Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Her little face scrunched up as she thought about it.
Then, reluctantly, she started putting some of the toys back in her toy box. “Okay. I’m ready.”
“Great, now let’s grab your coat and get in the car.”
Ava zipped up her backpack and dragged it behind her as we rushed down the hall to the kitchen. I helped her put on her coat, and after I grabbed my bag, we rushed out the door. I put Ava in her car seat, and as I closed her door, I found myself glancing over at Thomas’s house.
My mind immediately drifted to the night we’d shared together. My cheeks warmed at the memory of his touch and how he kissed me like he had all the time in the world. He was rough and tender all at once.
I smiled when I thought back to the low rumble of his laugh as we whispered in the dark, and the way he whispered my name made me feel like I really meant something to him—just like he meant something to me. I had no idea where things would go from here, but the thought of seeing him again left me with a big smile on my face.
I drove Ava to my parents’ place, and I’d barely parked before Dad rushed out the front door and made a beeline for her side of the car. I got out and watched as he unbuckled her from her seat and lifted her into his arms, settling her on his hip.
Like his one and only daughter wasn’t standing right in front of him, he looked down at Ava with a big smile and said, “Hey there, squirt. You ready for some bacon and eggs?”
“Um-hmm,” Ava nodded excitedly.
“I thought so. Let’s go grab you a plate before Grandma eats them all.”
“Good morning, Dad,” I grumbled. “Nice to see you, too.”
“Morning, kiddo.” He started towards the house. “We’ve got our girl covered. Have a good day at work.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
I shook my head as I got back in the car and started out of the drive. I was about to pull out onto the road when Mom stepped out the front door and waved at me.
“Have a great day, sweetheart,” she called out as I smiled and waved back, then continued my drive to the hospital. As soon as I got there, I parked and headed upstairs. It was my second week there, and I’d had more training than I would ever need, but I was still feeling a little out of place.
I didn’t know many people, and I was struggling to figure out my way around. Thankfully, it was a busy Monday, and nobody seemed to notice that I had no clue where I was going. I just kept walking down one hall after the next, hoping that I’d eventually figure it all out.
I didn’t mind that I was lost. It gave me a chance to daydream about my night with Thomas. It was everything I’d hoped it would be and more. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so alive and excited for what was to come. It was that feeling that had me smiling ear to ear as I made my way down the hall.
I’d finally found my station and was on my way to see my first patient when Gloria, one of the nurses, said, “Good morning, Rebecca.”
“Good morning, Gloria.”
She had a warm smile and quick wit, and she had an uncanny ability to read people better than anyone I’d ever met. So, I wasn’t surprised when she said, “You seem to be in a mighty good mood this morning.”
“I guess.”
“Um-hmm.” Her lips curled into a mischievous smirk. “Spill it. Who’s the fella that put that smile on your face?”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” She cocked her brow. “You’re walking around here like you have a secret.”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing like that.” Heat crept up my cheeks as I started shuffling through the papers on my clipboard. “I’m just having a good morning.”
“Um-hmm.” She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “You’re not fooling me. Some fella has done put that smile on your face.”
I tried to play it cool, but my growing smile was betraying me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Honey, you might be new here, but I’ve been around long enough to recognize that look.” Her laughter echoed softly. “You’re smitten and smitten bad.”
“Maybe a little.”
“I thought so.” She smiled. “Alright, now. You can go on and do your thing. But don’t think this conversation is over.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I continued down the hall. I tended to my patient and took the necessary scans, and in a blink, I had seen six more and was about to go on my lunch break. I’d just made it to my office when my cell phone chimed with a text. I took it from my scrub’s pocket and smiled when I looked down at the screen and saw it was a message from Thomas.