CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

BRYAN

“Morning,” he whispered into her fragrant hair and heard her groan slightly, her perfect ass cuddled right into his crotch. He shut his eyes tightly. He didn’t have time this morning to do all the things he wanted to her.

“It’s too early,” she groaned, turning around, her face right in front of his.

“I gotta get to work early today,” he told her and silently chuckled at the face she made, her eyes still closed.

“You do?” she complained, and his lips twitched. Fuck, she is cute!

“I do, baby.”

“One more day,” she whispered on a sigh, and he grinned.

“One more day,” he repeated, “and we got four days off together.”

“I like that.” She smiled kissing his softly.

Pulling away, she opened her green eyes, and just like anytime he looked at her, he thought there could never be anything more beautiful than the woman in front of him.

“What do you want to do tomorrow?” he asked, and even though she was still shaking sleep away, her eyes sparkled with mischief. Fucking sparkle first thing in the morning.

“Want to help me add some shelves in the living room?”

“Shelves, huh? Is that what life with you is going to be? A honey-do list a mile long?” he teased, and she beamed.

“Only if you’re lucky.” She winked, and he laughed, hoping to God he was that fucking lucky. Every single day of his life.

***

“Courtney, you need to call me. You got my attention, alright? I get it. We need to talk. You obviously have something to say and I want to hear it. But you say it to me, not Val. Keep Val out of this.” He ended the call and leaned against the headrest in the car.

Bryan could feel Tyler’s eyes on him. “What?” he asked without looking at his friend.

“I thought we don’t negotiate with terrorists?” Ty responded like a smartass, and Bryans jaw clenched.

“Ty, I’m not in the fucking mood—“

“All I’m saying is that this is what she wants.”

“And if it was only me she was fucking buggin’, I wouldn’t even think twice about calling her. But she’s threatening my girl, man. What do you think I’m going to do? Sit with my thumb up my ass?”

“No, man… I get it. But…”

“But what?”

“You don’t think it’s a little weird? I mean, first she left, gone for years without a peep, then suddenly, she’s blowing up your phone, going all stalker Fatal Attraction on you and Val. And now she’s radio silent? After she plays a big hand like she did last night?” Ty asked. Bryan’s stomach churned as he thought what Ty wasn’t saying out loud.

What if ruining Val’s bike, the picture, and lunch delivery wasn’t her big hand?

VALERIE

It had been a week since Courtney’s lunch delivery and Vaughn showing up, and it had been quiet. Not that I minded. I liked quiet. And I liked peaceful. Though it was a new kind of quiet. A family BBQ at Marcus’ house, another very intriguing run-in with Bryan’s charming and eccentric grandmother. Garrett and Tyler hanging out at the house watching a game. Cuddling on the couch with Bryan, both of us reading.

It was good, just different. As nice as it was, it felt like we were waiting for the other shoe to drop. For Courtney to pop out of the shadows somehow.

We were on the cusp of having a couple days off and I couldn’t wait. “Duncan!” Kelly, my supervising nurse, called out, and I walked toward her, when a slender blond woman accidently bumped me.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, patting the woman’s shoulder, heading toward Kelly. It was a hectic day. Triage was usually filled with people coming and going from rooms, visiting or checking on people they brought in, but today was busier than usual.

“What’s up?” I smiled, and she grimaced.

“Don’t hate me.”

“I could never,” I told her honestly. Kelly was an amazing nurse and boss.

“I know you asked for a one o’clock lunch, but I think I have to bump it back some,” she shared. I nodded in understanding. It was the life of an emergency room nurse. “I’m sorry, Val, it’s just really busy and I’m short two nurses and an MA.”

“I get it…” I nodded. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll call my lunch date and let him know,” I told her, and Kelly mouthed sorry as she walked away to talk to a doctor who was calling her.

Patting my front pocket, I realized my phone wasn’t there, and I had no idea where it could be. I was about to head to the locker room to see if I had left it there when I got called by a doctor to assist him on a critical call. All thoughts about my missing cell were soon forgotten.