Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Healing takes time. Whether it’s a broken bone or a laceration, patience is potent medicine.
The same goes for relationships.
I moved back to town hoping to patch things up with my son. Imagine my surprise when I meet his gorgeous best friend on the exam table at my OB/GYN office, hell-bent on ditching her V-card as quickly as possible.
That’s not going to happen.
As her doctor, it’s my duty to advise her to make safe choices about her wellbeing, and she deserves better than a drunken fumble with a careless frat boy. She deserves a man who will take the time to honor every inch of her luscious body. And I’m prepared to be whatever kind of man she needs.
Because if anyone’s claiming Natasha’s V-card, it’s going to be me.
For a complete list of themes, tropes, and TWs, please visit Margot Scott's website.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
CHAPTER ONE
NATASHA
My best friend, Ollie, croons the lyrics to an upbeat pop song as he pilots his little Jeep through the busy streets of Knoxville. I hum along to the melody, noting how even the redbrick office buildings look downright cheerful, their faces lit up by the summer sun. Technically, there’s still a few weeks to go before the solstice, but as far as I’m concerned, summer began the moment our spring semester ended.
Nervous excitement spreads through my limbs like a fever. I’ve been looking forward to this three-month stretch of renewal, relaxation, and maybe even a little change.
A summer of change. I like the sound of that—carefully planned and thoughtfully executed, of course.
Ollie lowers the volume on the stereo. “Do you want me to go in with you this time?”
“No, thanks,” I say. “This appointment shouldn’t be any more complicated than a regular pelvic exam. I appreciate the ride though.”
“Please, it’s the least I can do. Knowing you’re coming with me to dinner tonight is the only thing keeping me sane.”
We pass twin parking garages, each one taking up the length of an entire city block, then make a right onto Highland Ave.
“The reservation is at seven, by the way,” he says.
“I know. I set a reminder on my phone.” I turn my gaze from the window to Ollie’s hands gripping the steering wheel like he’s trying to wring its neck. Normally I’m the one double- and triple-checking our event schedules. I’m not used to seeing my best friend so anxious unless there’s a big exam or a cute guy involved.
“I’m just saying we can’t be late if we want to get on my dad’s good side,” he says.
“What makes you think we won’t be on his good side from the beginning?”
“Twenty-one years of experience.”
I offer him a reassuring smile. “I know it’s been over a year since you saw each other, but he reached out to you. That has to mean something.”
He makes a right onto Highland Ave.
“I doubt he moved back here just to spend time with me.”
“You don’t know that for sure. Even if he did move back for work, that doesn’t mean he can’t also be happy to see you.”
Ollie sighs heavily.
“Look, Nat, I appreciate what you’re trying to do. But I just want to focus on getting through this dinner without it turning into an argument. You know how critical he can be.”
I don’t know, not really. All I know about Ollie’s dad are the stories he’s told me. If my pre-law studies have taught me anything, it’s that most people aren’t very good at discerning the motivations of others. Doubly so when it comes to family. There are always two sides to a story; Ollie’s dad could mean well despite what his son thinks.
Still, I can tell Ollie’s not in the mood to give his dad the benefit of the doubt.
“You’re right,” I say, running a hand through his messy brown locks. “One thing at a time. We’ll get through this dinner together.”
“Thank you.”
I turn back to the window. To be fair, I’m not especially close with my own parents. We spend Christmas together and I try to make it back to Maryland once every summer, but other than that, I’m extremely independent. Ollie feels more like family to me than my extended family ever has, which is probably why I’m so invested in seeing him patch things up with his dad. I know, deep down, he wishes his dad would make more of an effort to get to know him. I want that for Ollie, too.
“Instead of focusing on something we can’t change,” Ollie says, shooting a grin in my direction, “let’s focus on something we can. You, Ms. Bellows, are now one step closer to losing that V-card.”
“Oh, please. Not this again.” I roll my eyes despite the smile on my face.
“Hey, you never know. Today could be the day.”
“Unless deflowering-via-speculum counts as doing the deed, I highly doubt it. And tonight we’ve got dinner lined up with your dad. So, no time for sex today, I’m afraid.”
“Not with that attitude, you don’t.”
I point out the OB/GYN’s office up ahead just in case he’s forgotten what it looks like in the weeks since my last appointment. The old stone building feels out of place among the vinyl-sided homes on the street. Ollie pulls into the parking lot, turns off the car, and looks to me.
“I’m serious, Nat,” he says. “We are going to check off every single task on your summer bucket list, starting with getting you laid. Convincing my dad to let us move into my grandpa’s old lake house is just the second step toward achieving our goals.”
“What was step one?” I ask as I unbuckle my seatbelt.
“You getting an IUD.”
He wags his eyebrows suggestively.
I do, in fact, have a summer bucket list—or a fuck-it list, as Ollie sometimes likes to call it. Most of the tasks I’ve laid out are pretty boring. Read fifteen novels, see a fireworks show, spend a day at Dollywood. But at the top of the list is something far more personally significant: I want to lose my virginity.