And so went Jane’s day. There were many things she loved about being a nurse. Helping people, sure. But it wasn’t completely altruistic. She somehow felt better about herself when she was taking care of others. It wasn’t easy to explain, so she rarely tried.
But another big draw was that she never had the same day twice. Take today. After Jason had gotten punched out by his buddy, they’d had to call the police, but it turned out that Jason had only recently come home from Afghanistan, and after three tours of duty for the good old US of A, was suffering from debilitating PTSD. His friend had truly just been trying to help.
Nope, never a dull day . . .
She took a late lunch break on the deck of High Alpine’s lunch lodge and watched the skiers hurl themselves down the mountain. Her thoughts quickly drifted to her date with Levi the night before. Correction: pretend date, and though she was a whole lot curious about the kiss he’d mentioned, she knew it was a dangerous proposition to go there.
Didn’t mean she couldn’t fantasize about it.
Mateo came out and sat next to her holding a glass container she recognized. “Charlotte made you lunch?”
He grinned. “Jealous?”
“Hell, yes. Is that her famous three-cheese lasagna?”
“The one and only.” He pulled out two forks and handed her one.
“You are a God among men,” she said fervently.
“While I’m not opposed to that title, it was Charlotte’s doing. She gave me this container on the demand that I share with you, because, as she said, you probably packed a protein bar and a soda.”
They both looked down at Jane’s protein bar and can of soda.
Mateo laughed and began eating. She did too, and they raced each other to the middle, because if there was one certainty on this job, it was that no break lasted long.
After a few minutes of blessed silence stuffing themselves, Jane pointed her fork at Mateo. “So what’s up with you and Charlotte?”
“Other than that she finally allowed me to help her take down the holiday lights? Nothing.”
“She fed you. She only feeds the people she cares about.”
Mateo smiled hopefully. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She jabbed her fork in his direction again. “Hurt her and answer to me.”
“Hurting her is the very last thing I want to do.”
It was Jane’s turn to smile hopefully. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Then good luck to you,” she said seriously. “The odds are against you.”
“No kidding. Got any tips?”
“I wish I did. But the fact is, she’s dead set against opening her heart.”
“Why?”
Jane shook her head. “Not for me to say, but trust me, she has her reasons.”
He looked troubled as he nodded. “Yeah. I’m getting that loud and clear.”
She put her hand over his. “Just don’t give up too soon, okay?”
“I won’t.”
“Good. Oh, and while we’re doing this, your best friend is Levi? How did I not know that?”
Mateo shrugged. “Until the gondola incident, I hadn’t seen him in a few years.”
She set her fork down. “Because of Amy?”
He lifted a shoulder.
“I’m sorry about your sister, Mateo.”