After the day’s excitement, I need a drink. Or ten.

I’ve saved many lives before; hell, I’ve worked on a child’s chest, pumping and giving him CPR while the mother screamed and cried and called me every curse word in the book. I’ve also had many experiences with life-threatening emergencies, even before I was in nursing school, but the Dylan situation definitely made me nervous.

“Look at the hero walking in,” Natalie teases as soon as I take the seat next to her at the bar.

“Stop,” I groan. “I can’t escape it.”

“Of course not! You’re the town hero!” she mocks, lifting her shot glass up victoriously before tilting her head back and shooting it down her throat.

I give her a look that tells her to tone it down a notch.

No one could’ve anticipated what happened with Dylan today. Over the years, I’ve found when emergencies arise, I don’t give myself time to even think before rushing into action. As soon as I saw that blond guy pull Dylan out of the water, I knew something was wrong. I hurried over and immediately saw how pale he was as he lay motionless on the sand.

The entire scene has been running on repeat through my mind nonstop. Relief flooded through me when he finally came to, and I assume he’s going to be okay now, or at least I hope. I’m thankful he agreed to go to the hospital because you never know what other issues can arise from situations like that. That alone eased my mind because there have been many instances of others not being so lucky after nearly drowning.

“Hey, you’re that girl who saved that guy on the beach today!” the bartender shouts loud enough for everyone in the pool area to hear.

Natalie responds before I can. “She sure fucking did!”

I glance at her and scowl, not wanting the extra attention.

“Drinks on me, pretty lady,” he says with a wide grin. “What you did was amazing.”

I force out a smile. “Thanks. I’m a nurse, so it’s just instinct,” I respond, trying to brush it off so he stops talking about it.

“So what can I get you? You deserve one!” he insists.

“She needs sex on the beach!” Natalie hollers before I can speak, again.

“Nat!” I scold.

“Oh, sorry. I meant, she’ll take a Sex on the Beach.” She looks over at me and winks. All I can manage is to shake my head at her and laugh.

“You got it,” the bartender responds, reaching for a clean glass.

“Fruity drinks get me drunk way too fast,” I complain, just loud enough for Natalie to hear me.

“That’s the point,” she states matter-of-factly. “Unless you plan on staying sober this trip?” She grins.

“Not if you’re going to be this way the entire time.” I chuckle, and she’s too drunk to even realize that was a burn directed at her.

Moments later, the bartender serves me my drink and winks before walking to the other end of the bar to help another customer.

Natalie holds up her drink before I can even take a sip of mine. “To River!” she shouts, making Adam and me hold our drinks up, too. “For being a kick-ass nurse!”

Okay, I can drink to that, I think to myself before clanking my glass with theirs and taking my first sip. It’s strong as fuck, but luckily, my room isn’t far.

Adam knows how Natalie gets when she’s in party mode, so he knows she’ll need some assistance getting back to their room tonight, which is why he takes it easy and only drinks a couple. I haven’t seen her this way in a really long time, but I know she works hard and doesn’t let loose that much anymore. At least not since our early college days.

“River,” I hear a rough and deep voice say behind me. It’s one I recognize.

“Alex!” Natalie squeals before I even have a chance to turn around. “How’s your friend?”

“He’s doing fine. They kept him overnight for observation.”

Inhaling a deep breath, hoping I don’t look too tipsy right now, I straighten my posture and turn around to face him.

“That’s good,” I sincerely say in response to Dylan’s condition.

I don’t know why, but things feel awkward between us. We barely spoke on the beach today mainly because there was no time. I didn’t even know his name until just now, yet he knows mine.

“Can I sit?” he asks, nodding his head toward the empty seat next to me.

“Of course, you can!” Natalie answers.

“I think we should take a walk,” Adam says, sensing the awkward tension between Alex and me and grabs Natalie’s hand.

“Ooh, I’ve always wanted to take a walk on the beach. It sounds so romantic,” she slurs against his chest after he steadies her.

I chuckle, while silently thanking Adam because no telling what embarrassing things Natalie would say in her current condition.

After Alex takes the seat next to me, he gets the bartender’s attention and orders himself a beer then places money on the counter.

“So you didn’t stay with him?” I ask, facing the bar again.

“I offered, but us Southern men are stubborn when it comes to our pride,” he explains with a smirk on his face. “I told him to call me when he’s discharged so I can bring him back. I’m sure he’ll be itching to party.”

“As long as he stays far away from the water,” I add, smiling.

The bartender takes his money off the bar while shooting me a wink.

“So I don’t think we’ve formally met,” he states, holding out his hand. “I’m Alex Bishop.”

Swallowing, I place my hand in his. “River Lancaster.”

“That’s a beautiful name,” he tells me, moving my knuckles up to his lips and placing a soft kiss on them.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

We stare into each other’s eyes, and he keeps my hand in his. Somehow, I’m stuck in his trance, and I don’t know how to get out. He’s a beefy guy, solid and muscular, and I’ve never seen a man like him before. Most of the guys I’ve dated were gym rats, but I can tell he’s not. His body was built from hard labor.

“Here you go, bud,” the bartender interrupts with a sneaky grin on his face as he sets the beer down. The intense moment fades, and he gently releases my hand.

“Thanks.” He tips his head to the guy and brings the glass to his lips. I find myself watching his every move before blinking and tearing away my gaze.

He sucks down half his drink before setting it down. Turning toward me, his eyes lock on mine and pin me to him. “So I actually never thanked you for today. I was scared shitless and you doing CPR ultimately saved his life. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

A blush surfaces at his compliment, which is insane since I do this type of stuff every day at work. I tell myself it’s what I do, it’s in my nature, but to hear those words from him has my heart racing.

“So thank you, River. Sincerely. Those words hardly do justice to how thankful we both are that you were there today.”

His words are so soft and tender, his accent making the words even sweeter.

I release a small smile and lower my eyes before blinking and meeting his again. “You’re welcome. I didn’t think twice about it and would do it over again if I had to.”

“That’s what makes you so amazing.” He winks.

“I’m actually a nurse,” I admit. “I’ve had lots of training.” I shrug as if it’s not significant.

“That makes a lot of sense actually,” he says, nodding. “You were so calm, and when you spoke to the paramedics, you used all the technical terms.”

“Yeah, they kind of beat those into you during nursing school.”

He laughs, reaching for his beer again. I grab my own drink and take another sip.

“Where you from?” he asks as we easily fall into conversation.

“Wisconsin,” I answer. “Milwaukee, actually.”

“Oh, wow.” His eyes widen. “Aren’t you known for being the beer state?”

“Dairy, actually, but beer is basically its own food group up there.” I shrug and smile.

Laughing, he nods as if he agrees.

“Or I guess you could say the frozen state considering we have some of the coldest winters.”

“Is that why you’re here? To escape the cold weather?”

“Oh, it’s not even that cold yet. Still had highs in the forties when we left.”

“Fuck.” He shakes his head. “That’s too damn cold for this born-and-raised Texan.”

“I guessed Texas.”

“That obvious, huh?” He smirks, and I playfully shrug.

“Actually, the coldest times are between January and March. It’s usually in the negatives with the wind chill, but that’s when the ice freezes on the water and becomes thick enough for people to go ice fishing. They build these ice shanties and carve a hole in the ice, so they can sit around and fish for hours.”

“And y’all do that for fun?” He raises a brow, skeptical.

“Yup.” I laugh, nodding. “Snowmobiling, snowboarding, skiing. All that stuff. But that’s not until January usually, sometimes even February. Right now, it’s just cold and gloomy, not yet ready to give up fall even though winter is right around the corner.”

“I bet that brings lots of dumbasses into the hospitals up there.”

“Well, yes it does, but I actually work at the children’s hospital in the PICU.”

His eyes narrow as if he’s not sure what that entails.

“I work with sick kids who need around-the-clock care and treatment.”

“Wow…” His voice is soft. “That has to be a tough job.”

I nod, agreeing. “It is. But I love it. As bad as it can be, it’s also very rewarding. Many of the kids have been there a while as they await transplants or getting treatments for life-threatening illnesses. I get to know them and their families quite well. It’s always disheartening when a child isn’t getting better, but it’s part of the job.” I shrug, taking a gulp of my drink to get ahold of my emotions.

“I can tell how passionate you are just by the way you talk about it. And especially how you ran to Dylan’s rescue without a second thought.”

“I am. I’ve wanted to be a nurse since I was a teen.” I basically already was to my baby sister by the time I was twelve.

My drink is completely gone, but I keep sucking on the straw, and Alex has already ordered his third beer when Adam and Natalie come strolling back by.

“We just wanted to let you know we’re heading to our room,” Adam tells me, holding Natalie’s hand tightly as if to keep her from roaming away.

“Are you two getting along?” Natalie speaks up, making things awkward again. “He’s single, River. Don’t worry, I checked for ya,” she says nice and loud, flashing a very obvious wink my way.

“Thanks,” I mutter, sliding off my stool and tossing my purse over my shoulder. “Let me help Adam get you back to your room before you tell everyone here I have daddy issues and a broken heart, m’kay?”

“I would never say that,” she whisper-shouts in a very serious drunken tone, forcing a laugh out of me. “Don’t worry, Alex. River’s totally normal and is a goddess in and out of the sheets.” She winks at him, and she doesn’t know how to wink with alcohol in her system, so she’s basically just blinking harshly at him like a witch trying to put a spell on someone.

“Okay, time to go.” I grab Natalie’s other hand and start to follow Adam.

“Bye, River!” Alex calls out, grabbing my attention.

I blush for some unknown reason and wave back. “See ya!”

The first five days in Key West have certainly been interesting. After meeting Alex and Dylan on Monday, we haven’t seen much of them since then. We’ve run into them during breakfast, but then Natalie and I have kept busy shopping and exploring the streets as well as tanning and drinking by the pool. I’m sure they’ve been busy themselves, but Alex has still been on my mind for some reason.

I can’t deny that he’s good looking, and his accent definitely alerts my senses, but there’s something else I can’t quite put my finger on. However, knowing my history with men, it’s probably not a good thing. Even if he is single, we’re from two different worlds. What would be the point of getting involved with someone who lives hundreds of miles away?

The fact that I’m even thinking about this makes me want to slap myself.

It’s gotta be from all the sun, I tell myself. Or the abundance of alcohol.

Either way, I’m quick to push those types of thoughts from my head. There’s no time for men in my life right now, especially after Asshole wasted half a year of it.

“Tonight, we’re going to a pub on Duval Street!” Natalie tells me as we sit for lunch.

“I think I need to detox for a night,” I whimper, waking up with a headache for the fourth morning in a row.

“No, tonight’s different!” she insists, and I resist rolling my eyes because she says that every time. “It’s ladies’ night, which means we drink for dirt cheap! Plus, there’s a local live band, and I really, really want to hear them play. Please!” she begs pathetically, yet it works.

“Being the third wheel was cute the first time, but now I’m just looking pathetic as fuck,” I tell her, groaning at the thought. I stab a piece of chicken with my fork and stuff it into my mouth. Considering the drinks have been nonstop, I need all the food I can get to absorb the alcohol.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did you come to have fun and drink, or did you come to wallow like an old lady?” she scolds in a motherly tone. When she catches me roll my eyes that time, she continues. “That’s what I thought. You can be responsible and shit when we get back home. Until then, we live it up!” She raises both arms above her head like we’re on a roller coaster.

“Okay, I’ll go, just put your damn arms back down.” I chuckle around my forkful of food.

“Invite Alex and Dylan,” she tells me again, as she has for the last three nights. I’ve already told her my concerns and reasons for not wanting to get too close, but she waves it off and reminds me I’m here to have fun.

I head back to my room and get ready for the night. Natalie ordered me to wear my best dress, which isn’t hard considering I only own one. Working nonstop doesn’t give me a lot of time for going out or dancing, but this little black number has paid for itself in drinks time and time again.

Once I’ve showered and finished my hair and makeup, I slip it on and pull out my heels. I’m not sure exactly what kind of bar this is, but if there’s dancing and a band, I can only assume I’ll need to dress up.

I’m used to throwing my blonde hair up into a ponytail or bun while working, but tonight, I decide to leave it down and curl it in loose waves. I take a look in the mirror and barely recognize myself but smile at the reflection anyway.

A knock on the door grabs my attention, and as I walk toward it, I grab my purse and phone off the table before opening it.

“Girl!” Natalie squeals, barging her way in. “Hot damn.”

She gives me a once-over, and I do the same to her. She’s wearing an emerald cocktail dress that complements her fiery hair and pale complexion. She looks damn good, but Natalie always does. Walking over to the full-length mirror attached to the closet door, she reaches into her purse and digs out her lipstick.

“This color would look amazing on you. Come here,” she orders, opening the lid and twisting the bottom till a bright red color appears.

“Holy shit, that’s bright,” I tell her, wary of putting it on. “What color is that?”

“It’s called Hooker Red, but don’t let the name scare you. It’s actually really pretty on.”

My eyes widen, and my brows rise. “Why don’t I trust you?”

She chuckles, then pulls me to her till we’re both in the mirror’s view. “Just shush and trust me, all right?”

“But I don’t trust you.” I laugh, pulling away, but she grabs my wrist and pulls me back again.

Giving in, I let her put the Hooker Red color on my lips, and when she turns me around to face the mirror, I actually don’t hate it.

“Told you,” she gushes.

I playfully scoff in defeat and smile. “You got lucky.” I point at my black dress that would match any color anyway.

“Okay, let’s go! Adam’s waiting for us in the lobby.”

Even though the bar isn’t that far, we take a taxi because I’ll be damned if I’m walking in these heels. I don’t need to go back to work with a sprained ankle, or worse.

“Oh my God!” Natalie squeals as we exit the backseat. “How cool is this?”

People are piling out of the bar, hanging out on the streets, and the music is so loud it could probably be heard from the beach. This is definitely going to be a wild night.