Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
HARPER
F ive minutes later, Bridger walks into the pub and skims the room, then walks my way when he sees me.
“I just got a call from Blake,” he says as he takes a seat across from me. “He asked me to drive you home.”
“He didn’t have to do that, but I appreciate it.”
Bridger watches me as I finish my meal.
“Do you want some fries?” I ask him, but he shakes his head.
“You don’t look mad. I mean, Blake said you weren’t, but you really don’t look irritated about the abrupt change in plans tonight.”
I tilt my head to the side. “It’s not his fault there was an accident, and he has to go save lives at the hospital.”
“No, but a lot of women wouldn’t like having their date fucked up.”
I nod at that, and when the server brings the check, I reach for it, but Bridger snatches it up out of my fingers.
“I’m taking care of this,” he says.
“No. You’re not.” I pluck it out of his fingers, shaking my head. “I appreciate the sentiment.”
“Blake would have paid.”
“You’re not Blake.”
“He’s my brother, and I’m doing him a solid.”
“He’s my friend and same.” I smile at him and set my card down with the bill. “It’s okay, Bridger. I don’t know what kind of women Blake dates, but?—”
“He doesn’t.”
That surprises me into shutting my mouth.
“He doesn’t date. That’s what I’m telling you.
He’s not a Tibetan monk or anything, but he doesn’t pursue women because of the job.
So when he called me, all worked up because he had to suddenly leave you here and was on the verge of an anxiety attack, I came with the intention of talking everyone off the ledge. ”
“I think Blake’s the only one on the ledge,” I inform him. “And I’ll make sure he knows it’s fine.”
In fact, I pull my phone out right now, and see that he’s already left me a text.
Blake: I’m so, so sorry, sugar. Bridger’s coming to give you a ride home. I feel like a dick.
With a grin, I type out a reply.
Me: Stop. I told you, I’m honestly fine. I understand, Blake! Bridger will take me home, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow .
I set the phone aside as the server picks up my card.
“You’re very calm about this,” Bridger says, and I can’t help but laugh.
“The man has a job. It’s not like I think he had someone fake call him to get him out of here, leave me with the check, and high and dry on a ride home.” I eyeball him. “Wait, he didn’t, did he?”
Bridger scowls, and I laugh.
“I’m kidding. How’s Bryce, by the way?”
That has Bridger’s face softening sweetly. “He’s great. No issues at all. And I want to thank you for everything you did for us in the hospital. Dani, in particular. She trusted you and felt at ease with you, even when she was terrified.”
“It was honestly my pleasure. I’m so glad he’s healthy. You have a beautiful family, Chief.”
His eyebrow kicks up.
“As if anyone doesn’t know who the fire chief is around here.”
He laughs. Once I’ve signed the credit card slip, we walk out of the pub to his truck.
I arrived with one Blackwell brother, and I’m leaving with another. It’s been a fascinating evening.
Bridger chats about the kids and his gorgeous wife on the way to my place, and after thanking him for the lift, I walk inside, set my stuff down, and sigh.
I’m wide awake, and it’s still relatively early, so I walk to the kitchen and decide to do the week’s meal prep and some baking tonight .
I turn on some music and link my phone to the speaker system and dive in.
I shared a lot with Blake tonight. More than I normally would, if I’m being honest. He’s easy to talk to and doesn’t make me feel awkward. His face showed no pity when I told him about my parents.
I don’t need or want anyone’s pity. I have an awesome family.
Suddenly, I hear the front door open, and then Xander and Easton, the third Hendrix brother, come walking in.
“Holy shit, you’re home!” I run over to Xander and jump in his arms, hugging him tight. Aside from Ava, I’ve always been closest to Xander. Maybe because he’s only two years older than us. “I’ve missed the fuck out of you!”
“Hey, baby sis,” he says, which is what he’s always called me. I’m only three months younger than Ava, but that makes me the baby. “I missed you, too.”
“What am I, chopped liver?” Easton asks, and I grin at him.
“I see you all the time,” I remind him. Easton is a police officer in Silver Springs. He helped me move all of my stuff into this house.
“What are you making?” Xander asks as he moves into the kitchen with Easton right behind us.
“I’m baking a berry crisp for Greg,” I tell them, “and some molasses cookies. Sugar-free, of course. And I’m meal prepping for myself. Those are breakfast burritos.”
Xander picks one up and starts to eat it .
“It’s not breakfast , genius.”
“Hungry,” he says around a big bite, and all I do is grin at him because he’s home.
Xander boosts himself up on the counter, feet dangling, and eats the burrito in about four bites.
Those burritos are big.
Easton steals a cookie that I pull out of the oven.
I don’t mind at all. I adore them. I’ll make them whatever they want.
“I’m sorry that you didn’t make it past the second round of playoffs,” I say to Xander, who’s now standing in front of the fridge, taking in the contents. He pulls out some strawberries that I’ve already washed and digs in.
“It is what it is.” He shrugs. “We’ll get back at it in a couple of months.”
“Are you home for the summer?” Easton asks him.
“Most of it. I want to spend some time on the ranch with Tuck,” Xander confirms, then looks at me.
“Are you evicting me?” I ask.
“Fuck no. You cook like a fucking champ.”
“You just love me for the food?”
“Yep.” He winks at me. “How’s the new job?”
“I haven’t even heard this news,” Easton says, getting comfortable on a stool at the island.
My date with Blake might not have gone the way I’d thought or even wanted, but I get to spend the evening with two of my favorite guys, so I’m not complaining.
It’s early, but that’s good because I want to get to the clinic just as it opens so I can give Blake some food before his day gets crazy.
Maybe it’s silly. Perhaps he’ll look at me like I’m nuts and pat me on the head with a thank you. I don’t know. I just felt bad that he had to run off to work in a frenzy, and … hell, who am I kidding? I want to see him.
I walk into Bitterroot Valley Coffee Co to get him a coffee to go along with his breakfast burrito, and when I get to the counter, I’m greeted with a friendly smile.
“Hey, what can I get you?”
“Oh crap, I don’t know how he takes his coffee.” I frown, then chuckle. “Sorry, thinking out loud.”
“Who is it?” she asks. “I might know. I have a knack for remembering everyone’s order.”
“Blake Blackwell?”
“Ah, honey latte with oat milk,” she says with a nod. “Got it. How about you? I’m Millie, by the way. I’ve known Blake forever and a day. His family’s ranch isn’t too far from my family’s ranch.”
“Small towns, right?” I grin at her. “I’m Harper. I’ll take a non-fat white mocha, please. Cow’s milk works.”
“You bet.” Millie winks at me and taps the info into her little computer. I tap my card to pay, then step aside to wait .
Ten minutes later, armed with a bag of food and Blake’s coffee of choice, I walk through the clinic's door exactly one minute after they open.
“Hey,” I say to the receptionist. “I know this is … odd, but can I speak with Dr. Blackwell before he gets busy with patients? I’ll only be two minutes.”
She eyes the stuff in my hands, then picks up her phone to call to the back.
“Hey, this is Mo. Is Dr. Blackwell there? Can you let him know a …” She lifts an eyebrow at me.
“Harper.”
“A Harper is here to see him real quick? Thanks.”
She hangs up and smiles at me. “He’s on his way up here.”
“Thanks.”
Before the word is out of my mouth, Blake walks out from the back, and my chest pings at the sight of him.
He looks tired. But he also looks handsome as hell in those green scrubs and white jacket.
“Good morning,” I say with a grin. “I won’t keep you. I just brought you breakfast.”
He blinks at the stuff in my hands, then looks in my eyes. “Good morning,” he finally says.
“It’s just a breakfast burrito that I made. Xander says they’re good. Oh, he got home last night. And Millie knew your coffee order.”
He’s just looking at me as if I’m a mirage that will disappear at any second.
“If this is weird, I apologize. You don’t have to consume any of it. ”
I start to back away, but then he grabs my arm and pulls me down a hallway and into an empty exam room. He closes the door, then takes the bag and cup from me and sets them aside. Then he’s kissing the ever-loving fuck out of me, and I immediately melt into him with a little moan.
His hands frame my face, and his lips are demanding, but then he lightens the kiss, brushing his mouth over mine and giving me tingles. Finally, he bites my lower lip and pulls away.
“Jesus, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”
“Are you okay?” I frown up at him and rub my hand over his sternum. “Was it that bad last night?”
“It was fucking torture leaving you in that goddamn bar,” he growls, shaking his head. “It was hell, and I promise it’ll never happen again.”
“You can’t promise that.” I smile up at him. “And it’s okay. Do I look angry?”
“No, but you should be.”
“No, I’d be an asshole if I was pissed at you, Blake. I didn’t think you probably ate much this morning, although I could be wrong. So I brought you food.”
He pulls me against him and hugs me. Just hugs me and kisses the top of my head. Even that makes me shiver.
Because right now, I’m pressed up against a very firm, very muscular, hot-as-hell Blake, and I know what’s beneath these scrubs.
Heat pools in my core, and I clear my throat.
“I’d better let you get to work.”
“Tonight,” he says by my ear. “I want to see you tonight , and I’m going to make up for the colossal dumpster fire of last night.”
“It wasn’t colossal ,” I say, smiling against his chest. “It was a little trash fire. Like a small bathroom-sized trash can. Nothing catastrophic.”
He huffs out a laugh and tips my chin up. “Tell me I can see you tonight.”
“You can see me tonight.”
He kisses my nose, then my lips again. I open for him, and his tongue sweeps over mine, making my thighs clench.
“Hold that thought for later.” I reach back for the door handle.
“Harper,” he says, and I turn back to him. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” I smile, then walk out of the room and out of the clinic.
Here’s hoping our second attempt at a date doesn’t require a fire extinguisher.