“I take it they’re not?”
I paused a moment to groan in pleasure as he massaged deep into my instep. He was giving me a foot massage, and I hadn’t even asked him for it. And bonus, he wasn’t doing it just for sex because—true confessions—we’d already done it. Besides, I had to leave in an hour.
“Not even close,” I said, when I could gather my thoughts again. “A TPN is a total parenteral nutrition. It’s designed specifically for each patient, not interchangeable. She should know that.”
He grinned. “Did you tell her off?”
I flushed with pride. “I explained, very professionally, that she was wrong, and that she’d need to go back through every one of her patients to make sure they got the right medication.”
“And was she pissed?”
“Not at first. But then…” I grinned. This was the best part. “Mrs. Sargent overheard and backed me up. She told her to double-check everyone’s meds on the whole floor, so next time, she wouldn’t make that mistake.”
How wonderful it had been to finally be supported by the overbearing head nurse who had intimidated me so badly before. Actually, she still intimidated me, but at least now, I was sticking up for myself. Apparently, my exposure therapy was working. Or maybe it was just that I was feeling so good about life that I felt strong enough to speak my mind.
“Way to go!” Jake high-fived me and I laughed, collapsing backward onto a tattered pillow. “You’ll get that ER job for sure,” he said.
I snorted. “Nothing is for sure. There are a lot of good nurses applying.”
“You’re a sure thing.” His expression sobered. “And speaking of work, do you think you could get a couple days off next week?”
“I don’t know…”
He rolled his eyes. “Come on. You’ve been working really hard lately. You deserve to relax now and then.”
He was acting very charming—which always made me nervous. “Jake, I’ve already got two days off next—”
“I know. But if you could get even one day more, I’d like to take you someplace special.”
I sat up. “Well, that’s intriguing. Where exactly would you like us to go?” I was picturing a romantic trip to Saint Louis, or maybe a weekend in New Orleans… My mind was spinning with the possibilities.
“Come with me to the All-Star Game.”
I blinked. The All-Star Game? Sure, I was dating a baseball player, but baseball wasn’t exactly my passion. At least not until Jake came into my life.
“It’s in Detroit this year, at Comerica Park. I’m not playing in it, but there are tons of fun things to do. Rob is in the Home Run Derby. You remember Rob from the barbecue? And this is Connor’s third year making the cut.”
I knew that. And I remembered Rob, too. He and Heidi had been holding hands at the barbecue. It had been beyond cute and honestly, I’d been a little jealous of her. She was so obviously happy. But right now, with my own hottie massaging my feet, I realized I had nothing to complain about. Even if this was just a fake relationship until the season ended.
My expression must have changed, because Jake was quick to respond.
“Okay, so maybe watching people hit home runs isn’t your idea of fun, but there are lots of other things to do. You like shopping, right?”
“For baseball stuff?”
He winced. “Okay, so maybe not that, but there’s a color run if you wanted to—”
“Not doing a 5K. No way.”
“Right. But there’s live music, too, and dancing. Also a red carpet—”
I covered his mouth. He was just digging himself in deeper. “Just nod or shake your head. Do you want me to go?”
He nodded his head vigorously, even pressed kisses into my fingers. When he started doing wicked things with his tongue, I had to pull my hand back.
“Ellie, I’d really like you to come with me.”
“Then I’d really like to go.” Of course I would. Anything that made him smile like that had my insides melting, and not just from lust. When he was happy, I was happy. When he was stressed, I did everything I could to make him relax. And when I was angry or happy—or any emotion in between—he listened to me as if I was the most important thing in his world.
