Seven

Kyle never called.

A week later I was still feeling the sting of rejection. To my credit, I realized the foolishness of my feelings. He was healing from a serious injury, and his health took priority over socializing.

I pretended it didn't hurt as much as it did, but Katie knew. She coerced Izabelle into setting me up on a date without my knowledge with a pediatric surgeon named Stephen Hotchkiss.

My best friend and I had a heated exchange about that. She's lucky I love her to pieces.

Katie's reaction when she heard about the date with Stephen was comical. She hadn't known at the time he was who Izabelle set me up with.

"You're going out with Dr. Hot Kiss?"

Dr. Hot Kiss was what most of the women at the hospital called Stephen, and Izabelle had talked about him enough that Katie was familiar with the name, not that it was one anyone could easily forget.

"No. Stop looking at me like that." I inhaled a breath of determination. "I'm not out with anyone. If I want a date, I'll find one on my own. You go out with him." I was calm but firm.

"Izabelle says he's into you. Give the poor guy a chance."

"Izabelle can introduce you. You give him a chance." I threw her words back at her.

She tossed me the puppy dog look. I steeled myself against it, but in the end I agreed to one date. Still, I wasn't happy about it.

Since the day already had a rough start I wasn't expecting it to take a nosedive minutes after I arrived at work.

Seeing the printed name on my patient list, I snapped to attention. Blinking, I looked again but it hadn't been my imagination. Kyle Huxley.

Kyle. Huxley. He was my new patient. I sighed, leaning back into my office chair. I considered switching with one of the other nurses, but everyone was busy, and swapping another patient for Kyle would only disrupt recovery.

Flipping through his paperwork, I read it carefully. I didn't recognize his address and I wondered if he was staying with Ava. It would make it easier to squash any remaining feelings for him if that was the case.

"Hey, Lucy. Heard your new patient is a babe. Sandy went out to see him this morning and can't stop talking about him."

I looked up at my friend and co-worker, Samantha, and smiled.

"He's a military man. Sandy says he could easily land a job posing for a girlie magazine."

I jumped and coffee sloshed over the edge of my mug and onto my scrubs. I reached for some napkins on my desk.

"If he's as hot as she says, maybe I'll have to go with you to visit him one day," Samantha suggested eagerly.

"You're married," Sandy said, popping her head into my cubicle. "Even with that Ilizarov on his leg, he's a fine man."

"I know," I whispered miserably.

"You've already been out to his place today?"

I shook my head, still blotting coffee off my scrubs. "I went to high school with him."

"Think he'll remember you?" Samantha asked, curiously.

"I'm sure he will. His sister is one of my best friends."

"Lucky you. You should ask your friend to set you up with her brother or let your fabulous friend have him." She struck a pose, one hand on her head and the other propped on her hip.

"Hey, I saw him first girlfriend," Sandy laughed. "I'll fight you for him. We could get on one of those crazy daytime talk shows. I can see the headline Nurses Gone Wild!"

My cheeks burned with a blush. Of course, they were only joking. Everyone I worked with was too professional to get involved with a patient. It was against the rules.

"Wait until you get a look at him. He's over six feet of solid muscle and has the bluest eyes you've ever seen. He'd been working out when I showed up and wasn't wearing a shirt. I just about fainted at the sight of those glistening muscles."

"Did you offer to give him a sponge bath?" Samantha asked with a wicked grin.

"I am his home health care aid. Perks of the job," she said with a satisfied smile.

"Nice." Samantha grinned.

"Not really. I think he was embarrassed I'd caught him without a shirt. It was sweet. He thanked me but said he could do it himself."

"You should've told him that's what you get paid for."

Sandy nodded in agreement. "I thought about asking him if I could watch—for safety reasons, but he was looking at me with those intense blue eyes and my brain turned to mush."

"Oh, I forgot. Lucy is a Christian now. Hope we didn't offend you." Samantha didn't seem too concerned.

"Sorry, not sorry!" Sandy laughed.

A close-lipped smile was the best I could manage. I was uncomfortable with the way they were talking about Kyle, but I didn't say anything.

When I'd first started reading the Bible something unexpected happened to me. Not only did I understand most of the stories, but I also hungered for more. The God of the Bible was not as I'd imagined. He was much more.

God loved us enough to send his only son to pay the price for our sins. He loved us enough to want a personal relationship with us. It still awed me that the creator actually cared about the mundane details of my life. Jesus changed my life, and I wanted to share his love with everyone.

I quickly learned that most people, at best, felt uncomfortable talking about Jesus. At the worst, they were downright hostile. I tried not to let it bother me, but I admit it did.

Typing Kyle's address into my GPS, I sipped my coffee and listened to a country song on the radio about a love gone wrong. Twenty minutes later, I turned into a quiet neighborhood not far from my dad's house. The houses were older but all custom-built on oversized lots with shady trees and large green lawns.

Kyle lived on a cul-de-sac that bordered a park where kids played on slides and swings and ran up and down a large hill in the center of the playground. I loved the neighborhood. It was homey and charming and perfect for families.

Pulling into a large circular driveway, I double-checked the address and stared at the house, which looked like something off the cover of a home magazine. It was a one-story, solid red brick house with a large covered porch and arched windows.

I got my bag and walked up the steps, onto the porch, and pulled out the key I had to the house. Nurses were given keys to their patient's homes so that the patient didn't have to get up to answer the door.

I opened the door but before I went inside I rang the bell and called out, "Hello, I'm Lucy with the VNT." It's what I would have said to any of my other patients.

The sight of Kyle walking toward me made my belly perform a slow somersault. Wearing a black t-shirt and gray sweats that had been cut off at the left knee, to accommodate the IIizarov device that encircled the lower half of his leg, he took my breath away.

Unlike most of the patients I'd visited who'd worn the same device, Kyle was already up and moving around. The metal rods that punctured his calf and held his bone in place looked painful, but most patients said that it was tolerable.

Kyle didn't just suffer from multiple bone breaks; the explosion that had trapped him in a cave in Afghanistan had torn muscle and skin from his calf, and he had undergone skin and muscle grafts to repair the damage to his leg. He was lucky they hadn't had to amputate. My chest ached thinking of all he'd been through.

He smiled when he saw me, and my heartbeat spiked. He reached for the door, opening it wider for me to enter. "I can't believe you're here."

The words made me want to do a little happy dance, but that would be over-the-top even for me. Once I settled my nerves, I realized he had no idea I was his nurse and must not have heard me call out to him.

I started to tell him, but my gaze riveted on a man behind Kyle. He was tall and muscular like Kyle, but his hair was dark blond and cut shorter.

"This is my buddy, Jase Maxwell." He turned to his friend. "Jase, this is Lucy Donovan."

To my astonishment, Jase seemed to recognize my name. "Lucy." He drawled, grinning. "Nice to finally meet you. The sergeant here talks about you all the time." A low whistle followed. "You're more of a looker than he let on."

Kyle clapped a hand on his buddy's shoulder. "We should get out of the doorway and let her come inside."

"Oh, yeah. Where are my manners?" Jase replied, clearly amused. "Are we serving her tea?"

"Knock it off." Kyle's order held no heat and he seemed entertained.

They led me into the spacious living room with gigantic windows that overlooked the wooded backyard and a massive stone fireplace that dominated the center of the room and drew even more attention because of the huge flat-screen TV that hung over it. It was a simply decorated room done in earthy shades with overstuffed leather furniture set on thick rugs that covered the hardwood floors.

"You want something to drink Lucy? I've got coffee, tea, water," Kyle offered me like I was a guest instead of his nurse. The word tea was said with emphasis.

"Do you have scones to go with the tea?" I couldn't resist asking.

Kyle's husky laughter drew my attention.

"Any what?" Jase asked.

"I'm kidding. No, thank you."

Jase came over and shook my hand, watching me with the oddest expression.

"It's nice to meet you, Jase. So how do you know Kyle?"

"We were stationed together. He's saved my rear enough times that I'll never be able to repay him. Sergeant Huxley is a hero," Jase boasted with obvious pride.

I glanced over at Kyle and found him watching me. "Jase exaggerates."

"He hates compliments." Jase grinned. "I think it embarrasses him. He's not as in touch with his feelings like I am." He took a step closer. "I'm a sensitive guy, Lucy."

Kyle shook his head. "He means he cries when his soap characters have a bad day."

Smiling, I decided I liked Jase a lot. He was charming and loyal to Kyle.

"Did you know that the sergeant received some big award?" Jase slung his arm around Kyle's shoulders. "He saved the lives of more than a dozen soldiers before that bomb took him down. The soldier trapped in the cave with the Sarge here said he would've gone crazy under all that rock if Sarge hadn't been so calm."

"That's enough Jase." Kyle's face was red. "She doesn't want to hear all that."

"Yes, I do." I looked at Kyle, fascinated. He was brave and strong and amazing. Lifting my chin, I met Kyle's steady gaze, but I spoke to Jase. "You don't have to convince me. I already know that he's a hero."

Something flashed in Kyle's eyes. "Those men were my responsibility, Lucy. It was my job to see them safe. That doesn't make me a hero."

"It does to the men you saved and their families," I insisted. "Their lives are still whole because of you."

"She's right," Jase said with a wink. "They think he's a hero too. Sergeant here is the only one that has a problem with the 'H-word."

"Congratulations on the award."

"Thanks," he said quietly, obviously uncomfortable with the attention.

"Sorry 'bout that. I didn't mean to let the cat out of the bag." Jase didn't look the least bit sorry.

He glanced at his wristwatch and shook his head. "I'm gonna have to bail, sergeant. I just remembered I've gotta smokin' date tonight, but you should stay Lucy. He's already got two steaks and potatoes ready to throw on the grill."

I smiled at Jase even though I wasn't sure about him inviting me to have dinner with Kyle.

"Don't bother seeing me out." Jase waved. "You kids have fun."

"I'm sorry about Jase," Kyle said when his friend was gone. "He means well."

"I like him. He's funny, and he's also right about you being a hero."

"If he said anything to offend you, I'll —"

"You'll beat him up?" I teased.

Kyle gestured to his bad leg and smiled good-naturedly. "I think he might be able to take me now, so I'm hoping you'll just accept my apology."

"Like I said, no need. You should sit down and rest your leg."

"It's not bothering me."

I should have told him then that I was his nurse, but I was enjoying his company too much. "You've been talking about me to Jase."

"That surprises you," Kyle observed, watching me with interest. He took a step toward me, then another.

One more step brought us within an inch of each other, and my breath did a tiny hiccup. I was close enough to feel the heat radiating from Kyle and smell his scent—a mixture of soap, mint, and maybe a touch of aftershave.

"Let me set you straight on something that you seem to be completely mixed up about." His voice was like warm, rich, cocoa.

"What?" I asked and was shocked at how rusty and breathless my voice sounded.

"Two years ago I wasn't in a position to make promises to you. I wasn't even sure if I'd be coming home. God knows I should have left you alone." He paused, his gaze locked with mine. "The only thing I regret is leaving."

Kyle reached out and slid his knuckles lightly along my jaw and I shivered. He noticed and he stiffened, pulling his hand back.

"If I hadn't been going to Afghanistan, I'd have wanted more. A lot more."

I stood stunned, staring up at Kyle.

"You're looking at me like you don't believe me."

"You didn't call."

He drew back and stared down at me. "After our last conversation, I thought you might need time to figure out what you wanted. I was going to call you today."

"You thought I needed time," I said, still processing all he'd said.

"You thought I had a girlfriend." He exhaled. "I haven't talked to Izabelle about that."

"No, please don't." I felt my cheeks flush. "She'll know we're talking."

Kyle rubbed the back of his hand over his jaw and looked at me as if trying to figure me out. "She's going to figure it out eventually."

"Izabelle's been worried about you, and I think knowing you're with Ava makes her worry less if that makes sense."

"Yeah." He gripped the back of his neck. "Izabelle, Ava, and I all grew up together."

"She's mentioned that a time or two."

"I want to go out with you, Lucy."

My brain short-circuited. My jaw dropped. I stared, bewildered.

"My sister mentioned that your ex-boyfriend is marrying Lindsay." His was expression was thoughtful. "If you're still hung up on him, I get it. I'd planned to give you some space, but here you are."

"No." I struggled to process all he'd said.

"No?" His brow lifted. "You're standing right in front of me." He flashed a charming smile. "I see you."

"Funny. I meant he's not my ex-boyfriend, and I'm not hung up on him." I glanced away. "There is something you should know. I'm your nurse from the VNT."

He watched me with a stoic expression.

"Remember, a nurse is supposed to come visit you today from the VNT and check your leg? That's me." I gestured at my navy-blue scrubs.

He slowly nodded, understanding. "You didn't come to see me. I'm your job."

"You're more than that." He was so much more than he knew. Kyle Huxley owned my heart.

"It's ok, Lucy, you don't have to stay for dinner."

He seemed vulnerable, and the urge to soothe him overpowered my common sense. "I want to stay for dinner."

"I didn't mean to put you on the spot," he said, seeming to evaluate the truth in what I'd said.

I lifted my chin. "I'm not going anywhere until I look at your leg."

"My leg is fine."

"I'll have to see for myself," I insisted, bracing for battle.

He seemed like he was fighting a smile. "Are you always this bossy with your patients?"

"Only when they ask me to leave."

He frowned. "I never asked you to leave."

"Do you want me to leave? If you'd like to ask for another nurse, I'll understand." Just saying it turned my stomach. When I cast my gaze at Kyle I think he was trying not to smile.

"I'm not calling your boss to complain I'm not that big a jerk."

"You admit you're a jerk." I smiled triumphantly.

Kyle stared at me a moment then a slow, heart-stopping smile split his face.

We stared at one another for several moments before Kyle broke the silence. "I've prayed for us, Lucy. Whatever this is between us, it's good. Tell me you feel it too." His steady footsteps ate the distance between us.

"I feel it. I've always felt it." I'd prayed about us as well, but I wasn't sure I was hearing God's will or my own selfish desires when it came to Kyle.

"Lucy," he said softly, taking my hand. Tingles danced along my skin.

I allowed myself to savor the feel of his skin against mine for a moment before I pulled back. What was a doing? I could not come between Kyle and Ava. Stiffening, I took another step back. "I just remembered I have another stop. I should look at your leg."

He didn't argue, but he did seem confused.

Fifteen minutes later I left Kyle's house and went to see my dad. He wasn't home, but Jack greeted me with big, wet kisses and listened while I told God all the things that I couldn't say to Kyle.