Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 67492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
In. The. Same. Spot.
Even with my shock, I still open wide and take a bite of the same cookie. Oliver grabs the container, maybe sensing I’m about to drop them all over his pristine kitchen floor, and sets the rest of the uneaten cookies on the counter. He then proceeds to swipe his thumb across my lips.
“Crumb,” he whispers, leaning in close.
“Th-Thanks.”
“Your eyes are beautiful.” Another brush of his thumb, this time over my cheek.
“Yours too,” I say stupidly. What is it about this man that fries my brain? I’m Blakely Kincaid. I always have something to say. “I should get going.” If I’m not mistaken, there’s disappointment in his gaze, but it’s gone before my Oliver-fogged brain can fully define it.
“Let me have your keys, and I’ll go start your car for you.”
“You don’t have to do that. I have remote start.”
“Then I’ll remote start it for you.” His hands land on my hips for a second time in a matter of minutes, and he lifts me from the counter but doesn’t step back. Instead, he lets my body slide down the length of his.
Is that…? Is he hard? For me? It’s definitely time to go.
On shaking legs, I move back to the living room. I can feel his presence right behind me. My hand trembles as I reach into my bag and find my keys and hand them to him.
He leans in close, his lips next to my ear and his hand on the small of my back. “Thank you.” When he steps away, I immediately miss his warmth, and I stand here like a lovesick fool, watching him move to the window, pull back the curtain, and point the remote at my car. I should tell him he didn’t need to go to the window. Chances are, it would have started from here, but I can’t seem to find my voice.
When he turns to face me, I quickly avert my gaze, grab my bag, and move to the front door. I need to get out of here.
“Did you not bring a coat?” His brow is furrowed.
“I didn’t wear one in. I have one in my car in case I have trouble.”
He nods, accepting my answer.
“Thank you for dinner and for all of your help.” I stand at his front door awkwardly. I raise my hand to wave, but he shocks the hell out of me when he slides his arm around my waist and pulls me into a hug. His warmth wraps around me, and I wish I could stay here.
With him.
Just like this.
“Text me when you get home.” His voice is gravelly.
“It’s not too far,” I counter.
“Willow River is a good twenty minutes, Blake. Text me.” His normal grumpy tone is back.
And here I was, starting to think the grumpy doctor had disappeared. “Fine,” I huff.
“Thank you.”
I open the door and rush down the steps to my car. I refuse to look in the rearview mirror to see if he’s watching. I have enough to unpack as it is. I hope Isla’s home. I need some best friend talk.
CHAPTER
TEN
Oliver
I’ve been antsy all day. If I’ve looked at the clock once, I’ve looked at it a thousand times. I even told Kathy to block my last appointment spot of the day when the patient who was originally scheduled canceled. I hate being behind, and I’m leaving as soon as I get the text from Blakely.
Last night, having her at my place was surreal. I don’t invite women to my home. Unless we’re related, they’ve never been there. This, though, having Blakely in my space, I didn’t hate it. And when we shared our dessert, fuck me… I wanted to kiss her. It took more strength than even I knew I had to hold back.
She’s all I’ve been able to think about these last couple of weeks. One minute I’m living my life, and the next, I’m told I have to work with someone new and that someone is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I thought I was strong enough to resist her, but last night shows I’m not. It’s not just me wanting to be inside her, because I do. I really, really do. I also feel protective of her.
She’s consuming me.
Hell, today, I made up an excuse to go to the administration office during my lunch under the guise of checking on my credentialing. I really just wanted to get a glimpse of her, but sadly, she wasn’t in her office.
Now, here I sit in my office, watching the numbers slowly tick by on the computer screen. It’s finally a few minutes before five. All my charting is done for the day, and I’ve signed off on all messages and prescription refills. There is nothing else to do but watch that clock on the corner of my computer screen. At least the staff will assume I’m working when I’m anything but.