Page 81 of When You Blush
“Thanks, Amy. Hey, I’m going to take five. The patient in bay six needs a fluidchange.”
“I’m on it.” Amy winks at me, pats my shoulder, and leans in close. “Go get him, girl.”
With a laugh, I stride over to Blake, take his hand, and pull him behind me down the hall and into the stairwell, where he proceeds to press me against the wall and kiss the hell out of me.
The two-step has moved from my heart to my lady bits, and I’m not mad about it.
“Hey,” I say when he pulls away. “How’s your day been?”
“Not bad, actually. I hear the ER is busy, so I have to get down there, but before I do, I need to tell you about something.”
“Okay.” I nod, listening. “What’s up?”
“Did you know the ski resort burned down about a year and a half ago?”
“Yes, I heard about that.”
“Well, my brother-in-law Connor is rebuilding it. The first phase, which I guess is the main guest lodge, is ready for customers, but he wants to do a test run on it before they take reservations. He invited our whole family, the Wilds, and who knows who else to come stay for a few days during our days off.”
I’m blinking at him, trying to keep up.
“Okay, I hope you have a great time.”
Blake huffs out a laugh and shakes his head. “No, baby,we’reinvited. You and me.”
I frown up at him. “He specifically included me?”
“Yes. He was at the book club. He saw us together.”
“Oh, right.” I nod, and my stomach is tied in nervousknots. “I don’t know, Blake. Maybe you should just go have fun, and I’ll see you when you’re back.”
He frowns at me. “I don’t want to go without you.” He brushes his knuckles down my cheek. “I want you to spend time with the people I love. I don’t know if you’ve figured it out yet, but you’re my girlfriend.”
“Wow, we’re labeling this.”
“Call it whatever you want.” He pushes in closer to me. “You’re mine, and I’m sure as fuck yours. I want you with me, and that includes when I’m with my family.”
I swallow hard. “It’s important to you.”
“It’s important to me.”
I run the flat of my hand up his chest and over his neck to his face. “I’d love to go. I’m just nervous because …new people.”
“If my friends start to annoy the fuck out of you, I can take you home.” He grins. “But you’ll like them. They’re good people. You already know most of them.”
“Well, that’s true. I assume Billie, Skyla, and Dani will be there.”
“For sure. Dani and Bridge are bringing the kids, and Birdie’s excited to swim in the pool.”
My eyes widen. “You should have led with the pool. I’m there.”
He laughs at that and tugs me in for one of his addicting hugs. “It’s all-inclusive. Billie called and told me we’ve been instructed to use the spa, all of the restaurants, and the coffee place. You name it, we get it.”
“Wow, that’s fancy.” I blink up at him as the puzzlestarts to fit together. “Wait. Connor Gallagher is one ofthoseGallaghers? Like, the hotel Gallaghers?”
“He’s the CEO and pretty much runs the show,” Blake confirms.
“Billie’s married to a billionaire.”
