Page 19 of Big Risks

"You underestimate your appeal, nurse Hailey." His voice has dropped slightly, and something in his tone makes my stomach flip.

Our hands rest on the bench between us. I don't know which of us moves first, but suddenly our pinky fingers are touching. Just barely. The contact sends an electric current up my arm.

I laugh nervously and move my hand to tuck hair behind my ear. Walker doesn't laugh. Instead, he looks at me with an intensity that makes it hard to breathe, like I'm the only person in a world full of people.

"I should probably check on Olivia," he says, but doesn't move.

"Probably," I agree, equally stationary.

The bonfire crackles, sending sparks spiraling up toward the star-filled sky. Around us, conversations continue, but they seem distant, like we're in our own bubble of firelight and tension.

"Daddy!" Olivia's voice breaks the spell. She runs up, marshmallow smeared across her cheek. "Jace says he'll tell us a scary story!"

Walker raises an eyebrow. "Not too scary, I hope."

"The perfect amount of scary," she assures him with complete confidence.

"Well, in that case." He stands, then turns to me. "Duty calls."

"Go ahead. I should probably find Becky, anyway."

But I don't leave. Instead, I watch as Walker joins the small group gathered around Jace, Olivia nestled against his side. There's something about seeing him like this—relaxed, laughing, completely devoted to his daughter that makes my chest ache with a feeling I'm not ready to name.

An hour later, as the party winds down and families begin drifting toward their cars, I finally gather my things to leave. Olivia is still with Jace and Delaney hanging on every word of what appears to be an epic tale involving pirates.

"Heading out?" Walker appears beside me, hands in his pockets.

"Yeah, early start tomorrow."

"I'll walk you to your car."

"You don't have to—"

"I want to."

I look back and see Olivia sitting with Delaney and nod, turning toward my car.

We walk in silence through the parking lot, now half-empty. My sensible sedan sits under a streetlight, looking particularly unexciting.

"Thanks for coming tonight," he says as we reach my car. "It meant a lot to Olivia."

"Just Olivia?" The words slip out before I can stop them.

Walker takes a step closer. "No. Not just Olivia."

The air between us feels charged, dangerous. I should get in my car and drive away. I should maintain professional boundaries. What I should do is remember all the reasons this is a bad idea.

Instead, I stand perfectly still as Walker reaches up to brush a strand of hair from my face. His fingers linger against my cheek.

"Hailey," he says, my name a question.

I answer by closing the distance between us. Our lips meet, tentative at first, then with growing urgency. His hands find my waist, pulling me closer, and mine tangle in his hair. The kissis electric, months of suppressed emotions finally breaking free. His mouth is warm, insistent, and I forget everything. Where we are, who might see, all the complications that wait on the other side of this moment.

When we finally break apart, I'm breathless. Reality crashes back in, and I take a step backward.

"We shouldn't," I whisper.

Walker just watches me, his eyes dark in the dim light. "Too late," he says softly.

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