Page 31 of Flirting with the Scrooge

I nod. “Okay.”

I strip out of the hoodie and crawl onto the bed next to him. He lifts the corner of the blanket, inviting me in. A clock ticking is the only sound in the room. In the darkness, his calloused fingers brush against mine under the blanket. It’s a gentle touch, like maybe he was just moving his hand and it bumped mine. Then he links his fingers with mine and hauls it to his chest. A warm smile covers my lips and I close my eyes.

SEVENTEEN

NURSE TATUM

Connor

You know what’s great to work out frustration? Splitting wood with an axe. You know what’s not a good idea when you’re angry and frustrated? Splitting wood with an axe. And I have the fifteen stitches to prove it.

After the mall, I did the first thing that came to mind to work out my frustration and look where it got me. I don’t know why it bothers me so much that Tatum had sex with me while still secretly pining over her ex. It was a heat of the moment thing. But fuck. I wouldn’t be opposed to doing it again.

If I didn’t go to the mall yesterday, I would have been none the wiser about the entire situation with the ex and I wouldn’t be laying in her bed with a throbbing foot while she plays nurse. But I needed to do a little Christmas shopping.

Once I started making good money from my music, I always made it a priority to pay it forward by buying gift cards to local music stores to donate to various music programs for kids for Christmas. Being in Harbor Highlands wasn’t going to stop me from doing that.

So far this morning she’s been in the room three times. The first time was right when I woke up. I barely had an eye cracked before she was at my side, asking me how I was feeling. She changed out of her clothes from yesterday and she looked absolutely beautiful, and her sweet vanilla scent smelled even better. Every time she asked me a question, the only thing I could do was to grunt out an inaudible response.

Sometime mid-morning, she came in carrying a small tray with a plate of toast and eggs. She bent down to set the tray on the bed, and I felt like an asshole as I stared down the front of her shirt at her exposed cleavage. Now, a montage of her prancing around in a sexy, completely impractical, nurse’s costume with white knee high boots as “Pour Some Sugar on Me” plays on repeat in my mind. I grumbled a thanks before she left me to my own devices. I took a few bites of food, but mostly just pushed it around the plate.

A soft knock sounds on the door before she enters. “Hey.” Her voice is quiet. “I went over to your house to get you some fresh clothes. Everything is still in suitcases. Is that because you’re renovating?”

“You went into my house?” I spit out.

“Yeah. So you don’t have to wear the same clothes you had on yesterday.” She tosses the pair of sweatpants and t-shirt on the bed, landing next to me. “It’s not like I snooped through all your things.”

“You had no right to do that. I didn’t need new clothes.”

“No. You’re right.” Venom laces her tone. “Sorry, I’m just trying to help you feel more comfortable.”

“Maybe I don’t need your help. Did that ever cross your mind?” I seethe. All the color drains from her face. Her eyes go wide and glossy, like she’s about to cry. Fuck. Once again, I’m the asshole. If I’m not mad at her, then I want to kiss her. If I kiss her, I’ll want to touch her. If I touch her, I’ll want a repeat of the night of the snowstorm. I make a mental note of everything in the house, and off the top of my head there isn’t anything in sight that would indicate who I am. Plus, she hasn’t mentioned anything… yet. Maybe I’m safe. My shoulders deflate. “I’m sorry. You don’t deserve my shitty attitude.”

She inches closer to the bed, then sits on the edge by my hip. “I know you’re not feeling the best right now, but can you go back to being nice for like five seconds? Like the guy last night. The grunts and grumbles are getting old. All I want to do is help you.”

“If I’m being honest, that’s the issue.”

Her eyebrows knit together in confusion.

I huff out a breath and stare at the ceiling because there is no way I can look her in the eyes with everything I’m about to say. “Every five seconds you’re in here making sure I’m comfortable. Fluffing my pillow. Touching me. And every single time you do, my dick gets hard. I’m doing everything in my power to not masturbate while in your bed, because I would need your help to clean up the mess. So yeah. The tension is running a little high right now.”

“Oh. Oh!” Her gaze shifts from side to side, then she jumps to her feet as if the bed is on fire. “I’ll get you a wet washcloth and some Kleenex, or maybe just a towel. I don’t know. And a garbage can. Then you can… you know… do that.” She motions over my crotch. “And then no worries about a mess.” Pink covers her cheeks as she frantically searches her room for all the items.

I scrub my hands over my beard. “I can’t do it knowing you’re in the other room waiting for me to finish.”

“Good point. Then I can leave.” She pauses. “Wait. But what if you need something and I’m not here.”

“It’s fine. I’m fine.” Fuck. I can’t believe I told her all that.

She runs around the room and gathers all the items and places them on the bed next to me. “I have clean sheets so I can change bedding later. I’ll let you… get to it.”

“I’m not—”

She covers her ears and singsongs, “La la la la. I don’t need to know anything.” Then she’s across the room and the door closes behind her with a click.

I continue to lie on the bed in silence. My gaze drifts to the towel and bottle of lotion she threw next to me. Reaching over, I grab the bottle and read the label. “Sunshine Kisses.” Flipping open the top, I inhale a whiff. Smells like the beach with coconut and hints of vanilla. Then I snap it closed and toss it to the side. I’m not doing this. I close my eyes and conjure up every possible thing that would not be sexy.

Chords to a new song I’m writing.

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