Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
~JORDAN~
S hawn Mendes sings in my ear as my feet pound the treadmill belt. I jog at my normal pace, watching Nick in the weight area below. We haven’t been here for long, but I’m a mile into my run. He’s been working out long enough to shed his sweatshirt, exposing the impressive muscles I’ve suspected all along were there.
I love winter, but it means more clothes, and Nick is impressive. I know he’s lost some muscle mass since his injury just over a month ago, but he’s still something to write home about.
Lord have mercy.
Now that the wound is fully healed, he’s been cleared to start training with a professional. He’s working with a trainer today, which put my mind at ease. So far, they’ve focused mostly on the lower body, but I can see the trainer—Todd, I believe his name is—point at the free weights and tell Nick something. They nod and talk some more before Todd runs Nick through some exercises using very light weights.
I can see the strain and the frustration on Nick’s handsome face, and my heart goes out to him. I don’t know him well, but after a couple of days with him, I know he’s not the type of person to remain idle. And I don’t blame him, because I’m the same way.
But he has to go about healing the correct way, or this injury could follow him for the rest of his life.
Just as I cross the four-mile mark, Nick and Todd begin wrapping up their session. I slow to a walk and watch as Nick shakes Todd’s hand, then glances up at me and nods before walking into the locker room.
I think that means he’s done. Which is great timing.
I clean off my machine and walk down to the women’s locker room to change. I’ll shower at the house later. I don’t like using public facilities.
It’s a quirk. I have a few of those.
I do, however, quickly change into my street clothes and carry my duffle bag out of the locker room. I don’t see Nick. I must have beat him out.
I take a seat on the bench between the two locker rooms and check my phone. I have a text from Sidney.
Sidney : Let’s have drinks on Friday! I need the 411 on what happened with J.
I chuckle to myself as I type my reply.
Me : I would love to, but I have a 24/7 job right now. Raincheck?
“Hey.”
I glance up and feel my eyes go wide at the sight of Jeremy standing in front of me. I stand and tuck my phone into my pocket.
“What’s up?” I ask. I don’t want to sound too welcoming, but I’m not a jerk, either.
“It’s good to see you,” he says and reaches for my hand, but I duck out of his way. “Listen, I’ve been meaning to talk to you…”
“Are you ready?”
Nick slides up next to me and, to my utter surprise, wraps his arm around my waist and smiles down at me.
He’s smiling.
That doesn’t happen often.
“Yes,” I reply with a nod. “We’d better go.”
“I was talking to you,” Jeremy says, but Nick leads me away.
“And now you’re not,” he says over his shoulder as he escorts me out of the gym to my car. I fasten my seat belt and pull out of the parking lot, headed toward the lake house. Nick doesn’t ask me about Jeremy at all.
“How was your workout?” I ask him.
“Tough,” he replies and stares out the passenger window. “I knew I could lose a lot of strength in a month, but this is ridiculous.”
“You didn’t just stop working out,” I remind him. “You were injured. But you’ll be back to where you were in no time.”
He nods. Before long, we’re back at the house.
We both go our separate ways. I immediately jump in the shower to wash away the sweat from my run. Rather than blow-dry my hair, I twist it into a knot on my head, and with fresh lounge clothes on, head down to make dinner.
Tonight is going to be grilled salmon and asparagus with a Caesar salad.
I’ve just pulled the fish out of the fridge when Nick walks into the kitchen, also fresh from a shower. His dark hair is still wet, and a single droplet of water sits on his neck.
It’s like it’s begging me to lick it off.
I take a deep breath and open the fridge again, looking for the wine. I need a glass if Nick’s going to be this close to me. Because holy hell in a handbasket, the man does things to me.
Sexy things.
And he’s a patient—even though I told him he wasn’t—so that’s a no-go.
I pour the white wine into a glass, take a sip, and then smile at him.
“We’re having salmon tonight. If that’s okay.”
“It’s okay with me. I’m starving,” he says.
“Working out will do that to you.” I pull real butter out of the fridge, along with fresh herbs, and then go hunting for a cutting board.
“So, was that bloke Jeremy?” he asks and sits on the same stool I took the first day I was here.
“Yeah.” I sigh and dump the butter into a bowl, getting it ready to mix with the garlic and herbs. “I didn’t realize he was in Cunningham Falls. Not that I care.”
I cut some chives and rosemary and keep chatting away.
“You know, it’s interesting. You can be with someone for years , and when it’s over, and you see them again, you can have absolutely no emotions about it.” I look up at Nick with a frown. “Does that make me weird?”
Before he can answer, I shake my head and go back to chopping.
“Anyway, I told you that I followed him to Arizona. We went to college and lived together. Over time, things just got…different. You know? Like, he didn’t like it when I spent time with my nursing school friends. And he thought I should quit college and go to work, and then after he was done with university, he’d work, and I could finish.
“But I was like, no way. I’m finishing my nursing degree. And I’m glad I did. He just wasn’t meant for me. And, finally, a few months ago, I sat him down and told him it was over. Said I wanted to break up.”
I mix the butter and herbs and then reach for the salmon and coat it with the mixture.
“He didn’t take it well. Ended up hitting me.”
“What the fuck?”
I glance up in surprise and feel my eyes widen at the look of absolute horror and the promise of violence on Nick’s face.
“Don’t freak out,” I say and turn my attention to the asparagus. “I called the cops, and he was arrested. I’m not the kind of girl to drop charges. I put up with a lot of crap from Jeremy over the years, but that was the end for me. So, while he sat in jail and figured that out, I packed my stuff and moved home.”
“Good for you.”
“Yeah. It was good for me. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed Montana until I was here about a week, and the leaves had turned and crunched under my feet. That doesn’t happen in Arizona. I missed the change of seasons.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have interfered today,” Nick says as he watches me prepare the food. “But you looked uncomfortable, and I didn’t like the looks of him.”
“It’s fine. I’m not scared of him, but I’m also not eager to chat with him, you know?”
He laughs and nods his head, and I can’t look away from him.
“You’re seriously beautiful when you laugh.”
His face sobers, and he blinks at me.
“Sorry. So, anyway, now you’re up-to-date. Jeremy Dunnigan is solidly in my past. And now, for the present, I’m going to cook up these amazing pieces of salmon and?—”
Suddenly, Nick turns me to him and lowers his mouth to mine. The kiss starts in a frenzy, but after a few moments of our lips being fused, he lightens his grip and sort of sinks into me. It’s like how they do it in the old movies, where it looks as if the guy might die if he doesn’t kiss the girl.
I don’t think I’ve ever been kissed like this before.
Nick’s hands roam from my shoulders up to my face, and with the lightest touch, he frames my jawline and kisses me lightly yet thoroughly.
When he pulls back, his blue eyes are bright and pinned to mine.
“That’s the only way I could get you to stop talking.”
“Well.” I swallow. “I guess it worked. Of course, it can’t happen again.”
His hands drop from my face down to my hands, and then he lets go and steps back.
“Why not?”
“You’re my client.”
A half-smile tickles his lips.
“ Nina hired you, Jordan. Not me. If I had my way, I’d fire you and keep kissing you.”
I bite my bottom lip at the thought, and his eyes shoot down to my mouth.
“You’re not helping things,” he growls.
“I really need this job,” I say and frown at the asparagus.
“No one is saying you have to leave it,” he replies. “But if it makes you feel better, I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
Well, no, that doesn’t make me feel better. Because he’s freaking hot, and that was maybe the best kiss of my entire life.
“Is that what you want?”
“I think, for right this minute, I want to cook dinner,” I say slowly and glance up at him. His face has relaxed, and his eyes are warm as they watch me. “Because I’m hungry. Then, we’ll take it from there.”
“Fair enough.” He turns to walk away but then stops short. He looks back at me. “You’re safe with me, Jordan. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize you or your job.”
“Thanks.” I smile and watch as he walks out of the room.
What in the hell do I think I’m doing? I take a big sip of my wine and then fan my face. Nick leaves quite the trail of heat when he exits a room.
Of course, it’s nothing compared to the inferno he ignites when he’s in the room.
I’ve never thought of having an affair with a patient or client before. Of course, if I worked for the hospital or were under contract, that would be against the rules.
But I’m not under contract. And like Nick said, I don’t work for him. I work for Nina. And even if I do kiss him once in a while, I’m still capable of doing my job.
I push the fish and asparagus into the oven and then take a deep breath.
The truth is, I didn’t want him to stop kissing me. And when he laughed, I thought I might melt into a puddle right on the kitchen floor.
So, maybe I’ll just see where this goes. Perhaps it’ll go nowhere. Maybe the chemistry won’t be there, and we’ll go back to the way things were.
And perhaps pigs will fly through the window and do the cha-cha on the dining room table.
I smirk and finish my wine, then pour another glass.
Who knew that moving home would prove so interesting ?