Riley had thought she’d fallen for Tyler before, but in that moment, with his arms wrapped around her, her heart was lost to him. She wiped a tear from her cheek as he shifted away. He reached for her sweater and pulled it over her head.

“Come on,” he said, standing up and holding her hand to help her from the bed. She followed, curious why he would be pulling her from the bed when he’d only just gotten her there. It didn’t match his reputation in any way.

He led her out to the sofa and grabbed a thick, downy throw which he placed over her after she sat down. “Wait here while I build a fire.” He already had logs stacked in the fireplace, so using a lighter and kindling, he soon had the fire blazing.

Riley was confused about this. He’d had her in his bed, and he hadn’t even begun to finish what he’d started.

He sat on the sofa and joined her under the blanket, wrapping his arms around her. She snuggled close, waiting to see what he had in mind.

“I thought we’d talk a bit,” he said.

“Okay. Is something wrong? Do you feel bad?” Her mind raced with so many possibilities.

“Everything is perfect. I just don’t feel a need to rush. Are you okay with that?”

“Sure.” She’d never known a man who would give up the opportunity to put aside his

own needs to talk. Especially not when she’d been ready and willing in his bed.

“Tell me about your life in New York.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Anything. What’s a typical day like?”

“Well… I get up around six in the morning, shower, dress, and head out.” He sat quietly, so she continued. “I walk to work. It’s about six blocks. I stop by Starbuck’s and pick up a latte, and I get a bagel from a little bagel shop. About once a week, I go to a little diner and have eggs.” She shrugged. “It’s an indulgence. I get to the hospital, go to my office, and check for any lab results that might have come in. I review the case for my morning’s client. I usually see them at ten o’clock.”

“You only see one couple in the morning?”

She nodded. “I like to have plenty of time to prepare, and I often spend up to two hours with them, so I usually put new clients in the mornings.”

“Do you go out for lunch?”

“Sometimes. But I usually go the cafeteria have either a salad or a grilled cheese. It depends on what I had for breakfast.” She pulled back to see if he was still awake. “Do you want me to keep going?”

“Yes.” He began to lightly massage her shoulders, and she sat for moment enjoying the sensation of the tension melting away. “In the afternoons, I usually have another client or a returning couple or sometimes I meet with doctors to staff different cases.”

“It sounds like you have a fairly decent job.”

“It doesn’t sound like much, but I have a lot to keep up with regarding testing. I try to set some time aside every day to read some in the literature or to explore different resources available to clients.”

“What about in the evenings?”

“I usually walk home. I either stop and get something to eat or something to make at home.”

“What about friends?”

“I don’t really have any friends. I spend a lot of time interacting with others at work, so I enjoy my quiet time in the evenings. I do have a work friend whose office is next to mine. His name is Benson. We often look at test results together to make sure we don’t miss anything.”

“You have a work husband.”

“A what?”

“A work husband. Someone you do things at work with. Do you go to lunch together?”

“Everyday. And sometimes after work we walk over and have a martini together, but I don’t see him after that except for work.”

“Good. Everyone should have a work husband.”

She laughed. “Do you have one?”

“Nah. I was never so fortunate. Besides, it’s different in baseball.”

“What now? For you, I mean.”

“I don’t know.” He took her hand. Played with her fingers. “I guess I’m content right now. My parents live in town, and my siblings are here. I like being close to them.”

“I didn’t think to ask about your family. Are they well?”

“They’re good. You’ve had a lot on your plate since you got here.”

“I guess I have. But still…” Tyler had done so much for her. Going to the hospital with her when her father was having a heart attack... And she hadn’t even had the decency to ask after his family.

“Riley. Stop beating yourself up.”

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

“You’re too hard on yourself.”

“You don’t think you’ll return to baseball?”

“Nah. They don’t want a guy who can’t run.”

“It’s your ACL, right? You can have surgery and recover.”

“I had a one-year probationary period in my contract.”

“But… there are other things you can do, though?”

“With it being only six months, I’m out.”

She put her forehead against his chest. That explained a lot. Why he was here. Why he hadn’t had surgery. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. After college, then three years of hell, I’m enjoying the change of pace.”

She tried to imagine what strength it had taken for him to get here. Baseball was in his blood. Giving it up had to take a huge toll.

“So… you said you’d stay.”

“I did.”

“Ready for some sleep?”

“Sure.” The fire was beginning to die down, taking with it the warmth and glow of the room as he took her hand and led her back to the bedroom.

He gave her an oversized Cardinals t-shirt to sleep in. She took it with her to the bathroom and got ready for bed as best she could.

Still confused by him, she went back and crawled into bed with him. He snuggled up behind her, and with his arms wrapped around her, they fell asleep.