Page 9 of Her Steadfast Hero

She took a sip of her root beer float, and then looked up at him. “David, why did you want to go somewhere else? I thought you loved the burgers at this place.”

“I do. But someplace near the water or downtown Seattle sounded nice.”

“We have to be at work tomorrow,” she reminded him gently. “If we had done that we would have spent all of our time driving. This way we have more time to talk.” Her smile was normally contagious, but he felt time slipping away.

“Hey, what the heck is going on? You haven’t been yourself all night. Do I have lettuce in my teeth? Did something go sideways with your case?” She asked both questions in a soft and caring tone. That was Sarah, soft and caring. It must be why she got into nursing in the first place.

“No and no.”

“Then what? Something is definitely going on.”

“Are you sure this is just our fourth date? You sure have gotten to know me pretty well in a short amount of time.” He watched as she sat back from the table, and folded her hands in her lap, her expression going blank.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything bad by that,” she said quietly.

What the hell? He’d somehow managed to step on a landmine. He placed his hand on the table, palm up. “Would you give me your hand, Sarah?” She looked at him with her big gray eyes. She bit her lip, he could see both want and hesitancy in her expression. He decided to help.

“Sarah,” he said in his command voice. She unclasped her hands and for long moments held her hand over his before it finally came to a soft landing, like a butterfly. Just as carefully, he cupped his fingers around it, showing her she had made the right decision. He watched her and saw her shudder.

“You’re right, I’m upset.” She tried to jerk her hand away, but he was ready for it, and his hold was gentle but implacable. “I have my orders to leave in the morning.”

“Oh no,” she said before she could censor herself.

“My feeling exactly. I thought I had at least another month. I actually was counting on four months. This is a complicated case.”

Sarah sighed. “That’s what happens when you’re good at your job.”

“You should know.”

Her head jerked up.

“Weren’t you number one in your class at Beaumont? Don’t they want you to re-up with a promotion so you can get more into the administrative side of things?”

“I talked a lot on our last date, didn’t I?” She laughed.

“I’m trained to interview people. Plus, I plied you with wine.”

“That’s why I’m sticking to ice cream this time,” she said holding up her root beer float. “As for the job, I’m still debating their offer. I love bedside, and it seems to be either or. I wish there was more of a hybrid. But that’s not tonight’s topic.” He watched as her expression turned wistful. “I was really hoping for a chance to get to know you better.”

David rubbed his thumb along the sensitive tissue of her palm.

Ah, little nurse, I wanted that time too. He watched as she looked down at their linked hands. She liked being touched. She’d liked the few kisses they’d shared, but there’d been a sense of hesitation to go along with her desire. That’s why he hadn’t pushed, why he had taken it slow. Damn, he’d been looking forward to finding out the reasons for those barriers, and getting past them.

“David?”

“What, honey?”

“I’m done with dinner. Would you like to have a nightcap at my place?” Her eyes shyly met his. Such a brave girl.

He twined their fingers together and brought her hand to his lips. Her nipples spiked under her soft red sweater. “I would love to see your home.”

He threw some bills on the table and helped her out of the high booth.

They got outside the restaurant, and when he started towards the parking lot, she stopped him.

“What?”

“David, are you sure I’m not pushing you into something-”