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)
“So you’re a doctor. Does that mean you have a healthy 401k? A nice house? Do you have a shit ton of student loans to pay off? What are you doing to secure your future?”
“Oh. My. God. Ava Marie, shut your mouth!”
Everyone around us is laughing, including Blake, who looks as relaxed as can be.
“Yes, yes, no, and I could tell you, but that’s a long, boring conversation.” His grin turns to me. “Wanna get out of here, sugar?”
“He calls you sugar,” Ava whisper-yells, and this time, I cover her mouth with my hand.
“You have got to shut it, or I will sew your lips closed.”
“Ah, sisterly love,” Dani says, winking at her own sisters. “It’s so fun.”
“Mmp mnnph mmb,” Ava says against my hand.
“What?” I take it away, and she smiles sweetly.
“You’re keeping him.”
“I swear to Jesus and every single one of the disciples—”
“You’re not particularly religious.” Ava interrupts.
“I will smother you in your sleep.”
“Before I have to bail you out of jail for homicide, let’s go.” Blake stands, takes my hand, and pulls me to my feet. And then, to my utter shock, he frames my face and lowers his mouth to mine, kissing me fiercely. This is not a safe-for-work kiss. This is the kind of kiss reserved for sexy nights at home.
“Atta girl,” Ava says, and Blake smiles against my lips.
“I fucking missed you, sugar.”
“Go get a room.” I think that was Bridger, but I can’t be sure.
“On it,” Blake agrees and threads his fingers with mine. “Bye, everyone.”
I wave as I grab my handbag, and I’m being led out of the bookstore, everyone laughing and smiling at us as we go.
“Did you drive?” he asks.
“No, I—”
“Excellent.” He leads me to his Mercedes and pins me against the side, kissing me again. This time, his hand fists in the back of my hair, keeping my face just where he wants it as he continues to plunder my mouth. “Come home with me.”
“I can do that.”
“And this time, stay for fucking breakfast.”
I bring my hands up to his face and soak him in. “I can do that, too. Can we swing by my place so I can grab some stuff?”
“How many days off do you have?”
“Two.”
“Grab enough for two days, then. Because I’m not letting you out of my sight for the next forty-eight hours.”
I blink up at him in surprise. “You don’t have to work?”
“It seems I’ve found a reason to use my vacation days. I haven’t had you in a week. That’s unacceptable.”
“We knew our schedules would be tough, and your job is important.”
“Priorities are … expanding.” He kisses my forehead. “Come on. Let’s get your stuff so I can get you home.”
He opens the car for me, and within minutes, we’re headed out of town toward Xander’s house. Xander happens to be in the living room when we walk inside.
“You’re home early—oh. Let me guess, you won’t be staying?”
“I’m going to have wild and crazy sex with Blake for the next couple of days,” I inform him. “If all goes as planned, I won’t be able to walk right when it’s time to go back to work.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Xander spits out as Blake covers a laugh behind his hand. “Don’t say shit like that.”
“I’m a grown-up, Xander Hendrix. I don’t know why you’ve suddenly forgotten that, but it’s true.” I shrug at him, then turn to Blake. “I’ll be down in five.”
“Take your time,” he assures me. “There’s no rush.”
As I jog up the stairs, I hear Xander run his mouth. However, I’m surprised when it doesn’t sound like he’s giving Blake a hard time.
“Sisters are the bane of my existence,” Xander says.
“I get it. I have one,” Blake replies.
I don’t hear anything else because I rush to my room to pack an overnight bag with enough stuff for two days of clothes, underwear, and toiletries.
When I return, the men are actually laughing.
“Whoa. Did you two sign a peace treaty or something?”
“Or something.” Xander tugs on my hair. “Be safe.”
“He’ll wrap it before he taps it.”
Blake snorts, but Xander’s face turns mutinous. “For the love of God, Harps.”
“I’m just teasing you.” I laugh and give him a one-armed hug as Blake opens the front door and waits for me. “We don’t use condoms. Have a good night!”
Xander’s swearing up a blue streak as I laugh and hurry to Blake’s car.
“I can’t help it. He’s just too much fun to harass.”
Blake’s still laughing when he gets in the driver’s seat. “I think he’s going to need therapy after that.”
“He needs therapy for a lot of things. I’m happy to add topics for him. He’ll get his money’s worth.”
Blake leans over and kisses my cheek. “Let’s go home, sugar.”
“Let’s do it.”
Chapter Fifteen
BLAKE
She sits quietly in that passenger seat, holding my hand so tightly, as if she thinks I might disappear.