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 can’t fucking wait.
There’s a sliver of light in the room when I open one eye. It’s not quite daybreak yet. Which is good because I plan to draw Harper a bath and then order room service.
We fucked again in the bed, then made it to the shower, where I fucked her some more.
Then we dropped dead into sleep.
I don’t know if I’ve ever slept that good.
I roll over to see her sweet face and stop short when I discover I’m the only one in this bed. And when I touch the sheets where she was, they’re cool. She’s been gone for a while.
She left.
I get out of the bed and check the rest of the suite to make sure she’s not simply in the bathroom, or in the living room, but her bags are gone.
She’s gone.
Well, fuck.
Chapter Four
HARPER
“Are you ready for your first day?”
My head comes up in surprise, and I grin at Ava, who’s standing in the kitchen, holding two to-go cups of coffee from Buzz, our favorite coffee shop in Silver Springs. Ava knows the code to the front door, and it’s pretty standard for us not to knock when we visit.
“I’m ready.” I ignore the nervous butterflies making a mess of my stomach and take one of the offered cups. Taking a sip, I sigh in happiness. “You didn’t have to bring me coffee, but I’m glad you did.”
“Are you kidding? I finally got my bestie to move back home permanently. I’m going to be kissing your ass for the foreseeable future.” She eyes the few boxes I own currently sitting in the foyer of the gigantic house I’m staying in, thanks to Ava’s brother, Xander. Xander is a hockey superstar who’s rarely home. He usually just spends a month or so in the summer in Silver Springs and most holidays. Otherwise, he’s living the celebrity life in Denver, where he’s basically a god.
I mean, Xander’s hot. And talented. I get it. And I’m grateful he bought this mountain mansion. Because when he found out that I was moving home, he called me and essentially forced me to live here.
Not that it’s a hardship. This place is huge. Six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and a view of the mountains that makes my heart hurt, it’s so gorgeous. There’s no way in hell I could ever afford this on my generous nurse’s salary.
So when Xander told me to housesit for him until I figure out where I want to live, I didn’t resist too hard.
“Which room did you pick?” Ava asks.
“The green room.”
She wrinkles her nose. “Is it weird that I decorated every room in different colors?”
“No, it’s pretty.”
Ava is a highly sought-after interior decorator, so of course she sank her teeth into this place after her brother bought it.
“And you didn’t go too crazy. I like the green rug and pillows against the white and natural wood of everything else. It’s not precious. It’s … classy.”
“Okay, good.” She sighs dramatically and pushes her auburn hair over one shoulder. “Also, the green room has that excellent balcony with a view of the mountains.”
“That’s why I chose it,” I reply, tying my sneakers. I’m already dressed in my pink scrubs. I had orientation last week, where I got my badge, signed a contract, and had a tour of Bitterroot Valley General.
My only hesitation at taking the job as charge nurse in the NICU in that hospital was the very real possibility of running into one Dr. Blackwell.
It’s not a huge hospital.
It’s very likely I’ll see him.
But dammit, I’ll figure it out if and when it happens because I needed to come home. Ava’s dad was diagnosed as a diabetic, and the whole family has been turned on its head. Greg Hendrix raised me and gave me a home, so of course I came back to help. I need this family as much as they need me.
Besides, it feels good to be back. I missed the mountains and everything familiar to me. I was ready. And I refuse to stay away from my home simply because a man I once had the best sex of my life with also lives here.
I’m an adult. I can handle this.
“You’re going to kill it.”
I glance at my best friend. “What’s that?”
“I think you’re quiet because you’re nervous, but you don’t need to be. You’re the best, Harpsichord. The best baby nurse ever. The hospital is lucky to have you.”
“I love that you’re so good at being a best friend.” I pull her in and give her a smacking kiss on the cheek. “What do you have going on today?”
“Clients, meetings with a couple of contractors. The usual.” She lifts a shoulder. “Then I’m coming over here tonight with some vodka and olives, and we’re going to pour us some dirty martinis and talk about your first day.”