Page 6 of Stuck on Jude

“Yeah, that’s one of my favorite parts.”

I let out an unladylike snort. “Come on.”

“Seriously.”

“You have watched this movie enough times to have a favorite part? Even though there aren’t any explosions or machine guns.”

He lifts a shoulder. “I have a mom and a little sister. We watched this movie probably a hundred times. Since we lived in Seattle, it was a favorite.”

“And you didn’t mind?”

“A good movie is a good movie. With or without machine guns.”

I settle back against the pillows. That’s actually pretty sweet.

“So, Dr. Jude, how did you end up in Alaska?”

“I came for the job.” He takes my silent stare correctly and continues. “One of my sisters moved up here a while back to help expand the lodge. They needed a doctor. I needed a break from the pressure at the hospital.”

“SoGrey’s Anatomyis right, then? It is super dramatic and stressful working in a Seattle hospital?”

He shakes his head, chuckling. “Unfortunately, there isn’t as much romantic drama as you see in the show. But there is a lot of pressure. I like the outdoors. I wanted my own practice. I get that here.”

“And are you happy?”

He stares at a spot just over my head thoughtfully for a moment before nodding. “You know, I am. Last month I got to deliver my new niece. I get to spend time with my nephew. My mom and my other sister are up here all the time. It’s just a different way of life.”

“A snowy way of life.” I wrinkle my nose for a second. “But, I suppose the way you put it, it has some charm.”

“That it does.”

We both turn our attention back to the movie. Or, at least he does. I can’t seem to stop staring. It’s not just that Jude is one of the sexiest men I’ve ever seen. With more muscles than any doctor I’ve seen and a hint of five o’clock shadow, he makes all of the other mountain men here pale in comparison.

Seriously, I’ve never seen a doctor with biceps like those. No wonder he said he carried me to the clinic like it was no big deal. It really is too bad I was unconscious. That would’ve been something to see, I bet.

Plus, he’s kind. Like, you can tell he’s a good guy to the core. And even though I’m only here for a few days, I’d like to get to know him better.

JUDE

Moonlight shines in through the window when I wake with a start. The TV is rolling through a screensaver, casting a blue light throughout the room.

Yawning, I raise a hand to massage the sharp ache in my neck. My other arm tingles. Still more asleep than awake, I turn to discover the reason and freeze. We must have fallen asleep watchingYou’ve Got Mail.At some point in my sleep, I wrapped my arm around Lucy. And, at some point in her sleep, she rested her cheek against my shoulder. One of her hands is splayed over my abs.

My muscles clench at the sight of her fingers mere inches away from my cock. I take a deep breath through my nose and let it out slowly. I do it again, hoping it’ll ease the dull ache throbbing in my loins.

We were a few minutes into our third movie of the day when Lucy invited me to sit on the bed with her. I’d protested at first. After all, for all intents and purposes, she is my patient. Even if I technically discharged her. But when I hadn’t been able to come up with a better reason than that, Lucy had said I should get over myself and be more comfortable.

From the looks of that, I made myself more comfortable and then some.

Lucy wiggles in my arms, burying herself against me, snuggling closer. Warmth spreads through my chest. She really is gorgeous. And funny. Though she showed only a moment of self-pity earlier today, she’s otherwise been a pillar of strength.

I like that about her. Hell, there isn’t much I don’t like about her. Besides the fact that she doesn’t seem to like it much here in Alaska. Then again, she’s barely been here twenty-four hours. I’d like to help her see the beauty of this place. I’d like it to get under her skin and seep into her bones the way it has mine.

I can’t quite explain why I care so much. I only met this woman a few hours ago. But I do care. A lot.

Suddenly, Lucy shifts and bolts up. She knocks her head against my chin. I wince even as she grabs her crown.

“Shit,” she hisses loudly. “That really freaking hurt.”

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