It occurs to me in a sickening moment of dread that I never got the chance to tell his royal highness to steer clear of the executive suite. He won’t go there, will he? Oh God, please let him be more interested in operating rooms and laboratories than conference rooms.
Mr. Augustino instructed me to babysit Jason Northrup. In turn, he asked me to babysit Betty. So in reality, I’m just following orders by driving Betty to the airport, right? This has to fall somewhere under “other duties as assigned,” doesn’t it?
In the highly unlikely event that Betty ever returns to South Florida and encounters a medical crisis, she’ll remember the fine treatment provided by the staff of Miami-Dade General. There. I’ve done my part for public relations today.
“This is really nice of you,” Betty says as we take the airport exit.
“No problem at all.” I pull up to the curb at the departures level a few minutes later and release a sigh of relief that I didn’t hit anything on the way.
Oh my God!
My purse, wallet, driver’s license and cell phone are stashed in the top drawer of my desk back at the office. So on the return trip, I can also worry about being arrested for driving a “borrowed” car without a license. Fabulous!
The cop directing traffic at the drop-off area picks that moment to blow his whistle, which startles me and causes my foot to slip off the clutch. The car lurches forward and stalls. I miss hitting the car in front of me by less than an inch. It’s official—before this day is out, I’m going to suffer a nervous breakdown. Hopefully I’ll be back at the hospital when that happens.
Betty leans forward, stretching her neck to view the distance between the two cars. “That was a close one.”
“No kidding.”
“I’ll get out of your hair so you can get along back to work.”
“It was nice to meet you. I’m sorry you had such a lousy trip.”
“It wasn’t all bad,” Betty says with a shrug. “I found out there’re still nice people in the world willing to help a stranger in need.”
First impressions, I’m finding, are often misleading. “Take this.” I hand the fifty from Northrup to Betty. “He gave me this for your breakfast and cab fare.”
Betty eyes the money with uncertainty. “I wouldn’t feel right taking his money after all he did to help me.”
“Look at his car. I bet you need it more than he does. Take it. Get yourself home, and then you can write to him at the hospital and pay him back.”
Betty brightens at that idea. “I’ll do that. Thanks again, Carmen.”
“My pleasure.” I watch Betty scurry into the terminal, as well as anyone can “scurry” on four-inch heels. Her jerk of a boyfriend missed out on a gem, that’s for sure.
I return my focus to the task at hand, which is getting Dr. Jason Northrup’s Porsche back to the hospital without a scratch or dent and without getting myself arrested.
Preorder How Much I Feel and the sequel How Much I Care, Books 1 and 2 in my new Miami Nights Series, out on Aug. 11 and 18.
Thank you for reading All My Loving! I hope you enjoyed Landon and Amanda’s story as well as the chance to catch up with the rest of the family (and the moose)! I’m super excited to write Linc and Molly’s story next, and then it’ll be Max Abbott’s turn to find true love.
Many thanks to the wonderful team that supports me behind the scenes every day: Julie Cupp, Lisa Cafferty, Tia Kelly, Nikki Haley and Ashley Lopez. Thank you to Dan, Emily and Jake for always supporting my crazy career (and doing Facebook Live chats with me during quarantine), and thanks to my fantastic editorial team of Linda Ingmanson and Joyce Lamb, my beta readers Anne Woodall, Kara Conrad and Tracey Suppo, and to my author friend Grace Burrowes, for her help with the adoption laws and procedures. And a big thank you to my Vermont beta readers for all their help: Mona, Isabel, Betty, Juliane, Kasey, Katy, Deb, Jennifer, Nancy, Alice, Jessica and Marchia.
Join the All My Loving Reader Group to discuss Landon and Amanda’s story with spoilers allowed and encouraged. Also make sure you’re in the Green Mountain Reader Group and LIKE the Green Mountain/Butler, VT to never miss any news about the series.
We’ll be back in Vermont on Christmas Eve, and I can’t wait for Let It Be, Linc and Molly’s story. Make sure you preorder it now to read it the minute it goes live. Thanks for your support of this series and all my books. I appreciate my readers more than you’ll ever know!
Much love,
Marie
Other Books By Marie Force
Check out Marie’s titles available in Kindle Unlimited!
Contemporary Romances Available from Marie Force
The Green Mountain Series
Book 1: All You Need Is Love
(Will & Cameron)
Book 2: I Want to Hold Your Hand
(Nolan & Hannah)
Book 3: I Saw Her Standing There
(Colton & Lucy)
Book 4: And I Love Her
(Hunter & Megan)
Novella: You'll Be Mine
(Will & Cam’s Wedding)
Book 5: It's Only Love
(Gavin & Ella)
Book 6: Ain’t She Sweet
(Tyler & Charlotte)
Get the entire Green Mountain Series
The Butler, Vermont Series
(Continuation of Green Mountain)
Book 1: Every Little Thing
(Grayson & Emma)
Book 2: Can’t Buy Me Love
(Mary & Patrick)
Book 3: Here Comes the Sun
(Wade & Mia)
Book 4: Till There Was You
(Lucas & Dani)
Book 5: All My Loving
(Landon & Amanda)
Book 6: Let It Be
(Lincoln & Molly)
The Butler, Vermont Series Boxed Set: Books 1-4
The Gansett Island Series
Book 1: Maid for Love
(Maddie & Mac)
Book 2: Fool for Love
(Joe & Janey)
Book 3: Ready for Love
(Luke & Sydney)
Book 4: Falling for Love
(Grant & Stephanie)
Book 5: Hoping for Love
(Evan & Grace)
Book 6: Season for Love
(Owen & Laura)
Book 7: Longing for Love
(Blaine & Tiffany)
Book 8: Waiting for Love
(Adam & Abby)
Book 9: Time for Love
(David & Daisy)
Book 10: Meant for Love
(Jenny & Alex)
Book 10.5: Chance for Love, A Gansett Island Novella (Jared & Lizzie)
Book 11: Gansett After Dark
(Owen & Laura)
Book 12: Kisses After Dark
(Shane & Katie)
Book 13: Love After Dark
(Paul & Hope)
Book 14: Celebration After Dark
(Big Mac & Linda)
Book 15: Desire After Dark
(Slim & Erin)
Book 16: Light After Dark
(Mallory & Quinn)
Book 17: Victoria & Shannon (Episode 1)
Book 18: Kevin & Chelsea (Episode 2)
A Gansett Island Christmas Novella
Book 19: Mine After Dark
(Riley & Nikki)
Book 20: Yours After Dark
(Finn & Chloe)