He had a fence around his yard from his neighbors, but there was a pergola overhead covering the sectional, outdoor kitchen, a few chairs and a TV mounted on the house.
“Can we walk to the beach?”
“Absolutely,” he said, sliding his Birks off his feet.
She bent and removed her sneakers and socks. She was in shorts and a T-shirt, and together they walked on the beach toward the water after they left his gated property, her slice of pizza all gone.
“You can’t really block out people, can you?”
“No,” he said. “But this is really a private beach. I hate having the gate block my view, but I don’t want to worry about people walking right up to the house either. I’ve got security cameras everywhere and codes to get in. I’ll give it all to you.”
“You’re still a few steps up,” she said.
Which helped with the view.
“You’ll get used to it.”
“It’s hard not to. I feel as if this is all a dream. Do you surf right here from your house?”
“I can and do. The waves aren’t as good as other places, but it doesn’t matter to me.”
“It’s just about being out in nature, isn’t it?”
“That’s it. But I’ve got the best view imaginable in front of me right now.”
She smiled and gave his arm a playful shove.
He couldn’t explain the relief he felt that their every interaction transferred from Denver to California.
17
RIGHT DECISION
“Ihave to say, I’m impressed with your experience and range of departments.”
“Thank you,” Saylor said. She was at her first interview on Monday morning.
“What made you want to come to California? It’s not part of the NLC, which obviously explains you changing jobs so much.”
She didn’t want to say she followed a guy here. That would sound stupid and irresponsible.
Already people saw she had a new job every six to twelve months and it could be a turn off, which was why she made sure it was the first thing on her cover letter or application that she was a traveling nurse.
“I’ve been moving so much and decided I’d like a place to land.”
“So you aren’t thinking of leaving in a year?”
This guy was a hard sell. She knew it. But they were short staffed like most hospitals in the area.
“It’s not the plan,” she said. Best way to be honest. She didn’t know what a month would bring.
Maybe she and Rowan wouldn’t get along.
But she didn’t believe that.
Friday night, she’d been exhausted when she’d arrived, but he’d been so considerate and sweet.
Had dinner there, did everything she asked to show her around. He didn’t even make a move toward sex. She would have welcomed it, but once she lay down, her eyes shut and she was out until he brought her a coffee on Saturday morning in bed.
