Reckless by Ruth Wind Page B

what?”
    â€œThe seductive act. You don’t have to flirt with me.” She smiled. “I’ll be nice to you anyway.”
    â€œSorry,” he said, and realized he meant it. “Habit.”
    â€œI know. But it isn’t necessary with me.” She inclined her head. “How are the pills working?”
    â€œActually, they help a lot. Thank you.”
    â€œGood. Maybe in a few weeks, you can think seriously about contacting one of the counselors, huh?”
    â€œMaybe.” He wouldn’t, and she probably knew that. It was her job to suggest it and he didn’t blame her.
    â€œAre you here to visit Harry?”
    Jake lifted the jacket. “Yes.”
    She nodded, and her smile was very sweet. “He really looks forward to seeing you, you know. His children only come once a month.”
    â€œI know.” The children all lived in Denver. “It’s a long drive, I guess.” He looked at the khaki jacket folded over his arm and knew Harry would be anxious to get outside for his cigarette, but Jake was somehow reluctant to move.
    But he also couldn’t think of anything to say. He raised his head and met her wide brown eyes, and his breath caught in his chest. “I guess you have a lot going on, huh? Things to do when you finish here?”
    â€œNot really.” Her voice blew like a warm breeze over his nerves. “This is my last stop.”
    Still no words came to mind. He wasn’t sure exactly what he wanted to tell her. He only knew that he wanted to spend a little more time with her, maybe just listening to that peaceful voice and letting himself drift in the softness of her eyes. “Can I buy you some supper or something?”
    She hesitated, and Jake felt an unfamiliar embarrassment wash over him. Women didn’t turn him down as a rule. In fact, he really couldn’t remember the last time.
    She took a breath. “This is hard for me to say, so don’t laugh, okay?”
    He gave her a puzzled frown. “Okay.”
    â€œI know I’m not your type, and you aren’t really mine, but there does seem to be an...a...” She paused, sighed quickly and met his eyes. “There’s something pretty physical between us.”
    He grinned as wickedly as he was able. “I was afraid you hadn’t noticed.”
    â€œI noticed. But my point is, I think it would be a very bad idea for us to be involved sexually.” Only a tiny hint of color betrayed her discomfort. “But I wouldn’t mind being friends.”
    It was rare that anyone, man or woman, could so frankly confront such a subject, and although Jake felt a slight urge to reciprocate and turn the tables on her for her rejection—however well-meant—he wouldn’t demean her honesty by pretending he wasn’t attracted to her.
    â€œOkay.” He grinned again and let his eyes sweep over her luscious curves. “But I can’t promise not to speculate about what I might do if you’d let me.”
    â€œI mean it, Jake. I would enjoy matching wits with you again, but I don’t want any complications. We’re just too different.”
    He sobered. “I mean it, too, Ramona. It would be nice to have a friend.” To his amazement, he was sincere. “I’d better get back to Harry. Think about where you want to eat.”
    â€œOkay. Take your time with Harry. I’ve got rounds to finish, and I’ll wait for you in my office. Ask one of the nurses where it is.”
    Â 
    Ramona couldn’t help a shiver of anticipation as she walked out into the cool night with Jake Forrest at her side. She had meant what she said about a sexual relationship. It would be disastrous. Aside from the very real problem of his PTSD, Jake brought an intensity and a kind of wildness with him, and she didn’t have the time or the inclination to deal with that personality.
    As he opened the car door for her, however, she couldn’t