The Biker’s Nurse

CHAPTER 5

Anna’s POV

The ride to the mall was quiet, except for the soft hum of the car’s engine and the occasional directions Scott gave me. I kept my hands firmly on the steering wheel, hyper-aware of his presence beside me.

It wasn’t just that he was my boss — it was the way he carried himself, even sitting there in silence. There was a certain authority to him, like the world bent subtly around his will.

Part of the job requirement had been that I knew how to drive, and in that moment, I was grateful. It gave me something to focus on, something to keep me from thinking too hard about how nervous I felt.

When we finally pulled into the mall’s parking lot, my stomach sank. The building rose up like a palace of glass and light, and even from the car, I could tell it was the kind of place where a single item probably cost more than my monthly rent back home.

I parked in a far corner, hoping to blend in, but there was no blending in when Scott was involved.

As soon as we entered, all sleek marble floors and glittering store displays, I felt completely out of place. My sandals felt cheap against the polished tiles, my simple dress drab compared to the glittering outfits of the women passing by.

I was about to voice my hesitation when Scott spoke to the sales associate — a tall, elegant woman with a professional smile.

“I want her to try on a lot of dresses,” he said smoothly, gesturing to me. “I’ll be here watching. She seems to lack confidence, so I want her to see herself the way others see her.”

My mouth fell open slightly. She? As if I wasn’t standing right there.

Heat rushed to my cheeks so fast it felt like fire under my skin. I wanted to shrink into the floor, to disappear into the nearest rack of clothes.

The saleswoman nodded politely, as though this was perfectly normal, and led me toward a row of fitting rooms.

I followed silently, too embarrassed to protest.

The first dress she handed me was soft blue silk, cool against my skin as I slipped it over my head. When I stepped out, I couldn’t even meet Scott’s gaze at first.

Then I heard it.

“Beautiful,” he murmured, his voice low and certain.

My heart skipped a beat. I glanced up to see him watching me with quiet intensity, his dark eyes tracing the lines of the dress before meeting mine. He gave a small nod of approval, and something inside me fluttered.

When I went back in to try the next dress, my hands trembled slightly.

This became a pattern.

Each time I stepped out, I waited for his reaction like it was the most important thing in the world. When his eyes lit up and he muttered, “Beautiful,” warmth bloomed in my chest, spreading through me until it felt like my skin glowed.

And when he didn’t like a dress — when his gaze flickered away, indifferent — it was like a tiny stab to my heart. I found myself wanting to choose the things he liked, to earn that quiet word over and over again.

It was ridiculous, I knew. He was my boss. This was all part of the job. But my body didn’t seem to care about logic.

Between fittings, I studied his face when he wasn’t looking. Strong jawline, slightly tanned skin, dark stubble along his chin. His hair was just a bit too long, curling slightly at the edges, giving him an almost boyish quality despite the power he radiated.

He was handsome. Unreasonably, unfairly handsome.

By the time we left, we had several bags — the dresses he liked, a few I’d timidly chosen for myself. My mind was spinning, my heart still racing from every “beautiful” he’d whispered under his breath.

When we arrived back at the house, I started to carry the bags toward my room, but his voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Drop the bags and come out,” he said firmly. “We have some swimming lessons.”

I blinked, turning toward him in surprise. “Don’t you want to come in and eat first?”

“Food can wait,” he replied without hesitation. “I’ll be here waiting.”

Something about his tone left no room for argument.

I went to my room, changed into the swimsuit I’d bought earlier, and took a deep breath before stepping outside.

The pool shimmered in the fading sunlight, turquoise water reflecting the warm glow of the setting sun. Scott sat at the edge in his chair, his gaze lifting as I approached.

The way he looked at me — slow, deliberate — made my heart pound. His eyes didn’t roam crudely, but they took me in, every inch of me, until my skin felt like it was on fire.

I crossed my arms self-consciously. “It’s… been a long time since I’ve worn one of these,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

“You look…” His lips curved slightly, almost a smile. “Beautiful.”

The word sent a shiver through me.

I glanced at the pool nervously. “I’ve never really been good at swimming,” I confessed. “I don’t think I even know how to float properly.”

“That’s why we’re here,” he said simply.

The first few attempts were a disaster.

I clung to the edge of the pool, kicking wildly while water splashed into my face. No matter how hard I tried, my body refused to cooperate. My arms flailed, my legs sank, and panic clawed at my chest.

“I can’t,” I gasped, coughing as I sputtered to the surface. “I can’t do this, Scott.”

“Yes, you can,” his voice cut through the sound of the water, calm and steady.

I shook my head, frustrated tears stinging my eyes. “I’m just… not built for this.”

“Anna.” His tone was firm, commanding in a way that made me go still. “Look at me.”

I turned, meeting his gaze.

“You can do this,” he said, each word deliberate, unyielding. “You just don’t believe you can yet.”

My throat tightened. Something about the way he said it — not like a coach barking orders, but like someone who truly saw me — broke through my panic.

He softened then, his voice dropping to a low, intimate murmur. “I know you’re scared. I know it feels impossible. But I wouldn’t let you drown, Anna. Trust me.”

The words sank into me, warm and tender, stroking something deep in my chest.

I nodded slowly, taking a shaky breath. “Okay.”

We tried again. This time, I forced myself to focus on his voice.

“That’s it,” he encouraged as I kicked harder, my body finding a rhythm. “You’re doing it. You’re stronger than you think.”

His praise wrapped around me like a lifeline.

When I finally managed to float for a full three seconds before grabbing the edge, he grinned — a real grin, wide and boyish.

“You did it,” he said, pride shining in his eyes.

A laugh burst out of me, half joy, half disbelief. “I… I actually did it.”

“Of course you did,” he said softly. “I told you, Anna. You just needed someone to believe in you.”

My heart twisted at his words. No one had ever spoken to me like that before. No one had ever looked at me the way he was looking at me now — like I wasn’t just a caretaker or an employee, but someone worth seeing.