Page 8 of Stuck on Jude

She grins again but suddenly sobers. “You know what tomorrow is, don’t you?”

“The fourteenth.”

“Right.” She narrows her eyes like she’s studying me closely looking for what, I don’t know. “And you know that’s Valentine’s Day. Right?”

“Oh.” Actually, I guess I hadn’t made that connection. “That’s fine by me if you’re all right with it.”

“I don’t have any plans. And based on how concerned my friends were about checking on me today, I don’t particularly care if they have plans for me either.”

Her face sinks a little at that remark. It bothers her that neither of her friends stopped by. Hell, it bothers me.

Just like it’s bothering me that she technically hasn’t said yes.

I shove my hands in my pockets. “Look, if you’re not comfortable with the doctor-patient thing I get it.”

“Didn’t we cover this already? You discharged me.”

She still hasn’t answer. Am I going to have to beg the woman? This is uncharted territory for me.

“Well, then?”

Her lips twitch with a suppressed smile. Oh, she’s enjoying herself and having the upper hand. I’ll have to find a way of getting back at her for that later.

A giggle bubbles out of her and her dark blue eyes dazzle. “Yes, I’ll have dinner with you tomorrow.”

I release a breath. There’s no point in not looking rattled. She earned it. “I’ll pick you up at five.”

“That’s pretty early for dinner, isn’t it?”

“It gets dark early around here.”

And I want us to have plenty of time for where I’m taking her.

FOUR

LUCY

Ciera and Teagan are both contrite and shocked when they come into my room the next morning.

Ciera promptly bursts into tears. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea. I never would’ve agreed to go out with those guys we met on the slopes if we’d known.”

“No, we wouldn’t have.” Teagan pats her back while gazing at me curiously. “Why didn’t you tell us you’d been hurt?”

“Because I didn’t want to ruin your fun.” Ciera gives me a bear hug and I wince. “Besides, I had someone taking care of me.”

“Oh.” Teagan arches an eyebrow. “Who?”

I fill them in about Jude and how he spent yesterday taking care of me. By the time I’m finished, both are staring at me with wonder.

“Wow.” Ciera shakes her head. “He sounds like Mister Wonderful.”

“Technically he’s Doctor Wonderful,” Teagan says. “But yeah. He sounds great. And you’re going out tonight?”

“That’s right.” I chew on my lip. I still can’t quite believe it myself. At first, I thought maybe I’d hallucinated everything about him after the fall. But he stopped by to check on me this morning. He’s even sexier than I remembered. My heart skips a beat. “I wish I would have brought along something nicer than a velvet tracksuit.”

“That’s what you get for not being optimistic about your prospects at Camp Mountain Man.” Teagan winks at me to soften the blow. “But have no fear. There’s a fully stocked store downstairs and a salon.”

“Ooh.” Ciera claps her hands. “Makeover time!”

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