Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 92899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
The universe had a sick sense of humor, throwing Foster back into my path just when I’d convinced myself our kiss in Hawaii had been a fever dream brought on by pre-wedding panic and too much bourbon.
Except I knew it hadn’t been the alcohol. It had been him. All him. His laugh, his eyes, the way he’d pulled me against him like he’d wanted to climb inside my skin…
“Tommy? You good?”
I jumped, scattering papers across the floor. Trace, the program director and a good friend of our family, stood in the doorway with one eyebrow raised.
“Fine! Totally fine. Just…” I gestured vaguely at the mess. “Gravity, you know?”
“Uh-huh.” Trace crossed his arms. “Want to tell me what that was about?”
“What what was about?”
“The tension thick enough to cut with a knife between you and my SAR guy? The way you both looked like you’d seen a ghost?”
Fuck. I should have known Trace would notice. The man tracked mountain lions for fun. Reading people was child’s play by comparison.
“It’s…” I swallowed hard. “I know him. From Hawaii.”
Trace’s eyes widened. “Hawaii, as in…?”
“Yeah. I, uh, met him on the plane when I was heading there for the wedding. And later, we had a drink—”
He cut me off. “Foster Blake is your T-shirt guy?”
My cheeks went hot. “How did you hear about that? You weren’t there.”
“Your Uncle Derek told me about what happened because he was worried about you, but he said no one really got the full story.” Trace crossed his arms in front of his chest. “So what happened between the two of you?”
“Nothing?”
“I see.” Trace leaned against the doorframe, watching me intently. “This going to be a problem?”
“No.” I tried to project nonchalance, even though I knew he wouldn’t buy it. “I was just startled, that’s all. We’re both grown adults. Professionals. Besides, we’ll be working on different aspects of the program.”
“You’ll be sharing a room,” he said, lifting an eyebrow. “Medical and SAR are in the same cabin.”
I groaned, slumping into a chair. “Maybe I should go stay with someone else.” There were plenty of people to choose from, not to mention my grandparents’ lodge only a few miles from here, but I’d hoped to stay on campus since I knew the program meant early mornings and long days.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Living on-site is part of the deal. The program has a demanding schedule, you know that. Besides…” Trace’s expression eased. “I’m hoping you’re going to fall in love with SERA and decide to stay on permanently.”
I huffed out a laugh. “Unlikely. My interview at Stanford is in a few weeks, remember? I’m a level one trauma specialist.”
“Billings is only an hour and a half away, and they have two level one trauma centers.” His eyes bored into me. “Besides, I seem to recall you had a thing for wilderness medicine at one point. It’s why I wanted you here.”
He was right. We both knew it. Part of the reason I’d said yes to his offer was to spend time in one of my favorite places, breathe mountain air for a little while, and practice the kind of medicine that felt more like an indulgence than a job.
But that didn’t mean I was about to give up on all of my career plans.
“I appreciate the offer,” I said. “But for right now, I should go make sure Foster doesn’t set my shit on fire.”
“Because that’s a normal response when nothing happened?” Trace let out a breath. “Look, Tommy, we need both of you for this program. Figure it out, or I’ll have to send him home. Don’t want to do that, though. Foster’s the best SAR guy around, and I know how much he wants to be here.”
“I’ll talk to him,” I promised, though my heart was threatening to jackhammer its way out of my chest.
Instead of going to the cabin, I took a walk across the wide expanse of grassland toward the fence along the highway in hopes of getting better cell service.
Ella picked up on the second ring. “What’s up? You in the mood for steak? Lennon’s grilling. I haven’t left the office yet, but—”
“Did you know he was going to be here?” I hissed, my voice barely above a whisper.
She paused. “Who is he in this scenario? Trace?”
“Foster Blake.”
“Foster… Wait! Wait. Hawaii Guy is at SERA?”
“Yes! And we’re roommates.”
Her squeal was so loud I had to hold the phone away from my ear. “Tommy! I told you this was kismet. The universe is giving you a second chance!”
“Or punishing me for being an idiot.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. It was clear she hadn’t known about it, but the coincidence was hard to wrap my head around. “You should have seen his face, El. He looked at me like I was something he’d scraped off his boot.”