Bedside Manner: Silver Springs, #5

By Violet Rae

Can this silver fox convince his younger soulmate that age is simply a number?

Brayden
Leilani ignites protective instincts I never knew I had. The second I gaze into her baby blues, I know I'm looking at my future. But she's twenty years younger than me and fighting our shared attraction. Can I convince her that love can overcome any obstacle, and age is only a number?

Leilani
Lusting after sexy surgeon, Dr. Brayden Manner, is a definite no-no, but my rebellious heart wants to throw caution to the wind. When a car accident lands me in the hospital, and in his capable hands, I'm forced to re-evaluate my priorities. Brayden says we're perfect for each other. I want to believe him, but experience has taught me age gaps in relationships only lead to sorrow. I trusted him with my broken body . . . can I trust him with my heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Violet Rae
• Release date: May 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9798223414414

Book preview

Chapter 1

Brayden

The second I see her, I know I’m looking at my future. Seems almost too good to be true that my perfect woman would suddenly appear after all this time, but there she is. Everything changes in a split second. My blood runs hot in my veins, and my heart beats a tattoo against my ribs.

She hasn’t even opened her mouth yet, but I know she’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman. This blonde-haired beauty is curvy in all the right places. Her heavy breasts strain against her shirt, and her thick thighs and rounded ass are shown to perfection in her skinny jeans.

But it’s her eyes that hold me rooted to the spot. They’re the clearest shade of blue I’ve ever seen, fresh like the ocean with an underlying current of sadness. What—or who—has put that sadness in those cerulean depths? I want to know so I can soothe it away.

I’m hoping she won’t notice the effect she’s having on me. The beast in my boxers is wide awake, and my muscles coil with the need to touch her. There’s a familiarity about her, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Her smile is fixed in place as she extends a hand toward me. I’m Leilani Garrett from Picket Fence Realty. I’m sorry. I know you were expecting Liam to show you around, but unfortunately, he called in sick this morning, so forgive me for not having all your details to hand.

As her eyes fall on me, I suddenly realize who she is. This is Iris’s sister. Iris is married to Logan, my best friend, but Leilani and I have never met—until now.

I close my hand around hers, and electricity bounces across my skin, raw and unfiltered. Leilani’s eyelids flutter, and she sucks in a breath as if she feels it, too. I hold her hand longer than I should, unconsciously rubbing my thumb over her soft skin.

Brayden Manner, I murmur, finally forcing myself to relinquish her hand.

She frowns. Brayden Manner? Her eyes widen as she makes the connection. Logan’s friend? The doctor?

Surgeon. I nod. Logan and I served together in Afghanistan. I’m surprised our paths haven’t crossed until now, considering he and Iris have been married for what? Six months?

Leilani’s chuckle slides down my spine like warm molasses. A year.

A year? Huh. I shake my head. Time keeps getting away from me.

I know the feeling, she sighs. Anyway, as I said, I know you were expecting Liam, but I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.

Our eyes meet for the second time, and the attraction sizzling between us is undeniable. I must be twice her age, and from what little Logan has told me, that would be a problem.

Logan is fifteen years older than Iris, but they love each other with a passion I’ve rarely seen in my forty-five years on this spinning hunk of rock. Leilani was initially dead-set against their relationship because of their age difference. Logan has never elaborated on why, but now I’ve met this beauty, I want to know why. I want to know everything about her.

I don’t think ‘stuck’ is the right word. ‘Fortunate’ seems to fit better, I tell her, falling into her blue gaze.

Leilani clears her throat, and her eyes flare briefly before she shutters her expression. How about I show you around? I’m assuming Liam sent you all the relevant details?

He did. I hold up my phone, which has Liam’s email with details of the house I’m about to view.

I follow Leilani up the driveway to the front door, trying to keep my eyes off the globes of her exquisite ass as she walks. I imagine squeezing that roundness in my hands and sucking on her nipples as she rides me.

Shit. I need to calm the fuck down, or the monster in my boxers will be breaking and entering this house several inches ahead of me. My body responds to her in a way I’ve never experienced before. There’s a magnetic force pulling me toward her.

So, as you know, this is a five-bedroom, three-bathroom house with two reception rooms, a study, a fully-equipped kitchen and utility room, and a basement area currently being used as a games room. Large, private backyard with mature plants and a summerhouse. It’s a beautiful house. In fact, these houses rarely come on the market. People buy them, put down roots here, and stay for the long haul. It’s a great location with two schools close by, and it’s far enough from town to give you that rural feel, but not so far, you’re isolated from the local amenities. Leilani finishes her practiced introduction and turns to face me with a smile. I know I don’t need to tell you that Porter General is nearby.

No, you don’t, seeing as I practically live there, I chuckle.

Leilani considers me thoughtfully. Must be a stressful job, having people’s lives in your hands every day.

It can be. I nod. The most stressful part is coming to terms with those you can’t save. People liken us to gods when things go right and sue us for incompetence when they don’t. We live in the age of litigation.

You sound jaded, Leilani says bluntly, her eyes narrowed on me.

Why does it feel like she can see into my head? Hard not to be when you’ve seen war and the destruction it brings. I’ve saved more lives than I’ve lost, but that doesn’t mean those I couldn’t save don’t haunt me.

Shit. Where the hell did that come from? I don’t talk about this stuff with anyone except Logan, yet this woman’s got me vomiting a pile of overshare at her feet.

Leilani reaches out and places a