The Engagement Game (Engaged to a Billionaire) Read Free Page A

glance through a few notes, finding the comments made this morning.   My chest pounds beneath my clothes.
    "Jack," I softly say.   "Why don't you join me in the cafeteria for a coffee?"   I glance at a nearby clock.   I have time for a quick break.
    Jack and I stride down the hall side by side.   Jack's arm is inches from mine.   I take steady breaths, wondering how I'm going to tell him the news.   I normally didn't have much trouble.   Delivering bad news was not a foreign concept, but Jack and Earl were different.   As weird as it was to admit to myself, I was attached.   I'd let myself fall prey to the playful teasing and family stories.   That and it wasn't often that I cared for a patient who actually cared back.   Earl was one of few.
    Hallway chatter buzzes through my ears and I remember my first time meeting Jack.   It was about six months ago.   I sat down at an empty table in the hospital cafeteria with my morning yogurt.   A table with a missing chair and a deserted gym bag.   After glancing around for a few minutes I opened the bag and rifled through a few items of sweaty clothing and a Robert Jordan novel.   I curiously pressed the 'on' button of an ipod nano in an armband case.   The last song played was by a local indie band I actually liked.   I was intrigued.
    "You know I could call the cops for that," a voice startled me.   I looked up to see an unshaven face, entrancing blue eyes, and a pair solid biceps.
    "Sorry," I blushed.   "I was just looking for some kind of identification."
    "In my underwear?"
    I looked down to see that my hand had innocently wandered to navy blue briefs.   My entire arm recoiled.
    "Maybe," I replied in an attempt to lighten my embarrassing mishap.   "Some boys still write their names on the inside of their underwear, don't they?"
    "Only ones that live with their mom."
    Check number one.   He didn't live with his parents.   Hopefully.
    "I'm Kat," I said, reaching out a hand.
    "Jack.   So you're a nurse?"
    "Wow . . . lucky guess?"
    "Actually," he chuckled - a deep throated chuckle followed by an imperfect smile.   "The scrubs gave it away."  
    "Right."   I nodded, wondering how many more ways I could make a fool of myself.
    "How long have you worked here?"
    "Since finishing school," I answered.   "I mean I have good days and bad days but for the most part, I love it here at Harrison Memorial."  
    "I can tell."   He smiled again, this time glancing at the swirly curl next to my cheek.   I tucked the strand behind my ear.   "My grandma was a nurse."
    "That's pretty hard core."
    I laughed, nearly dropping a dollop of mixed berry yogurt all over my top.   "She was."
    " Was ?"
    "Yeah," I quietly responded.   "She's not around to make me ham, cheese, and potato chip sandwiches anymore."
    "Interesting combo," Jack chuckled again.   "I'll have to try that."
    "It's a great remedy for a crappy day," I added.   I bit my lip, looking at the clock on the wall.   Jack glimpsed over his shoulder.
    "Oh," he commented.   "I don't want to keep you."
    "I was just taking a ten minute time out."   I fiddled with the cup of yogurt in my hand.   I was stalling.   I'd only known Jack a couple minutes but I was eager to see him again when my clothes didn't smell like rubbing alcohol.
    "And how much time do you have left?   Don't tell me I caught you at minute nine?"
    "Five minutes," I smiled.
    "I only get five minutes to convince you to go out with me?"
    My stomach fluttered.   But as soon as my cheeks went pink, Holly's voice boomed in my head.   All the signs were there.   I shrugged.   "You could start by telling me more about you?"
    "What do you want to know?"
    "Ever been to prison?"
    "Jumping right into the personal stuff," he nodded.   "No, I haven't."   Another check.   No criminal record.   Unless he was really good at lying.
    "Are you a San Franciscan?"
    "I'm from Seattle," Jack answered.
    "Do you live alone?"
    "No," he replied.   I didn't like