She’d been forced to grow up overnight.
The loving hands of her aunt Ida had sustained her when she’d needed it. Those loving touches were a thing she missed now. Unfortunately, the current ache in her life couldn’t be filled by the simple touch of family. She was beginning to suspect that she craved a satisfying relationship, that she just hadn’t found and wasn’t willing to stick her neck out for. Maybe loneliness was something she’d just have to get used to, like an ache that would never go away. By now, it was certainly her constant companion. Sure, she had friends and people to do things with, but she always went home alone. That hollow ache could be dulled, but never seemed to go away completely. Looking at Taylor, she knew he’d never be able to fill that void. She wasn’t what someone like him craved.
He took a step closer, but then stopped, recalling his conversation with Alex about personal hygiene. “I’m hot and sweaty now, but I’d be willing to give the hug thing a try another time.” His gaze dropped to her mouth and lower and the breath that had returned to him after his run was somehow stuck in his throat.
Hugs, huh? He’d have never thought that hugs were beneficial, just some sort of activity that made people think they felt better. Denial was powerful, especially during emotional situations, which was why he tried to avoid them. But standing here looking at Piper and how attractive she was, the hint of a flush on her face and neck, he’d be willing to consider testing her theory at some point. Her full lips curving up at the corners nearly made him reconsider. It had been way too long since he’d been in a relationship, considered having another one. Not that he’d do that with Piper. She was a coworker and a temporary staff member. As he glanced over her figure again, he reflected she was a fine-looking staff member.
“So, I know you’re a traveler, but what brings you to Santa Fe? Family, boyfriend?” This wasn’t like him, he thought, and frowned at that. He wasn’t this interested in people and generally didn’t make polite conversation. Something about Piper made him want to know more.
Before answering, she tucked her hair behind one ear and shot a quick glance at him. “Oh, I’m not really sure. I’ve been a lot of places, but not New Mexico. This short assignment seemed like a quick way to see the area and grab a bonus, too. And you?”
“I started out in Albuquerque at the university there and migrated up to Santa Fe. My sister lives here, too.” Piper’s answer just generated more questions in his head. “I was wondering how you know so much about children. Do you have any?”
“No. I don’t have my own children, but I’ve had to pretty much raise my little sister since our parents were killed years ago.”
“I see. That must have been tough.”
She gave a small, sad smile. “More brutal than you’ll ever know.” Unable to look away from the intensity of him, she met his gaze and held on, seeing how far it took them.
The heat of attraction poured off Taylor as he stared at her mouth, and her heart skipped a beat just imagining long, slow body contact with him. She swallowed, a hint of desire crawling along her spine in reaction to him.
Attractions between nurses and doctors happened. The intensity of their work lives pushed the attraction to higher levels. Unable to look away, she stared at Taylor, and he held her gaze, seeming unafraid of the connection forming between them. But then, according to Alex, he wasn’t afraid of anything. Someone like her wasn’t going to scare him one bit.
In the distance, the faint yip-yip of a coyote signaled the fall of night. Desert nights were a sight to behold, especially, when she was out in one with Taylor in front of her.
She blinked as the persistent yip penetrated the web of attraction between them. Oh, God. She was simply staring at him. And he was…staring back. She licked her lips, and pushed her hair behind her ear as her mouth went dry, feeling much like the desert around her. This wasn’t good.
Then Piper sat up and listened, not sure what she had heard. “Did you hear that?” Whew. Anything to provide a distraction, divert Taylor’s attention from her and hers from him. Taylor seemed to break free of the hypnotic spell between them, took a step back from her and huffed out a quick breath. The tension stretching between them snapped.
“Oh. Hear what?” Taylor asked, running his hands through his hair as he turned away. “I don’t hear anything.”
“Kind of sounded like the noise I heard earlier. I was thinking it sounded like a coyote, but I’m not sure.”
Sudden cries for help echoed through the park. “Now I hear something.” He paused a second, listening, and cries for help carried through the park. “Let’s see what’s going on.”
They raced to the top of a small hill and found an elderly gentleman sitting on the ground, a pile of bloodcovered fur at his feet.
“Oh, dear,” Piper said.
“What happened?” Taylor said as they approached the distressed man. Piper knelt beside him.
“Coyote. Attacked my dog,” he said between wheezing gasps.
Piper checked his pulse, then pressed her hand to his cheek. His coloring was a startling red. “Sir, do you have any medical conditions?”
“Please. Just help. My dog,” he said, and tears flowed down his rounded cheeks.
Piper looked up at Taylor, her blue eyes full of inquiry. He knew the question in her gaze, and when he looked down at the animal, he knew it was already too late and shook his head.
“Let’s see what we can do about you first.” Her calm voice and soft tone was designed to comfort the man beside her.
“Oh, no! Is Muffin dead?” he asked, and clasped her arm.
Piper took his hand and drew his attention away from the site. “I don’t know. We’ll help Muffin all we can, but I think you need some help, too.”
The man responded to Piper and nodded. “Okay. Okay.” He fumbled in his pocket and withdrew an inhaler. Piper held his trembling hand to his mouth as he took two puffs of the medication that would assist his breathing. Tears still trickled down his face. “I’m short…of breath.”
“Were you bitten, too?” Taylor asked, and knelt beside them. The dog was past any help they could give it. A small dog was no match against a coyote that was probably rabid. The kind of behavior the man described was unusual for the normally reclusive coyote. They would have to report it after the man was seen to.
“No. It just tore out of the brush and attacked poor Muffin.” He wiped his tears with his hands, which were covered in scratches. “I tried to pull it off.”
Taylor assessed the man’s condition. Without medical equipment, he was limited as to what he could do. Basic first aid was about it. “That was a very brave thing to do, but it appears that the coyote got a piece of you, too.”
“What?”
Taylor pointed to the puncture wounds on the man’s hands and forearms. “It bit you, too.”
“Oh, no.” The man looked at his arms, apparently seeing the wounds for the first time. With wide eyes, he looked from Piper to Taylor and fainted.
Piper tried to catch him, but landed in a heap with the unconscious man. Reaching forward, Taylor lifted the man
