The Last in Love (Ardent Springs Book 5)

by Terri Osburn

  Tucking the plant under his arm, Justin said, “Every landscaper needs a good assistant.”

  “Then I suggest you take out an ad, flower boy, because I already have a job.”

  “Sticking your hands in the dirt can’t be any worse than what you do at the hospital,” he pointed out.

  Abby picked up another delphinium plant. “Don’t remind me. Now let’s wrap up this shopping spree so you can buy me a pizza.”

  Justin grinned as she strolled back to the blanket flowers. No matter what Abby claimed, this little excursion was quickly becoming the best date he’d been on in months.

  If Abby wasn’t careful, she could get used to this. A man opening her car door. Pulling out her chair. Making her feel beautiful and desirable as he hung on her every word. More than once, she’d had to remind herself that (a) this was not a date, and (b) Justin was too young for her. Though she struggled to maintain the second argument. In fact, as the afternoon progressed, age became less and less of a factor.

  Justin Donovan was more than a pretty face. He was intelligent and informed. Considerate and thoughtful. Open-minded and down-to-earth. She’d have to be dead or blind not to notice the gorgeous packaging, but she was beginning to think his mind and heart were the real draw. By the time she’d finished off her first slice of pizza, Abby knew the smart thing to do would be to end the date as soon as possible. And yet she continued exchanging smiles and enjoying the moment.

  “What did you mean earlier?” Justin asked, dabbing sauce off his chin.

  Because Main Street Pizzeria only served takeout, they’d settled on a downtown bench to eat their meal.

  “What did I mean when?” Abby said, careful not to lose the pepperoni teetering on the edge of her slice.

  “When I mentioned the stuff you see at the hospital and you said not to remind you. That didn’t sound like a comment from someone who loves her job.”

  Eyes focused on the twirling barbershop sign across the street, she shrugged. “I used to love it, and I wish I could say I still do, but . . . I don’t know. I sometimes wish I could do something else.”

  Justin reached for the bottle of soda at his feet. “What else would you do?”

  Excellent question. “I have no idea.”

  “You must have thought about it.”

  “No, I haven’t.” Turning to face him, she said, “How have I never thought about this?”

  He shook his head. “Think about it now. If you could do anything else, anything at all, what would it be?”

  Abby said the first thing that came to mind. “Be a mom.”

  Twisting the cap off the bottle, he said, “You’d be good at that, but I hear the pay isn’t great and the clients can be demanding little assholes.”

  “How can you say that about children?” She chuckled.

  “Hey,” he said, holding up his hands, nearly swishing Coke onto his shirt. “Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m only passing on what I’ve been told.”

  A couple of little ones from Abby’s church leapt to mind. They often sat behind her, kicking the pew throughout the service. One had driven a toy car into her hair during the Christmas service the year before. Of course, her future brood would be perfectly behaved little angels, or so she liked to delude herself. That was, if she ever got around to having any.

  “At the rate I’m going, I may never have that job, anyway.”

  Justin nearly choked midsip. “Why do you say things like that? Abby, you have your whole life ahead of you, with plenty of time to have a family.”

  She dropped the half-eaten slice onto her paper plate. “I’m sure it looks that way to someone still in his twenties, but facts are facts. I’m a single woman in my midthirties with no prospect of getting married anytime soon. At this point, even my biological clock has given up hope. Instead of ticking, it clucks like a dejected goose waiting to die.”

  After staring at her for several seconds, Justin put the cap back on the soda, set it on the ground, and brushed off his hands as if preparing for a fight.

  “First of all, that might be the weirdest metaphor I’ve ever heard. And secondly, you are not in your midthirties. You’re barely thirty-three. Lots of people have done great things when they were way older than you are now.”

  Feeling contrary, she said, “Name one.”

  Amber eyes cut from her to the sidewalk at their feet as the wheels turned in search of an answer. With a loud clap, he pointed at her. “Neil Armstrong. He was thirty-eight years old when he walked on the moon. Hank Aaron was forty when he set his home run record. And Tolkien was sixty-two when he first published Lord of the Rings.”

  Slightly impressed by his memory, Abby said, “You realize those are all men, right? And all actions that didn’t require a set of cooperative ovaries.”

  “I’d suggest that all of those things required the male version of ovaries, but I get your point. Still, you aren’t out of the baby game yet. That’s all I’m saying.”

  Lest he start volunteering to help her in her baby endeavor, Abby returned to the original question. “As for a different career, I’d want to do something that doesn’t involve people.”

  “You might want to think about the moon walking, then.”

  She shot him a pointed look and continued. “Something creative. A job that changed every day, and when I finished a project, I’d have something tangible to show for it.”

  Seemingly intrigued, Justin leaned in. “Do you do anything artistic?”

  Abby shook her head. “Sadly, no. I’m limited to stick people, and even those are rough.”

  “Sew?”

  “Not a stitch.”

  “Cook?”

  “I set my kitchen on fire while baking a cake. I’m going to say that’s a definite sign to stay away from the food industry.”

  Justin rubbed the thin growth of stubble along his chin. “Do you play an instrument or sing?”

  “No musical ability whatsoever.” This conversation was making her feel like a loser. “Guess I’d better stick with nursing.”

  “You’re willing to give up that easy?”

  Brushing off the question, she gathered their plates before lifting the lid of the pizza box. “Do you want to take the rest of this home?”

  “You don’t want it?” he asked.

  “Not a fan of cold pizza.”

  He snagged the box. “That’s heresy. Cold pizza is always good, especially for breakfast.”

  In a few years, he’d be singing a different tune, but Abby let him keep his illusions. The wind picked up, whipping her hair into her eyes. “Looks like rain is coming,” she said, clearing her face. “We’d better get going.”

  Catching a stray napkin on the sidewalk, Justin threw it and the rest of their trash into the can at the corner. With soda in one hand and pizza box in the other, he fell into step next to Abby as they headed back to the theater, where they’d left her car.

  “I’ll pick up the stuff you bought at the nursery in the morning and get to work. Offer is still open for the assistant position.”

  “No can do,” she said, happy to have a valid excuse. “My shift at the hospital starts at seven.”

  They walked on in amicable silence until Justin said, “Thanks for buying me. I had a good time.”

  Abby rolled her eyes. “I didn’t buy you. Hal—”

  “Haleigh did. Yes, I know.” They reached her car and Justin set the box and bottle on the roof before turning to face her. His scent blended with fresh pepperoni made her wonder if this might be what sexy Italian men smelled like. “I’ll thank your friend when I get the chance,” he said. “Right now, I’m thanking you for spending the day with me. This has been my best non-date, hands down.”

  This man could charm the paint off a picket fence. “Maybe we should call it an extended job interview. I did kind of hire you as my gardener, though it’s more of an unpaid internship, really.”

  “I know what you’re doing.”

  Abby tried not to smile. “What
am I doing?”

  “You’re avoiding telling me that you had a good time, too.”

  “I had a perfectly nice time,” she assured him, sounding like an elderly librarian. When Justin shook his head, she added, “I didn’t have a nice time?”

  Justin moved in closer. “This was better than nice. Admit it.”

  Pushy man. “I laughed,” she said, toying with a button on his shirt. “Bought some flowers. Had pizza. I’m not sure it was worth eight hundred fifty dollars, but who am I to complain?”

  “Then we’ll have to spend more time together. To make sure you get your money’s worth, of course.” Long fingers fondled a lock of hair hanging over her shoulder. “I never want to leave a lady unsatisfied.”

  “That would be bad,” Abby murmured, leaning in as her eyes dropped to his mouth. The world fell away and every fiber of her being vibrated with anticipation. Just one kiss . . .

  The heavens chose that moment to open up, dousing them both like a cold bucket of water. Abby squealed and dug in her purse for her keys, while Justin, in a moment of impressive quick thinking, held the pizza box over her head. But it was too late. By the time she located the keys, they were both soaked to the skin. Looking up at him, she couldn’t help but laugh. As if sharing an inside joke, Justin joined in.

  Abby unlocked the car and let him open her door, but before she could climb inside, he planted a quick, hard kiss on her lips.

  “The next time, that’ll be a lot better.” Without awaiting a reply, he nudged her inside, slammed the door, and took off running.

  Breathless, she watched him disappear around the corner of the theater, her fingers pressed to her tingling lips. Had she just flirted with and nearly kissed Justin Donovan? As water rolled off her chin and a puddle formed on the floorboard, Abby let out a deep sigh. Yeah, she thought. That definitely happened.

  And she wanted it to happen again.

  Chapter 6

  An hour into her shift, Abby had fought to secure an IV on a patient with few viable veins, cleaned up another patient who’d defecated in his sleep, and been scolded by an elderly man’s wife for interrupting his sleep to take vitals. An act required to keep her husband alive. If the rest of the day went this well, she’d be picking up a bottle of wine on the way home.

  Home. Thank goodness she had something to look forward to. Tonight, Abby would happily be back in her own bed. Not that she didn’t love her mother, but she needed her own space.

  “You wanted to see me?” she said, tapping on her boss’s door.

  Iva Bronson glanced up from her desk without her usual smile. “Yes, please come in and have a seat.”

  Iva rarely bothered her nurses during the busiest time of the morning, but Abby took a seat and told herself not to be paranoid. This was probably nothing.

  “I’m afraid I have bad news,” the head nurse said, mouth grim. “The hospital is making cuts.”

  Abby stopped breathing.

  “I’m being forced to eliminate at least two from my staff.”

  Though she’d been with the hospital for more than ten years, Abby had been with the neurology department less than two. Landing her squarely on the chopping block.

  Failing to maintain eye contact, Iva said, “I have to let you go, Abby. Your layoff is official immediately.”

  Just like that, Abby’s world turned upside down. Stunned into silence, she fought the buzzing in her ears in order to make out Iva’s next statement.

  “I’ll need your badge and locker key as soon as you’ve gathered your things.”

  No notice. No warning. Just get your things and go.

  “I’ll be happy to write you a reference,” the older woman said, finally looking Abby in the eye. “You’re a good nurse, Williams. Another facility will be lucky to have you.”

  A nice sentiment, except there were no other facilities within fifty miles.

  Rising to her feet, Abby replied, “Thanks.” Which seemed an odd thing to say to someone who’d just fired her.

  Less than five minutes later her badge and key rested in Iva’s inbox while Abby awaited an elevator. To her relief, none of the other nurses seemed to notice her leaving. Or perhaps they’d all known this was coming and were being kindly discreet. Letting her leave with dignity. There were several things in the little box tucked against Abby’s chest, but dignity was not among them.

  When the doors opened, she stepped inside the rose-scented car, nodding blindly to the gray-haired gentleman carrying a large bouquet.

  “I went up too many floors,” he said with a self-deprecating smile. “I was supposed to get off at two.”

  “That’s maternity,” she said. “Are you sure that’s where you want to go?”

  Even with her own world on tilt, Abby couldn’t help but take care of someone else.

  “My granddaughter gave birth to a little angel last night,” the man said, his smile widening as tears brightened his blue eyes. “She named her after my wife, Sophie.”

  “Your wife must be very proud to have a namesake.”

  His shoulders dipped. “She passed away three months ago.” A gnarled hand brushed away a tear. “I wish she could be here to see her. Little Sophie is beautiful, just like her great-grandmother.”

  If Abby had ever needed a reality check, this was it. Suddenly, losing her job didn’t feel quite so catastrophic.

  Skipping the usual I’m sorry for your loss, she said, “I bet your wife is smiling down on you right now, proud of these handsome flowers you’ve brought for the child who bears her name. And she knows you’ll make sure that little girl hears all about her.”

  The smile deepened the creases around his watery eyes. “Thank you, my dear. I needed those words today.” Giving Abby’s hand a squeeze, he added, “I bet you’re a wonderful nurse.”

  Now it was her turn to tear up. “I like to think so,” she said.

  A bell dinged and the doors opened to the second floor. As her traveling companion stepped off, Haleigh stepped on.

  “Hey there,” her oldest friend greeted, pressing the button for the ground floor, which Abby had forgotten to push. “Whatcha got there?” Glancing into the box, she pulled out a picture from Abby’s wedding day. “This was hanging in your locker, wasn’t it? Are they moving you?”

  They were definitely moving her. “Iva let me go.”

  Haleigh pulled out another picture. This one of Abby with Cooper and their mom. “Let you go where?”

  Wiping her cheek on her sleeve, she snatched the picture back into the box. “She didn’t let me go anywhere. Thanks to budget cuts, I no longer work here.”

  “Wait. What?” Haleigh stuttered, following Abby out of the elevator. “You got fired?”

  “Laid off is the official term, but it all means the same thing. I’m out of a job.”

  Though the house had been paid off when Kyle died and she received a monthly check from the military, Abby still needed an income to support herself. Her family would never let her starve, but the idea of depending on Mom or Cooper to pay her bills was unacceptable. Her savings might carry her for a few months, but she’d rather not use any more of it than she had to.

  Taking long strides to keep up with Abby, who’d progressed from shock to anger, Haleigh said, “But you’ve been at this hospital forever.”

  “Not in neurology I haven’t.”

  A hand gripped Abby’s shoulder. “Would you stop walking and talk to me? I’m getting shin splints trying to keep up with you.”

  Stopping in the middle of the parking garage, Abby spun around. “Then maybe you should leave me alone.” Haleigh drew back, and the guilt hit immediately. “Aw, geez.” Abby carried her box to the curb and sat down. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

  Her friend took a seat next to her. “I get it,” she said. “First the fire, and now this. You’re having a rough week.”

  True. The only bright spot since Wednesday night had been her afternoon with Justin. In fact, if she really thought about it, their n
on-date had been the highlight of her year so far. Not a great commentary on her life.

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  “You’re a fabulous nurse, Abbs. You’ll get another job.”

  The conversation from the day before came to mind. “I think I jinxed myself.”

  “How did you do that?”

  “I told Justin that I don’t enjoy being a nurse anymore.”

  “Okay,” Haleigh said, drawing out the word. “Is that true?”

  Exhaust fumes swirled around them as a car drove by.

  “Yeah,” she admitted. “It’s true.” Abby had been going through the motions for far too long, settling for a paycheck over being happy. “But it isn’t as if there’s anything else I can do.”

  Haleigh tapped the box. “Why didn’t you tell me this before? There are all sorts of things you can do. Pick something.”

  “Thirty-three is a little old to change my mind about what I want to be when I grow up.”

  “Nah. I had a friend back in California who changed careers all the time. She believed that no one should do the same thing for more than five years in a row.”

  Abby hugged the box tighter. “That doesn’t sound like a very secure life.”

  “She never went without,” Haleigh assured her. “Patty believed a new opportunity would come along when she was ready, and it always did.”

  “Are you making that up?”

  “Nope. All true.” Another car passed by. “Can we get up now? My lab coat is starting to smell like Cooper after a long day in the garage.”

  Waving a hand in front of her nose, Abby said, “Good idea.” The blonde rose first, taking the box so she could follow suit. “I’m sorry I snapped at you.”

  “I’m sorry you lost your job. What are you going to do now?”

  Brushing a leaf off Haleigh’s coat, Abby weighed her options. “I guess I’ll go home and check on my new gardener.”

  Brown eyes narrowed. “Since when do you have a gardener?”

  “Since I convinced Justin to start his own landscaping business and then agreed to let him use my flower beds as an example to potential clients. By the way,” Abby said, “what were you thinking, bidding like that in the auction?” She no longer minded that Haleigh had bid against her wishes, but the dollar amount had gone way too high.