Page 4 of When You Blush

“They’ll be okay.” She shrugs a shoulder, then pointswhen she sees her black-and-red suitcase with a bright yellow ribbon on the handle come around on the carousel. “That’s me.”

I muscle it off the belt for her and set it on its wheels. Then I spot my own luggage, and before long, we’re walking away from baggage claim.

“I could just rent a car,” she says thoughtfully as we walk, each one of us rolling our bags, still holding hands. “It’s only a couple of hours from here.”

“In a storm,” I remind her, shaking my head. “Let’s find a hotel for the night.”

She lifts an eyebrow, and her lips tip up with humor. Gray eyes flash. “Wow. Does that line work on all the nurses you pick up on rerouted flights, or am I just the lucky one?”

I grin at her. Christ, she’s pretty. Even dressed so casually in leggings and a hoodie, with her hair up in a messy bun and in her glasses.

No makeup.

Absolutely fucking perfect.

And I can tell that she’s attracted to me, too. This isn’t one-sided. She’s still letting me hold her hand, for fuck’s sake.

“Two rooms,” I reply, shaking my head. “I’m not trying to be a creep or anything.”

“Good to know. I’ll order an Uber.”

“Already done,” I reply, chuckling when she narrows her eyes at me. “And you’re welcome to join me.”

Now, she bites her lip. “Okay, I’m going to be brutally honest.”

“Please do.”

“You don’t seem like a serial killer.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“But, Dr. Blackwell, I don’t even know your first name.”

I smile at her, nodding. “Blake. Thirty-four. Family practice and ER doc from Bitterroot Valley. The middle child out of five, Iwilllikely catch some shit for not making it to dinner tomorrow, especially from my niece, Birdie, who is six and the apple of my eye. I’m not married or otherwise attached.”

She’s blinking at me, listening with wide eyes, and nods slowly.

“Your turn,” I tell her.

“Uh, let’s see. Harper I’m-Not-Telling-You-My-Last-Name. Thirty. NICU nurse, as you know. No siblings. Hell, no parents.”

I tighten my hand around hers, but she doesn’t seem to notice.

“My best friend andherfamily will miss me tomorrow, but like I said, they’ll be chill about it. I like your niece’s name.”

I grin at that.

“We’re all B names. My parents thought it was fun.”

“Totally fun,” she agrees with a nod. “You know, you could have made all of that up and could still be a serial killer.”

I sigh and purse my lips. “You’re right. I could have. Well, I guess you’ll have to trust me.”

“Or I could say goodbye and go fend for myself like the grown adult I am.”

I lean into her, not touching her, and press my lips to the soft skin just below her ear.

Fuck me, she smells good.