Easy Ride. Suzanne Ruby

the high of rescuing the puppy and the images of Easy Ride that her mind feasted on, getting anything accomplished at work wouldn’t be easy.

      Once back at her desk, a different reality set in. She hadn’t logged out of the private portal, and someone had obviously been poking around the site. Furthermore, she knew exactly who that someone was. But there was no way she’d let Seth hijack her assignment.

      True, she had a chink in her armor, which could make it more challenging to be objective. Yet, she wanted to feel what this man had made her feel. She deserved to feel something. All the self-talk in the world kept leading her back to the same place, and back into the arms of the irresistible unknown.

      Mix business with pleasure...live in the moment.

      The only problem was, she hadn’t been prepared for...this. Out-of-control desire. As appealing as it sounded to shed her good-girl image, she hadn’t set out to sleep with her source. Too risky. Professionally and personally.

      In fact, she’d be satisfied with a repeat of last night’s “performance.”

      Yeah. Right.

      At least she was prepared to take Reese’s advice, should the uncontrollable happen again—make him wear a condom—because she was in too deep to stop now. For the pleasure, and for the story.

      Her moment, it seemed, had arrived.

      * * *

      ADAM PUMPED A generous amount of Purell into his hands and worked it through every pore. The cool gel calmed his sweaty palms, and the clean scent cleared his head for what he was about to face.

      He was still reeling from the emotional jolt, as if he’d been riding the most incredible mare and was cold-cocked by a low-hanging branch.

      It didn’t help his nervousness to see the name Henry V. Drake on the wall next to his grandfather’s hospital room.

      At least his worst fears weren’t realized. Henry hadn’t died. From what little Adam had been told when he’d asked for directions at the nurses’ station, his grandfather took the wrong dosage of one of his many medicines and blacked out on the front lawn. Fortunately, a neighbor called 911 and gave Adam as the primary contact.

      He knocked lightly while easing the door fully open.

      “Come in, come in!” Henry’s cheery greeting provided some assurance that nothing essential had changed.

      The man looked up as Adam approached. A rather large glob of pudding wobbled on the spoon as Henry’s hand shook ever so slightly.

      “What the heck are you doing here, son? The hospital folks weren’t supposed to bother you with this.” Henry set down the spoon and shoved the entire tray aside.

      Adam perched on the edge of the bed.

      “You gave everyone quite a scare, old man.”

      “Busybody neighbors. I was resting on the lawn. I wish they’d mind their own business.”

      As if to emphasize his point, Henry kicked at the covers, exposing one pale thin leg and one foot sheathed in a fuzzy blue sock, complete with rubber speed bumps on the sole.

      “You were resting, facedown, on the lawn?”

      “Okay. Maybe I got a little dizzy.”

      “You and I are going to put together a written schedule for your medications. Or, better yet, hire a nurse to stop by the house and administer them. I promise I’ll find a pretty one.”

      A little life returned to Henry’s pale cheeks.

      “I’d rather you find a pretty one for yourself. Nurse or otherwise.”

      “I’m working on it.” Adam couldn’t help but smile when he thought about Kirby, which was absolutely insane. But she was insanely beautiful. And seemingly sweet. She sure as hell smelled sweet, and tasted even sweeter.

      Henry eyed him curiously. “You’ve met someone.”

      “I’m paging the doctor. You’re delusional.”

      “I raised you. I know when you’ve got a crush.”

      Crush? It hadn’t even occurred to Adam to describe it that way.

      As much as he’d like to get to know Kirby better, his plans didn’t include a relationship. In fact, that was the last complication he needed, now that his professional life was inching closer to full resurrection. But, hey, his grandfather was happy. Might as well use it to his advantage.

      “Okay. You got me. I’ll spill the details after you’re back home. And only if you let me hire a nurse.”

      Henry kicked off the remainder of the covers, exposing both legs and damn near everything remotely attached.

      Adam arranged Henry’s gown to fully cover the man’s privates.

      “They’re keeping me overnight. They want to run some more blasted tests. You’ll have to at least feed me a crumb.”

      A nurse walked in. The doctor followed on her heels.

      “What’s the verdict?” Adam asked.

      “Terrible news. I’m afraid I can’t let you run the Houston Marathon this year, Mr. Drake,” the doctor said, directing his answer to Henry.

      “Well, that is disappointing. I was so sure it was mine to win.”

      “I don’t doubt it for a minute.” The doctor turned his attention to Adam. “It could have been much worse. He could have fallen on cement, rather than grass.”

      “Hey! I’m in the room! I can hear you,” Henry interjected. Obviously, he wasn’t thrilled about being referred to in the third person. “I was taking a nap. Why doesn’t anyone believe me?”

      “Do you think he’ll be released tomorrow?” Adam asked.

      “We’ll have to see.” The doctor reached down and patted Henry’s arm. “I’ll give your grandson a call if anything changes.”

      “I’ll spend the night here,” Adam said.

      The doctor nodded and left the room.

      “You’re going home, and that’s that. There’s something I need you to do,” Henry said.

      “I know. But I don’t think we should list our homes until I get a solid offer. It’s between me and one other guy, but they pretty much guaranteed I’m in the lead.”

      “Oh, I’m not worried about that. Destin, Florida, is our destiny! I’ve already cut the tags off my new swimming trunks, that’s how confident I am. Do whatever you think is best as far as putting the houses up for sale.”

      Adam studied this frail man, who also happened to be the strongest person he knew. A man who spent what should have been his golden years of retirement raising Adam in Houston, putting up with an endless amount of bullshit. Florida was Adam’s chance to make it up to the man who had sacrificed so much. Didn’t get much better than white sand beaches and emerald-tinted waters.

      “So, what is it you need me to do?” Adam asked.

      “I want you to promise you’ll make me a great-grandfather before I die. I always wanted the word great in front of my name.”

      “How do you know you don’t already have great-grandkids running around somewhere?”

      Even joking about such a thing made Adam’s conscience quiver. Condoms were nonnegotiable until a committed relationship was established. He could be certain of his fatherhood status, or lack thereof, at this point.

      “At least promise me you’ll find a nice girl. Liv wasn’t nice. I may not be much, but I’m a flawless judge of character.”

      Yet, if Henry really knew what Adam had made of himself—disgraced trainer turned cut-rate escort—it might turn the man’s whole flawless-judge