Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Pushing the door to the break room open, I came to an abrupt halt when I saw Chuck. Glancing over at me, Chuck smiled. “Hey, Harmony.”
Giving him a forced smile, I walked over to the water cooler and got a drink. I heard his chair sliding across the floor as I held my breath.
The moment he touched me, I jumped and took a few steps back.
“Harmony, how long are we going to play this game of you pretending you’re not interested in me?”
Glaring at him, I said, “It’s not a game, Chuck. I’m really not interested in you. Now, please back up and give me my space.”
“Oh, Harmony. You’re so pretty. Let me show you what it’s like to be with a real man.”
My heart was pounding so loudly in my ears that I barely heard the words he was speaking. “Please stop this and leave me alone.”
Reaching up, he stroked my face as I attempted to push him away. He leaned closer as if he was going to try and kiss me, but he was quickly jerked back.
Preston.
“What in the fuck do you think you’re doing, asshole?”
Chuck jumped up and straightened his scrubs. “Who the hell are you? This room is for staff only.”
Preston took a few steps toward Chuck as Chuck backed up into a table. “I’m her boyfriend, fucker. If I ever so much as see you look her way, I’ll pound your face so far into the ground your mother won’t know who you are.”
Letting out a nervous laugh, Chuck looked at me and then back at Preston. “If you’ll excuse me.”
Chuck started for the door as I rushed over to Preston. “Thank God you came when you did. I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
Preston held me close as he spoke in a calming voice. “Baby, he wouldn’t have done anything. Anyone could have walked in at any moment.”
Burying my face in his chest, I held back my tears. I had promised Preston my tears would only be happy ones. I would not cry over this. “Take me home, Preston.”
“Baby, you still have six hours.”
Shaking my head, I looked into his eyes as I smiled softly. “What would you think if I said I wanted to find a new gig?”
Pulling his head back, Preston smiled from ear to ear. “I would say I have the perfect place for you.”
“I want to be with you at the pub. Not here. I don’t feel like this is the journey I’m supposed to be on. My place is by your side.”
I’d never seen Preston smile as big as he did when he heard those words from my lips. “Seriously, Harmony? You’d do that? I mean, would you be happy, baby?”
Nodding, I kissed him quickly. “I can always go back to nursing school. Right now, my focus is on us.”
Preston lifted me up and spun me around as he laughed. “You just made me the happiest man in the world, Harmony.”
“What are you waiting for, Mr. Ward?”
Giving me a knock-me-over grin, Preston took my hand and led me out of the break room. “What about work? Don’t you have to tell anyone?” Nodding, I headed over to the nurses’ station, with Preston walking behind me.
I cleared my throat, and Becky and Rachel both looked up and smiled, especially when they saw Preston.
“I’m not feeling well, ladies, so I’m gonna head on home. I’ll call Joel in the morning.” Lifting my hand, I wiggled my fingers as I waved goodbye.
“Call me!” Rachel said as Preston and I made our way to the elevator.
Stepping into the elevator, I smiled as I looked at Preston. “Everything from this point on is going to change, Preston. Are you ready for that?”
Wrapping his arms around my waist, he looked down at my lips and then back into my eyes. “I’ve always thought it was kind of nice to shake things up a bit every now and then.”
Laughing, I wrapped my arms around his neck and winked. “Good. Oh, by the way, thank you for being my Prince Charming.”
Laughing, too, Preston kissed my forehead and said, “Always.”
—
Two weeks had passed since I told Preston I wanted to leave my job. Yesterday was my last day and there was something very freeing about it. After my shift was over, I went to Frog Pond and spent an hour lost in my thoughts. Memories of TJ filled most of those thoughts as I put another part of my past behind me.
Now, sitting in Preston’s car, I rubbed my hands across my jeans. “Okay, Preston, this is twice you’ve put a blindfold on me and taken me somewhere. The last time was pretty big.”
Reaching for my hand, Preston pulled it to his lips and kissed the back of it. “It’s a surprise I’ve been working on since last December.”