Page 22 of Heartbeat Harmony (Hearts in Hawthorne #2)

Chapter

Twelve

A utumn’s mouth grew dry, and she worried how to answer her mom, especially in a public place with so many people around them.

Mom squeezed her arm and said, “It’s none of my business, though. It’s yours. You’ve grown into a lovely, confident, impressive woman, Autumn. I want you to trust your own judgment.” She paused. “But I do think Eli is someone special.”

With a mischievous smile, Mom told her goodnight.

She collected her thoughts, which were racing. Was she giving off some kind of vibe that she liked Eli? Was he doing so for her? Or did Mom just know her so well that she picked up on the undercurrent sparking between Eli and her?

Mom and Summer were right. She was a grown woman who knew her own mind.

She could be a professional at work and explore a potential relationship with Eli outside of the hospital.

If it didn’t work out between them, they could remain friends and colleagues.

If it did, however, then she would be grateful that she didn’t let some silly, pointless, made-up rule of not dating a man for a certain length of time wreck her life.

Confident in her decision now, Autumn circulated around the lobby.

She saw people she hadn’t seen since she’d graduated from high school and caught up on their news.

In turn, they all showered praise on the hospital and Eli, saying he seemed to be the man to run things.

Over and over, she assured everyone she came in contact with that Dr. Carson was an intelligent man with an extraordinary vision, and he would lead Triple H like no other.

Eight o’clock came, and the folks of Hawthorne magically disappeared. One minute, the lobby still had a good number of people milling about, munching on cookies and gossiping with neighbors. The next, the citizens of Hawthorne seemed to vanish, with only Triple H staff members present.

Eli looked around. “I don’t see any non-hospital personnel here, so I’m going to say that I thought tonight was a tremendous success.

Many leaders in the Hawthorne community came out, and all of you did a marvelous job, showing off our new hospital and answering their questions.

I can’t thank you enough for the investment you’ve made in Hogan Health Hawthorne. ”

“I agree,” Steven Landry said. “The people of Hawthorne have been very welcoming of us, especially tonight. I’m eager to begin helping them with their medical needs.”

“Everyone take home what’s left of the cookies and cupcakes,” Nancy said. “That way, we don’t have to box any up and bring them to the staff break room.”

Autumn didn’t need to bring any sweets home.

She left the lobby and returned to her office for her purse.

She’d left it there so she didn’t have to drag it around during the reception and subsequent tours.

While there, she couldn’t help but check her email.

Then she took a call from her cousin, Darby, who was checking in to see how the reception had gone.

They talked for about ten minutes, and then Autumn left her office.

Going down the corridor, she saw Eli shutting off the light to his office.

He fell into step with her as they stopped at the elevator.

“It went really well, Eli. I hope you’re happy.”

“Peter Richards is happy. I don’t know if you saw, but he sneaked in during my welcome. Took a tour with one of your nurses and Paul Gentry. He found me afterward and said Hogan Health execs are pleased.”

They stepped into the elevator. “That must be a relief for corporate to compliment you.”

“He’ll stop by tomorrow again. Wants to see how we operate with patients.

From the surgical board, I know we have several minor procedures scheduled for tomorrow.

You know how it is, though. Once a hospital opens for business, the doors never really close.

Illness and emergencies don’t recognize holidays or nights or weekends. ”

They stepped off the elevator and looked around. “This will be the last time we see ghost lighting like this,” he said, speaking of how dimmed the lights were now. “Come tomorrow, lights will be on twenty-four seven. Where are you parked? I’ll walk you out.”

Knowing they were alone in the building, Autumn said, “Before you do, I’d like to talk if that’s okay.” She took in a breath and let it out slowly. “About us.”

“Okay,” he said carefully. “I did speak to the head of HR at corporate in Austin. She said Hogan Health had no rules in place for staff who chose to date. That it’s left up to each medical director how to handle that situation.

She said it wouldn’t be good optics for a doctor to date a nurse assigned to his or her department.

That a department head shouldn’t see someone in their department since they would be evaluating that person. I agreed on those situations.”

His gaze met hers. “That makes anything between us ... sticky. It’s not as if I can hand off your eval to someone else. I’m in charge of assessing all my department heads and administrative staff. So, I guess that means we shouldn’t start up anything.”

Autumn heard the regret in his voice, as well as the yearning.

“But this HR head didn’t forbid it outright, did she?”

Eli frowned. “What are you saying?”

She swallowed. “That I would like to see you outside the hospital. I believe we can be true professionals and maintain a collegial attitude at work. Away from work, we can?—”

Before she could finish, Eli had grabbed her, his arms wrapping around her. His mouth found hers, and her pulse began beating at double its usual speed. She sensed the hunger in him.

And felt the same.

Slowly, he began to tease her lips apart, and she opened, ready to taste him.

At first, it seemed slightly odd. He hesitated.

Then it was almost as if he got a second wind, and they found their groove.

His tongue swept along hers, and she stroked his in return.

Their kisses became deeper. More fulfilling. Even drugging.

Her heart was still racing when he ended the kiss. His hands came up and framed her face.

“Thank you,” he said huskily. “That was a kiss I’ll never forget. I hope you won’t, either. Forget—or regret it.”

Autumn’s fingers touched his wrists. “It was perfect.”

Eli smiled. “Good. I thought so, too.”

“I thought you were going to stop for a minute, and then you seemed to change your mind.”

His thumbs caressed her cheeks. “I almost did. Because I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. Then instinct just kicked in.”

She frowned. “I’m not sure I understand.”

Eli’s hands fell away. She could see uncertainty in his eyes. He stepped away from her.

Something told her to go after him.

She closed the gap between them. “Eli, talk to me. If there’s one thing I insist upon in a relationship, it’s communication. I had very little of it in my marriage, and I see now how that led to making things pretty awful. I need transparency now if we’re going to do this together.”

His hand caught hers, and he brought it to his lips, brushing a tender kiss upon her fingers, making her belly flip-flop in a way it had never done before. She realized this one kiss with Eli had had more magic in it than any of the ones she had shared with Flint over the years.

Lowering her hand, he said, “You’re the first person I’ve ever kissed, Autumn. The only one.”

His words stunned her. Her mind raced, trying to comprehend what he had just told her.

He took both her hands in his and looked her straight in the eyes.

“Foster kids don’t have money to date. And remember, I graduated from high school when I was barely a teenager.

I never had time or money to take a girl on a date.

I did make pocket money, writing papers for other kids.

Doing their homework. I tutored other students the entire time I was in college.

My scholarships paid for tuition and fees and room and board, but I had nothing for clothes or incidentals.

So I helped out others and made enough money to buy clothes I wasn’t embarrassed to be seen in.

To purchase my bike and a decent helmet. ”

Eli closed his eyes a moment, and she could feel the tension coiled within him.

“I want a different life than the one I’ve led since I became a doctor. I spent most of my waking hours in the ER, ministering to patients. Teaching interns and residents. Going home and doing a long run before crashing. Rinse and repeat.”

Earnestness filled his voice. “ER medicine consumed me. I want my time in Hawthorne to be different. I want to have a social life. Develop some hobbies.” He hesitated.

“See you. That is, if you still want to after me revealing I’ve never kissed anyone before.

” He swallowed. “And you’re bright enough to know that means I haven’t had sex with anyone either.

I’m pretty messed up, Autumn. The years in foster care damaged me more than I like to admit.

I’m a lone wolf who finally realizes he wants more.

“I’d like to explore what more could be. With you.”

His words touched Autumn’s heart unlike anything she had ever heard. She reached up, her fingers entwining in his hair, and pulled him down so that their lips touched. She kissed him tenderly before breaking the kiss.

“I am honored to be the first woman you have ever kissed, Eli. And I want to do all kinds of things with you. Take you to a football game. Binge-watch one of my favorite series with you. Go hiking and waterskiing. Cook together.”

She paused. “And when the time is right, make love with you.”

This time, it was Eli who initiated the kiss. It was a lingering one, full of unspoken promises. He broke it and smiled at her.

“We’ll work out the professional stuff. Hell, evaluations aren’t even done for a year at Hogan Health. A lot can happen between now and then.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “I love your hair. The color. The texture. The smell. I could play with it for hours.”