Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 156(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 156(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
Thea looked relieved as she murmured, “That’s good to hear.”
“The dizziness passed fairly quickly, and it’s often one of the first symptoms a woman experiences during pregnancy since it can be caused by hormonal changes or increased blood volume,” I explained, using all of my self-control to keep my gaze on her face without glancing up at Eli. But I didn’t manage to resist the impulse to poke at him verbally. “My recommendation is that you have your man send his friend out for a pregnancy test and take it as soon as possible.”
Her brows drew together as she asked, “His friend?”
“That one.” I pointed at Eli without needing to look at him since I was much too aware of the man. “It’ll probably embarrass him, which would be awesome.”
“Wouldn’t be bothered by it at all, Nora,” Eli disagreed.
I somehow managed to keep my focus on Thea as I advised, “If the test is positive, make an appointment with your gynecologist. If it’s negative, go in to see your primary care physician, even if you don’t get faint again. Better be safe than sorry.”
Her man squeezed her shoulder. “She’ll see a doctor soon, either way.”
“Good.”
With that reassurance, I headed back out to the ambulance with Eli following me. After I tossed my trauma bag in the back, Mark held his hand out. “Gimme the keys. I’ll fill out the PCR while you give the man a chance to apologize face-to-face for fucking up again.”
The smile Eli had aimed Mark’s way at the start of my partner’s statement quickly turned into a glare at the end. Laughing, I handed over the keys to the rig before turning toward the man I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about over the past two weeks, even when I was mad at him.
Considering Eli was six feet and three inches of pure muscle—combined with buzzed black hair, a short-cropped beard, tan skin, hazel eyes, and a killer smile—I didn’t think any woman alive would judge me for being mildly obsessed with the guy. Not even with how much he’d managed to mess up with me in such a short time.
“Missed seeing your gorgeous face these past two weeks,” Eli murmured as he prowled closer.
With the ambulance doors at my back, there was nowhere for me to go, so I stood my ground. “You could’ve seen it a few nights ago if you’d shown up for our date, you blundering dunderhead.”
Ignoring my insult—which irritated me since I found it quite creative—he clenched his fists at his side. “You have no idea how much I fucking hated having to make that call. If there had been any way to get out of the club business I had to attend to, I would have done it. But it wasn’t something I could hand off to anyone else since I’m the club’s legal counsel.”
“You mentioned that when you called less than thirty minutes before our date,” I muttered, hitching my hip against the rear bumper of the ambulance.
“Which just about killed me, Nora.” He pressed a hand against his chest. “I hated knowing I’d hurt you. Even more than I’ve despised not being able to talk to you since then.”
“It really sucks that you’re so good with your words.” Which was why I’d avoided talking to him until I had a chance to really think about if I wanted to give him another chance without the undue influence he wielded over me. Although, the sexy threats he’d been texting to me over the past few days had weakened my resolve…and tempted me to continue ignoring him if he was truly going to follow through with them.
“Kinda goes hand in hand with being a lawyer, baby girl.”
A delicious shiver raced up my spine at the endearment. And judging by the satisfied smirk on Eli’s stupid, sexy face, he hadn’t missed my reaction. There was no point in hiding it any longer, so I asked, “If I give you another chance—the very last one you’ll ever get from me—how will I know you won’t stand me up again?”
“Let’s go right now.”
2
ASH
Nora blinked her big blue eyes at me, and I smiled, going for charming…but that was a stretch when you were a badass biker and a cutthroat lawyer. I could’ve turned on the silver-tongued, charismatic facade I used to enthrall a jury. But I wasn’t gonna fake anything with Nora. The only way we’d work was with complete honesty. Otherwise, when the curtain that shielded finally lifted, she would be crushed under its weight.
“Now?” she asked, glancing up toward the ambulance cab where her partner was waiting. “I’m still on shift.”
“When do you get off?”
She checked her watch, biting her lip. Unable to stop myself, I used my thumb to free it, enjoying her tiny gasp and the heat in her eyes.