Of course I’d go.

Cutest doormat in Bakersville, remember?

“Okay, I’ll let you know.” Gracie looked at her watch. “Shouldn’t Miss-Productive-Member-Of-Society be getting to work?” she asked.

I checked the time on my cell phone and almost freaked. I had ten minutes to get to work.

“Crap, crap, crap!” I jumped to my feet and grabbed my purse, barely saying goodbye as I ran out the door.

Why is it when you’re running late, that it is the perfect time for everything to go spectacularly and splendidly wrong?

6

My car wouldn’t start.

I sat in the driver’s seat, turning the key, hoping the clicking noise was only in my imagination and that my engine would magically turn over.

Nope. It was dead as a doornail.

I got out of my car and screamed at the top of my lungs. A woman getting into her perfectly working car gave me a strange look and I gave her the middle finger. Bitch with her shiny Acura that started so damn easily. I bet she was on time for work.

I pulled out my phone and called a cab. They said they’d be there in ten minutes.

It took them fifteen.

I gave the driver my best stink eye as I climbed into the back.

Then we hit roadwork then there was an accident on the highway.

By the time I got to work, I was forty-five minutes late and in a really bad mood.

I ran to the entrance of The Claremont Center just as the heavy wooden door swung open and hit me right in the face.

My purse flew into the air, my cellphone fell to the ground, smashing into a thousand pieces while my nose started hemorrhaging blood all over my adorable pink sweater.

“Fucking hell!” I screeched, covering my nose as blood dripped through my fingers.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” a voice said, shoving tissues into my hand. I didn’t look up as I snatched the tissues and pressed them to my bloody nose.

“What sort of moron swings open a door like that? It’s not that heavy! Are you stupid as well as an ass**le?” I seethed. My nose was throbbing. I gingerly touched it, hoping it wasn’t broken.

“You should get that looked at.”

“No shit, Sherlock,” I hissed, finally looking up into the face of my one and only client.

Theo Anderson.

Because of course he would be the moron to smash me with a door.

Theo’s gorgeous face was contrite and concerned and I vainly started to freak out about what I must look like. I looked down at my blood-splattered sweater and would have cringed if only it didn’t hurt so badly.

“Uh, sorry about the verbal assault. You’re not a moron,” I apologized.

“I deserved it. It’s fine,” Theo smiled, his pretty eyes crinkling at the edges. He really was nice to look at. I would have enjoyed it more if I weren’t in total agony.

Busted nose aside, I really wish I could dig myself a hole and climb into it.

“I’ll go get Marion. You should come in and sit down. Pinch the bridge of your nose and lean forward. We need to get you to the hospital. It may be broken.” Theo in all of his hot efficiency went to locate my boss and also found ice in the employee break room. He brought both Marion and an ice pack back in less than three minutes.

Marion agreed with Theo in that I should go and have my nose checked out. She offered to drive me but Theo was insistent he take me.

“It’s my fault after all,” he said and I nodded because hell yeah it was his fault.

While Theo grabbed his coat and briefcase, I pulled my compact out of my purse and tried to straighten my hair.

I may have a possible broken nose, but I had my priorities after all and damned if I wouldn’t try to look my best given the situation.

Theo ushered me out to his car, a black beast of thing that I needed help to climb into. And I totally caught him checking out my ass as he lifted me into his Hummer.

I gave it an extra little shake, just for good measure, before depositing myself into the passenger seat. I was never one to waste an opportunity to be ogled.

Theo went around to the driver’s side and soon we were headed toward Bakersville General.

“I’m really sorry! I should have pushed the door open with a little less enthusiasm,” Theo apologized for the millionth time.

“I’m sure my face will be just fine,” I offered, still a little annoyed. But it was hard to hold anything against someone who was so sincere in their regret. Theo Anderson was a seriously nice guy.

He looked at me briefly, a soft smile on his face. He really was too pretty to be real. Cole was good-looking in a savage, rough and tumble sort of way. He was the kind of hot that made you fearful for your sanity.

Theo was good-looking in a way that was both safe and reassuring. He was the sort of gorgeous that made the perfect arm candy and looked great on Christmas cards. His was the kind of face that made you think about merging your DNA because you just knew your children would be unbelievable.

“I sure hope so. I’d never forgive myself if I did anything to mess up that beautiful face.”

Oh he was good. He was smooth without being obvious about it. He gave the compliment with just enough reserve that you’d never know he was flirting with you.

He cast a quick glance in my direction and I found myself preening, despite the wads of bloodied tissue I held against my nose.

I fluffed my hair a bit and stuck out my chest. I smoothed the lines of my skirt over my thighs and I noticed Theo’s eyes flickering to my legs. He swallowed and I knew he appreciated what he saw.