One Summer in Santa Fe - By Molly Evans Page 0,30

the sweet pleasure of her, clutching her body to his.

Piper collapsed on top of him, and he wrapped her in his embrace as he regained his breath. After a long slow kiss, he pulled back to look into her face. She was all soft and well-loved looking, and it looked good on her. He didn’t want to let go of her just yet, but he checked his watch to see how much time was left to them.

“Do you have to go?” she asked, and sat upright, still joined with him.

“Not yet. Alex won’t be back for two more hours.” Stroking his hands down her arms, he marveled at the softness of her skin, wanting to explore it further. “Want to come inside for a while?” he asked.

“I’d love to,” she said, and he dragged her down for another kiss.

Piper stood in the shower later that evening and reluctantly washed away the fragrances of the delightful afternoon spent with Taylor. It had been such an indulgence, being with him. An indulgence that made her want to stay put for a while and give up the traveling for good. She could if she wanted to. Anytime. Having an affair wasn’t something she took on lightly, but with Taylor, excitement would always be part of the relationship, for sure. Hadn’t she earned a little excitement in her life? After so many years of commitments, of doing for others, hadn’t she earned a little time to do something just for herself?

She sighed and allowed the steaming water to flow over her. Muscles she hadn’t used in a long, long time now made their presence known. The back injury from yesterday was certainly resolved after the manipulation. The rest of her had benefited from his touch, as well.

As she turned the showerhead to massage, she allowed her mind to roam free and unbidden thoughts of her last relationship intruded.

Derek Winsome, an MD in Los Angeles, two years ago. Gifted with such talent and charm that no patient or female he set his sights on had been able to escape. She’d been just as susceptible as anyone else. Having fallen for his charm and ended up in his bed, she had allowed herself to want more from him than he had been able to give her. Or that he had been willing to give her alone.

Unfortunately, she had been just one in a long line of women parading through Derek’s life. She wasn’t special, not by a long shot, and after she had popped in on him unexpectedly at home, he’d made that very clear. So had the woman beside him, warming his bed.

Regret started to slide over Piper as she scrubbed and shampooed. Was this thing, this attraction to Taylor, going to end up the same way, with her being made a fool of and hurting for what he couldn’t give? She’d allowed herself to be vulnerable and care about Derek and nothing good had come of it. Other than a valuable learning experience. Was anything good going to come of having an affair with Taylor?

Probably not. He wasn’t the type to settle down to home and hearth. After having to deal with the responsibility of her sister for so long, she wasn’t sure if she was, either. The long-ago dream of a husband, home and family of her own had been dangling by a thread for so long, she wasn’t sure it was something she wanted any longer. Once, she would have wanted it. But after so many years alone, she couldn’t really imagine her life any other way. Sure, if she had met the right man, the dream would have returned in Technicolor. But now it was still in black and white, just another unfulfilled fantasy.

She turned the water off and left the shower, dried and dressed for bed. Unable to chase away the dark memories that wanted to intrude on her precious time with Taylor, Piper checked her e-mails, hoping for a message from Elizabeth. But there was nothing. E-mails from friends and other travel nurses occupied her for a while, but thoughts of Taylor and Derek battled for the upper hand in her mind.

Was she going to regret her time with Taylor? Should she continue to see him outside a professional relationship? What the hell was she going to do when it was time to seek a new assignment in a few weeks? San Francisco had been home for the first twenty years of her life, but it hadn’t been home