Page 39 of When You Blush

Those burritos arebig.

Easton steals a cookie that I pull out of the oven.

I don’t mind at all. I adore them. I’ll make them whatever they want.

“I’m sorry that you didn’t make it past the second round of playoffs,” I say to Xander, who’s now standing in front of the fridge, taking in the contents. He pulls out some strawberries that I’ve already washed and digs in.

“It is what it is.” He shrugs. “We’ll get back at it in a couple of months.”

“Are you home for the summer?” Easton asks him.

“Most of it. I want to spend some time on the ranch with Tuck,” Xander confirms, then looks at me.

“Are you evicting me?” I ask.

“Fuck no. You cook like a fucking champ.”

“You just love me for the food?”

“Yep.” He winks at me. “How’s the new job?”

“I haven’t even heard this news,” Easton says, getting comfortable on a stool at the island.

My date with Blake might not have gone the way I’d thought or even wanted, but I get to spend the evening with two of my favorite guys, so I’m not complaining.

It’s early, but that’s good because I want to get to the clinic just as it opens so I can give Blake some food before his day gets crazy.

Maybe it’s silly. Perhaps he’ll look at me like I’m nuts and pat me on the head with a thank you. I don’t know. I just felt bad that he had to run off to work in a frenzy, and … hell, who am I kidding? I want to see him.

I walk into Bitterroot Valley Coffee Co to get him a coffee to go along with his breakfast burrito, and when I get to the counter, I’m greeted with a friendly smile.

“Hey, what can I get you?”

“Oh crap, I don’t know how he takes his coffee.” I frown, then chuckle. “Sorry, thinking out loud.”

“Who is it?” she asks. “I might know. I have a knack for rememberingeveryone’sorder.”

“Blake Blackwell?”

“Ah, honey latte with oat milk,” she says with a nod. “Got it. How about you? I’m Millie, by the way. I’ve known Blake forever and a day. His family’s ranch isn’t too far frommyfamily’s ranch.”

“Small towns, right?” I grin at her. “I’m Harper. I’ll take a non-fat white mocha, please. Cow’s milk works.”

“You bet.” Millie winks at me and taps the info into her little computer. I tap my card to pay, then step aside to wait.

Ten minutes later, armed with a bag of food and Blake’s coffee of choice, I walk through the clinic's door exactly one minute after they open.

“Hey,” I say to the receptionist. “I know this is … odd, but can I speak with Dr. Blackwell before he gets busy with patients? I’ll only be two minutes.”

She eyes the stuff in my hands, then picks up her phone to call to the back.

“Hey, this is Mo. Is Dr. Blackwell there? Can you let him know a …” She lifts an eyebrow at me.

“Harper.”

“A Harper is here to see him real quick? Thanks.”

She hangs up and smiles at me. “He’s on his way up here.”