted.

“Same with Ethan,” Hayden confessed. “I’ll have to make it worth his while if we decide on that direction.”

“Brent feels the same way,” River piped up. “But he’ll do it for a good cause. Raising money for the hospital is the best cause I know. I mean, no one wants to lose our brand-new facility.”

“Exactly,” Jordan said. “All of us need to step up and do what it takes to make sure it’s always there. Besides, it isn’t like we’re asking the men to put on some stupid getup.”

“What is it about guys not wanting to dress up?” Gilly noted. “All they have to do is wear a suit and tie and put a mask over their face for one evening. A mask equals a costume ball right there.” She couldn’t very well partake of the booze because in four hours she’d be on duty, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy the get-together and all it had to offer. She stuck a single chip down in a green sea of guacamole. “Who made this? It’s delicious.”

“Logan did,” Kinsey answered. “He’s quite the cook these days. He made a lasagna last night to die for.”

“Isn’t it great when men cook?” Isabella added, scooping up her own portion of the dip. “Thane doesn’t just bring home pizza from Longboard’s anymore, he actually makes breakfast at least four mornings a week.”

Gilly glanced over at baby Jace, now almost six months old. “He’s growing like a weed.”

Isabella chuckled. “He is, but then he started out huge. Jace weighed almost nine pounds at birth.”

“Try pushing out two,” Kinsey bemoaned, peering over at the baby and latching on to one of his chubby little fingers. “Logan’s talking about having another one. I might have to give in since Jace is so adorable.” She shifted gears and leaned into Gilly. “What’s this I hear about you and Simon joining forces?”

“I know small town living is like a grapevine, but we haven’t put out a press release yet.”

Kinsey bumped her shoulder. “Your mother has.”

Gilly rolled her eyes. “And did she elaborate on how she felt about him?”

“What do you think? Yeah, she made it known she’s not a fan. Don’t know why exactly. The guy has served so many tours of duty overseas that I’ve lost count. He’s a bona fide hero who doesn’t even talk about his service.”

It made her blood boil that her mother couldn’t seem to keep her opinions to herself. But she maintained an even keel, refusing to let the annoyance show. “I don’t get it either.”

But as she stood there, her mind drifted to the way he’d been tossing and turning. She’d seen firsthand what all those tours had done to him. She was pretty sure that trouble sleeping was only part of it. People didn’t realize the man suffered from a bad case of PTSD. Those thoughts were interrupted when she heard Jayden let out a squeal from the backyard. “I’d better go check on him.”

Kinsey trailed after her. “I better go check on mine. They tend to act up when I take them out in public.”

Gilly snorted out a laugh. “I’m almost afraid to look.” But what she saw through the open doorway was Beckham Blackwood and Faye DeMarco entertaining all the preschoolers with a lively, interactive puppet show about magical dragons. Naturally, Jayden enjoyed it so much he had to shout out his enthusiasm full throttle.

“We should persuade those two that we need them for babysitting duty the night of the ball. Look how enthralled the kids are with the show.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” Kinsey said. “We should make an offer. Teenagers always need a few extra bucks. And with half the town showing up we’ll need extra hands to take care of so many kids.”

“I’ll approach Ophelia with that idea. Where is this event taking place?”

Kinsey pulled her back inside. “We need to talk about that. The elementary school cafeteria would work. What about it, Sydney?”

“It’s probably our only option.”

“Not really,” Gilly began. “What about the grand foyer in the new library? It isn’t fully stocked yet, which leaves room for a few hundred people. And it’s more elegant than the school gym.” She looked around at the faces. “Sorry, but the school gym just sounds so drab for a masquerade ball.”

“No. No, you’re right.” Sydney began to pace and consider the possibilities. “There’s room for a band in that raised space near the big window. It would work as a stage. And if we moved the furniture completely out of the lobby we could shove in another fifty people.”

“We should check the fire codes,” Kinsey prompted. “Make sure we don’t violate any regulations. I’ll call the county and set up an appointment for them to come out, maybe sit in on our final plans.”

As that idea took shape, Gilly thought about Simon out on the water with his mother and daughter, enjoying the beautiful fall day.

Heat rose in her cheeks recalling their short, brief union, so fleeting she wondered if it had actually taken place. She knew it had. Her body felt different, felt like she’d been thoroughly made love to, and made to feel special, albeit briefly. But that wasn’t his fault. As single parents, their circumstances were such that family had to take priority. She didn’t feel cheated, she felt elated to finally have those first-night-together jitters out of the way, put to rest for good.

She glanced out the window at her boy, still giggling and laughing at the puppet show. That was her main goal, to keep Jayden happy and well-loved. If she could toss in a few stolen hours of happiness herself with a man like Simon, she’d take those precious times together and build on them for down the road. She hadn’t expected to ever feel this way about a man; certainly it was different from the way she’d felt about Vaughn. But the man had given her Jayden and for that she could appreciate the role he’d played in changing her life.

Simon wasn’t Vaughn. The two had zero traits in common. Something else to be grateful for, she muttered to herself as she looked at her watch and realized her Sunday had already been gobbled up. It was time to get ready for work.

 

 

On what was a somewhat boring start to her shift, Gilly was two hours in when she got a frantic phone call from her mother.

“You have to come and do something about Jayden. He’s all wound up and I can’t get him to settle down to go to bed.”

“Bed? Mom, it’s barely six o’clock. Have you given him supper?” Her worry shot up when she heard Jayden crying in the background.

“I made him peanut butter and jelly. Just come pick him up. He won’t stop crying.”

Gilly didn’t know what had turned her happy toddler into a bawling mess, but she tried to figure it out. “Maybe he’s worn out. He spent a long afternoon running around in the yard with the other kids.”

“That’s no excuse for knocking over one of my oldest figurines, the one with the birds on it.”

“You’re upset because he broke one of your porcelain pieces?”

“Your father bought that for me for my fortieth birthday.”

“Okay. I understand you’re upset. Let me call Sydney and see if I can get someone to cover for me. I’ll take my lunch break early and be right there.” After she hung up, she sent Sydney several text messages, hoping for a quick reply. But when the texts weren’t returned right away, she realized the planning session must still be going strong. Which meant the other nurses like Aubree Wright would certainly have been drinking. With few options left, she decided to call Simon.

“What’s wrong?”

“How did you know something was wrong?”

“I figure you’re at work, right? You’re not calling to shoot the bull.”

She went into a detailed account that covered her mother’s agitation at Jayden. “She’s having a meltdown over a broken figurine. I know it’s asking a lot but…could you go get him?”

“Stop it. I’ll leave right now. What about a car seat?”

“You could borrow mine.”

“Okay. Do you want me to stop off at the hospital after I pick him up and let you take a look at him, make sure for yourself that he’s all right?”

At that moment, love, deep and solid, hit her squarely in the chest. In three years, she’d had no one who’d showed her this kind of affection, caring, or concern. She’d had no one to lean on, to call in times of crisis.

“That would be great. You don’t mind?”

“If it were me, I’d want to see for myself that he’s okay.”

After hanging up, she waited, doing a dozen little chores for the patients under her care. She checked on Hattie Bledsoe, who’d been admitted the night before with a blood clot in her leg. She changed a bandage for Wade Hawkins, who’d driven a nail through his foot a week ago and was now dealing with sepsis from the wound. By the time she brought juice to Alice Mayfield, who suffered from a staph infection that had spread to her sinus cavity, she heard the double doors open out front.

Darting past the reception area, she watched Simon carry Jayden into the lobby. “How’s my big guy doing?” Gilly asked, trying to remain upbeat and calm.

“Mama! Simon gonna take me for ice cream.”

Simon relinquished him to his mom.

She settled him on her hip. “Ice cream, huh? And I don’t get any?”

Jayden bobbed his head. “You can have mine.”

“That’s generous of you, buddy. Wanna tell me what happened at grandma’s house?”

The toddler laid his head on her shoulder. “I…uh…I…bwoke her thing…and she got mad.”

Simon put a hand on the boy’s head. “I break things all the time. Accidents happen.”

“Okay, baby, are you okay to go with Simon?”

Jayden nodded his head. “Ice cweam.”

“Oh, yeah, mustn’t forget the ice cream. Tell Margie I said hi, okay?”

“’K. Bye, Mama.”

“Bye, baby.”

Simon took Jayden out of her arms and leaned over to give her a chaste peck on the cheek. “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.”

“I won’t worry, not now. Did Mom give you a change of clothes, his pajamas, his toothbrush?”

“She had a bag sitting by the door when I got there. We’ll be fine.”

“I know.” Gilly bit her lip. “Thanks, Simon.”

He took her chin because the woman looked like she might cry. “No problem. Text us when you get a break. We’ll be playing with our cars.”

That made her laugh. “Okay. Simon?”

“What?”

“Drive carefully.”

He waved his free hand in the air as he exited through the automatic doors.

 

 

Gretchen had taken up a position on the front porch with Delaney on her lap to wait for them to get back. As soon as she spotted the pickup, she whispered in Delaney’s ear. “Daddy’s back. See? And he brought Jayden.”

Delaney wanted down and started trying to maneuver the steps on her own. Gretchen helped her toddle out to the truck where Simon unbuckled Jayden from the back seat. “Jayden, tell them we brought ice cream.”

“Ice cweam!” Jayden yelled.

“What kind?” Gretchen asked.

Simon waited for Jayden to come up with the answer. When he didn’t, he leaned down and whispered in the boy’s ear.

“Chocolate and stwabewwy.”

“Yum. We like those, don’t we, Delaney.”

Simon handed off the bag to his mother so he could scoop up Delaney. “Did she eat her supper?”

“She wanted to wait for Daddy.”

“Then let’s get you something to eat before the ice cream melts. Jayden, let’s get you unpacked and set up before bedtime.”

“Jayden can have my room. I don’t mind sleeping on the sofa.”

Simon shook his head. “Nonsense. I’ll bunk on the couch, you take my room.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. The couch is fine compared to some of the places I’ve slept.”

During her break, Gilly called to say goodnight to Jayden. But a three-year-old was much more interested in playing with the buttons than talking to his mother. After several minutes he got bored and handed the phone back to Simon, dashing off to continue smashing cars.

“I forgot to mention that since your mom is in the guest room, you can use a sleeping bag for Jayden and tell him he’s camping out like big boys.”

“It’s not necessary.” He went over the sleeping arrangements again. “Stop worrying. I have everything under control.”

“I’m sure you can handle anything that comes your way. But wrangling two kids under the age of three is not for the faint of heart.”

“Didn’t you know? I’m fearless. Want me to bring you something to eat?”

“You’d do that?”

To get to see her, he would’ve driven to Fresno and back. “My mom’s here for the kids. I could make you a homemade roast beef sandwich, two hours out of the oven.”

As great as that sounded, should she cop to bringing leftovers from Friday night’s spread? “You don’t have to do that. You have to get two kids to bed.”

Simon looked over at a drowsy Delaney and an animated Jayden, who was bumping his cars into the furniture and making loud roaring sounds. “One’s already nodding off. The other is…having fun.”

“You are so politically correct. I can hear him in the background zooming around the room. That’s what he does.”

“He’ll wind down soon enough.”

“Are you always this patient?”

“What’s to get upset about? He’s a kid. Maybe he’s rowdy, but he’s a typical, normal little guy, even my mom thinks so.”

“She does? Did she say that?”

“She did.”

For the first time in days, Gilly felt like the universe had lined up. “I gotta get back to work. Will you text me later?”

“Count on it.”

With help from his mother, Simon let her put Delaney to bed while he corralled Jayden. “Maybe giving you sugar so close to bedtime wasn’t the smartest move I’ve ever made. Want to hear a story about a seriously whacked monkey in the zoo?”

“Uh huh.”

“Then let’s get you a bath and put your PJs on.”

Bath time was quick and messy. But he could tell Jayden was winding down. By the time he cracked open the book, Jayden had already drifted off to sleep.

Gretchen tiptoed out of Delaney’s room and plopped down on the sofa. “I hate to say this, but after my visit to Connie’s the other day, I’m not surprised she came unglued around Jayden.”

“Really? You went to see Connie? When?”

She’d walked right into that. “Okay, I went there Saturday morning to see if I could get a better handle on why she disliked you so much. I was ready to take up for my boy. But she seemed even more fragile than she had on Friday night, obsessing about Jayden and his hyperactivity.”

“Well, she proved that tonight. I felt bad for Gilly. I thought she might burst into tears before I got Jayden out of there. Gilly, not Connie.”

“Poor thing. I get the impression that Connie’s erratic behavior is beginning to take a toll. Stop and think about it. Connie’s been her only support system since Jayden’s been here. A person relies on family to get them through the tough times. Now she’s realizing Connie is either unwilling or unable to continue in that capacity. She has to be worried at this point.”

“That about sums up what I saw this afternoon. What did you intend to do to try and persuade Connie that I’m a nice enough guy? More cute stories about me as an adorable kid? Something tells me Connie’s immune.”

Gretchen leaned over and slapped him on the knee. “You could be right. I did try some of my best stuff. It seemed to go right over her head.” She noticed Simon’s glum look. “What else is bothering you?”

“I think I’m falling for Gilly.”

“Why so down about it?”

“Not down, maybe…scared.”

Gretchen let out a laugh. “Oh, Simon. How long has it been since you’ve been in love? High school?

“Not like this. Besides, I don’t want to scare her off by telling her too quickly. Thoughts? Advice?”

“Gauge the way she acts around you and go from there. It’s the best I can do. Look, I’m exhausted. I think I’ll head to bed.”

“Just let me get some blankets out of the closet.”

He made up the couch, but laid there, wide awake. After a while, he sent a text to Gilly.

What are you wearing?

That teddy you didn’t get to see.

Unfair.

What are you wearing?

Not a thing. See how that unfair thing works?

I’m picturing you right now. Hot. Bothered.

I’m picturing the teddy and taking it off you.

Now you’re talking. Oops. Gotta go, one of my patients just buzzed.

Get your mind out of the gutter first.

He got a smiley face in return.

A little wired from the suggestive byplay, it took him a while, but he eventually dozed off. That is, until he heard a noise coming from outside on the porch. With his gun locked away in a closet in the other room, he picked up the only thing handy---the poker in front of the fireplace.

Looking out the window, he didn’t see anyone until a shadow crossed in front of him. He threw back the door, only to see Scott sitting in one of the chairs like he owned the place.

“You scared the bejesus out of me. There are kids inside. What the hell are you doing out here?”

“Look at your watch. What time is it?”

“What? I didn’t think time existed in your world. It’s three-fifteen. That’s a.m. in case you were wondering.”

“Go put some clothes on and be there when Gilly gets off work.”

“That’s a great idea. Is she in trouble?”

“Not if you show up and surprise her.”

“That’s what you came here to tell me? My God, Scott Phillips is a romantic.”

“I know. I didn’t realize it was wasted on the living until I died.”

“Okay. You can go now. Message received. But I’ll have to wake my mother up to let her know to listen for the kids.”

Scott stood up. “She’s already awake.”

Simon stepped back inside but when he looked back, Scott had disappeared. “That is just plain weird,” he muttered under his breath. “Twilight Zone weird,”

“Who are you talking to?” Gretchen whispered. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. An old friend stopped by,” Simon muttered, pulling on his jeans. “I need for you to make sure you can hear the kids in case they wake up.”

“Sure. But where will you be?”

He pulled a T-shirt over his head and started to put on his Nikes. “After I go to the hospital, I’m hoping to end up at Gilly’s. I’ll be back first thing in the morning. Do you mind very much?”

Gretchen smiled. “Go. Enjoy yourself the same way you did Saturday night.”

He gave her a wink. “That’s the plan. Thanks, Mom.”

Simon had spent many pre-dawn hours on high alert. But the road into town was downright spooky. It made him appreciate the hours Gilly worked and how she did it with total composure and spunk. Third shift wasn’t for sissies.

He pulled into the hospital parking lot, which had only two cars there, parked next to her Subaru. And waited.

Fifteen minutes later she came out through a side door. He knew the minute she spotted him because she broke out into a wide smile and darted toward him, jumping into his arms.

His mouth covered hers. There was a moment of sheer need and utter lust. “I’ll follow you home.”

“Are you staying?”

“Do you want me to?”

“Absolutely. The kids?”

“Mom has them covered for at least four hours.”

“Then why are we standing around here?”

Lovers who found a way to carve out precious moments to be together made the most of their time.

They barely made it into Gilly’s house before ripping at each other’s clothes. They toed off shoes, peeled off scrubs and shirts and shorts, tossing them on the living room floor as they bumped into the walls, latching onto each other, making their way into the bedroom.

They couldn’t get to the bed fast enough. It was all heat and need. Hurrying to get down to flesh, to feel skin. Tongues explored, devoured. Wet and slick, teeth nipped. He’d known he could take her to the gilded edge of all reason and proved it, as they both tumbled onto the bed.

Her senses were on overload as he slicked his tongue again over curves, taking his time to savor her taste.

“I want you inside me,” she said, breathless with need.

“Not yet.” There were peaks to climb, valleys yet to conquer.

She arched her back, shuddering at the pleasure spooling around her. She fisted the sheet in her hand and held on while his mouth did the rest.

This was finally the love she’d needed without knowing it existed. She soared toward that ribbon of light, seeking the ultimate assent. When it hit, she floated, drunk and dizzy into the circle of his embrace.

“Now, Simon! Now!”

He pressed his lips to hers. Joined, mated, he began to move, taking her higher. Desire as smooth as silk danced along the fringes. Like velvet, they glided up and up, sailing through the bluest blue. Swirling, swirling they flew. Gilly moaned as she raced toward that jagged rim, inching closer, faster. It was her sexy little whimper that let Simon claw his way toward the edge. He buried his face in her hair and let himself fall into the same glow.

Sprawled over her sleek body, he had to drum up the energy to move.

“Wow,” Gilly managed. “Just. Wow.”

Simon finally rolled to his back. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Snuggled next to each other, entwined, they tried to sleep. But it eluded them. They napped but it wasn’t the same as that gateway to deep slumber. So when sunlight began to filter through the drapes despite their best efforts to ignore it, Simon cracked open one eye to snatch a look at the time.

“Where did the last few hours go?” Gilly whispered hoarsely, yawning widely.

He twined a blond strand of her hair around his finger, toyed with a bare breast. “Time flies when you’re having fun.”

“Mmm.” She rolled over him, straddled him. “Want to enjoy yourself again?”

She didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, she ravaged his mouth, his throat, moving down his chest, hungry to feed a primal greed that seemed to have come alive over the last two days.

Their eyes locked. His hands reached out and laced his fingers with hers. They began a rhythm, a faster pace than the last as if they knew the sand drifted through the hourglass at a rapid rate and they didn’t have a whole lot of time.

Gilly capitalized on that, made it her own. She wanted to give back to him before they had to wait until the next available opportunity presented itself.

From her vantage point, she rode, taking the lead, intense and focused. Her mouth came down on his in fierce need. He lifted her, urging her on. Her blood pumped, pulsing toward that one goal, release. When pleasure flooded her senses, she let go, tumbling, spinning, into the brilliant bliss.

He ran his hands down her hips. “You’re incredible.”

She threw her arms in the air. “You’ve made me feel alive again. Even though I’m running on fumes, that was…exhilarating. Thanks for waiting for me outside the hospital. Whatever made you think of that?”

He wasn’t about to cop to a ghost for inspiration. “I wanted to be with you.”

She wriggled off him to plop back on her side of the bed. “How will we deal with no sleep today?”

“You have to be fresh for your shift at four. That means, you’re gonna to stay here and get some shuteye.”

“Simon, I can’t let you do that. Jayden’s a handful.”

“Look, I got the planting all done until Silas gives me another task. No tours today from the B&B. I can catch a few winks when Delaney goes down for her nap.”

“But Jayden rarely naps.”

“That’s okay. Maybe my mom will entertain him. Don’t worry about it.” He stood up to get dressed. “But I probably need to hit the road while I’m able to walk.”

She burst out laughing. “I’ll wear you out anytime you want, just say the word.”

He planted a smoldering kiss on her mouth. “That’s a plan I can live with.”