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"You used me to chase away your restlessness," he said quietly
"Yes" She winced "I’m sorry about that"
"Mallory, you can use me any time"
"But you said one-time only," she ree Apparently I left you needingas unsatisfied in aze went hot and dark "We’ll have to fix that"
She felt her body respond as if he’d already touched her He hadn’t left her unsatisfied at all In fact, she’d never been more satisfied in her life "Ice cream," she whispered, her throat suddenly very dry "I think I need ice creae her They walked to the ice creauy in his early twenties and painfully thin, but the warm smile he flashed at Mallory distracted froood today"
Lance gave her this same line every time that he landed in the ER He could be flat on his back, at death’s door--which with his Cystic Fibrosis happened more than anyone liked--and he’d still flash Mallory those baby blues and flirt
He was one of her very favorite patients "Where’s your pretty girlfriend?" she teased, knowing he’d been dating another nurse, Nancy, for months now
An attractive brunette poked her head out froht here Hey, Mallory" Nancy’s eyes locked onto Ty and turned speculative "Seems like Lance isn’t the only one with a pretty date"
Mallory laughed at the look on Ty’s face He actually didn’t react outwardly, but it was all in his eyes as he slid her a glance She decided to take s up "I’ll need a double scooped vanilla"
"So the usual," Lance said "You ever going to branch out? Add a twist of cookie dough, or go for a walk on the wild side and add sprinkles?"
Mallory very carefully didn’t look at Ty "Not this time" She’d already taken her walk on the wild side, and alk on the dark side was standing right next to her
Lance served Mallory, then looked at Ty, who shook his head No ice cream for him
Which was probably how he kept his body in such incredible shape, Mallory thought as she reached into her pocket for cash Ty beat her to it, paying for her ice crea at the ice creaue "Girlie figure?"
There was nothing girlie about hi," she said Another lick "Fighting the bulge"
Ty Garrison didn’t have an ounce of fat on him, and they both knew it But he did have a very dark, hot look as he watched her continue to lick at her cone Like ht caused another of those secret tingles
"You think I’e?" he asked softly
She reached out and patted his abs Her hand practically bounced off the tight muscles there "I wouldn’t worry about it It happens to all of us," she said lightly, taking another slow lick of her ice crea to do with your leg?"
"Yes" His eyes never left herwith fire, and she knew it
"You know this whole ht think," she said "Right?"
"I’!"
A very small smile curved histo a decision "You asked if I’aze searched his "And now?"
"Like I said, I’ on cars?" she asked with ain he just looked at her for a long beat "It’s in the same vein as mechanics I locate a problereed "Not on cars"
Huh He was certainly not sayingfor her "And the leg?" she asked
"I was in a crash"
He hadn’t hesitated to say it but she sensed a big inner hesitation to discuss it further "I’ to push She knew exactly what it felt like to not want to discuss so he’d say more And then he did
"I’o way back He setokay?" she asked softly
"Working on it"
She nodded and fought the ridiculous urge to hug hi is giving you pain Are you taking anything for it?"
"No," he said, and with a hand on the small of her back, led her into the arcade Conversation over, apparently He handed so Duck Gallery
"What are you doing?" she asked
"I’ood at shooting ducks," she said, watching hihted and shot
And hit every duck, destroying the entire row
"Show off," she said, and picked up her gun She didn’t knohat she was doing And she didn’t hit a single duck She set the gun down and sighed
"That’s pathetic" Ty handed over soain" He corrected her stance by nudging his foot between hers, kicking her legs farther apart Then he steadied her arms with his
Thisher If she turned her head, she could press herhow much she wanted to do just that She’d bet he’d taste better than her ice cream
He went still, then let out a low breath, his jaw brushing hers "You’re thinking so loud I’h, and he pressed hi "How do you knohat I’ly breathless "Maybe I’ that I want another ice crea Shoot the ducks, Mallory"
With hi her, she actually hit one, and her coain," she derin, Ty slapped soot," he said to her, and to her disappoint her to do it alone