Never Knew I Needed: Springwood, #9

By Aliyah Burke

He's determined to heal the pain he caused

Rutger Jasper is a doctor who has an earned and deserved reputation as a player with the ladies. There is one in town however that he keeps at a distance, but not for the reason she thinks.

Sasha Bouvet, a nurse, pursuing her law degree only admires Rutger from afar. Aside from their joking and teasing at work, she knows as she doesn't fit the mold of the type he chases, and she doesn't stand a chance. Until their one dance changes everything.

Unable to stay away, Rutger realizes his reasons in the past no longer matter. She's who he wants and he will do whatever it takes to become a permanent fixture in her life. She will be leaving after the Christmas holiday unless he convinces her to stay and give them a shot at a future together.

 

***This story was out in a boxset over the 2020 holiday season.***

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sensual Romance Publishing
• Release date: Nov 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201505974

Aliyah Burke

USA Today bestselling author Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She is happily married to a career military man. They are owned by six Borzoi. She spends her days at the day job, writing, and working with her dogs.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Happy birthday, Leandra.

Lifting her glass, Sasha Bouvet leaned forward to clink it to the ones there. Jules Tarrington—now Hamilton—and Leandra Brice—now Kendrick—met her in the middle. The noise falling faint below the cacophony of the bar. Even in Springwood, the bars could get rowdy. And tonight, well on top of it being Leandra’s birthday, it was ladies night.

Odd, that you’re here and not at home celebrating your birthday with your hunky rancher man. Sasha stared at the birthday girl.

They held gazes and drank as one.

Leandra flipped her off. I get him every night. You two, not enough.

Sasha loved these two girls, they were fast friends having met at a library fundraising event. They made things bearable for her. Even though they were both blissfully married. It’s a birthday. I wouldn’t miss that, she replied knowing the comment was directed at her. Her hours at the hospital made getting together with her two girls hard. She opted for the night shift, so the others could be with their family.

Plus she enjoyed her crew.

Birthday?

Her hand trembled at the deep timbre in the voice that had asked this question. Clenching her hand settled upon her leg into a brief fist, she ignored her friends’ questioning took and gazed over her shoulder to see her very own wet dream waiting there. And man, did he deliver in those dreams. Sleep. Awake. It didn’t ever seem to matter, any time she drifted off with her thoughts, he sauntered in looking all hot and sexy. Granted, in her dreams he was typically naked with one hand curved around his erect cock, waiting for her.

Rutger Jasper. Tall, broad-shoulders, lean waist and hips that she’d seen swivel around the dance floor that told her he would be a fucking genius in the bed. He was one of the most popular doctors they had. Everyone loved him.

She merely lusted after him.

In private. And not so private when the thoughts hit her as they were doing now. Quite possibly on an unhealthy basis. But hey, she wasn’t perfectly in charge of her lady bits.

Is today your birthday, Sash? Rutger asked.

Ok, so she melted a bit at his nickname for her. Yeah, she was a bit of a romantic.

Her girls lifted an eyebrow. Each.

Them she ignored. No, not me. I’m a Virgo. What the fuck?

His chiseled features morphed into a smile displaying that dimple in his left cheek he wielded like a damn weapon. He leaned closer surrounding her with his scent. Slight woodsy but all man.

Perfect. Her heartrate kicked up and she struggled to remain cool and collected. It was not working.

My perfect match.’’ He touched her on the tip of her nose and grinned. You owe me a dance, Virgo. He turned that charming smile to her friends. Y’all ladies enjoy your night. Back to her. One dance."

Then he left, charming all the women he passed.

Y’all? Juls asked.

Perfect match? Leandra added.

Jules arched an eyebrow and waggled a finger in her direction. Talk before I make up a story for you. I’m pretty sure it will be raunchy as fuck but unless there are real deets for me to use, it’s what I’m going to do.

Not sure what you mean. Sasha shrugged.

Leandra snorted and coughed, fanning her hand to her face as the tears welled up. Don’t give us that shit. I just about choked on my drink and I have to tell you, vodka up the nose is not a nice feeling.

They both meant it too.

Refusing to look out on the dance floor where she had no doubt he would be shaking that ass she could bounce a quarter off, she looked at them both, refusing to squirm. We work together. That was Dr. Rutger Jasper.

The women watched her, those damn hawklike gazes not missing a fucking thing.

Jules blinked and finished her drink before clasping her hands on the table, the lights above glinting off the massive diamond ring she had.

Sasha’s gut clenched with jealousy. Not because Jules had married a billionaire and had more money than she could begin to spend, not at all. She was jealous because Jules had found the love of her life and got to be held at night. Same with Leandra.

I could be wrong, Leandra said, her expression kind and gentle. It is loud in here, but did you not just hear her voice get all breathy when she said his name?

Bitch.

I did, Jules confirmed. Then there was that whole, ‘I’m a Virgo’ bit that fell out of her mouth. I mean, I’ve never heard our girl here get tripped up like that. Maybe we’re missing something.

Bitches. Both of them.

Their expressions were deadpanned as they watched her.

Sasha sighed. Fine. He’s the object of all my desires, is that what you wanted to hear?

They provided her with Cheshire grins at the same time.

Remind me why I put up with you both? Sasha asked with a raised brow.

You love us, they replied instantly and as one.

That isn’t a set in stone kind of thing, Sasha groused. It can change.

Go get your dance in, Leandra said waving her away. We’ll sit here and make up all kinds of things that you are wanting to do to him, both on and off the floor. Especially with that sexy Southern accent he has.

I heard that too, sounds like Texas.

You two are evil. She pointed her finger at them and slid off the chair. Her belly erupted in knots. She didn’t want to approach him, even with the guise of ladies night. I’m not asking him to dance. I’m going to get more drinks.

Why not?

"I don’t want to be another notch on his bedpost of revolving women. I have my fantasy, okay fantasies and I’ll keep them, thank you very much. They can’t be ruined this way." She walked off toward the bar before they could say anything else. As she wove through the crowd, she spotted him again. Holding some beautiful brunette close and personal as if she meant the world to him.

I suppose I could be a notch. Sasha doubted it however, he was too much of a player and enjoyed his single life from the looks of things.

Just then, he lifted his head from where it had been nearly in the woman’s neck, locked onto her and winked at Sasha.

Her stomach tightened and her nipples followed suit. Shaking her head, Sasha continued to the bar, not needing to do this to herself. Dreams were fine. One day, she might find someone who would be willing to treat her with kindness.

αβ

Rutger ran down the hall toward the emergency room in answer to the page, one hand around the stethoscope on his neck, so it wouldn’t fly off. Bursting into the area, he immediately found where he was needed.

Taking a place on the side of the gurney, he gripped the sheet and listened to Sasha countdown to lift. He hadn’t been on shift with her since before he’d seen her at the bar, Roadside.

They had a flirtatious relationship at work, then again, he did with pretty much everyone. While not the man whore description he’d heard linked to Cora’s husband, Cade Kendrick, used to be, Rutger was getting around town.

He liked Sasha. She was smart and had a fucking great head on her shoulders. She didn’t get rattled and that’s what he wanted in the nurses he worked with. He liked to think he wasn’t an asshole doctor who believed nurses were there as custodial staff to clean up and do shit work, because he knew how valuable they were. He would be hard pressed to do his job if he didn’t have such a great crew working with him.

They moved down the hall and he looked over the patient at her.

She kept rattling off the stats she knew, nothing but business.

When she took a breath and looked up at him, he winked and mouthed, Hey Virgo.

Her gaze sparkled in the fluorescent lights that had the capability to make everything ugly, but it didn’t right here. She just looked amazing. There was no response and none of the others with them commented. Again, it was his way.

They pushed into a room and he got to work.

An hour later, he walked into the breakroom and rubbed the back of his neck. He