Love in Scrubs Series by AJ Renee Book Tour and Giveaway :)
Joshua
Love
in Scrubs Book 1
by
AJ Renee
Genre:
Contemporary Romance
From
the author of the St. Fleur series comes a fun tale of finding love
in the emergency room.
The
single life had been treating Hazel Rivera better than she’d
anticipated. With no one to report to, she did as she pleased, which
included if and when she’d have a man in her bed. She felt no shame
in satisfying her own needs, but when toy-play goes wrong, she earns
herself a visit to the emergency room.
Squirming
in pain, the last thing she expected was to find a sexy nurse
assigned to her room. She could lose herself in a man like him—sinful
eyes, full lips, and a kindhearted attitude—but before she can
catch Joshua Bradley again, she’s sent home.
When
life hands them a second chance, will they risk their hearts?
**Get
it FREE Aug 22nd – 26th!!**
I’m
not sure at what point during the movie Hazel laid her head on my
shoulder, and I don’t care. Her hair is soft against my cheek, and
I commit the smell to memory. My heart’s racing in my chest, and I
can’t focus on the screen. From what I’ve watched, it’s not a
bad movie. I’m just lost in Hazel. Nerves coursing through me, I
debate what to do… if anything. Carefully,
I raise my arm and scoop her hand. She shifts her fingers until they
link with mine. I feel her puff of air when she sighs, and I smile.
My stomach rolls with excitement and nerves. The feeling reminds me
of high school when crushing on girls was a thing. I
breathe a little easier at the small show of intimacy. My mind
settles a little, and my stomach rolls with waves of excitement. Half
an hour later, we all gather at the base of the stairs, attempting to
turn the corner now that the movie has ended. I shift my hand from
its new favorite spot at the base of her spine, and someone bumps
into me. Hazel
gasps and I freeze, my fingers curling automatically around the round
flesh of her ass. A handful really. It’s perfect in my hand, but I
must move it. “I’m so sorry,” I mutter and pull back. Studying
her in the dim light, surrounded by countless strangers, I’m not
sure what she’ll say or do. Embarrassment hits me, and I hope she
doesn’t think I did it on purpose. I want to. I want to take hold
of her hot cheeks and press her hips into mine. I want it like I want
my next breath, but I won’t do it yet.
Jason
Love
in Scrubs Book 2
Being
stood up for a first date was the last thing on Ava King’s mind.
Yet Mr. Wrong opened the door to Mr. Sexy, who’s already sitting
next to her at the bar. One drink becomes two, and going against her
own code, she goes home with the charming stranger.
Waking
in Jason’s foreign bed sends her into a panic, and she escapes
before any morning-after awkwardness can ensue.
Can
fate bring them together again to see if their chemistry transcends
one steamy night of passion?
“I’m
new to town,” he says, and I zero in on his lips. They’re lush,
kissable, and inviting. Will they be soft? “Welcome?”
I ask stupidly. “I’m sorry, I mean welcome to town.” I need to
get my shit in order. He
chuckles, his face softening with his amusement. The sound is
seductive and vibrates along my skin. He’s affecting me, and I can
tell he’s not trying. Holy shit, if he put work into it, I’d be a
puddle on the sticky bar floor. Sucking in a breath, I bring my cosmo
to my lips and take a drink, needing a moment to gather my wits. “Thanks—” A
woman steps between us with her back to me, cutting him off. “Hi,
handsome.” She purrs, and my brow rises toward my hairline. “What’s
your name?” Jason
finds me over the woman’s shoulder. He’s both apologetic and
surprised. My second drink arrives then, and the bartender shakes her
head with disgust and walks off. “Here
you are, Ava—baby,” he says leaning closer to me and attempting
to avoid the woman. She
turns in the small space and looks between us. “Oh, is this your
sister?” Seriously,
what the fuck is wrong with this woman? If I was on a date with
Jason, I’d light into her. Would I really? Okay, I’d be seething,
much like I feel right now. This woman has dismissed me entirely.
There are plenty of men milling about, and she’s picked Jason for
her next snack. “No,
she’s not,” Jason says. “I’m sorry, but I’m not available.” Her
face darkens before she huffs a breath and leaves us. “Not
available?” I press the new drink toward him, but his hand rests on
mine. It’s soft, large, and warm. A little zing of awareness makes
my heart stutter and I take note of the way he watches me. He
shakes his head. “Not for her, no. Please, enjoy the drink.” Whatever
I see behind his eyes I can’t identify, but it’s enough and I
nod. His hand returns to his drink, and once again I’m left
watching his throat work as he swallows. It’s a simple physical
reaction to drinking, but it has my full attention. He
smirks and turns toward me, aware I’m staring. “So, Ava … do you
always come to a bar by yourself?” My
face warms and I shake my head. Glancing around the bar, I note there
are a few more customers than when I arrived. “No, I was supposed
to meet someone.” I peek at my watch and see Henry’s now almost
twenty minutes late. Sighing, I lift my cosmo and finish it. “Dumbass,”
Jason mutters, and my head turns toward him. “Excuse
me?” He
coughs, choking on his drink. “Sorry, I didn’t mean you. The guy.
He’s a dumbass if he stood you up.” When he says “you,” he
takes his fill of me. It’s a quick one, but my body perks, and I
force myself not to preen at the attention. What
the hell is wrong with me? I’m not that woman. I don’t go to bars
and meet men. Hell, it’s been forever since I’ve gone to a bar
with friends, let alone by myself. Something about this man has me
acting out of sorts. I
sip from the new drink before nodding. “Yeah he’s a dumbass all
right. He’s not even my type.” “Then
why did you agree?” Jason asks as he twists in his seat. The bar’s
stools are bolted to the floor, so his legs brush mine. I
lean back on an elbow and wrap my other hand around my glass as I
face him. My knees are now between his, but they don’t really
touch. I feel the warmth from him though. He must be like a warm
blanket which could keep me comfortable all night long. With
a small shake of my head, I send the dangerous thoughts away. “I
agreed because the man wouldn’t stop. I hoped he’d finally see
what I’ve seen all along with one date.” “And
that’s what?” Jason’s intrigued and eager for more information.
His expression is serious. “Henry
and I have nothing in common past the building we work in. I tolerate
the man because he’s a customer, but that’s where it begins and
ends.” “Ouch!
You tolerate him?” Jason chuckles. Covering
my mouth, I giggle behind my hand. “Well, it’s the truth. What’s
the point in going through all this?” I say, waving my hand around.
“I mean, you’re here so what’s the point?” “Ouch,
you’re on fire now, aren’t you?” “Oh!
I didn’t—” “I’m
teasing, Ava. I have thicker skin than that. To be honest, I just
moved here and only came in for a drink. The company has been a
pleasant surprise.” I
don’t miss the meaning of his words. He’s not wrong. In the few
minutes around Jason, I’ve been enjoying myself. There’s no
pretense to be someone else. I’m comfortable enough, considering my
attraction to him. Speaking
of attraction… Now that we’re facing each other, I can truly
admire how handsome he is. It’s no wonder the bar bunny came
sniffing around. There’s something about an older man which appeals
to my tastes. Maybe it’s because I expect him to be more mature
than my peers. I’d
love to label a silver fox as drama-free, but there’s a good chance
he comes with baggage.
Wes
Love
in Scrubs Book Three
Nurse.
Mom. Daughter. Natalia Kruze wore many hats, but mom was the role she
was most proud of. As a single mom, she couldn’t be everywhere at
once, but she had been blessed with a patient son and helpful
parents. Dating wasn’t high on the priority list, so it was safe to
say it had been years since she’d experienced any kind of
electrifying spark from a man.
With
her defenses low after missing another soccer game, a patient catches
her eye. Sexy and decidedly stubborn, Wes Wilkins succeeds in leaving
his ER visit with her number.
Had
they finally found the love they deserved, or will they put their
dreams second to their kids’ needs?
Natalia
“Jeremy!”
I yell and stare at the pile of clothes next
to the hamper. “What?” My
eyes narrow on my son’s beautiful face, and I remind myself how
much I adore him. “Excuse me?” “Yes,
ma’am?” I
nod. Were you working on your basketball skills and failed?” Jeremy
looks from me to the pile I’m still pointing at. “Oh.” I
exhale with exasperation. “Look, honey, we need to work like a
team. Please clean up. I need to get you to school so I can start my
shift. Don’t forget I won’t make it to today’s game. I’ll be
home right after, so grab a ride with Mrs. Sanders if Grandma and
Pops aren’t there.” After
kissing his temple, seeing as I can no longer reach the top of his
head, I rush to plate the breakfast I threw together for us. This is
my life. It may not have turned out like I dreamed, but I wouldn’t
trade Jeremy in for the world. I
was a young mother at twenty-one—not quite a teen pregnancy but
still hard. Jeremy’s father decided rather quickly fatherhood
wasn’t for him and left us the moment two lines appeared.
Thankfully, my parents stepped in and helped us. I managed to finish
my Bachelor of Science in nursing with their assistance. I can’t
count the number of times I showed up to class with spit-up on me.
I’m sure if they swabbed my clothes in one of my labs, they would
have found all sorts of new-mother fun. After
fourteen years of doing the parenting gig on my own, I can safely say
it’s still a challenge. Dating is rare, and my parents are still
around to help. I don’t ask for a lot of help now that Jeremy is
older, but they still have us visit often. Jeremy
runs into the kitchen, backpack in hand, and picks up the fork on his
plate. In a matter of moments, the plate is devoid of the eggs and
toast I put on it. My kid looks up at me and to the stove, looking
for the pan I already put in the dishwasher. “No more?” “Grab
a banana. We gotta go,” I tell him and toss my wallet into a small
bag. He
grunts and carries his plate straight to the dishwasher without
rinsing it. I sigh but don’t say a word. Over the years I’ve
become better at picking my battles, and this isn’t one. When
we get to his school, we exchange “I love yous,” and I pat his
thigh good-bye. When he leans over and hugs me, I smile. Squeezing
him, I enjoy the rare treat of a teenage hug at school. “Bye,
honey.” “Bye,
Mom.” My
next stop, after watching him walk up the steps, is coffee. Thursday
mornings are my designated java pick-up days. I rattle off four
different orders and drive the last few blocks to work once I have
them. “Thank
God!” Jenna cries and plucks her order from the carrier. “One
of those mornings?” I ask and set the rest on a table. “One
word. Puberty.” Jenna drinks a healthy gulp of joe. I
nod and lock up my things. “Gotcha. I’ll be missing yet another
of Jeremy’s games if it makes you feel any better.” Jenna shoots
me a meaningful look. She may not be a single mom like I am, but she
misses her own share of activities. “Well, here’s hoping today is
an easy one.” Later
that evening, I look at the clock and sigh. Jeremy’s game is
halfway through by now, which means my guilt is high and I’m almost
through with my twelve-hour shift. I hate missing so many of his
games. These are moments I know I can’t get back. It hurts the
worst when I see understanding in Jeremy’s eyes versus anger or
frustration. He’s
a great kid. He does well in school, gives me very little attitude,
and is talented in sports. I’m hoping if he keeps it up, he can
earn a scholarship for college, but we have a few years left to
really worry about that. “Hey,
stop that!” Jenna scolds. “Stop
what?” I ask and set down the marker I was using. Jenna
waves her hand around my face. “That. Honey, I know you hate
missing his games, but he understands, so quit beating yourself up
about it.” “That’s
the problem, Jenna.” I sigh. “He’s only a boy. He shouldn’t
have to be this understanding about all the games I miss.” “No,
he shouldn’t, but life isn’t fair. You’ve got a great kid,
girl. No matter what you think, you’re doing really well by him.” “Natalia?”
Kara, another nurse on shift, calls out. “Yeah?” “You’ve
got a live one in room one.” I
nod and squeeze past Jenna who pats me on my back. “On my way.” Pulling
up the patient’s admittance tab on the computer, I read the notes
and frown. Forty-year-old
male with testicular pain.
Walking down the hall toward the triage room, I sift through my
knowledge of all the possible things responsible for testicular pain. Once
I learned I was having a boy, I put in extra focus into male anatomy
and physiology. I was determined to keep my boy safe and healthy to
my best ability. This thankfully helped me tackle those not-so-fun
talks about puberty. “Good
evening—” Any
other words centered around good bedside manners blank in my brain
the moment our eyes meet. Crap. His
crew-cut hairstyle highlights his strong jaw. A light smattering of
hair grows along it, and my hand itches with the need to see if it
will feel soft or rough along my palm. His jaw twitches, and I find a
sheen of sweat on his brow. The pain reflecting in his hazel eyes
pulls me back from my fog. I
clear my throat and hope I’m not blushing. “What brings you in
this evening, Mr.—” “Wilkins.
Call me Wes. I don’t suppose there’s a male
nurse on staff?” My
brows knit at his tone. “Sorry, there’s not,” I say. “What’s
bothering you that a female nurse can’t help you with?” “No,
it’s not—” He attempts to sit up, and he grunts in pain. I
move to his side. “Lie back down,” I tell him gently. “S-sorry.
Don’t mean to be an ass.” Concern
fills me at his words and the way his eyelids lower in pain. “Talk
to me. There’s no reason for you to suffer any pain. I assure you I
can help even if I don’t have the same parts as you.” “Definitely
don’t have the same parts,” he mumbles. He draws in a deep breath
and clears his throat. “My testicles hurt, and they’re swollen.” “Okay,
did you sustain an injury to them?” I ask reassuringly. He
looks away, and his words are too soft to hear. I
place my hand on his shoulder, and a weird sensation travels up my
arm at the contact. He turns toward me, and I see he felt whatever
just happened. “I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me,” I
say, ignoring the strange event and removing my hand. “I
had a vasectomy yesterday.” “Okay.”
I think of common complications that could occur with the procedure.
“Swelling and discomfort are common in the first forty-eight
hours—” His
lips pull into a hard line. “It looks like I have three testicles.” My
eyebrow raises. “Three?” “Yes.” “Okay.
We’ll look at it in a second. What have you done in the last twelve
hours?” His
eyes dart away again, and I realize whatever he’s been doing was
not what his doctor ordered. “Come on, fess up. If your testicles
are this swollen, you weren’t lying down and resting like I’m
sure your doctor ordered,” I say in my mom voice. “I
was at my kids’ baseball game …” The
way he says it leaves me thinking there is more. “Mhmm … sitting
on the stands?” He
shakes his head. “No, coaching.” “I
see. Did anything happen, since I expect you weren’t sitting in a
chair relaxing while you coached?” “One
of the boys fell. I, um, helped him up, and that’s when I stumbled
in pain.” “I
don’t suppose you coach toddlers?” I ask, knowing he’s going to
say no. “No,
freshmen.” “Definitely
surpasses the ten-pound weight restriction.” His
eyebrows snap together. “Look, I wasn’t going to miss the game!” I
raise my hands in the air. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any
offense. If it makes you feel any better, I’ve been here all day,
and I missed
my son’s baseball game tonight. One of many.” I whisper the
latter and turn away. “I’ll go see if the doctor is available to
perform your exam.” “Wait!”
he calls out when I reach the door. I
stop but don’t face him. I can’t. If I do, he’ll see the tears
forming. I’m never this short with my patients. I chalk it up to my
emotions after missing out on another event in Jeremy’s life. After
a moment, he apologizes and I walk out. This handsome stranger has
pressed more conflicting buttons than I care to admit. Ignoring the
fact that a man hasn’t managed to fluster both me and my lady bits
in … well, ever,
he’s a patient and therefore off limits.
AJ
Renee is the author behind the St. Fleur series, Beauty Unmasked,
Winter's Surprise, Surviving Paris, Finding Love at the Falls..., and
Kylie: Crossing Lines. She's a military wife and mother to three
young girls. She graduated from the University of Central Florida
with her Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of
Science in Psychology while working at the library.
She
loves to write steamy romance with suspense and a happily ever after.
When she isn't writing or interacting with her readers, you can find
her spending time with her family or reading. AJ enjoys traveling,
researching family history, and all things New Orleans.
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