Page 35 of Knight's Journey

Zane didn’t reply. He stared off into the distance. He seemed to be watching the touch football game, but she wasn’t so sure. She sensed there was something else on his mind.

“So are you still feeling pain? From your surgery?”

“I hardly notice it. I was well taken care of.” His remark brought a hint of a smile to her lips. “Do you miss having me as a patient?”

“Does anyone really miss a pain in their ass?” Her sass was second nature, so it was what she resorted to when she was unsure of herself.

Zane barked a laugh, glancing over at her profile. “Well, not everybody can be as charming as…what was the guy’s name? The patient who proposed to you?”

“Mr. Stutler? How do you know about him?”

“Are you kidding? The employees think nothing of talking about each other in front of the patients. Or in the hallway where the patients can overhear. They said you were Mr. Stutler’s favorite nurse.”

She flushed. “I don’t know about that. I think he liked that I would slow down and talk to him. He doesn’t have anyone in his life. He never has any visitors. Besides, when I told him about my kids, the proposals stopped. Most men aren’t interested in women with a ready-made family, even men who propose to every woman they meet.”

“Not every guy has a hang-up about kids. Look at Jay. He knew when he proposed to Payton that Davi was part of the deal, and it didn’t matter to him. Now it’s like they’ve always been a family.”

“Well, take it from me, a guy like that is rare. I mean, would you be willing to date a woman with children?”

Bridget meant her question as a challenge, but when his eyes swung around to capture hers, she realized how the question must have sounded to him.

“Are you asking me on a date, Nurse Bridget?”

“I don’t date patients, Mr. Wilder.”

His eyes danced. “I’m not your patient anymore.”

“No, that’s true. But I don’t date men who are interested in someone else.”

Like she flipped a switch with her words, the light dimmed in his eyes, his irises darkening and almost churning like the sky during a storm. Their gazes stayed locked, and the longer the silence stretched between them, the more she wondered if she overstepped. Finally, he averted his eyes back to the touch football game.

“Your kids seem to be having a good time.”

“Nice segue, but yes, the kids are having a good time. Mathias loves anything sports related, and I think Marlowe has a crush on the big guy. The one who looks like a Mack truck with hair. I can’t remember his name.”

Zane threw his head back with a laugh, and she tried not to notice how her body tingled at the sound.

“That would be Brick, I’m guessing.”

“Oh, sure. You name a kid Brick, and he has no choice but to grow up to be the Incredible Hulk, minus the green skin.”

When he chuckled again, she had to wonder if he was laughing at her attempt at humor or if he was laughing at her.

“His name is Mason. He was nicknamed Brick when he served in the Army,” Zane explained.

“How original,” she returned sarcastically. “Do you all have nicknames?”

“Some of us.”

She couldn’t stop herself. The old Bridget – the flirtatious, club-hopping Bridget –tilted her head enough to have her hair drape to frame her face. Her responding smile was coy, but not obvious. Her tone was playful enough to keep him intrigued. It was a practice she’d perfected, so it was ingrained in her despite the fact she hadn’t been in this position in a while.

“So what is your nickname, Mr. Wilder?”

“I don’t have one.”

“Don’t believe a word he says.” Sydney appeared beside them with Kat and another woman, blonde and elegant even dressed in shorts and a casual top. “He has a nickname. Come on. Why don’t you tell her?”

“Sydney gave it to him,” the blonde told her with a smile. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Bridget. I’m Chloe, Syd’s best friend. She’s told me a lot about you.”

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