Chapter One
“Josie, are you going to go out with us tonight?” I turn toward Becca, one of the surgical techs I’ve made friends with since I’ve been here in Atlanta for my latest assignment. I’m a traveling nurse, which means I work at Brady Hospital for eight weeks in their OR before moving on to my next assignment. I’m already over halfway through this assignment.
I love doing it because I get to see different places and meet different people. It also doesn’t hurt that I make a lot of money. I’ve got a substantial savings account that I’ll eventually use to settle somewhere and buy a home. I just don’t know if it’ll be in Charleston, close to my family, or somewhere else.
My co-workers ask me to go out all the time, and I only say yes about half the time. I’m just a homebody, which is sad because I’m only twenty-eight. Hell, I can’t remember the last time I went out on a date. I smile at Becca. “You know what? I think I am. Will you text me the details?”
“You bet. We’re going to go see this amazing band. They haven’t played around here lately since the lead singer moved away, but when she’s in town they always perform.”
I’ve always loved music. My uncle Cash plays in a band most weekends, and I love watching them, especially since my cousin Gavin, he and Aunt Tessa’s oldest, started playing with them.
In the locker room, I change out of my scrubs and into my street clothes. I stop at the store before heading home, just grabbing a microwave dinner to eat before going out. Shit, do I even have anything to wear?
Once home, I pop my dinner in the microwave and go in the bathroom wash my face. I hear the microwave beep as I smooth moisturizer all over my face. I grab my pasta and scarf it down, leaning against the counter in the kitchen. I’m looking forward to getting out for a while tonight.
***
I look in the mirror. I added some curls to my light brown hair, showcasing the caramel highlights I had down two weeks ago. I kept my makeup light, giving my eyes a soft smoky look that my step-mom, Shannon, taught me how to do.
In my bedroom, I throw on a pair of black tailored shorts, a red short-sleeved fitted tee, and slip my feet into a pair of black sandals. I’d love to wear heels, but at five-foot-ten I tower over people when I wear them. Spraying a squirt of perfume in the air, I walk through it, another trick my step-mom taught me.
I grab my black clutch and stick my lip gloss, powder, license, and money in it. I lock my apartment door and head out to my car. The bar is called Holler’s, and when I pull up, the parking lot is already full. I end up parking half a block down. Hopefully someone will be able to walk me to my car later.
I walk inside and find my co-workers around a couple of tables to the side of the stage. Becca comes rushing over. “Josie, you made it. Grab a glass—we’ve got a couple of pitchers.”
I’m greeted by lots of smiling faces. When you take an assignment as a travel nurse, you never know what type of people you’re going to run into. Most are super friendly and happy to have you, but occasionally you meet the ones that are assholes.
One of the nurses that works with us, Rob, fills a glass with beer and hands it to me. I thank him and take a generous sip. Becca moves toward me. “I’m so glad you came. You’re going to love the band. They’re great.” She looks over my shoulder. “There they are.”
I turn to see a woman who looks like a real-life Snow White with a gorgeous guy next to her who looks very familiar to me, but how do I know him? “That’s her man,” Becca says. “Her brother is the guy behind her.”
The brother comes into view, and I swear my stomach does a little dip and my heart starts to race. His raven hair is short on the sides and a little longer on top. He’s really tall, and from where I stand he’s got the body of an athlete—lean muscles can be seen under his t-shirt and the jeans that are molded to his legs. I don’t miss the tattoos sticking out from under his sleeves.
My eyes travel up to his face, and I see his eyes on me. I feel like I’m wired all of a sudden. Then he’s moving toward me, and I turn fully toward him. He stops right in front of me. “Hey.” His voice is deep and smooth and freaking sexy.
“Hi,” I say, because I’m lame. He bites his lip and then flashes me a smile that makes my panties wet.
“I’m Carter.”
“Josie. It’s nice to meet you, Carter.” When he grabs my offered hand, why does it feel like something amazing is about to happen?