Page 396 of Steamy Ever After

As for heading over to Drake’s later tonight, I make an executive decision.

I dial Drake’s number, feeling a bit deflated. The moment his deep voice hit’s my ear, I almost change my mind.

“Hey, city girl.” The way my nickname rolls off his tongue sends licks of heat shooting through me. “How’re you doing?”

“I’m good. Someone slashed the tires of my uncle’s car after lunch.”

“I’ll be right over.” Drake’s already in rescue mode. I’m not used to that.

“Thanks, but I called Henry. He’s taking care of it.”

“Henry’s a good guy.” Drake sounds troubled.

“About tonight…” I bite my lower lip, not wanting to cancel our date, but I need a good night’s rest if I’m going to tackle a full day in the clinic tomorrow.

“Are you ditching me?” He doesn’t sound happy, but unlike Scott, the change in plans doesn’t anger Drake.

Scott would’ve thrown a fit, calling me irresponsible and inconsiderate, among other more colorful names.

“I’m sorry, but I want to get to work early and help out as I can.” I move around the house, tidying things up.

In the kitchen, I pause by the window to take stock of Boston.

My poor fern doesn’t look too good. All the edges are black curled crisps of its former lush, green glory. I don’t think Boston’s going to pull through his ordeal of being left to freeze through that horrible blizzard.

My midnight stroll down the highway in the middle of that blizzard is something I’ll be happy never to repeat. That bone-chilling cold nearly did me in. The wolves scared me, but I didn’t have to think about that too much.

Not with Drake’s sharp-shooting.

There’s so much about him I don’t know. He’s prior military. Uncle Pete said so, but that’s not where the scar came from.

“I won’t pretend I wasn’t hoping we could get together, but I get needing to be well-rested to see patients.” Drake is easygoing compared to Scott. “How about we stick to our Friday and Saturday night plan?”

The memory of Drake pronouncing me as his girl gives me butterflies. That kind of possession is sexy, romantic even. It’s very different from the jealousy and control Scott inflicted on me.

“I would really like that. Any chance we could meet up before then?”

“I’d love to, but I’m headed out of town tomorrow. I need to check on the cattle and will be on the ranch for a few days. I’ll be back on Friday, and I promise another movie night.”

“That sounds amazing. We didn’t get to watch Return of the Jedi.”

The first three Star Wars movies are my favorite, but I look forward to binging them all with Drake.

“It’s a date then, city girl.” His melodious voice tunnels straight to my core, bringing back needy sensations.

With our chemistry, I’m pretty sure we won’t make it past the opening credits.

“It’s a date.”

When I end the call with Drake, movement in the backyard catches my eye. A loud clatter follows. Either someone’s out by the woodshed, or there’s a cat or a raccoon getting into stuff.

It takes a minute to find where my uncle stores his flashlight. I check the batteries and head outside, looking to scare away the cat, or raccoon, or maybe that doorstep pooping dog.

The night air carries a chilly bite to it, making me shiver and pull my shoulders to my ears. Very much unlike Redlands, it’s dark outside. The city lights are so overwhelming in Redlands it’s rare to see anything more than the brightest stars. In Peace Springs, there are no city lights, and the streetlights are few and far in between.

Halfway to my uncle’s shed, the flashlight dies. I knock it a couple of times and it flickers on, the light noticeably dimmer than before.

The flashlight manages to stay lit long enough for me to open the door to the shed and check inside. I stand by the door, not wanting to get caught in there with a stray. A quick sweep of the light, and I see nothing concerning.

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