Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
HARPER
“ D o you need an ice pack?” Ava asks as she slips a french fry in her mouth, then grins at me.
“For what?” I stab some lettuce on my salad and take a bite.
“For your vag after two straight days of sex with Dr. Big Dick.”
I choke on my salad, and Ava cackles like a nutjob. I take a few sips of my water, then scowl at my best friend.
“Shut it. You can’t call him that here.”
“Oh stop.” She waves me off and glances around the hospital cafeteria, where we’re having lunch on my break.
I haven’t seen her in what feels like forever, and she had time to meet me today.
“No one even heard me. Listen, I’m just jealous.
Because he’s hot with a capital H, and he has it so bad for you. ”
“You think?”
“Was I the only one at that book club meeting?” She snorts and eats another fry. “He couldn’t stop looking at you, and his eyes got all soft and gooey. I’m surprised cartoon hearts didn’t float and pop over his head.”
“We’re not that disgusting.”
“You’re totally disgusting,” she counters and smiles so widely, she could light up the room. “And I love it for you. You deserve someone who thinks you hung the moon, Harps. Because you fucking did. ”
I stare at her and blink slowly, feeling my eyes heat and my lower lip quiver.
“Don’t make me cry at my job,” I whisper.
“Okay, how about this. I met a guy,” Ava says nonchalantly, trying to change the subject. “At the grocery store, actually.”
“Holy shit, talk to me. I need details. Who, what, where, and when. The why is obvious.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re the shit.”
She preens at that, making me chuckle.
“Okay, so his name is Joe.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Are we sure that’s his real name?”
“I mean, I didn’t ask for identification. Why would he lie? Men are named Joe.”
I nod and shrug. “Fair enough. What does Joe look like?”
“He’s pretty cute. Taller than me, red hair, muscles. He likes to run.”
We stare at each other, then both say, “Ew,” before dissolving in giggles .
“You know, he’s a little not toxic enough for me, but I’m enjoying him for now.”
I shake my head at her. “Is that your way of saying he’s a nice guy, and you’re not into nice guys?”
“Kind of. Listen, I like a guy who’s a little morally gray. A little mean to me sometimes.”
“No, we don’t want that. Trust me. No being mean.” Jesus, I really need to tell Ava everything that went down with Nathan because I know for a fact that she does not want mean.
“Not asshole mean. I’m talking in the bedroom mean. Bite me, smack my ass, call me a whore. You know, that kind of mean. Joe is so vanilla. I told him to pull my hair, and he stared at me like I’d lost my mind.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “I can’t take you out in public. We can’t have these kinds of conversations where I freaking work .”
She glances around and smiles at the doctors sitting at the next table, and my face explodes with heat.
“I apologize,” I say to them, and they just shake their heads.
“All I’m saying is, he’s not Mr. Forever. He’s Mr. Right Now. And that’s okay.” Ava flashes me a grin. “Do you think Dr. Big Dick is Dr. Forever?”
“I’m going to gag you from now on.”
She smirks and tosses her shiny auburn hair over her shoulder. “Kinky. No, really. How much do you like this guy, Harps?”
I blow out a breath and push my finished salad aside.
“A lot. I like him a lot. I can imagine a lot of things with him.”
“Weddings and babies?” She blinks at me, suddenly serious.
“I don’t think I want babies, you know that, but the rest?” I bite on my lower lip, thinking about Blake and how he makes me feel. “He makes me feel safe. He’s kind. I told him all about Nathan.”
“You haven’t even told me all about that piece-of-shit fucker.” She narrows her eyes, and the guilt punches me in the chest. “What did he say?”
“That my past doesn’t scare him, and he wants me no matter what.”
“Wow.” Ava fiddles with her necklace. “Well, this is a recipe for something awesome, and I’m here for it. I love it for you. Like I said, I saw the look in his eyes, and it’s not just sex for him.”
“It’s really good sex,” I whisper behind my hand.
“I should hope so. If a man looks like him and the sex is bad, that’s a sin against humanity.”
I smirk at that because she’s right.
“Are you going to be at Greg’s tonight for dinner?” I ask her as we gather our trash and walk toward the cafeteria exit.
“Yeah, I’ll be there. I think we’re all going. Dad’s excited.”
“What’s on the menu?” I ask. “Do you know?”
“Tuck’s grilling some steaks and veggies. I’ll bring a salad. ”
“Good.” I nod, relieved that the menu is all appropriate for Greg. “What are you off to do now?”
“I’m going to go scandalize Joe and suggest he fuck me in the middle of the day when the sun is out and everything.” She rolls her eyes and winks at me. “I’ll see you tonight.”
I wave at her, then take the stairs up to my unit.
It’s busy today. We took in three more babies while I was away, and all three are critical patients. We have parents coming and going, asking questions and needing things.
Aside from my thirty minutes with Ava, there hasn’t been time to slow down all day.
And by the time my shift is almost over, I’m wrung out. I’m standing at the nurses' station, my laptop on the high part of the counter so I can stand and type when I hear my name.
“Harper?” I turn to see what my coworker Amy needs. She’s a seasoned nurse who’s worked in this hospital for more than thirty years, is now part-time, and I adore her.
“Yes, ma’am, what do you need? I just need a sec to finish this note?—”
Amy smiles and gestures behind her. “Dr. Blackwell is here to see you.”
My heart does a little two-step in my chest when he smiles at me, and I close the laptop.
“Thanks, Amy. Hey, I’m going to take five. The patient in bay six needs a fluid change.”
“I’m on it.” Amy winks at me, pats my shoulder, and leans in close. “Go get him, girl.”
With a laugh, I stride over to Blake, take his hand, and pull him behind me down the hall and into the stairwell, where he proceeds to press me against the wall and kiss the hell out of me.
The two-step has moved from my heart to my lady bits, and I’m not mad about it.
“Hey,” I say when he pulls away. “How’s your day been?”
“Not bad, actually. I hear the ER is busy, so I have to get down there, but before I do, I need to tell you about something.”
“Okay.” I nod, listening. “What’s up?”
“Did you know the ski resort burned down about a year and a half ago?”
“Yes, I heard about that.”
“Well, my brother-in-law Connor is rebuilding it. The first phase, which I guess is the main guest lodge, is ready for customers, but he wants to do a test run on it before they take reservations. He invited our whole family, the Wilds, and who knows who else to come stay for a few days during our days off.”
I’m blinking at him, trying to keep up.
“Okay, I hope you have a great time.”
Blake huffs out a laugh and shakes his head. “No, baby, we’re invited. You and me.”
I frown up at him. “He specifically included me?”
“Yes. He was at the book club. He saw us together.”
“Oh, right.” I nod, and my stomach is tied in nervous knots. “I don’t know, Blake. Maybe you should just go have fun, and I’ll see you when you’re back.”
He frowns at me. “I don’t want to go without you.” He brushes his knuckles down my cheek. “I want you to spend time with the people I love. I don’t know if you’ve figured it out yet, but you’re my girlfriend.”
“Wow, we’re labeling this.”
“Call it whatever you want.” He pushes in closer to me. “You’re mine, and I’m sure as fuck yours. I want you with me, and that includes when I’m with my family.”
I swallow hard. “It’s important to you.”
“It’s important to me.”
I run the flat of my hand up his chest and over his neck to his face. “I’d love to go. I’m just nervous because … new people. ”
“If my friends start to annoy the fuck out of you, I can take you home.” He grins. “But you’ll like them. They’re good people. You already know most of them.”
“Well, that’s true. I assume Billie, Skyla, and Dani will be there.”
“For sure. Dani and Bridge are bringing the kids, and Birdie’s excited to swim in the pool.”
My eyes widen. “You should have led with the pool. I’m there.”
He laughs at that and tugs me in for one of his addicting hugs. “It’s all-inclusive. Billie called and told me we’ve been instructed to use the spa, all of the restaurants, and the coffee place. You name it, we get it.”
“Wow, that’s fancy.” I blink up at him as the puzzle starts to fit together. “Wait. Connor Gallagher is one of those Gallaghers? Like, the hotel Gallaghers?”
“He’s the CEO and pretty much runs the show,” Blake confirms.
“Billie’s married to a billionaire.”
He smirks. “Yeah. It’s a good thing, too, because that girl likes fancy shit.”
“Am I the only one who thinks this is … a little weird?”
“No.” He grins as he leans in to press his lips to my forehead, sending fresh tingles down my body. “Try flying in the private jet to London to watch Skyla dance at a king’s coronation.”
My jaw drops, and I can only stare at him, making him laugh.
“You’re kidding.”
“I’m definitely not kidding. That happened. Okay, so we’re on for this staycation?”
“I’m in if you are.”
“Great. Have you had a good day, baby?”
I nod and take a second to think just how fucking hot this man looks in a pair of blue scrubs and a white coat, his stethoscope around his neck.
“Harper?”
“Yeah?” My gaze jerks up to his, and he’s smirking at me. “What did you say?”
“What were you thinking?”
“Stop it. You know you’re hot in that outfit.”
“It’s literally my work clothes.”
I swallow hard. “I know.”
His eyes journey down my own pink scrubs and over the stethoscope around my neck, and when his hazel eyes meet mine again, those gold flecks are on fire.
“Same goes, sugar.”
“We’d better get to work.”