Page 10 of Bleeding Hearts

Nolan has issues. And they’re warranted. But it’s been almost three years since his wife passed, and I worry about him. It’s not healthy to live in the past, for him or his girls.

“Can we talk about something else?” If I weren’t looking up at him, I’d have missed the way he flinched at my question. “How was PT?”

I parrot his first question. “Can we talk about something else?”

He pushes me through the automatic doors to the patio and ushers us to a table already set. Well, who knew he was one of those men? Not me.

It has me tilting my head back so I can see him better. “Not a date, you say? You sure about that?”

The black metal table is covered by a tablecloth with a small vase of daisies in the center. Two actual plates are shielded by a clear plastic dome to keep insects at bay.

He pushes my wheelchair to one, locks the wheels, and lifts the dome, revealing a juicy steak, luxurious mashed potatoes, and asparagus coated with parmesan cheese. As soon as he takes his place across from me, he reaches next to him and brings out a bottle of sparkling apple cider, opens it, and then pours it into the glass flute in front of me.

With knife and fork, I cut into the steak; the juices running onto the plate. Shoving it into my mouth, I savor the taste as it melts, chewing the tender meat, before swallowing. Then I make eye contact with him and wait for him to say something.

When he doesn’t, I call him out. “You just whipped this up for no rhyme or reason? Just because you thought I’d be tired of the bland food they serve here? I call bullshit.”

Nolan chews the bite he’s shoved in his mouth and swallows before telling me the truth. “No.”

Stabbing the asparagus, I bring it to my lips and ask, “So this is a date?”

And damn, I nearly moan when the vegetable hits my tongue as the flavor explodes in my mouth.

“It was my turn to cook. We had leftovers. I thought you’d enjoy them.” The way he scoops up his potatoes and angrily shoves them in his mouth tells me he’s lying. “I might’ve set it all aside so it would be fresh. Well, not the potatoes, but the rest of it. They are better cooked fresh. And since I had to stay late to cover for Frank while he took care of personal business, I had time to do it before I stopped by to check on you. Why does everything have to be so complicated with you?”

I give all my attention to my food as we sit in silence and eat for the next ten minutes. The only sound is the clinking ofthe wind chimes hanging behind us. A pleasant, cool breeze is blowing, a rare occurrence in July.

And once I’ve had all I can of the silence and his moodiness, I say what’s on my mind like I’ve done most of my life. “Someone needs to get laid. You’re so backed up, it’s making you moody. If I weren’t out of commission for the foreseeable future, I’d offer to take one for the team, but I can’t.”

Those sour apple eyes of his dilate as he stares at me. As he leans in and points his knife at my chest, his Adam’s apple bobs while he swallows. “You think sex solves everything? It doesn’t. Getting laid won’t brighten my mood, it will only make me feel worse.”

“Why is that?” the therapist in me asks.

“Because only one woman knew how to brighten my mood, and she fucking died. So, I guess I’m stuck being a cranky son of a bitch for the rest of eternity.”

I’m speechless. All I can do is stare at him, feeling like a complete ass for not considering how his loss has profoundly affected him. Not everyone is like me. There are actually people out there who think sex and relationships go hand in hand.

He drops his silverware and rests his forehead on his palms. “Sorry. You’re probably right. It’s been way too long since I’ve had any action. Juggling between the girls, my sorrow, and work, it hasn’t been a top concern of mine. And the one person I find myself attracted to brings out the worst in me on a good day.”

Wow, talk about a slap in the face.

“Nolan.” With a deep breath, I release the mounting frustration within me. “Look at me, please.”

As he lifts his head and folds his arms, his intense gaze locks onto me. “What?”

“The feeling is mutual.” Then, because I hate how admitting that makes me sound like a silly female with hearts in her damneyes, I say, “Maybe we should just fuck and get it over with so we can move on.”

We stare at each other. His gaze burns. The sensation is like fire on my skin. The hot intensity a sign he’s ready to engulf me. Each ticking second that goes by it only grows and has goosebumps breaking out all over my body.

A beautiful smile spreads across his face, illuminating his eyes. “Damn my luck. You’re out of commission, remember? Guess I’ll have to wait until you’re not. I’ll get back to you then to see if you’re still up for a night of sweaty sex. Until then, I’m going to have the worst case of blue balls, making my brooding mood even more pronounced. Thanks a lot, Bethany.”

I laugh so hard, tears stream down my face, and my sides ache. “Glad I won’t be suffering alone.”

Chapter 6

Nolan

AUGUST

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