Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“You’re healing nicely, Brandon.”
“I like being Brandon with you over the alternative.”
“Mr. Culver?”
Turning around, he grips the railing behind him. “Yeah. But if you prefer the more formal, I’ll let you call me Lieutenant.”
I balk before a tidal wave of laughter swells and rolls through me. “You’ll let me?” Snickering, I reply, “Got it, Lieutenant Culver.” The sound of it brings images of him dressed like Maverick in Top Gun—shirtless while playing volleyball on the beach and a flight suit with aviator glasses. Long overdue desire runs through me at warp speed, reaching my breasts and perking my nipples. I cross my arms over my chest to hide the physical reaction I’m having to him while questioning what the heck is happening. It’s Brandon Culver, for Pete’s sake. Of all the men to be turned on by, this is an unexpected turn of events, and not welcome.
“Can I ask you something personal?” Oh my God! He can tell. He rights himself again, rubbing his hand over his injured shoulder. “You can say no.”
“No,” I snap in a panic, walking away from him to hide whatever kind of reaction I’m having to him. I’m positive I don’t want to get more personal than what’s already occurring.
“Okay,” he replies, sounding more injured than I found him at the hospital. “Sorry for—”
He’s not responsible for turning me on. Well, technically he is, but he doesn’t know he did. Does he? What is wrong with me? He’s a patient, not my personal fantasy come to life. Oh geez. Get your mind out of the gutter and cover your butt. “I’m just joking. Ha. Ha. Ha.” I fake laugh, struggling to find a smile in this mess and now freaking out that he could ask me anything and I’ve said it’s okay. Oh Lordy. “You can ask, but no promises I’ll answer.”
“That’s fair.” The smile that seems to come easy to him most of the time falters, but his eyes on me never do. “What’s your last name?” Oh, thank God.
“Season.” I think about possible implications of him knowing this, still surprised he didn’t know it already. But I’m not going to hide who I am, and a conversation about my name beats talking about my traitorous nipples. And what if it helps him remember? This could be a good thing.
“Autumn Season?” The wide eyes and lifted brow, the gaping mouth—Yep, this is the typical reaction, so I wasn’t expecting less. “Next you’re going to tell me your sisters are—”
“Yes, we’re all the seasons. I’m the second oldest.”
A rapid blink breaks the eye contact, and his jaw has fallen to the deck. I lift it back into place, and ask, “Any more questions?” Please don’t let there be more… like why I’m acting absurd for no apparent reason.
“Nope. I think that does—wait, yeah, I have one more.” I was soooo close but nope. Mr. Observant won’t let this go.
Tightening my hold over my chest, I raise my chin, ready to be outed by him. “I’m an open book.” I suck in a quick breath because I’m not ready despite my display of bravado. Surely, it can’t get worse than him finding out I just got turned on by images of him dressed up as Top Gun. Right? “Ask away.”
“How is it that you know one of my closest friends and my mom, but we’ve never met?”
Welp. It just got worse.
CHAPTER 12
BRANDON
“Idon’t know if you noticed, but both of our names end with an N?” An unnatural grin wrestles Autumn’s expression, her eyes wide, troubled, and shifting like she’s been busted sneaking out. “Wild, right?” Nice distraction . . .
“That’s wild, alright. You know what else is a big coincidence? Both of our last names have six letters, and you know Tuck and my mom.”
“That is quite the coincidence,” she says, nodding like a bobblehead.
She seems to search for a diversion, her eyes hopping from the tree not ten yards away to the lounge chair, to the barbecue pit, to the top of my sweatpants. “I appreciate the attention, but you won’t find the answer you’re looking for down here.” I probably shouldn’t give her such a hard time, but seeing that pretty pink deepening on her cheeks was worth it. Like she received her marching orders, she tipped her nose into the air and headed for the back door. “Hey, c’mon. It’s not like you weren’t staring at me.”
“I wasn’t staring at anything, Lieutenant Culver.”
Fuck, that’s sexy. I’ve made a grave mistake telling my nurse she could call me that. I can only pray she’ll say it again. Wonder if she has one of those white little dress uniforms tucked somewhere in her closet?
“Are you coming, Lieutenant?”
Close to it. I covertly bite my knuckles to distract my dick from standing at attention before lowering my hand to my side and glancing back where she’s waiting for me. I’m positive scrubs aren’t supposed to look that good on someone. Fuck. I’m so screwed over this woman. “Oh, I’m coming all right.”