One Summer in Santa Fe - By Molly Evans Page 0,32

It had been a responsibility that she had sometimes endured, sometimes relished, sometimes wondered why, oh, why, their lives had been changed so dramatically. Though she had missed out on some of life’s challenges and learning about herself in her early twenties, she’d grown up hard and fast with the death of her parents. Her relationship with her sister was one that she had always loved, even through the changing seasons of Elizabeth’s life. Now that relationship was changing once again and slipping away from her.

Piper was just sitting down to an unappealing-looking sandwich when Taylor entered the employee lounge. She paused and took a look at him as her heart raced at the surprise of seeing him there. Even in scrubs, there was no mistaking he was a man of power. He didn’t need a suit for that. Masculinity and energy flowed off him in the simple scrubs, and Piper tingled as if it reached her from across the room, making her promptly forget about the e-mail from her sister. And her lunch.

“It’s Wednesday,” Taylor said with expectation in his eyes.

She thought a second, as if that was supposed to mean something to her, and she tried to make her suddenly dry mouth work right. “Okay. Did I miss something about Wednesday?”

“Put down the sandwich, and no one gets hurt. It’s green chile cheese fries day.”

“Right. I forgot.” She put her sandwich down as her mouth watered in anticipation. Before coming to New Mexico she’d never eaten green chile, and now she craved it like some life-sustaining substance. “You’re going for some, I take it?”

“Yep. Wanna come?” he asked, and took a step forward, the light in his eyes mischievous.

“You look like you’re up to something. You’ve ruined me for all other fries, you know. Nothing even compares.” Probably ruined her for all other men, too. No comparison there, either.

“It happens.”

“I supposed you planned that.” She wrapped her nothing lunch back up and tossed it in the garbage can. No comparison.

“Let’s go.”

After settling with a steaming pile of French fries, covered in green chile sauce liberally sprinkled with shredded Cheddar cheese, Taylor finally relaxed. There was something about green chile, it didn’t matter in what form, that kept him going. Maybe it was more symbolic of home than anything else in his life. Something he somehow needed and had not realized.

Small talk related to work and cases they had shared in the ER. Then the awkward silence that he’d hoped to avoid ensued. “So how’s your sister doing in school?” he asked.

“Fine, I think.” Piper frowned and chomped a fry in half.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m sure it’s nothing, and she’s just engaged in school, but her e-mails are short and don’t say much. Totally unlike her. She usually runs off at the fingers.” She shrugged and picked up another fry. “I think I’m feeling a little left out of her life now that’s she’s old enough to have one.” She gave half a laugh and shook her head.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure she’d just caught up in school. First semesters can be overwhelming, especially if she isn’t used to being away from home.”

Piper nodded and looked at him. The questions in her eyes reflected the same questions he felt inside. What was going on between them now that they had made love? Usually, the women he became involved with wanted nothing more from him than the use of his body on a temporary basis. That suited him just fine, too. No strings was how he led his life, with the exception of his work. But now that he and Piper had connected, he was starting to re-evaluate that philosophy. Thoughts of her had intruded his life for days now, and he wasn’t sure how to handle it. Being attached to a woman for more than the short term had never happened to him. But, hey, he was all about taking chances. Why not take one more? If things didn’t work between Piper and himself, he could always revert to the way things had been before she’d shown up. Either way it was win-win for both of them. He leaned forward a little and spoke softly to her. “What are you doing Friday night?”

She thought for a second. “Nothing. Why?”

“I’d like you to go out with me,” he said. And he did. Surprising himself at how strongly he wanted her to say yes. She was only going to be in Santa Fe for a few weeks, so he had to pursue her now