Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
I loved that she told us about how sad she gets after losing a patient of her own. And when it was time to leave the plane, I knew I couldn’t leave her behind.
All I know about her is that her name is Harper, she’s a NICU nurse by trade, and with all that dark hair and gray eyes, she’s so fucking beautiful. I can’t take my eyes off her.
But when she tried to walk out of my life at the end of that tarmac, I told her she’d be with me and I offered her my hand.
It wasn’t a question or a request.
And she didn’t argue. If Harper were my sister, I’d punch myself in the face. But she’s not. She’s a beautiful woman, and I’m not ready to say goodbye yet.
We’re stuck in Missoula for the night, thanks to the early winter storm happening at home in Bitterroot Valley.
And I plan to make the most of it.
“Are you okay?” she asks, peering up at me with those gray eyes.
I’m fucking fantastic. Never better.
“I’m fine. And you? Will your family be upset if you don’t make it home in time for Thanksgiving?”
Yes, this is my way of asking about her family. Mine will not be thrilled that I won’t make it home in time for dinner.
“They’ll be okay.” She shrugs a shoulder, then points when she sees her black-and-red suitcase with a bright yellow ribbon on the handle come around on the carousel. “That’s me.”
I muscle it off the belt for her and set it on its wheels. Then I spot my own luggage, and before long, we’re walking away from baggage claim.
“I could just rent a car,” she says thoughtfully as we walk, each one of us rolling our bags, still holding hands. “It’s only a couple of hours from here.”
“In a storm,” I remind her, shaking my head. “Let’s find a hotel for the night.”
She lifts an eyebrow, and her lips tip up with humor. Gray eyes flash. “Wow. Does that line work on all the nurses you pick up on rerouted flights, or am I just the lucky one?”
I grin at her. Christ, she’s pretty. Even dressed so casually in leggings and a hoodie, with her hair up in a messy bun and in her glasses.
No makeup.
Absolutely fucking perfect.
And I can tell that she’s attracted to me, too. This isn’t one-sided. She’s still letting me hold her hand, for fuck’s sake.
“Two rooms,” I reply, shaking my head. “I’m not trying to be a creep or anything.”
“Good to know. I’ll order an Uber.”
“Already done,” I reply, chuckling when she narrows her eyes at me. “And you’re welcome to join me.”
Now, she bites her lip. “Okay, I’m going to be brutally honest.”
“Please do.”
“You don’t seem like a serial killer.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“But, Dr. Blackwell, I don’t even know your first name.”
I smile at her, nodding. “Blake. Thirty-four. Family practice and ER doc from Bitterroot Valley. The middle child out of five, I will likely catch some shit for not making it to dinner tomorrow, especially from my niece, Birdie, who is six and the apple of my eye. I’m not married or otherwise attached.”
She’s blinking at me, listening with wide eyes, and nods slowly.
“Your turn,” I tell her.
“Uh, let’s see. Harper I’m-Not-Telling-You-My-Last-Name. Thirty. NICU nurse, as you know. No siblings. Hell, no parents.”
I tighten my hand around hers, but she doesn’t seem to notice.
“My best friend and her family will miss me tomorrow, but like I said, they’ll be chill about it. I like your niece’s name.”
I grin at that.
“We’re all B names. My parents thought it was fun.”
“Totally fun,” she agrees with a nod. “You know, you could have made all of that up and could still be a serial killer.”
I sigh and purse my lips. “You’re right. I could have. Well, I guess you’ll have to trust me.”
“Or I could say goodbye and go fend for myself like the grown adult I am.”
I lean into her, not touching her, and press my lips to the soft skin just below her ear.
Fuck me, she smells good.
“You don’t want to do that, do you, Harper?” I pull back and hook a loose piece of her hair behind her ear. She licks her lips. Yeah, she’s fucking attracted to me. “I promise I’m not a danger to you.”
She huffs out a laugh. “Why not live on the wild side, right?”
My Uber pulls up to the curb, and I load our suitcases into the trunk. The ride to the hotel is quiet as we take in the snow around us, getting heavier by the minute, and then we’re pulling up to the hotel.
Harper walks next to me as we approach the front desk.
“How can I help you?” the receptionist asks.
“We need two rooms, please,” I tell her, and she types away on her keyboard.