CHAPTER TEN

Skylar

Several weeks later

She shut the door behind exam room two. Her heart grated against her sternum nearly out of control, but Skylar had managed to keep her anxiety in check. The two-hundred pound man with a stringy, black ponytail never knew he’d set her on edge. Giving her enough time to treat his lacerated arm despite her nerves on overload. Not because she knew the patient or he’d done anything wrong, but because he fit the profile. Any man with a black ponytail made her nervous.

“You’re being silly, Sky,” she whispered. “Just do your job.”

That was years ago, two thousand miles away.

“Lucas,” Mary called from the nurse’s station. “You okay?”

She took a deep breath. “Yep.”

The charge nurse gave her a strange look. “Can you last one more hour?”

“Of course.” Skylar grabbed the tablet to scroll to the next patient file. She bit back a gasp. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“What is it?” Mary asked.

“I know this one.”

“Do you want me to take it?”

She held the tablet against her chest.

A dozen room indicator lights flashed on the screen at the nurse’s station.

Skylar bit her lip. “No, I’ll take it.” She opened the next exam door. Then swallowed.

Garrison Riggs sat on the gurney holding a bleeding shoulder with a nasty bruise.

“What did you do to yourself?” she asked in her casual nurse tone. Her first instinct was to help. To heal. Closely followed by the urge to slug him in the jaw.

Riggs’ eyes widened. “Skylar?”

She sighed, and reviewed his chart as a way to avoid making eye contact with those Sinatra blues. Besides, this clearly wasn’t a ploy to see her. The man really was injured. “Something about an accident with an animal.”

“I didn’t know you worked in the ER.”

“They’re short staffed this weekend. I offered to help.”

He smiled, but not nearly as wide as his stunning one. “Damn, am I glad you did.”

She rolled her eyes, and pulled up the wheeled stool. “What’re we looking at here?”

“Kicked in the shoulder by a horse.”

That forced her gaze to meet his. “A horse?”

He shrugged the good one. “Long story. Is it broken?”

“We’ll X-Ray to be sure.” She poked around in a few spots, checking for tenderness. Asked him a few questions. The white scar on his other shoulder drew her attention. He hadn’t talked about it during their night together. Then again, she’d never asked passed pointing it out.

“You never called.” He almost appeared wounded as he said it.

Skylar had deleted most of his messages the last few weeks. Probably just looking for another payday. She didn’t have the heart to outright block his number. After the awesome times they’d shared. Especially in her bedroom. She hated to admit it, but she’d missed him. Thought about him. Hell, even dreamt about him. “I’ve been busy.” She checked his sheet for allergies, and noticed the occupation field.

Entertainer.

She snorted.

“I thought we had a great time.”

We did. You earned your money that week.”

He blinked, and the surprise on his face seemed genuine this time. “You didn’t know?”

“Excuse me?”

Now I really do want to slug him.

Riggs sighed, and scraped his good hand down his face. “I thought you knew. My apologies. Seriously. That’s why you never called.”

“You think?” Sarcasm dripped from her voice as she took antiseptic wipes and cleaned out the cut.

He winced.

“Sorry,” she muttered. “This will just be a second.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Lucas,” Mary poked her head in. “There’s a spider bite in exam four.”

“Thanks.” She never once looked away from Riggs’ wound.

“Looks like you could still use a little fun in your life,” He said, his voice low.

“I can’t afford you.” Her words dripped with disdain.

“But I’m worth every penny. I offer the perfect stress relief.”

“I’m sure. Charge by the hour, do you?”

He laughed.

Which ticked her off more.

“So do you. In fact, I can barely afford your services either, with healthcare these days. This whole visit alone will cost me what, three grand?” The sexy smirk never left his mouth.

Probably. “Touché.”

Keeping her distance was impossible for the rest of his scans. Her job required her to touch the patients, no matter any personal feelings. Not to mention, he constantly tried to charm her over with small compliments, touching her hand, and caressing her knee. So natural and nonchalant. His corny one-liners were so bad to the point of endearing. That was one of the things that’d initially attracted her to him. Riggs was always easy going. He’d successfully distracted her mind from the previous patient.

She handed him his final checkout papers.

“Can I have a lollipop?” His blue eyes nearly glittered.

“Normally, no. But for you, I’ll make an exception.” Skylar reached into the basket to offer a sucker.

He gently held her elbow, pulling her attention back. A serious stare made her heart hiccup. “Thanks for taking such good care of me. Please, let me thank you over dinner. The least I can do.”

“Do you charge extra for alcohol, or is that included?”

Riggs blinked, his hand still hot on her elbow. “No charge. Just good food, good company.”

Doubtful.

She turned away and started clearing the room for the next patient.

His sigh felt heavy in the air as he started to walk out.

So much for that social life.

Riggs stopped at the curtain. “With so much seriousness and tension in your job, to which you’re clearly still addicted, don’t you deserve a little fun?”

Skylar tilted her head.

Those Sinatra blue eyes pleaded for her to say yes in the alluring, boyish way.

She sighed. “Better offer a lot of fun, to make up for the colossal screw-up.”