bench.”
He signed. She was persistent. Something he liked about her. The other two nurses had given up on him. Aaliyah wasn’t too happy about having free days. She’d made it clear that the only days they would be resting were Saturdays and Sundays.
He’d agreed reluctantly. There had been one day when his sessions had not been too hectic. However, that didn’t mean that his body hadn’t ached when he went to bed at night.
He looked at her and she returned the stare. He could see her irritation and moved quickly to start the first routine. It was going to be a long morning.
* * *
The lunch bell chimed. She didn’t think she would ever get accustomed to the bell ringing for meals. It reminded her of high school. She put the folders she was reading aside and walked downstairs to the dining room.
While breakfast could be eaten in the kitchen, Mrs. Clarke insisted they ate lunch and dinner in the dining room.
She didn’t particularly mind, since the room opened onto a large patio, which provided a picturesque view of the ocean in the distance. When she stepped into the room she was more than a bit surprised to see Dominic there.
He’d changed out of his gym clothes and wore a white T-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. She’d seen pictures of him on television and he looked more like that person now.
He’d shaved and shaped up his hairline. He was standing on the patio, his gaze focused on the ocean.
Next to him, Nugget sat, his tail playfully thumping the floor. At her footsteps he stopped, looked up and immediately raced to her, the speed of his tail increasing with each step.
Dominic turned.
Their eyes met, his gaze lingered and she looked away. Her eyes fell to look at the puppy sitting at her feet. She reached down, tickled his ear and watched as he shivered with excitement.
“He likes you.” Dominic’s voice startled her. She’d not seen him walk over to her but she could now smell the woodsy fragrance of his cologne.
“Mrs. Clarke told me I could start lunch as soon as you arrived.”
“You didn’t have to wait.”
“That would have been rude. You’re a guest in my home.”
“Well, thanks for waiting. I don’t much like eating by myself.”
“I have been pretty antisocial, haven’t I?” he stated. “I promise I will be a lot more accommodating in future.”
“It’s fine. I’m really not a guest. I’m working for you, remember? I don’t expect to be treated like a guest.”
“Then that’s how we differ. Anyone who’s here at my request is a guest. And since I’m the boss,” he chuckled, “I get to determine what I want you to be.”
“I can’t argue with that,” she agreed reluctantly.
“So you’re ready to eat? I am starving after the torture you put me through.”
“I am hungry. The island air seems to have affected my appetite.”
“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
“I’m not sure. I may just have to start using the gym while I’m here.”
“Feel free to use it whenever you want. You only work for me in the mornings. Your evenings are yours to do whatever you want.”
“I was thinking about that. I’d like us to do a bit of walking during the afternoon a few times a week. I’m sure it will help to make your leg stronger.”
“Well, you are the professional. Charles told me I have to do everything you say. It doesn’t seem like I have much of a choice.”
“But you do. This is all about choices. It shouldn’t be about what Charles says. You’re the one with the medical problem, not Charles.”
“That’s true. Then I’ll rephrase what I said. I’d be delighted for us to take a walk some afternoons. As long as I can bring Nugget along.”
“Of course,” she replied. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Good, but now we really have to eat. My stomach is growling.”
He led her to the table and waited for her to sit before he did.
His gesture surprised her, but she realized she was being unfair. She was casting
He signed. She was persistent. Something he liked about her. The other two nurses had given up on him. Aaliyah wasn’t too happy about having free days. She’d made it clear that the only days they would be resting were Saturdays and Sundays.
He’d agreed reluctantly. There had been one day when his sessions had not been too hectic. However, that didn’t mean that his body hadn’t ached when he went to bed at night.
He looked at her and she returned the stare. He could see her irritation and moved quickly to start the first routine. It was going to be a long morning.
* * *
The lunch bell chimed. She didn’t think she would ever get accustomed to the bell ringing for meals. It reminded her of high school. She put the folders she was reading aside and walked downstairs to the dining room.
While breakfast could be eaten in the kitchen, Mrs. Clarke insisted they ate lunch and dinner in the dining room.
She didn’t particularly mind, since the room opened onto a large patio, which provided a picturesque view of the ocean in the distance. When she stepped into the room she was more than a bit surprised to see Dominic there.
He’d changed out of his gym clothes and wore a white T-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. She’d seen pictures of him on television and he looked more like that person now.
He’d shaved and shaped up his hairline. He was standing on the patio, his gaze focused on the ocean.
Next to him, Nugget sat, his tail playfully thumping the floor. At her footsteps he stopped, looked up and immediately raced to her, the speed of his tail increasing with each step.
Dominic turned.
Their eyes met, his gaze lingered and she looked away. Her eyes fell to look at the puppy sitting at her feet. She reached down, tickled his ear and watched as he shivered with excitement.
“He likes you.” Dominic’s voice startled her. She’d not seen him walk over to her but she could now smell the woodsy fragrance of his cologne.
“Mrs. Clarke told me I could start lunch as soon as you arrived.”
“You didn’t have to wait.”
“That would have been rude. You’re a guest in my home.”
“Well, thanks for waiting. I don’t much like eating by myself.”
“I have been pretty antisocial, haven’t I?” he stated. “I promise I will be a lot more accommodating in future.”
“It’s fine. I’m really not a guest. I’m working for you, remember? I don’t expect to be treated like a guest.”
“Then that’s how we differ. Anyone who’s here at my request is a guest. And since I’m the boss,” he chuckled, “I get to determine what I want you to be.”
“I can’t argue with that,” she agreed reluctantly.
“So you’re ready to eat? I am starving after the torture you put me through.”
“I am hungry. The island air seems to have affected my appetite.”
“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
“I’m not sure. I may just have to start using the gym while I’m here.”
“Feel free to use it whenever you want. You only work for me in the mornings. Your evenings are yours to do whatever you want.”
“I was thinking about that. I’d like us to do a bit of walking during the afternoon a few times a week. I’m sure it will help to make your leg stronger.”
“Well, you are the professional. Charles told me I have to do everything you say. It doesn’t seem like I have much of a choice.”
“But you do. This is all about choices. It shouldn’t be about what Charles says. You’re the one with the medical problem, not Charles.”
“That’s true. Then I’ll rephrase what I said. I’d be delighted for us to take a walk some afternoons. As long as I can bring Nugget along.”
“Of course,” she replied. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Good, but now we really have to eat. My stomach is growling.”
He led her to the table and waited for her to sit before he did.
His gesture surprised her, but she realized she was being unfair. She was casting
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