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And how she watched the couples so intensely when they weren’t taking notice, as if she could manifest what they had just by watching. He’d been fascinated with her expression, but it wasn’t until he was lying awake for hours that he understood it.

He’d worn that expression plenty of times too, growing up. It wasn’t so much envy as it was an aching want for things she didn’t have.

She looked up from the supplies and caught him staring at her.

The navy blue scrubs were a little too big on her, which somehow highlighted her curves more. Her hair was drawn back in a loose knot, professional and neat except for one small tendril that escaped near her temple and curled loose against her cheek.

His hand twitched, ready to reach out and tuck it behind her ear. After a whole night of holding back, of forcing himself not to cross that hall and knock on her door, he wanted an excuse to touch her again.

And to keep on touching her.

“You almost finished?” He slid his hands into his jeans pockets.

A smile curved her lips. “Pretty much. Why?”

“I’ve got a surprise for you.”

Her face lit up, and a giddy grin crossed her face before she reined it in.

“A surprise?” she asked carefully, as if testing the word for a trap. “I’m not sure I trust surprises. Last time I tried to surprise someone, I saw something I wish I’d never seen.”

He internally winced at the reminder of what chased her onto the mountain. “This one’s better. Promise.”

She finished arranging the gauze rolls and followed him out. Outside the door he’d left a pair of women’s boots and he paused to pick them up.

“I grabbed these in town today. Honor told me your shoe size.” He held them out to her.

Her jaw dropped and she stared at the new boots. Slowly, she reached for them, eyes fixed on his face with suspicion. “I don’t know if I like where this is going.”

“We’re not going far,” he promised.

“Not the mountain?”

“Not the mountain.” He glanced toward the nearby window out of habit and saw the peaks catching gold light off the setting sun, making the whole range look like it was on fire. “Though it is beautiful right now.”

She moved to stand beside him and followed his gaze. Her shoulder brushed his arm, and his body tensed with desire. “Utah’s national parks always have the best sunsets. Vistas that stop you in your tracks.” A wistful note crept into her voice. “I used to think about visiting more of them, back before everything happened.”

He turned his head, staring at her, much more beautiful than the mountain. “My dream is to visit every national park in the country. Someday.”

She smiled up at him, eyes soft as something unspoken passed between them.

To break the spell she cast over him, he nodded to the boots tucked in her arm.

“Should I put them on now?”

He nodded, and she toed off her nurse clogs and slipped her feet into the new boots. She tied the laces and bounced a little on her toes.

“Too tight?”

“Just right.”

He held the door open for her to exit the building, and the scent of her shampoo carried on the air currents.

This time he took her hand without stopping to think about what it meant or where this could go—he just needed to touch her.

She twined her fingers with his and let him lead her to the barn. As soon as they approached, she gave him another suspicious look that made him chuckle.

“Don’t worry. I won’t make you ride a horse. Yet.”