“My PT is pretty strict with my diet,” he said.
The nurse gazed at Nelson for a moment. “Okay, then, follow me.”
They followed the nurse to the MRI room.
Lindsey knew she couldn’t go inside with Nelson, but he was still holding her hand. Okay, gripping her hand. It was kind of funny, yet it was also endearing. She felt like a mom with a small kid who didn’t want to go to the doctor.
When they neared the MRI room, she said, “I can’t go in there with you.”
“Maybe they can make an exception,” he said, his gaze sliding to hers. A sheen of perspiration had appeared on his forehead. “I don’t think I can do this. Maybe I’ll take that Valium after all.”
“If you need it, take it.”
Nelson exhaled. “No. I’ll be fine.”
He was looking rather pale.
“Come on, Mr. Goaltender.” Lindsey wrapped her arm about his waist and steered him the last few steps toward the MRI room. “I’ve got you.”
He draped an arm about her shoulder, and Lindsey would have felt a little cozy if they weren’t in a hospital.
The nurse opened the door. “Ready?” she asked.
Nelson didn’t even look at her. “Give me another minute.”
The nurse nodded and disappeared inside.
Lindsey rubbed his back a little, finding his muscles tense. Then it was time. Even though they weren’t alone, she wrapped her arms about his neck and drew close.
“I’ll be right here the whole time,” she said. “In that chair over there.”
His gaze cut to the chair, then moved back to her face. She could feel the rapid beat of his heart. And she wondered if kissing him would help, but they were in the middle of a hospital. “You’ll be fine,” she murmured.
He nodded. His face was still pale, but the look in his eyes was more determined. Worried, but determined.
“Ready, Mr. Nelson?” a woman asked, cracking open the door. “I’m the MRI tech, and we’ll make sure you’re comfortable. What type of music do you like to listen to?”
That was all Lindsey heard before Nelson disappeared into the room. Well, he’d made it this far.
Personally, she thought that if he was really that stressed, he should have been able to take something for it. Lindsey took a seat and waited. She checked her phone for any new emails, but nothing was interesting enough to capture her attention.
The extra time gave her an opportunity to review her day, in which she’d set up several new client meetings with people to discuss their estate planning, living trusts, and wills. Dawson had been in the office part of the time and had given her updates on the case against Perkins & Gunner. There was no countersuit from the law firm, but that didn’t mean that Paul Locker wouldn’t bring one himself.
Dawson had already informed the firm that Lindsey had received a threatening voicemail from one of their partners. And now, Lindsey had to trust in the system of the law that she’d so valiantly studied and upheld.
She leaned her head against the wall. How long did an MRI take anyway? She was happy she could be here for Nelson, but every minute she spent with him only made her worry more about what was happening to her heart. She’d had a boyfriend in high school her entire senior year. Had dated in law school, but nothing serious. No one had time for serious in law school. And since getting hired at her first firm, she still hadn’t had time for much else besides work.
But she was twenty-eight now, and Nelson was twenty-nine. Did people their ages have flings? Was this the norm for Nelson? What did he think? Of her? He was the one who’d be leaving soon, and although they hadn’t really talked about what was going on between them, she couldn’t imagine him having time to invest in any long-distance relationship. She’d googled that too. Not the “how to manage a long-term relationship” but the “average schedule for a professional hockey player.”
During the off-season, he had plenty of commitments, not to mention required training and conditioning. As far as she knew there was no hockey rink in Pine Valley. Lindsey puffed out a breath. What was she thinking? That Tyler Nelson, one of the top goaltenders in the world, was going to move to Pine Valley?
The MRI door clicked open. Lindsey looked up as Nelson walked out.
The tech was talking to him, so Lindsey waited. When the tech went back into the room, Lindsey crossed to Nelson.
“How was it?” she asked.
He grasped her hand as his gray eyes connected with hers. “It’s over.”
She smiled. “Good job.”
He tugged her closer, and she stepped forward into his arms. “Can we go get some carbs?” he asked, like he needed to get her permission.
Lindsey laughed. “Sure, where do you want to go? I’m assuming not the hospital cafeteria.”
“You have time?”
She slid her hands over his shoulders and met his gaze. “I’m busy, but I don’t exactly have twenty clients knocking on my office door.”
“And a girl’s gotta eat, right?” Nelson said, his gaze dropping to her lips.
“Right,” she whispered.
“Okay, let’s go.”
She nodded but didn’t step back, and he didn’t release her. Her stomach decided to growl at that moment, and Nelson chuckled. “I should probably feed you. This was a lot of hard work.”
Lindsey smirked and drew away.
They walked out of the hospital, and minutes later, they settled into Maddy’s Subaru.
“Where we going?” Lindsey asked. “The café?”
“Nope,” he said. “We’re expanding our horizons. The owner of the bed and breakfast told me about a great barbeque place.”
“Sounds good to me,” Lindsey said. Was this a real . . . date? It was more than casually hanging out. She’d gone to his medical appointment, and now he was taking her out to eat. Maybe she shouldn’t analyze it so much.
But when Nelson took her hand as he drove to the restaurant, Lindsey knew that she was really going to miss him when he left Pine Valley.
The restaurant didn’t look too busy when they pulled into the parking lot. It was probably because of the weird hour of three thirty. The sign on the restaurant read Rick’s BBQ. Nelson opened his door, and Lindsey was about to pop hers open too when Nelson came around the front of the car. So this was a real date. Maybe?
He opened her door, and when she climbed out, he again linked their hands.
Neither of them said anything on the way to the restaurant. Nelson told the hostess they wanted a table for two, and they followed the hostess to where they were seated in a booth.
Lindsey sat a respectable distance from Nelson, but he had no such boundaries. He sat close enough to hold hands or drape an arm across her shoulders. Lindsey found herself wondering how Nelson felt about PDA.
“Here are your menus,” the hostess said. “Your server will be here in a minute to take your drink orders.”
“Great, thanks.” Nelson opened his menu after the hostess left. “Can I order one of everything?”
Lindsey laughed. “I don’t think anyone could eat that much, not even a hockey player.”
Nelson fixed his gray eyes on hers, the edge of his mouth quirked. “Is that a challenge?”
“Don’t you dare,” she said. “I’m not going to be the one to explain to Maddy.” She liked the humor in his eyes—so much better than the worry and panic over the MRI.
“I haven’t eaten since this morning’s protein shake, so I could do some serious damage right now.”
“You’re not supposed to skip meals,” Lindsey teased.
Nelson shrugged. “I didn’t want to puke at the hospital.”
Oh. That.
“What can I get you to drink, folks?” a woman asked.
Lindsey looked up to see their server, a pretty blond woman who appeared to have rather large fake lashes and painted-on eyebrows. She was also smiling quite openly at Nelson. Maybe she was just the friendly sort and it came with her job description.
“Water for me,” Nelson said.
“Me too, thanks,” Lindsey added.
“Okaaay,” the server said, keeping her gaze on Nelson. “Are you sure a big guy like you doesn’t want something stronger?”
Nelson smiled. “I’m fine.”
The server hesitated. “All righty then, I’ll be back with your waters.” She winked at Nelson, then practically sashayed away.
After she was out of earshot, Nelson scoffed. “Apparently she can call me a ‘big guy,’ but if I called a woman a ‘big girl’ . . .”
Lindsey smirked. “Yeah, double standard . . . except . . .”
Nelson arched a brow. “You’re really going to go there?”
“You are kind of a big guy.”
“Six four, two-forty,” he said. “It’s on my profile, but I’m probably two-thirty now with the abuse from Maddy. I mean, her loving concern. But I dare anyone to find an ounce of extra fat on me.”
“Is that a challenge?”
“Come here, and you can check.”
Lindsey laughed as he draped an arm about her and tugged her close.
“I believe you,” she said. “You don’t need to be so cocky about it. Not all of us can spend our lives being athletic.”
He chuckled. “Believe me, that’s not the first time I’ve heard that line.”
She wanted to nestle against him, but they were in a public restaurant. So she took the arm around her and removed it, but kept a hold of his hand. “Well, I at least know one of your flaws,” she teased.
“I have a lot more, but I’m good at hiding them.”
“Hmm.” Lindsey squeezed his hand. “As a lawyer, I’m pretty good at finding out the truth.”
One side of his mouth lifted. “I’ll look forward to that then.” The gray of his eyes darkened into an intensity that spread warmth through her body until it reached to her toes.
She really wished they weren’t in a restaurant right now, but it was probably a good thing.
When the server delivered the glasses of water, she was all smiles toward Nelson again. Lindsey took a long drink of water while he ordered three things on the menu. When it came Lindsey’s turn to order, the server didn’t fawn over her at all.
After the server left, Lindsey said, “I think you’re her favorite.”
Nelson smiled and shook his head. “I don’t care about what our server thinks of me. What I want to know is, am I your favorite?”
His tone was teasing, but the words still made her stomach flip. Yes, he was her favorite. But . . . “You’re not so bad, Mr. Goaltender,” she said in a light tone as she nudged his arm. “But the verdict is still out.”
“Ouch,” Nelson said. “I guess I still have some work to do. What are your plans tonight?”
Nelson stared at the text on his phone. He and Lindsey had just left the restaurant and sat in the car. He’d invited her to a movie later in the evening, and she’d accepted. So much for cooling things off with her. He was feeling content, until the text from Coach came in.
The MRI results are in. Get to the hospital to review them, then conference me in.
“What is it?” Lindsey asked, probably because he’d been silent for an entire minute.
He told her about the text, then added, “I need to go to the hospital again.”
“Do you want me to come?” she asked.
Nelson couldn’t explain the relief that he felt. It wasn’t an issue of facing an MRI tube again, but the results would be determining his immediate future. And he sort of wanted Lindsey as a part of that . . . He took her hand and pressed a kiss on it.
“Is that a yes?” she asked with laugh.
“Yeah.” He wanted to do more than kiss her hand, but Coach was waiting.
He started the engine.
Walking into the hospital the second time that day hadn’t been his plan.
They met with the doctor, and Nelson was able to conference in Coach so he could hear the prognosis.
“The healing is complete,” the doctor said. “As you can see here, the sprain is no longer visible. Although that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be cognizant of the injury. Your body is still in the active-healing zone.”
Nelson nodded. He was both relieved and anxious. This meant . . .
“When can he return to full activity on the ice?” Coach cut in.
The doctor glanced at the calendar on the wall. “Friday he can start practicing. One more week until he’s in a game.”
Nelson should be shouting with joy, but he only felt a dull ache begin behind his eyes.
Coach asked more questions of the doctor, and Nelson barely heard the conversation. Lindsey had waited in the lobby because she said she didn’t want to interfere with the privacy of the meeting, even though he’d told her he didn’t mind. Now he’d have to tell her the news. Yeah, she knew he’d be heading back to Vegas soon. But not this soon.
After Nelson hung up with Coach, he thanked the doctor, then headed toward the waiting room.
He spotted Lindsey sitting on a chair, leafing through a magazine. Seeing her in that moment, before she saw him, made Nelson’s heart hurt. He couldn’t explain why exactly. It was like he was already missing her, even though they’d still have a couple of days together . . . if he chose. Surely Coach would want him heading home tomorrow. But Nelson planned to stay in Pine Valley until the last possible minute.
Before meeting Lindsey, he would have never imagined delaying practice or anything to do with hockey.
“How’d it go?” Lindsey looked up from the magazine to catch him staring at her. Her smile faded, which told him that he wasn’t very good at hiding the news he was about to tell her.
She set down the magazine, then rose to her feet. “So you’ve been cleared to play?”
“Yeah.” He scrubbed a hand through his hair as she approached. He wanted to go back in time to when they were at the restaurant, teasing each other. He didn’t like the heaviness that had settled on his shoulders. “The doctor says I can return to practice on Friday, then start playing next week.”
“Friday?” Lindsey echoed. “As in this Friday . . . three days?”
He nodded, because his throat felt tight.
Lindsey’s smile was bright when she said, “Well, that’s great news. You’re going to be playing again soon. Saving the season. Just what you wanted.”
“Yeah,” he said, although the word felt empty.
They continued through the hospital until they reached the parking lot. The cool spring air felt like a slap because the promise of warmth and budding trees producing fruit and leaves wasn’t something that Nelson would be around to see. When had he become such a nature lover?
“Hey, I’m sure you have a lot to get ready for.” Lindsey faced him as he opened the car door for her. “So don’t worry about entertaining me.”
He didn’t know how to respond. Was she talking about the movie invitation or something more? He set his hand against the top of the car so that she wouldn’t get inside yet. “I don’t want to change our plans.”
She exhaled, gazing at him with those clear blue eyes of hers. “Maybe it will be easier, Nelson. Think about it.” She placed her hand on his arm. “You’ve been great, and I’ve helped you through a couple of things too. You’re returning to Vegas in a couple of days, and I’ve got a business to establish here.”
He looked down at the hand on his arm, then into her blue eyes again. “I don’t think so.”
Her brows shot up. “What?”
“I don’t want to cancel our date tonight,” he said, leaning close and lowering his voice. “And even though I have to get back to Vegas to finish out the season, I don’t plan on cutting things off from you.”
Lindsey bit her lip, and he saw the amusement in her eyes. Was she laughing at him? Had he been too over the top?
“So are we having the relationship talk?” she asked, a small smile escaping.
“Sure, why not?” he said. “I mean, I have a definitive depart
ure date now, but I’m already thinking of retiring. Maybe tomorrow.”
Lindsey’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t dare!”
He chuckled. “No, I think I have a few good years left; besides, the pay is decent.” He slipped an arm about her waist. She seemed to step easily into his arms, and he liked that very much. “So . . . I like you, Lindsey Gerber. Is that okay?”
She lifted her chin to meet his gaze. “I like you too, Tyler Nelson. But I don’t see how—”
“Shh,” he said, pressing a finger against her mouth. “Sometimes things fall into place without minute-by-minute planning. Let’s just go with it . . . go with us.”
She held his gaze, and it was a good feeling to see trust in her eyes. And affection. He could get used to that.
When she slipped her arms about his waist, he didn’t delay another second. He moved a hand behind her neck. Then he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her in the hospital parking lot. She felt warm and soft, and she fit against his body with precision. He kissed her slowly, taking his time because he knew their time was limited.
She pressed closer, kissing him back, letting him know that she did care.
Where this would all lead, he didn’t know, and he didn’t want to waste time guessing. He wanted to stay in the moment, and in all the moments he had left with her. He moved his hand down her back, feeling her tremble as much as him. The more he was with her, the more he wanted to be with her.
“Lindsey,” he whispered against her mouth, then he dipped his head to kiss her jaw.
She arched back a little, giving him more access to her neck. So he kissed her neck too. Her smell was sweet and intoxicating, and he wondered what he’d miss the most about her. Her blue eyes or her scent. Or maybe how she seemed to be aware of every little thing about him. Or how she kissed him back as if she dreamed of him at night as he dreamed of her.
He returned to kissing her mouth and soon became lost again.
Nelson didn’t know how much time had passed when she drew away.
Placing a hand on his chest, she said, “Okay, I’ll go to the movies with you.”
All for You Page 8