Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27528 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27528 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“I’ll get your scooter to you tomorrow. Promise.”
“I’ll hold you to that, Mac. And thanks for helping an old girl out.”
“My pleasure. See you tomorrow, Edi.” With one last goodbye, I jumped back into my rental car and punched in the directions for my temporary home, located on May Day Lane, because of course all the streets in this town are named after holidays, big and small.
The realtor called it a mid-century modern home with an open floor plan, not that I knew what the hell any of that really meant. The place was spacious with one story, and the price was right. That was good enough for me.
And it was home sweet home for the next month or so.
2 KAYLA
I walked across the parking lot of the medical center, feeling a little giddy. Okay, more than a little giddy. I met Lancaster! Fine, I didn’t technically meet him, but I spent time in a very small room with him. I put my hand on his chest—his very sculpted chest—and I made him laugh. I talked to Lancaster! It was surreal, and I was still buzzing from that handshake—pitiful, I know—as I made my way home.
There was one person I could call who would totally understand my fangirling. “Torey, I just met your rockstar bestie.”
There was a long silence before Torey squealed. “Oh shit, girl, did you freak out?”
“Inside? Absolutely.” I laughed, blushing with embarrassment in my car. “But on the outside, I was a smooth medical professional. He brought Edith in.” I shared as much as I could without breaking any confidentiality. “How does he know Edith?”
“As far as I know, he doesn’t.” It was crazy to think that he and Torey were such close friends that they texted and talked, even when he wasn’t in Holiday Grove. “Are you crushing on him?”
Maybe a little. “Nope. But goodness, he’s even more delicious in person.”
“I know, it’s ridiculous, right?” Torey laughed. “He’s arrogant, but he’s also charming and sweet, so go easy on him, Doc.”
“Me? I doubt I’ll even see him with how much I’ve been working, so it’s not a problem.” Holiday Grove was a small town, but it wasn’t that small; at least I didn’t remember it being so.
“We’ll see,” she hummed. “Anyway, I need to get ready for my call with Ryan. Let’s talk again soon.”
“Okay. Good night.” Being back in Holiday Grove was nice. This place was home. I knew every inch of this town, and even with the additions of new businesses like Nix’s bakery and the new pizza shop, I knew it like the back of my hand. I loved all the holiday-themed businesses and streets, and all the wacky ways we managed to celebrate every little thing.
I hooked a left onto May Day Lane and felt my shoulders start to relax. I rented a two-bedroom modern ranch home because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do yet. I didn’t have much in the way of student loans; being a nerdy girl had one definite upside—scholarships—but I wasn’t sure if I was ready to buy a home yet.
I pulled into the driveway instead of the garage since it was early March and the days were getting warmer, then dragged my exhausted body into the house, where I kicked off my shoes and hung my bag on the rack beside the door. My growling stomach had me rushing to the kitchen to see what there was to eat. The answer was simple.
Nothing.
“Okay, shower first and then food.” My room was located on the left side of the house, which was perfect because the rental was empty. I flicked on my bedroom light, undressed quickly, and enjoyed a long hot shower to wash away the day. I loved being a doctor and working in emergency medicine, which required me to think fast to make life-saving choices. But I did not like wearing other people’s fluids on my body.
At least not from my patients.
Inappropriate, Kayla.
Even the word inappropriate had me thinking about the hottest man I’d ever seen in real life. Mac Lancaster was as hot as they came, all long, lean limbs covered in muscles and ink. My hand slid down my soapy body, heading right between my thighs.
“No. Nope, not happening.” I shook my head and focused on washing my body and my hair instead of the gorgeous rock star. I was still tired, but the shower left me feeling refreshed. And still hungry.
Really, really hungry.
I dressed in pajamas because it was after ten o’clock, and I planned to curl up with a good book or a show before falling asleep until it was time to do it all again tomorrow. “Food first.” I grabbed my phone and made my way to the kitchen for a glass of red wine while I placed an order at All Saints Pizza.