Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Some people are assholes if they don’t get the service they want, regardless of whatever emergency might have delayed the arrival of their entrée. I imagine a few possible bad reviews flashed before his eyes as the guy on the floor lay there without a pulse.
“That’s not necessary.” I scoop my phone out of my back pocket again to read a quick text from the charge nurse in the emergency department. I alerted her to be ready for our incoming patient, too.
“At least tell me your name and address so I can send you a bottle of something worth drinking.” He laughs huskily. “Name your poison and your name while you’re at it.”
A few people near us laugh right along with him.
Good on them for finding humor in the remnants of what they just witnessed.
“No need.” I finally glance at him. “I was just doing my job.”
“I insist,” he presses. “It’s the least I can do.”
Since the least I could do was get Daxton’s heart beating again, I’d say we’re even. I need to get out of here and to the hospital, so I return the pat on the back. “Seriously, we’re good.”
“What’s your name, Doc?” Tony asks directly.
“It’s Dr. Morgan,” a soft feminine voice says from behind the manager. “Dr. Gaines Morgan. He’s a cardiologist.”
The sound of that voice sends a barrage of emotions through me.
I’ll never forget that voice.
She steps into view wearing a snug little black dress that favors her petite, curvy frame. Her brown hair falls in soft waves over her shoulders. She looks every inch as tempting as she did the night we met. The night I took her into a private room at the club I sometimes frequent. The night I kissed her roughly and fucked her with my fingers before she bit my bottom lip so hard she drew a drop of blood.
That’s when she dropped to her knees and made me forget my name along with the fake one I always use at the club.
“You’re him.” Her bluish-gray eyes dance under the lighting in this restaurant. “We haven’t officially met. I’m Eloise Rehn. My cousin, Astrid, married your cousin, Berk, a few months ago. I saw you at the wedding, but you rushed off to an emergency before we were introduced. I heard someone mention your name after you left.”
There it is — the twist of fate that has haunted me for months.
Sweet, not-so-innocent Eloise Rehn has no fucking idea that I’m the man she blew in that club. A man who realized far too late that she was too young to be in that club or to have her bee-stung lips wrapped around my cock that night a little over two years ago. It was two years and two months ago to be exact.
We were both wearing masks shielding a part of our faces since it was a requirement to gain entry to the private party that was taking place that night, but the taste of her lips, the scent of her skin, and the color of those eyes cemented a permanent spot in my memory when I took her into that room.
Now, I’ll never be able to forget how my real name sounds coming from her.
CHAPTER TWO
Eloise
“Thank you again for coming with me, Elodie.”
I glance to my left where, Penny, the woman who was on a blind date is sitting next to me. “It’s Eloise, and you don’t have to thank me.”
She doesn’t.
I should be the one thanking her.
I was on a date, too, at Atlas 22 when Daxton collapsed. There was nothing blind about it. It was our third date, and judging by Philip’s reaction to the life and death situation that transpired two tables away from us, tonight was our last date.
As soon as Daxton crumpled to the floor, Philip was on his phone, recording the entire thing.
I rushed to help, but two of the wait staff beat me to it.
While they unsuccessfully tried to revive Daxton, I kept my eyes on his date. She was shaking, and when I spotted Dr. Morgan sprinting toward us, I was stunned.
I wouldn’t be surprised if my mouth was hanging open while Penny answered his questions about the unconscious man.
It was only when the restaurant manager was talking to Dr. Morgan that I finally piped up. I blurted out Dr. Morgan’s name because the man saved a life.
I could tell that he didn’t appreciate my butting into that conversation.
I have no idea why he wanted to keep his identity under wraps.
“I’m glad your cousin was there to save Daxton.” Penny squeezes my hand.
“He’s not my cousin,” I correct her, but I don’t blame her for not having any of the facts of the night straight.
The man she was meeting almost died before they even sat down at their table.
“Oh.” She skims both her palms over the front of the skirt she’s wearing. “I thought he was since I heard you say something at the restaurant about cousins and you brought his takeout here for him.”