Page 27 of Heartbeat Harmony (Hearts in Hawthorne #2)
“From the time I was young. Maybe seven or eight. One of my foster brothers fell off the top bunk and broke his elbow.” Eli paused.
“There might have been a little wrestling involved. He was younger than me. Cried like there was no tomorrow. He’d only been in the home a few days, but he stuck like glue to me.
The foster dad, some guy who’s name I don’t even remember, said he’d take him to the emergency room.
That was the first I’d heard of that. The kid wouldn’t go unless I went along with them.
“That was my introduction to the ER and the world of medicine.”
Eli talked about how kind all the medical professionals were that night. They were thorough but gentle. They allowed him to stay and watch the examination and the cast being placed on the younger boy’s arm.
“I don’t recall that kid’s name. I was transferred to a different home not too long after that. But that night made an indelible impression upon me. From then on, I knew medicine would then be the trajectory I followed. What about you? When did the nursing bug bite you?”
“High school. Science courses came easy for me. So did math. I aced AP Bio and AP Chem. I wanted to do something in the sciences, but I thought research would be boring. I took some career tests, and the results came back with me scoring the highest in science as a subject and empathy as a trait. I’ve always been a nurturer.
Looked after others before myself. I met with my counselor to discuss the results, and she said nursing would be a good fit for my interests and personality. ”
“Did you ever consider becoming a doctor?”
Autumn shook her head. “Not even for a minute. I looked into how long it would take, and I didn’t want to be tied to school and all that training for that many years.
I wanted to get out and do. Nursing has been something I enjoy.
I also like what I’m doing now. I’m very organized, and I am blessed to not only see the big picture but be interested in the details going into that picture.
I’m getting to use all my talents and skills in my current position. ”
She paused and took a bite of the mashed potatoes. “No one does potatoes like Dizzy’s Diner. I don’t care if they’re mashed or fried or plain or sweet. Dizzy’s does things right.”
They talked easily throughout the meal. Autumn learned that Eli had received a perfect score on his SAT and MCAT tests, a rare feat. He listened to jazz when he ran and liked to read a physical copy of newspapers.
“I know that sounds like I’m some Baby Boomer, but there’s something about the feel of a news page that speaks to me.
I’ve never subscribed to a newspaper, but I picked up stray sections in the locker room at the hospital to read.
The funny thing is that I never watch the news on TV or scroll through news sites on my phone.
I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I rarely know what’s going on in the world.
Who’s been elected to office or what sports team won the night before.
I’ve been laser-focused on work. While I take my new job very seriously, I want to take my foot off the gas pedal and slow down a little.
Maybe learn about a sport and watch a game on TV. ”
“I’m happy to do that with you,” she told him. “I love watching sports on TV or in person. I’m not a runner, but if you walk Atticus, I’m happy to accompany you.”
“Let’s take him for a walk now,” Eli said. “He’s used to getting one after I’ve eaten dinner.”
As they left the house, he took her hand in his. The simple gesture both comforted and excited Autumn. While they walked Atticus, who took his time sniffing everything along their path, she told him about what being a twin was like.
“I always had a playmate. Someone to talk to. A person who never judged me and would stick up for me. Summer was always more vocal, and I was more introverted, but we were a yin and yang. We worked together.”
“Where is she now?”
“In New York. She’s working for a publishing house in Manhattan, but what she would really like to do is write romance novels. She’s almost ready to let me read her first one. I can’t wait.”
“You said before that you enjoy reading.”
“It’s one of my favorite things to do. Not that I’ve had much time for it lately.”
“You’ll have to give me a list of books I should read. And get me that TV watch list, too.”
“I thought we’d start a binge together if you don’t mind. I’m debating between a few different ones. We’ll need to get you a couple of streaming services, though.”
“Oh, Bill Bennett helped set me up. He insisted I get Netflix and Apple TV+. I’ve access to those. And I’m with some cable company for regular TV. They’re also providing my internet.”
They reached Eli’s house again, and he let Atticus off the leash, watching him run to the door.
“He gets a couple of treats after every walk,” he explained. “He knows the word treat, so don’t ever say it.”
They went into the house, and Atticus got his treats. Autumn went and sat in the middle of the large sectional. Eli joined her, resting his arm on the back of it.
“Thanks for coming over for dinner,” he told her. “I know I can’t always see you at work, so it’s nice to have you here.”
“I wanted to spend more time with you,” she said.
His fingers took her chin in hand, and he gave her a long, slow, delicious kiss.
Heat pooled in her belly as she opened to him.
He accepted the invitation, his tongue sweeping inside her mouth as he took his time exploring her.
She liked how his fingers pushed into her hair, holding her head in place.
She liked his clean, masculine scent. And despite the fact that he’d only begun kissing, he was quickly becoming an expert at it.
They kissed for a long time, lost in one another. At one point, he scooped her up and placed her in his lap. Autumn liked being close to him, her arms entwined about his neck, his heat enveloping her.
Then his lips left hers, trailing down her neck. She shivered.
“You okay?” he asked.
“My neck is definitely an erogenous zone,” she admitted, sensing her cheeks reddening.
Eli grinned. “Then let me do a little exploring and see what I can learn.”
He learned plenty. He was a fast learner and wanted to give more than he took. His lips moved everywhere. Then his tongue began teasing her pulse point, causing her to suck in her breath. He began nibbling on her neck, his teeth grazing it, causing fire to shoot through her limbs.
Autumn returned the favor, saying, “Let me see what you might like.”
She repeated what he had done to her, sensing when he liked something—and when he really liked something. She liked the tang of his skin as her tongue glided across it. She felt the shiver which ran through him. Her hands slid to his chest, kneaded it like a cat would.
Curling against him, she rested her cheek against his beating heart. They stayed in this position for a long time. The kissing had been incredible, but quietly sitting together seemed just as special.
“Was that too much?” she asked, raising her head and meeting his gaze. “I know this is all new for you.” She paused. “It’s new for me, too. Because it’s you.”
He kissed her lightly. “It is a new world to me. Touch. Scent. Taste. I’m just glad it’s with you.”
“Don’t let me rush you,” she cautioned. “I don’t want us to go too fast.”
“I’ll follow your lead,” he promised. “For now, we should call it a night. After all, neither of us got any sleep last night. Let me walk you to your car.”
Atticus got out of his doggy bed, and Autumn knelt, rubbing the pup’s head and giving him a kiss. “You be good. And keep your person in line for me.”
He woofed softly in reply.
Eli took her hand and walked to her car with her. He pressed her back against the driver’s door and leaned in for a long kiss. She wanted more but knew they had done enough for tonight.
“Thanks for dinner,” she said. “Next time, it’s on me, okay?”
“When is next time?” he asked huskily.
“Let’s play it by ear,” she said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Autumn turned, but he caught her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing it.
“Goodnight,” he said softly.
“Goodnight,” she echoed.
He opened her door, and she slid behind the wheel, waving to him as she drove off.
For a moment, she wished she were Summer and could take a page out of her sister’s playbook.
If Summer had been here, she would have had sex with Eli tonight.
Her twin wouldn’t have been bound by how long she’d been divorced or what others might say or think. She would simply go for it.
In that moment, Autumn decided it was time to be more Summer and less Autumn where Eli was concerned.