Page 2 of Rich Man

“They must have sent me the prettiest nurse working here,” he says, andoh my god,his voice is just as attractive as his face.

My face grows hot at his compliment. I clear my throat and look down at his file in an attempt to regain my composure. I say, “No, that was just luck of the draw.”

“Then I must be the luckiest man on earth.”

Is he flirting with me? Oh my god. He’s flirting with me. I swallow around the strange sense of excitement that bubbles in my chest all the way up to my throat. I’ve been flirted with before by other patients, but something about Eric Joyner is different.

“I’m not sure about that, Mr. Joyner,” I say, settling in front of the computer in the room. I pull up his online chart quickly and scan the information. “Would you call severe shoulder strain lucky?”

“If it led me to meeting you, absolutely,” he says, the words silky-smooth.

I clear my throat again, my face flaming. Even if I were in a position where I could respond without risking my professional integrity, I wouldn’t know how. So, I decide to change the subject, to get this appointment on track.

“Well,” I say, my voice high-pitched and breathy, “I’ve just got some questions to ask before I pass you off to the doctor.”

“By all means, ask away,” Eric says.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, glad to be steering Eric’s appointment into familiar territory. I scroll down the file on the computer in front of me and ask about his activity level, his drinking and smoking habits, and his pain levels. He answers them all respectfully, though there’s a teasing smirk on his face that lets me know he isn’t quite done with me yet.

Is it a bad thing that the thought fills me with excitement?

As I’m finishing up taking his blood pressure, he says, “So, Nurse Amanda, when do you get off work?”

I pause, the question catching me off guard. It was different when he was just flirting with me, that was harmless; he was going to leave and I wasn’t ever going to see him again – except for maybe in my dreams. This, though… It’s not just blurring the line of professionalism, it’s jumping right over it.

Turning him down is what I should do, but my coworker’s words echo in my head.He’s rich. Then, another voice, one that sounds exactly like my mother says,A rich man could take care of you. He could solve all our problems.

I stay silent for a little too long, because Eric says, “If you turn me down, I might have no choice but to get another injury so I have a reason to see you again.”

And that seals it for me. He has money, he’s attractive,andhe’s interested in me. I’d be a fool to turn him down.

“There’s no need for that,” I tell him, smiling as my heart races at the thought of what I’m doing. “You’re my last patient of the day. By the time the doctor’s done with you, I’ll be off work.”

“Good,” he says, his voice curling around me like a warm hug. “Wait for me, Amanda.”

I nod, unable to say anything else as I finish taking his blood pressure. When I finish, I put the cuff away and give him a wave, promising the doctor will be right in before I leave the room. Then, once the door closes, I pinch myself, not convinced that this is real life.

Chapter Two

Eric

I might be a little short with the doctor, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable. There’s a beautiful woman waiting for me with big, green eyes and a ponytail of blonde hair that I can imagine wrapped around my fist as I fuck her mouth. As soon as I saw her blush, I knew I needed her.

Am I moving a little fast? Maybe. But I’ve always been the kind of man to go after what I want, regardless of what it is. Usually, my sights are set on properties or business ventures. But sometimes, I want a little action.

So, I’m going to do everything I can to make her mine. For a night at least. It’s not my style to hook up with women more than once. Less chance of forming attachments and distractions that way.

I’m practically pushing the doctor out of the door when he gives me the information for a physical therapist. Everything he’s telling me can just be sent over in an email. I have more important things to do than listen to him rattle off the same things the physical therapist is going to go over when I get there.

Once I’m finally out of that damn exam room, my eyes scan the nurses. At first I don’t see her in the throng of women gossiping at the station. My stomach sinks, and I’m overcome with an acute disappointment. As I’m starting to plan how I’m going to find Amanda, I see her on her own.

She’s looking at something on her phone, chewing the nail of her thumb. Her anxiety over whatever she’s occupied with is palpable. I decide that I’m going to figure out what’s giving her issues, and I’m going to fix it, whatever it is. This woman is far too beautiful to be stressed like that.

Immediately, I squash that thought. I don’t have time for an attachment like that. Besides, the whole reason I want her is to have a little fun—I don’t want to spend the entire evening listening to her cry about her woes.

“Amanda,” I say, walking over to her and grabbing her attention.

She jumps slightly, locking the screen of her phone quickly before shoving the device in the pocket of her scrubs. The worry on her face is quickly replaced with a warm smile, the same one she gave me when she left the room. God, I’m tempted to kiss her right now.

---