“I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, Mr. Bennett,” she said primly.

“It’s Kyle, remember?”

“I remember.”

“Don’t act all innocent. You felt it, too.”

“Are you flirting with me Mr. Bennett?”

“More to the point I’m seducing you, and if I’m not mistaken, I think you like it.”

“You’ve got a high opinion of yourself. Not to mention that misplaced imagination we’ve talked about,” she said.

“Whatever you say Ms. Palmer.”

“I’m inclined to think you don’t need my help with this pudding, you seemed pretty strong when you gripped my hand.”

“Yeah but it hurt like hell. Plus, I have no coordination in my non-dominant hand which is why I’m wearing my pudding. Just one more bite,” his eyes gleamed wickedly.

She jabbed the spoon into the plastic container and practically shoved it toward his mouth.

“Whoa, Nurse Ratched, go easy!”

She wanted to smack him with the spoon but resisted the urge. “I think I liked you better when you were a ball of pain,” she said.

“You know you were a much nicer person when I was hurting. You might think about that. I’m totally at your mercy and you practically lodged that spoon down my throat.”

She couldn’t help it, she laughed out loud. She would have rather stayed irritated with him, it seemed a safer bet, but she never had been good with the odds.

“I never!” She exclaimed.

“Some kind of nurse you turned out to be.”

“Just wait until I have a fork in my hand,” she warned him.

He leaned back against the raised bed and smiled at her, his eyes oozing warmth. Ella felt it all the way to her toes. “I’m glad you’re back. Please no more days off. Nobody compares to you. I’d be dead now if it were up to the others, seriously,” he said.

“Ha! Not true,” she said. “I know for a fact that every nurse that has been assigned to your care is highly competent. Haven’t you heard the old saying that you catch more bees with honey than vinegar?”

“Takes too much energy. Everyone keeps telling me I have to focus on myself. How am I supposed to get better if I have to waste time being nice to everyone?”

“It takes just as much energy… maybe even more, to be negative as it does to be positive. You get what you put out in the world.”

“So, what do you put out?”

“Your lights if you don’t watch it.” His laugh was warm and hearty and made her belly flutter.

Kyle studied her face as she changed the bag on the IV drip. She had the healthy glow of someone used to spending time outdoors. Her skin was smooth and tan, “You are stunning,” he said abruptly.

Her hands stilled at the sudden change in topic. An army of internal butterflies began doing the samba in her belly. Ella took a steadying breath before replying, “Thanks, I’m sure after being cooped up in here, most anyone would look like eye candy.”

“Have you thought anymore about my invitation? What’s going to happen once I’m no longer your patient?”

Flustered she said, “Right now I’m still your nurse and I’m on the clock. I told you I keep my personal and professional lives separate Mr. Bennett.”

“Kyle.”

“Whatever.”