Lover's Revenge Read Free

job.”
    “I don’t know why. You deserved it. You’ve worked in the neo-natal ICU of that hospital for eight years. Every one respects you, and even the doctors listen to your advice. You were the right person for the job.”
    She turned around to face him. “How do you know al that?”
    “I was a sounding board too, remember, when you complained about her and the decisions she made.” He was right. Whenever she’d talked to her boyfriend about her job, he’d always brush her concerns aside and tel her not to worry about it. The only thing she had to do was work her shift and come home. If she didn’t like it, she could always change departments. But whenever she voiced her concerns when Jared was around, he always took the time to listen and give her advice.
    “Did you alter the schedule the way you wanted? Let the lady who had three kids move to the day shift so she could be at home to do homework with her children and attend their sporting events?”
    Now, he made her smile. “I can’t believe you remember that,” she said. “And yes, I did. When I first got the position, I sat down with each of my nurses and asked them which shift they’d prefer to work and why and what kinds of changes they’d like to see made. It took some work, but the last few months have run so smoothly and everyone is happy to come to work now. No one is complaining or caling in sick just for the sake of caling in.”
    “I’m happy for you. I knew they’d offer you that position once it was open.”
    “Yeah. You told me that. Many times.”
    “Um. What about personaly? Are you…seeing anyone?” Dayna looked at him, but he’d leaned back and was staring up at the sky when he asked her the question. What was he thinking? She didn’t want to tel him she hadn’t found the courage to date anyone since the last relationship had ended so disastrously.
    That she’d felt like a failure, less of a woman. “No. The new promotion has kept me pretty busy. I make it a point to work each shift every once in a while. I realy haven’t found the time.” After they’d sat for a while in silence, he said, “I’m sorry about what happened, Dayna.”
    She crossed and then uncrossed her arms around her knees. She didn’t want to talk about him . “Why are you apologizing for something you didn’t do?”
    Jared came up, picked up a rock, and tossed it into the ocean. “He was—is—my friend. What he did… You didn’t deserve that.”
    Dayna stood and walked into the water, slicing her leg through the cool liquid and said, “Forget about it.”
    “If I was lucky enough to have someone like you, I’d never fuck that up.”
    That gave Dayna the opening she was looking for. She turned to face him. “And if you had me, say, for one night, what would you do with me?”
    Even in the darkness, she saw his irises flair and smolder.
    He was up in one fluid motion and came toward her, splashing water on her legs as he did. Jared didn’t touch her, but his nearness caused heated desire to slither down her spine. “I would worship every inch of your body. When I was done, you’d know you were the only woman in my life and no other could ever take your place.” Here goes nothing . “They why don’t you? Have me for one night.”
    Jared moved closer until their toes touched in the water.
    The look he gave her could cause a lustful and lethal combustion.
    “Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.”
    Dayna reached out, touched his chest, and wiled the butterflies zinging around in her stomach to settle. She stroked him right above the slit before the buttons began, moving her finger in a slow, sensuous circle. What she wanted to do was tease him, tempt him, but instead she struggled for breath as her skin connected with his. Every cel in her body blistered with unbridled need. “Who says I don’t?”
    He grabbed her forearms and squeezed. It didn’t hurt, but it let her know that she was playing with a fire she might not be able to put