in Oahu, applied here, and—”
“Now you spend your days rescuing damsels in distress.”
“Not a bad gig. Better than buying securities or building investment portfolios.”
Faith laughed and then winced.
“How’s the pain level?”
“Better now,” she said, a small smile on her lips. “I’ve kept you longer than I should. There are probably other damsels out there, waiting for you.”
I heard a twinge of disappointment in her voice that matched the twinge in my heart at the idea of leaving her.
“They can wait.”
“I’m glad,” she said, smiling softly now. “I have you all to myself for a little while longer.” She sighed. “It’s ironic, isn’t it?”
“What is?”
“I came here to rescue myself.” She leaned her elbow on the back of the couch, her head on the back of her hand, watching me. “But I needed rescuing. Again. From another man.”
I frowned. “Another man?”
She set her water glass on the table. “In Seattle, I work for an advertising agency. In theory. I take a lot of time off because I can. Because I find guys who want to take care of me. They bankroll my life of leisure, and I take full advantage. Unapologetically. I hit the jackpot with one guy, literally. That was a wild ride, but…”
Faith caught my dark look and glanced away.
“I know. I get it. I’m a shallow gold digger, right? But that’s just the point. It’s why I’m here. Silas—the jackpot—he and I are best friends now, and I’m done taking his money. Now I’m just trying to figure out…”
“What?”
“Who I am without all… that.” She flapped her hand in the general geographical direction of Seattle. “But my voyage of self-discovery is over.”
I said nothing aloud while thoughts warred in my mind. Don’t let her go fought the hardest.
I have to.
Nothing was going to come of this. Not even sex, given Faith’s injury, though I realized I’d be happy just to sit on the couch with her and talk.
This is ridiculous. Get out of here before you lose your damn mind.
I got to my feet and fished for my phone out of my uniform back pocket. “You need to get cleaned up. I’ll call Paula. She’s a nurse friend.”
“Thanks, Asher. I appreciate it. Really.”
“Yep.”
I stepped out to call Paula, who lived in Kapa’a and arrived within fifteen minutes. I could have left while Paula helped bathe Faith and get her changed into clean clothes. But I got as far as my Jeep and then leaned against the hood, scrolling through my phone.
Paula came out forty-five minutes later. “That Faith is a hoot,” she said, beaming. “She’s got spunk. It’s a shame about her foot. She had her whole trip ahead of her.”
“Yeah, well, shit happens.”
“Indeed.” Paula was a mom of four teenage boys. Consequently, not much bullshit got past her. “But her ankle’s not all that bad, I think. Grade one, maybe. Give her a week and she’ll be hobbling around like a champ and can enjoy the rest of her trip.” She tapped a finger to her chin thoughtfully. “If only someone were around to help her get through it.”
I smirked. “Subtle.”
“Well?” She laughed and moved to her black Camry, parked next to my white Jeep. “Do I have to spell it out for you?”
“Goodbye, Paula.”
“See ya, you big lunkhead.”
She drove away, and I should’ve too. Instead, my brain went back to its Wall Street days, where I had to assess multiple pieces of information all at once to make split-second decisions.
I have four days off on my rotation starting today.
She’s sexy as hell.
She’s trying for a reset, like I did all those years ago.
Great sense of humor.
She’s sexy as hell.
“You said that already,” I muttered, and went up back to Faith’s place. I knocked then opened the door a crack. “You decent?”
“Never,” purred a voice from the couch. “I’m distinctly indecent.”
I’m a dead man.
Faith, dressed only in a bathrobe, lounged on the couch with her foot up. Her blond hair was slick from the shower and brushed off her face. No makeup, bronzed skin, green eyes like gems…
Stunning.
“You should lock your door,” I said.
“Then you wouldn’t be able to come back to me.”
I sat down on the chair opposite, rested my elbows on my knees. “Are you flirting with me, Miss Benson?”
“Of course I am. Have you seen you?”
I chuckled, but my blood heated at the sight of her in only a silky robe and nothing else.
“But unfortunately for both of us,” she continued, “part of my personal development is that I’ve sworn off men for the