Not for a Moment: One Moment, Book 3 Page 7

  Developing this program had allowed Van to create something that helped ordinary people. Instead of saving the world, he wanted to save those who wanted to save themselves.

  It had also given him an excuse to leave his hometown behind and roll out his program across the eastern states of America. His mother hadn’t wanted him to go, but he’d had to, for both of their sakes. He’d started his tour as far away as he could, working his way back to his small hometown. This was his last stop. Home and his mother were only a short drive away, yet he hadn’t called her to tell her he’d be back soon. Not yet.

  It didn’t mean Van wasn’t worried about her. He felt guilty as hell, but in the end, he’d had to leave or risk getting sucked into that void of sadness with her.

  He’d chosen to live and it was this spark of energy that attracted Van to people like Jess. Yes. She was headstrong and had self-destructive tendencies, but you couldn’t fault her outlook on life. The way she seized it. Gave it a good shake. Yelled, “Here I am, you fuckers. Do what you can.”

  Van liked that.

  He wouldn’t give up on Jess. And not just because he was attracted to her, but because her tenacity was exactly what he needed for the next step in his program. All Van had to do was figure out a way to point her wheels in the right direction—with him, not trying to run him down.

  Van tapped his fingers along the edge of the desk. One way or another, and for a million different reasons, he needed Jess to change her mind. He wanted to see her again…

  “Ah, there you are.” The pretty nurse who’d been giving Van the eye since he’d arrived in Wellsford poked her head in the door. “They’re waiting for you.”

  “On my way.” Van’s eyes barely flicked up.

  Zero interest.

  His thoughts were centered on the one spoiled brat who didn’t understand what was good for her.

  Van pushed off the desk and followed the nurse—whose name he hadn’t even bothered remembering—into the treatment room. His gaze swept the sea of expectant faces, picking out someone he did know. Jayne Allen, the shy blonde who was friends with Jess.

  Van grinned. “Nice to see you all.”

  Perhaps it was time to learn a little more about Jess. The kinds of things you didn’t find in a medical file.

  Since that was now off limits.

  Chapter Six

  Jess’s first reaction to the nasty surprise of unveiling Van’s secret identity was to stomp around her room, slamming doors and generally making Cole’s life unpleasant.

  Her second reaction was to do something. Anything. Any fucking thing to take her mind off the fact he’d made such a fool out of her.

  She hated being made a fool of. It made her want to piss someone off, stamp her foot at authority, claw back whatever meager sliver of control she could claim for herself, any way that she could. It was a tight knot that kept winding inside her, tighter and tighter.

  It took Jess until the end of the week to find exactly the right thing to ease the hard ache in her chest. And if she never heard of Van bloody Sheffield again, it would be too soon.

  So, of course, he was the sole topic of conversation the next time she met Jayne and Tash for lunch the following week. Jayne had entered his stupid treatment program and raved on about Van like he was some kind of demigod.

  “He’s so funny…he really understands my injury…he’s good with his hands…”

  “So he’s helping?” Tash asked. Her injury had healed all that it could and she hadn’t been eligible for Van’s workshop.

  “Definitely.” Jayne couldn’t be more emphatic. “Yesterday he wore this white shirt and every time he moved you could see his muscles bulging.”

  Jess watched as Jayne’s mouth went slack as though lust had taken up the reins and overrode her intellect.

  “He’s not so hot.” Jess handed her a tissue to wipe up the drool.

  Jayne came out of her stupor long enough to shoot her a bug-eyed look. “Do you need glasses?”

  “Seriously Jess?” Tash rolled her eyes. “I mean, I know you have a hang-up about physios as a rule, but damn, that man is sexy.

  Jayne was tripping over herself to agree. A whole five minutes of conversation about the stimulating attributes of Van Sheffield. As if Jess hadn’t already categorized every single one of them.

  In the end, she had to physically seal her mouth closed with her hand to keep from spilling the beans about her lust life with Van. That would have shut them up. But no way was Jess ruining her street cred by telling them she’d gone after somebody medical.

  She had seen Van once since their run in at the clinic. He’d tried to get her to talk in private with him. Jess had kept her nose in the air and kept walking like he was invisible. That was the day he’d been wearing thigh-hugging jeans with a muscle-molding black shirt. Her mouth had gone dry. Her panties wet. Jess hadn’t wanted to be alone with him.

  “So, talking of things that are good for us”—Jess cast a sarcastic glance in Jayne’s direction—“I have a much more exciting proposition for you.” She paused to get their attention before waving the flyer she’d found on one of the campus notice boards in front of their faces. The Mud, Sweat, and Tears challenge. “What do you think about entering this?”

  “No.” Jayne didn’t even look at the advertisement.

  Tash snatched it out of her hand, her jaw dropping lower with each passing second. “Are you frickin’ crazy?” She shook her head. “It’s a college competition. This shows giant, dirty, sweaty athletes slogging through a muddy assault course. How the hell are we supposed to compete with that?”

  “I know.” Jess grinned. “Doesn’t it look like fun?”

  “An assault course. Fun?” Jayne stared at her as if she was some kind of freak.

  “Look.” Jess smoothed the rumpled flyer out on the table. Big burly dudes covered in mud were crawling under a cargo net. “They’re smiling. They’re having a blast.”

  “They look like they’re gritting their teeth.” Tash decided after studying the picture closely.

  “Don’t be stupid.” She waved off their concerns. “They wouldn’t let us do it if it were dangerous.”

  “I don’t know Jess…”

  “What can it hurt to put in a team?” Jess pressed harder.

  “In other words, you’ve already put our names down.” Tash didn’t return her smile.

  “Well. Yes. But we don’t have to do it if it’s too hard.”

  Annoyance sparked on Jayne’s face. “Maybe I should check with Van?” She sounded less than convinced.

  This time, Jess did roll her eyes. “What for? Do you need to ask his permission?”

  “No. But it might upset my new treatment regimen.”

  “Oh, for goodness’ sake, Jayne. We’re just going to muck around on an assault course. If we fall, there’s mud. Soft, squishy mud.”

  “Yes, but I like talking to him…”

  Jayne launched into another ten-minute monologue on the hotness of Van Sheffield. The flyer became a crumpled mess in Jess’s hand.

  Let them pant over him. She didn’t care.

  Okay. She did care. It wasn’t just anger stabbing Jess in the chest every time Jayne went on about Van. The thought of him working with Jayne, touching her with those strong, sure hands…

  Jess consoled herself by going home to bury herself in her favorite place—Madison’s closet.

  It was official. The pretty debutante had the best clothes ever.

  It hadn’t taken Jess long to take to her new digs…and the contents of Madison’s wardrobe. The woman had a figure to die for, though she was much taller than Jess, with legs up to her armpits. Still, Madison’s shorter skirts and tops fitted Jess pretty well and looked a whole lot better than her usual clothes.

  A pity about the shoes. Jess pulled her head back out of the closet and sh
ut the door on rows and rows of delicious foot-candy. Her lips tugged into a rueful frown. She could never wear them. Her orthotic moldings wouldn’t fit, for one. And her knee just wasn’t that forgiving. It was a shame, because with extravagant shoes like Madison’s, Jess could have gotten away with anything. Even scars.

  But then, no one was looking at Jess these days anyway. Like her shelves full of perfectly appointed footwear, Madison was drop-dead gorgeous. Everyone noticed her and for once, Jess could walk down the street and know people weren’t studying her limp. They weren’t even aware of her existence. All they saw was Madison.

  “Do you want to go for a walk?” Madison interrupted her thoughts by popping her head in the doorway. She showed no surprise that Jess was drooling in front of her closet. Again.

  “Coffee?” Jess raised a brow, prompting a smile from Madison.

  “I hear they’re trying out a new blend of Arabica and Robusta from Vietnam. It could be interesting.”

  “Oh my God.” Jess stared at her new friend. “How do you know all of this?”

  Madison grinned. “I’m on their email list. In my line of work, it pays to know your coffee.”

  “What, being a rich socialite?” Jess snorted. She still didn’t know how she had ended up as roomies with Madison. Or how her brother had lucked into landing in her bed.

  Not that that was something she wanted to think about. Jess’s nose wrinkled. Especially since her own bed was depressingly empty. She’d tasted the forbidden fruits of a certain physiotherapist and would have been up for more…if he wasn’t a physiotherapist.

  Which brought her to the real reason Jess loved tagging along with Madison for coffee. Her sole motivation for walking six blocks to a coffee shop on the other side of suburbia was because Madison’s route took her past Van’s apartment.

  It was Jess’s dirty little secret.

  Her guilty thrill.

  As they drew near his street, her heart would start pounding, adrenaline pushing up her heart rate. Fight or flight. Jess had no idea what she’d do if she actually saw him. And that was part of the torture.

  She wanted to see him. She didn’t want to see him.

  And would he even notice her while she was beside Madison?

  They walked together, Jess only half listening to Madison prattle on about how Vietnam had risen to become the second largest coffee-producing nation in the world. It provided a nice distraction as they turned the corner to Van’s block. Van’s street.

  Jess’s pulse picked up tempo, the beginnings of a flush creeping up into her cheeks.

  Van’s car was there.

  Her heart started to pound its way out of her chest.

  “Jess, are you okay? Do you need to sit down?”

  Jess’s footsteps slowed. Her skin felt like it was on fire, yet she was cold, her fingers icy. She barely registered Madison coming to a stop beside her because all her attention was on Van’s car.

  And the man standing next to it.

  Van hadn’t spared one glance for Madison. Jess knew this because he hadn’t stopped staring at Jess since the moment they’d locked eyes. A collision of heat and longing. Tinged with regret. She felt it too.

  All she had to do was keep walking.

  “I’m fine,” she croaked out.

  Shit. Shit. Shit. She wasn’t ready. Jess didn’t know how she kept putting one foot in front of the other. It had been easy to deal with Van at the clinic. She’d had time to brace herself, preparing for the jolt of awareness when she saw him. Harden her resolve. Pack away her libido.

  Just keep walking.

  She came so close to making it.

  “Jess. Stop!” Van called after her. His voice was raw, like her name had been ripped from his throat against his will.

  “Keep going,” she urged Madison, a hysterical giggle building in her throat. She heard the pound of footsteps coming up behind her.

  “He wants to talk to you.” Too late. Madison tugged her to a stop and Van stepped in front of them.

  “Jess. Just the person.” His gaze tracked to Madison then back to Jess, a question in his eyes. “Hi. I’m Van.” He raised his hand.

  “Madison St. James. You know Jess?”

  “I’m a friend.” Van paused, giving Jess the opportunity to explain. “We met a few weeks back,” he continued when she didn’t say anything.

  “Oh. Me too.” Madison relaxed into a smile.

  Jess’s stomach tightened. Madison was totally gorgeous at the best of times, but when she smiled, even Jess had to take a step back. Her gaze tracked to Van. He hadn’t even blinked.

  “She’s a hard person to get hold of.” Van grew a little bolder, his eyes still on Jess. “I’ve been wanting to see her again.”

  “Oh?” Madison’s eyes widened as she caught his drift. “Ohhh.”

  Jess glared at her supposed friend. “If you have nothing to say except oh, can we go for coffee?”

  “Uh, no.” Madison became flustered. She dug in her bag and peered at the screen of her cell. “I just realized. I have a fitting.” Color rose in her cheeks. “You know, for the auction.” Her gaze lingered on Van for a moment.

  “I thought that was tomorrow?” Jess directed a big, fat liar glare at Madison. “And you promised me coffee.”

  “Perfect. I owe Jess big time. I’ll take her for coffee,” Van put in.

  He and Madison carried on as if Jess were invisible. She gritted her teeth, grinding them together when he caught her expression and threw her a wink. Pure evil.

  “Great.” Madison was nodding like an idiot. “See you Jess. Have fun.” She disappeared so fast Jess was surprised there weren’t flames dancing out her butt.

  “What are you doing?” Jess turned on Van.

  “Apparently I’m taking you for coffee.”

  “I don’t even like coffee,” she declared, crossing her arms in an effort to hold in her frustration.

  “Then I’ll take you somewhere else.” Van didn’t miss a beat. “Where would you like to go?”

  “Nowhere with you,” Jess muttered. “I don’t even like you.”

  One brow rose, but Van said nothing. Jess dropped her gaze.

  “This isn’t about whether you like me or not,” he said finally. “I’ve been way out of line in my dealings with you. And I want to say sorry.”

  Damn it. Jess bit her lip to stop her automatic acceptance of his apology. He looked so cute when he was full of contrition.

  “I know what you’re doing,” she huffed. “It won’t work. My brother is the king of subversive.”

  “No tricking.” Van put up his hands. “No sales pitch. I just want to make it up to you. Anything you like. Coffee. Cake. Dinner for two.”

  Jess leaned back, studying his face.

  “Okay,” she said, her gaze narrowing. “I’d like to go for a hike in the Appalachian Mountains. I’ve always wanted to follow one of the tributaries of the Potomac up to the source.”

  His face fell.

  Gotcha! Jess wanted to laugh out loud. She’d known he’d back off as soon as she mentioned doing something physical.

  “I can’t today. But only because I don’t have time,” Van added when Jess’s eyes started rolling back in her head with an I told you so smirk. “I have to be at the clinic by three. There’s not enough time.

  Jess had heard enough. “Yeah. Sure. Whatever you say.” She spun on her heel.

  “Give me a chance. It’s not what you think.” He stepped around in front of her again.

  Damn, he was quick. Jess skidded to a stop to avoid running into him. Her knee twinged in protest and she glared at him harder.

  “Could you stop doing that?”

  “I’d love to go hiking with you. But apart from being short of time, you need to plan these things.”

  “No you don’t.” Jess snee
red, unsurprised. “You get in the car. You drive to the river and you walk up a mountain. Easy.”

  “Why don’t we do something else?” he suggested. “I have a couple of hours. If you’re still talking to me afterward, we can go walk upriver next time.”

  “Will that be before or after you take me ice skating in hell?”

  His lips twitched. “You won’t find out unless you give me a chance. What will it hurt?”

  He was far too smooth for his own good. And Jess was falling for it. Van’s boyish insistence was wearing at her resolve, tugging at her willpower.

  The problem was, she wanted to spend more time with him.

  Wasn’t that the perfect reason to do it?

  Any amount of time spent with Van would soon remind her of all the reasons why she should stay away from him.

  Jess sighed. No wonder Tash called her the Queen of Bad Ideas. “You pick then,” she caved under the pressure. What was the bet he’d pick something lame, like basket weaving, or making teddy bears…

  “There’s a rock-climbing place not far from here. How about we try that?”

  Jess took a step back. “You want to take me rock climbing?”

  “Sure. Why not?”

  She searched Van’s face, waiting for the catch that wasn’t forthcoming.

  Okay. She’d play along. “Rock climbing it is, then. But this is not a therapy session. You don’t get to tell me how to do things. No helpful tips. No suggestions on how I should use my balance or redistribute my weight to compensate for my bad leg. You let me do exactly what I want.”

  “Deal.”

  Jess snorted. “You won’t be able to help yourself.” She knew exactly how Van would be. Like Cole. Being a Nana was inbred.

  “Do you want to make a bet on that?” Van was still smiling, but his easygoing demeanor had disappeared.

  Jess tipped her head. “What? That you won’t say anything?”

  “That’s right. Not a peep.” Van’s eyes gleamed. “You think I can’t do it. I want to prove you’re wrong.”

  “And if you do?”

  Van rubbed at his lip as if he was giving the outcome real consideration. Back and forth. Back and forth. The brush of his thumb against his mouth caused Jess to bite at her own lip. While she enjoyed the cut and thrust of a good argument, sparring with Van had another effect on her too. One that had her envisioning all different types of punishment, involving a bedroom. Or a couch.