Page 20 of Passion Restored

Especially on someone much smaller.

The coffee now bitter on her tongue, she set her cup down on the small table that separated the two armchairs. It wasn’t very stable, but as long as she kept the mug in the center and didn’t wobble the table, it should be fine.

Liz rubbed her temples, trying to get her mind into gear and out of the past, but it wasn’t easy. She didn’t know why she kept thinking about that, especially since it had been so long since she’d dealt with any of it, but, apparently, her brain didn’t want to quit down that path anytime soon.

Determined to think of other things, she looked up right at the same moment that Owen did, but instead of making eye contact, he went down like a bag of bricks. His muffled oath reached her ears as she jumped out of her chair and ran toward him.

“Owen?” she called out, her bare feet pounding through the grass, the morning dew sliding over her skin.

“I’m fine,” he groaned, rolling over onto his back. “Just tripped over the damn newspaper that I canceled a year ago and they keep periodically sending.” He had his eyes closed and his good arm up and over his forehead. His other one, however, lay at his side stiffly. He’d bent one leg up, the other one lying straight while he took in deep breaths.

She went to her knees at his side and shook her head. “You shouldn’t be out and about yet. And you really shouldn’t be without your sling.”

Owen cracked open an eye and glared at her. “Actually, I’m allowed to do both in small bursts. I figured going out to check the mail I didn’t have a chance to get yesterday because I got home too late would be a good time to do it. But since I was barefoot and stupid, I tripped.” He groaned as he lifted his bad arm, but she didn’t see any signs of shocking pain over his face.

“Don’t move,” Liz ordered. “Let me check you over.”

Owen smiled then. “You’re welcome to check me out, Nurse Liz.”

She rolled her eyes, forcing herself not to smile. Damn man always got under her skin, and not always in a bad way. “Let me know if this hurts.”

She poked and prodded him, but he didn’t move out of her way. If anything, he leaned into her touch, and she forced herself not to keep her hands on him for long. Damn it, she needed to keep this professional. It didn’t matter that they weren’t in the hospital. She had a responsibility to her job, and feeling up Owen Gallagher was not part of it.

“I’m fine, Liz,” Owen said softly. He reached out and wrapped his hand around her wrist. “Just a little embarrassed that I bit it like I did. I saw you walk out to your porch earlier so I figured you saw me fall. That’s why I was lying down like I was. Not because I actually hurt, but because I’m an idiot.”

She frowned, studying his face. “You’re not an idiot. Everyone trips.”

Owen rolled his eyes as he forced himself to a sitting position. She tried to help him, but he waved her off. “I trip more than others recently. Or, at least, it feels like that. Thanks for checking me out, though.” He wiggled his brows. “And not just now.”

She swore she could feel herself blush and she hated her pale skin. “Let’s get you inside.”

“Anything you say, Nurse Liz.”

“And stop calling me that.”

“But you are Nurse Liz,” he said with a smile as they both stood up. “But I guess every time I call you that, I remind you that you used to be my nurse and that means it would be wrong to check out my butt. So I guess I’ll stop doing that.” He turned and shook his ass in her direction, looking over his shoulder as he did. “What do you think? You like the jeans? They’re pretty old, but you should be able to get a nice glimpse of my assets.”

She couldn’t help herself.

She laughed and looked down at his butt. “Yes, I guess I can get a nice glimpse. But that’s the only thing I’m getting. Just a glimpse.”

“Whatever you say,” Owen replied and took her hand. She was so surprised, she didn’t pull away. “Can I offer you a cup of coffee? To say thanks for running to my aid?”

She thought of the bitter cup she’d left on her porch, but for some reason, she didn’t answer as she should. “Okay.”

Surprise filled his eyes for a moment, and it matched her own. “Okay.” He smiled and pulled her toward his front door and inside. She hadn’t gotten a good look at it last time, but now that she did, she liked what she saw. Strong lines and colors filled his home, and it looked like someone cleaned up daily.

In fact, she was pretty sure the place was cleaner than hers had ever been, and she might have been a little jealous of that fact.

“Cream and sugar?” Owen asked as he poured two cups.

“Both please,” she said. “I can drink it black and usually do at work, but I have a sweet tooth.”

Owen’s eyes flared. “Good to know.”

Liz licked her lips, and his eyes dropped down to follow the movement. This was so not a good idea. She shouldn’t be here, and she sure as hell shouldn’t be following up on any attraction they might share. He wasn’t good for her, and she damn well knew she wasn’t good for him.

And yet when he set her coffee cup next to her hand on the kitchen island, she didn’t move to reach for it. Instead, she stood still, and he moved closer, so close she could feel his breath on her lips, the warmth of his body achingly close to hers.

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