Captivated: Emerson Falls, Book 3 (Emerson Falls Series)

by Harlow James

  My heart kick starts in my chest with the realization that earlier the thought of this woman was distracting me, and now I end up in the same hospital where she works.

  Well played universe, well played.

  “Yes, I did,” she replies, avoiding my face again by looking at the screen. “How are you feeling?”

  “Better now that I see how hot my nurse is.”

  Her heads twists towards me again and the look of disbelief on her face comes as a surprise, but it just fuels me to keep pushing her. I’ve been thinking about this woman for weeks and now that she’s not just a figment of my imagination, I come alive with the prospect of knowing more about her, answering all the questions that arose from our first encounter. Of course, flirting with her is high on the list as well, especially now that I have the whole view of her curvy body and how professional she looks in her scrubs. Fuck. I never thought scrubs could be a turn on, but boy, was I wrong.

  “You must have hit your head harder than I thought if you think it’s appropriate to hit on your nurse, Deputy,” she raises a brow before reaching for the blood pressure cuff and wrapping it around my bicep. The graze of her fingers on my flesh sends electricity coursing through my veins. Damn. Even her touch signals more blood to rush south, my half erection from before making a fast sprint towards full.

  “Cash… my name is Cash.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  “Then why are you still calling me Deputy?” I press, watching her secure the Velcro and then pump the balloon to inflate the sleeve.

  “Seems fitting. I need you to stop talking for a minute, please,” she gestures to the machine that is reading my blood pressure.

  “That’s virtually impossible in the presence of a beautiful woman.”

  Pink floods her cheeks before she turns away from me to hide. I can’t fight the grin on my face knowing I have an effect on her—and that the effect she had on me is not just one-sided.

  “Do you remember what landed you in the hospital?” she questions while looking down at her stethoscope placed against my vein.

  “I’m pretty sure based on my reaction when I woke up that I don’t.”

  “You were in an accident,” she replies, and suddenly the moment comes back.

  “Ah, yes. Some idiot was going the wrong way down a one-way street,” I tease, and she releases the pressure in the cuff and pulls her stethoscope from her ears.

  “So apparently it’s more common than you thought, huh?” She says, offering me a sly smile.

  “That people don’t know how to read street signs? I guess so…”

  “Well, when the collision happened you were knocked unconscious, hit your head pretty hard on the window, causing the glass to shatter. You have a few stitches in your eyebrow and a mild concussion. The doctor will be in shortly to explain everything in detail, but in the meantime, I’m sure the ladies blowing up your phone can keep you company,” she explains, and I can’t help but hear the bite to her words.

  “I’d rather have your company.”

  She offers me a saccharine smile. “I’m sorry, but being your source of entertainment tonight is not on the agenda. I have a job to do, which includes taking care of other people besides you.”

  “You don’t like me, do you?” I tilt my head in question as I feel my pulse pick up speed. The fact that this woman isn’t taken with me like every other woman I meet offers up a challenge that makes her even more desirable.

  “I don’t know you. And it’s not my job to like you. It’s my job to take care of you,” she purses her lips while studying my face. The silence that falls between us as we stare each other down makes the sexual tension sky rocket. I know she has to feel this—the pull between us that makes me want to fuck her more than I’ve wanted a woman in a long time.

  “Piper, I need your help please,” a black-haired nurse with the stature to rival Tinkerbell pops her head into the room, breaking our moment.

  “Be right there,” she replies, ripping off the blood pressure cuff, relocating it to its position on the wall, and then picking up a chart on the table and making her way around my bed.

  “I’ll be waiting for you to come back and give me my sponge bath, nurse,” I call after her, granting me with an eye roll and a tight smile of her lips.

  “Don’t count on it,” she fires back as I watch her ass while she walks away.

  Fuck. Not only is she gorgeous and obviously smart as a whip to be a nurse, but she didn’t shy away from going tit for tat with me—and that makes her even more attractive.

  Piper Davis. A long-legged blonde with ocean blue eyes and a sarcastic rebuttal that makes my dick hard… yeah, I think I have a problem, and not just the long and hard one that is still tenting my hospital gown.

  Chapter 4

  Piper

  “Got your first taste of Deputy Williams, did you?” Jess asks as I follow her down the hall, both of our ponytails swaying as we walk.

  “Not my first encounter with the man, no. But the last time was in a professional setting, so apparently the horndog of a man lying in that hospital bed is the real version?” I ask as we walk across the tile to the other side of the ER.

  Jess laughs. “Sounds about right. When did you meet him before?”

  “He, uh, actually pulled me over when I was on my way to the interview for this job.”

  “Nice.”

  “Yeah, and he seemed that way that day too. Let me off with a warning when I went the wrong way down a one-way street. Seriously, I just don’t see the point of roads like that, but that’s neither here nor there. Anyway, he was professional, understanding…”

  “Easy on the eyes?” Jess sends a look my way and I can’t help but mentally reply with a yes—but I don’t dare voice that opinion out loud. Truth be told, I was taken aback by just how handsome the man was when he removed his sunglasses and met my eyes with his. I can still feel the lump in my throat that formed when my heart picked up speed at the sight of him—dirty blonde hair cut short and neatly styled on his head, light blue eyes with flecks of yellow that rimmed his pupils, his strong and muscular body highlighted by the tight fit of his uniform, his stature that demanded control and respect, but was contradicted by the kindness of his eyes.

  It was the first time I had reacted to a man that way since I met Mason—and that realization was terrifying when I think about how little I knew about the man I was supposed to marry.

  But then tonight I got to meet the other version of Deputy Williams—Cash Williams, who apparently has a sexual prowess to rival that of a porn star with the way women were blowing up his phone. I know it was unprofessional to read his text messages, but they popped up on the screen every time one came through—and the notifications were so distracting that I finally had to silence the phone so my ears would stop ringing. Luckily the phone wasn’t locked by a password so I could silence it, but not before glancing down to some racy words laced full of sexual inuendo.

  “He’s not bad to look at, I suppose, but I’m definitely not interested. Say, who is Misty Chambers?” I ask, noting that most of the messages that came through on his phone were from the same number. In each message, she was sure to clarify that it was her.

  “Ha! She’s the female version of Cash, actually. The fact that they’re talking doesn’t surprise me. They deserve each other,” she chuckles.

  “She seems hell bent on getting his attention, that’s for sure.”

  “If you know what’s good for you, Piper, don’t let Cash Williams charm his way into your pants, alright? I’ve avoided that ride, but some girls aren’t so lucky. Word is that he’ll blow your mind in bed, but that’s all he’s good for. In fact, he leads every hook-up with those exact words. But still, you know women. They hear one thing but think another. I can’t tell you how many girls have been victims of his game.”

  “Oh, don’t worry, I have no interest in going there. I just can’t believe he had the audacity to hit on me while I’m on the job and after his phone was
blowing up the way it was,” I scoff.

  “I can. That’s what he does. The man is a player, always has been, and probably always will be. He can flirt like it’s a professional sport and charm the pants off of women left and right with those eyes and that smile. But he’s just like every other good-looking man—he knows it and uses it to his advantage,” she says as we arrive at the closed curtain around one of the bays she was assigned to tonight.

  I glance over at her and can’t help but see the resentment on her face. Seems Jess has some experience with being used if my intuition is correct. But I don’t want to prod, because then she’ll expect me to share in return, and I’m trying hard not to go there.

  “So,” she begins in a whisper. “This is why I need your help. It appears we have a situation on our hands with the misplacement of a sex toy.” She flicks her eyes to the curtain and then back to me, widening them in surprise.

  “Oh boy, okay,” I chuckle then cover my mouth.

  “Yup, the tales of the job you can never be prepared for,” she winks and then pulls back the curtain, where Jess and I calmly assure a twenty-something girl that at one point in our lives, we all end up with a vibrating cock ring lodged deep in our vaginas. Heartwarmingly, her boyfriend is right beside her holding her hand while we extract the rubber ring that got caught on her IUD.

  By the time the toy is safely located and I’ve tended to a few more patients, I make my way back to Cash’s room. After he was checked out in the ER, he was moved to a private room where he would stay through the night for observation. He was my patient when he was brought in by ambulance, and since I have a slow moment during my shift, I take responsibility for checking in on him again. That’s my justification as I make my way back, knowing there are other nurses on this floor that can tend to him now, but my conscience won’t let me rest until I know he’s alright since I encountered him first. Yeah, that’s it—that’s the only reason I feel the need to check on him.

  Not wanting to immediately step into the lion’s den, I peer around the open doorway and steal a look at the man lying in the bed, still sexy as sin even in a green and white dotted hospital gown. His lips are slightly parted as he stares out the window into the black sky slowly starting to illuminate as the sun begins to rise. His hands are laced together in his lap, showcasing those sexy forearms full of sinew and corded muscle leading to strong hands displaying long and thick fingers.

  As I watch him sit there, pondering God knows what, I take a moment to study the hard line of his jaw, the taught muscles of his biceps, and the curve of his lips that are impossibly unfair for a man to have. Cash Williams could be a GQ model with how beautiful he is. But he also has this ruggedness to him that increases the testosterone filtering out of his pores, only exacerbated now by the cuts on his face from the shattered glass and the few stitches atop his eyebrow—such a contrast to the preppy, slender men I’m used to encountering back home, adorning blue blazers, khaki pants, and sweater vests like they’re going out of style, which I’m pretty sure they have.

  I hear Jess’s warning loud and clear, yet there’s something about him that I find intriguing. Usually if a man is a man-whore as Jess says Cash is, there’s a reason. Either he was hurt once before by love or he just hasn’t found a woman worth settling down for.

  What the hell are you thinking, Pfeiffer? You don’t care about this man’s love life or lack thereof! You are here to hide, stay safe, and keep your head low until everything settles back home. The last thing you need is a distraction in the form of a sexy-as-hell deputy with emotional baggage.

  I straighten my spine, slide my curiosity to the back of my mind, and muster up the courage to walk back inside his room and check his vitals.

  “How are you feeling?” I ask as his head spins at the sound of my voice.

  “Fine. A little woozy, but not too bad. Definitely better now that you’re back,” he smiles seductively as his eyes track my every movement. I swear, the heat of his gaze is burning a hole through my scrubs.

  “That’s to be expected. Has the doctor come by and spoken to you yet?” I move around the room, ignoring his comment and arriving at the computer stationed next to the IV machine and monitor.

  “He just left actually… says I have to stay until the afternoon at least because of the concussion, just to be on the safe side. It’s not ideal, but at least I get to see you a little more.” The rasp of his voice coats my body in a wave of excitement that is unparalleled to anything I’ve ever experienced from a man before. If my body’s reaction to his desire to spend time with me is any indication, I’d say I have an unexpected problem on my hands.

  This is not good, Pfeiffer. You’re having too strong of a reaction to this man. You need to stay away from him. You came here to be safe, get away from the chaos that your life became. A hunky man who can sweet talk you like a professional is an unwanted distraction. He’s a man-whore, remember? A player.

  “Well, lucky for me, my shift ends in about an hour, so sorry… maybe you can call one of your other girlfriends to keep you company,” I say without looking in his direction, because I don’t want him to know that his stare is having an effect on me, that his voice makes me want to clench my thighs together, or that underneath the padding of my bra my nipples are hard.

  Keep deflecting him, Pfeiffer… let him know his smooth words are doing nothing for your libido right now.

  “Shame. Then maybe you’d be interested in spending time with me outside of the hospital sometime?” The corner of his mouth tips up as my eyes turn to him, shock registering on my face, I’m sure.

  “Are you serious?” I say through a chuckle.

  “Do you think I’m not?”

  “Wow, you sure have some balls, don’t you, Deputy?” I turn away from him and check the level of his IV bag.

  “I can show you, if you want.”

  I shake my head. “That won’t be necessary. I see enough balls on a day to day basis that yours would just blend in at this point.”

  “I beg to differ. I’m fairly certain my balls would be more than memorable. Of course, it’s what’s attached to them that would help you never forget the sight…”

  “Do you hear yourself?” I face him again, placing my hands on my hips for emphasis. “You’re sitting here talking to me about your dick and balls after you just asked me out! You’re delusional…”

  “I’ve never had any complaints on what I’m packing below the belt, I assure you. Come on, Piper. You can’t deny the chemistry here,” he chuckles and all I can feel now is the heat from my anger rising inside my body.

  “The only chemical reaction I’m feeling is the need to unleash some aggression due to your lack of respect for women. Obviously, a female is nothing but a physical plaything for you to enjoy, based on the hordes of messages you receive and how you so blatantly have been coming on to me since you woke up. Unluckily for you, I’m not a woman who thrives off of that kind of attention. So no, Deputy, we will not be spending time together outside of this hospital room and after I leave right now, you won’t see me again in this hospital anymore as well. I sincerely hope the bump on your head is the cause of your disgusting display of interest, and this is not how you typically behave—but if the words I’ve heard about you from others are any indication, I’d say you’ve lived up to the reputation you’ve earned. I hope you feel better soon.”

  I log out of the computer and stride towards the door, but not before Cash replies, leaving me even more fired up from his words as I stop at the sound of his voice.

  “Fight it all you want, Piper—but this isn’t over. We will see each other again. It’s a small town and we’re bound to cross paths eventually. You think you know me, but don’t worry sweetheart, I’m full of surprises.”

  I don’t bother to turn around before walking off. I’ve had plenty of surprises in my life recently, and any that Cash Williams can manage are ones I’m not sure I can handle.

  Chapter 5

  Piper


  “So, how are things going? I miss you so much, Pfeiffer.” I’m on the phone with my best friend Rachel from back home, and we haven’t spoken in weeks.

  “Gosh, where do I begin. First, I’m doing well, better than I thought I would be, honestly. I love my job, Rach. Even though I didn’t want to leave, I’m so glad my parents made me because I don’t know if I could have sacrificed this feeling for anything.”

  “The feeling of finally being a nurse?”

  “Yes. You know how hard I worked for that.”

  She sighs. “I remember every tear and study session, Pfeiffer. I know. I’m so happy for you, hun. Do you like the hospital? Your co-workers?”

  I walk across my kitchen, gathering a few eggs and cheese from the fridge to make myself an omelet. It’s my first full day off from work this week, so I took advantage and slept in a bit and now will enjoy my breakfast, a hot cup of coffee, and a catch up session with my best friend.

  “It’s perfect. This place isn’t a huge town, so the hospital isn’t large, but the people are extremely friendly. One of the other nurses, Jess, reminds me a lot of you. We’ve formed a strong bond, and I’m not gonna lie—it feels nice to feel connected to someone again.”

  “Well, it’s been over six months since you left, Pfeiffer. I’d be going crazy without my friends or family.”

  Sadness hits me in a wave as I think about how much I miss my life back home. My parents, Rachel, our group of friends that we hung out with at the country club. Although I don’t miss the pretenses that had to be met in our social circle. It seems like another lifetime ago—when in reality, it really is. I have a new life now for the foreseeable future.

  “In all honesty, the only person I miss besides my mom and dad is you,” I say before taking a sip of my coffee. Cracking a few eggs in a bowl, I scramble them with a fork while I wait for my frying pan to heat up.