Abby felt like a deer that had been caught in the headlights of an oncoming semi. Finally, she stammered out, “I’m working on it. I think that I’m falling in love with him, but I’m not completely sure.”

Taryn just smirked, grabbed a chocolate cupcake, and asked the kids if they were ready to go into the playroom and watch a movie.

“She’s direct, isn’t she?” Abby said.

Beth laughed. “Yes.”

They spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out and talking about relationships, the younglings, and life in general. Abby went back to her place with a huge smile, feeling relaxed.

She decided to hang out with Xyla atHowlers’the next night. Jade and the other manager had asked for the night off, so Sean had to work.

Abby and Xyla were playing their second game of pool when Abby looked up and saw Sawyer walking in with a beautiful blond woman on his arm. They meandered toward a cozy table for two in a dark corner. He pulled the chair out for her, and she ran her hand down his arm as she sat down.

Her heart lurched and her stomach twisted into a knot as she watched the two of them interact with each other in a way that made them look like old lovers.

Sawyer and the woman leaned in close to each other, talking, separating only when the waitress approached to take their order. The woman continually touched his arm. She said something that made Sawyer laugh.

Jealousy exploded inside of her as the two of them continued to interact with each other.

“Why don’t you go over there and introduce yourself?” Xyla asked.

“And say what? I’m his nurse whom he just happened to fuck once and kiss a couple of times. It’s so nice to meet you.”

Xyla made a choking sound. “That’s not quite what I had in mind.”

Abby shook her head. “I’m not his girlfriend. As a matter of fact, we’re not even in any kind of romantic relationship and Ihave no claim on him. If he wants to see other women, then he can.”

“There could be an innocent explanation.”

“Him being on a date is innocent. Like I said, there are no strings between the two of us. However, I don’t think that I can hang out and keep watching this. If you’re okay, I’m going to head home.”

“Me, too.”

Abby tossed and turned all night long. Her heart hurt and even though she told herself a million times that she had no right to feel the way she did, she was devastated by seeing him out with another woman.

This was exactly why I knew that it was wrong to get involved with him. Something would happen and it would make the workplace awkward. How can I see him, knowing how I feel about him, and also realizing that he doesn’t feel the same?

The thought haunted her throughout the night and she woke up very tired and grouchy.

Sawyer was whistling when he walked in, and Abby figured that he must have gotten laid the night before. She tried to avoid him whenever she could without making it obvious.

Finally, at the end of the day, he cornered her. “Are you okay? You’ve been acting weird all day.”

“I’m fine.” Abby worked hard to keep the huff out of her voice.

“No, you aren’t. We can go grab some dinner and talk about it.”

“Don’t you have a date with that pretty blond woman you were with last night?”

Abby gasped as the words slipped out of her mouth. She hadn’t meant to say them.

Sawyer looked at her in shock for a minute and then laughed.

“No. I guess you were atHowlers’last night. That was Vanessa and we used to work together for Doctors Without Borders. She was traveling through town and asked if I wanted to meet up with her. We hung out and talked about old times.”

Abby simply stared at him.

“She is a touchy-feely kind of person, but she’s like that with everyone. It’s just her way. She has a low, soft voice, so it’s hard to hear her in a noisy environment. There’s nothing between the two of us, I promise. You should have come over and joined us.”