Page 49 of Need Me
Robert had been an intoxicating combination of fun, erotic, and caring. The way he’d touched and kissed her had made her feel so special. If that’s the way he’d been with his former girlfriends, she couldn’t imagine why they’d lefthim.
“What are you making?” sheasked.
“SpamSurprise.”
Brooke laughed. “Youare?”
He smiled, his brown eyes crinkling a little. “Yeah. It’s the perfect camping food. Just throw it all in a pan together, fry it a little bit, and you have the breakfast ofchampions.”
“Or you could call it Heart Attack in a Pan.” She smiled sweetly at his frown. “Justsaying.”
“Well, it’s either this or cereal. Yourchoice.”
Leaning over, she kissed his shoulder. “Or I could haveyou.”
“You could.” He pressed his lips to hers. “But you better eat first to keep up yourstrength.”
She laughed and straightened. “Okay. Bring on the Spam Surprise. What’s init?”
“Spam, obviously, cheddar cheese, eggs, hash browns and various seasonings,” Robertreplied.
“Sounds delicious,” Brooke said as her stomachgrowled.
Robert turned off the burner, scooped some onto two plates, and handed her one. “There’s ketchup and Tabasco sauce. Pick yourpoison.”
“Neither.” She blew on a forkful of the food and put it in her mouth. Salty, savory, cheesy goodness met her taste buds. “Holy shit. That’s really good. No wonder Kate likesit.”
Robert grinned. “She has me make it any time we go camping. She always makes sure I packed theSpam.”
As they ate in companionable silence, Brooke watched some birds flit around in the trees and a rabbit nibbled new grass growing close to a nearby tree. A cool breeze brought the clean scents of water and pine to her. She had to admit that it was relaxing. No beeping machines or screaming kids. No angry patients demanding faster service or dealing with slow lab techs. Just Robert, good food, and pretty scenery.I could get used tothis.
Looking at the man beside her, she watched the way the brisk breeze ruffled his hair and wanted to run her fingers throughit.
He caught her watching him. “What?”
“I was just thinking what a good-looking man youare.”
Splotches of color appeared on his cheeks and she was amazed that the man who’d turned her inside out last night had suddenly turnedbashful.
He adjusted his glasses and looked down at his food. “Thankyou.”
Curious, she asked, “Robert, why don’t you see how handsome youare?”
His face reddened more, but her cellphone ringing intruded. “Hey! It’s Hoss! Pick up!” itblared.
“Damn Chase for putting that on there,” she groused as she hurried over to her purse. She got her phone out and answered it. “Hoss, you better have a good reason for callingme.”
“I need you,” he said. “Can you come to thehospital?”
The panic in his voice made the hair on her arms stand up. “What’swrong?”
“Anna went into labor late last night. It’s too soon, Brooke. Our little buns were supposed to bake longer,” Chase said. “Things were going okay at first, but then one of the twins shifted and they’re talking about doing a C-section and then they said there’s something else wrong and they just kicked me out of the delivery room a few minutes ago. I don’t know what’s happening and I don’t understand all the lingo they were slinging atme.”
His heavy breathing and the tears in his voice told Brooke that Chase was on the verge of a panic attack. “Honey, you have to try to calm down. Anna and those babies need you to bestrong.”
“I know, I know. But they only kick the daddies out when something’s really wrong, right? Pleasecome.”
Brooke said, “Of course, I’llcome.”
