Page 113 of When You Blush

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With everything that’s happened at work over the past few days for my girl, we need a night out. Not just a night together but something to distract us from work.

And then I’m going to take her home and make love to her all fucking night long.

When Harper walks into my house after work, I meet her at the door, frame her gorgeous face in my hands, and kiss the fuck out of her.

“Well, hello there,” she says with a grin, and it’s a hit to the solar plexus every time. Christ, those eyes.

“We have roughly thirty-six hours all to ourselves.” Her dark hair is down, and I tuck one side behind her ear, the soft strands moving through my fingers like silk. “And I’m taking you out for dinner.”

Her eyes brighten, and she brushes her fingers through the hair at the nape of my neck, giving megoose bumps.

“Yeah? Where are we going?”

“Anywhere you want. We need a night out, sugar.”

“That does sound nice. Hmm.” She taps her finger on her lips, thinking about it. “The diner?”

I grin down at her. “You want to go to the diner for dinner?”

“Is it weird that I want breakfast for dinner, and they have thebestpancakes. I’ll even indulge in the gluten. And all the maple syrup in the land.”

“It’s not weird at all.” I nuzzle her nose with mine, soaking in her sweetness. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m totally fine. I promise.” She steps closer and presses her ear to my chest. “How was the rest of your day?”

“I got schooled by a woman who claims to have gotten her medical license fromGrey’s Anatomy.”

Harper’s head pops up, and she laughs. “Seriously?”

“Oh, she was quite serious.”

“You could totally be Dr. McDreamy,” she says. “I can see it.”

“Stop.” I laugh and kiss her forehead. “The rest of the day was pretty standard. Nothing to report.”

A broken hip, an actual heart attack that led to a triple bypass surgery, two motor vehicle accidents, and a domestic violence victim.

It was a shit day.

But I’m not going to unload on my girl.She had a rough one, too.

“I need a shower first, and then I’ll be ready to go.”

“Take your time, baby.” I kiss her lips softly, and thenshe sets off for what I’ve come to think of asourbedroom, and I take a walk out to the backyard.

One of the reasons I bought this specific house was because of the view. Growing up on the Double B Ranch, we had panoramic views of the mountains, and I knew that when I bought a home, I needed to see the mountains here, too. It’s a beautiful early summer day. I can smell the lilacs on the breeze, and it relaxes me.

But knowing that my girl is home safe is what really sets my soul at ease.

Loving Harper is …all-consuming.She’s become the most important thing in my life, even more than medicine, and that’s something I never expected to find. I didn’twantit.

But now that she’s here, I can’t imagine a life without her in it. Yes, priorities are shifting.

“You’re thinking awfully hard out here.”

I turn and find Harper standing in the doorway, her shoulder against the doorjamb, smiling at me.