Trees were easy to appreciate in the cheerful light of morning, and Winnipeg had a lot of them. In the old area of St. Boniface where Jessie lived, the giant, leafy elms arching over the streets were an essential part of the character. And sheappreciateddriving beneath them, along the back roads on her way to the hospital.
This was much better than watching for skulking white vans. Or hiding from large moving shadows that growled in the night and left gouges in her fence.
No.The branch had done that. And the storm.
As she navigated past a group of parked cars, she dutifully attempted to list the many assets of trees.Let’s see.They provided shade on a hot, sunny day. Her mind stuttered.Dammit.Stuck after just one thing.
Some things were easier to appreciate. Like Jessie’s car. Truly drool worthy, at least for her. She’d owned it for three months. Had bought it secondhand, but the car had spent most of its time in a garage. It gleamed a coppery gold in the spring sunlight. The best part, despite its sleek good looks—its all-wheel drive made winter handling a breeze. It had also been one hell of a deal.
It was okay to appreciate a good deal, wasn’t it? Or was she sliding back into her old, practical-minded self?
Jessie pulled into the parking lot and found a spot along the back side, bordering the park. It was a major score being so close to the hospital, and with trees that kept it shaded.
There. Appreciation. She was doing just fine with this project.
Her car was both practical and beautiful. Did cars mirror their drivers? She hoped it was true. She’d always wanted to be sleek and lovely.
Her hand reached to pat at hair springing free from a clip. She certainly didn’t qualify as sleek today. Despite the cloudless sky, there must be more rain in the forecast. When her hair had been its natural dark color, the general disarray hadn’t been quite so obvious. Maybe she should have just gone for a cut and highlights? The red was a little extreme. It glowed burgundy in the sun.
As she got out of the car, a teenager pushed his bike across the road, heading for the park. He gave her a quick, reassuring ogle as he walked by. At least the guy still found her worthy of a look, even if the vibrant locks were piled rather haphazardly on top of her head. Coiffed, she was not. She sighed. Perhaps her next self-improvement project should involve taming one’s mane.
The weatherman had promised another lovely spring day. The sky shone a beautiful robin’s-egg blue. Yesterday she would have totally missed that tidbit.
Thank you, book.
Jessie glanced around as she strapped her pouch to her waist. She was still jumpy after last night. But why would anyone stalk her? She wasn’t that fascinating. Most people found her abrasive and ended up avoiding her. Many complained that she wasn’t a warm and fuzzy person. Some claimed she used attitude like a defensive wall. She’d long since conceded that her psyche was a dark and scary place. Best not to poke it with a stick.
Her New Year’s resolution had involved tackling her general state of snark. The first self-improvement project had led to a serious effort to clean up her language. She had the ability to swear like a sailor, something that many of her coworkers and more than one romantic interest had mentioned.
Surprisingly, she now found “effing” to be as rewarding as dropping the F-bomb. It was her first step to a more contained, cultured self. The difference had been noted and commented on by those who shared her shifts. It mattered to her—her brisk efficiency as a nurse had earned her a respect that she cherished. She loved her job. It was often intense, and the quick thinking it required kept her on her toes.
Jessie jogged across Tache Avenue, aiming for the main entrance to the hospital. The ER was at the complex’s southern edge, but if she cut through the building, she could grab a muffin at the vendor off the access hall connecting the different wings.
A muffin. Not a cupcake. Although the cupcakes were to die for, muffins were healthier.No.Sheappreciatedthat muffins had many healthy ingredients. After all, a woman could only handle so much chocolate.
She snorted. Resetting her brain was taking no small amount of effort.
An ancient cube van was parked in the loading zone. Flaking paint revealed its extensive life experience. The side panel featured a custom decal—FASTTRACK DELIVERY, and the line under it said, FAST, DEPENDABLE, VERSATILE. The image was dramatic, featuring a stylized galloping horse.
Despite the panel graphic, the magnetic sticker on the passenger door was of one of the local couriers. Either the delivery service was an old label, or the owner was contracting himself out.
Just inside the main doors, Jessie found the young man in question. He stood in front of the directory on the wall. He was tall. Six two? Topped by lush brown hair with sun-kissed tips that reached and curled over his collar. The beige shirt had the courier logo on the sleeve. It clung across his shoulders and hung loose over his hips.
The jeans beneath hugged a butt that earned him a second glance. And then a third...
Rather riveted, Jessie barely registered that he carried an enormous floral arrangement. It was so large that when he turned to walk farther into the hospital, he bumped right into her.
Her response was spontaneous and snarky as hell.
“Hey. Woman walking here!”
“Oh, sorry!”
Truth be told, she could have easily avoided the collision if she hadn’t been so distracted by staring at his scrumptious butt. Her embarrassment almost triggered her usual defensive reaction—a bitchy glare and stalking off.
But his voice zinged right through her, leaving her vibrating. It was smooth and low-pitched.
Sexy as hell.
