Page 30 of A Very Grumpy Doctor

She takes a shuddering breath.“We all got laid off today.The paper is folding.It’s silly.I’ve known this was coming for months, but it still hit me hard today.”

“It’s not silly.This was your job, your passion.Of course, it’s hard.”

“What am I going to do now?”she whispers.“I have some savings, but not much.I’ll burn through that fast.”

“You can find another job,” I promise.

She shakes her head.“Not here in Wolf Valley.Not as a journalist.”

“We’ll figure it out.”

She sniffles, and my heart breaks for her.

“I need to find a new job as soon as possible.I don’t want to lose this place.”

“I can pay your mortgage.I can help out.”

“No,” she says stubbornly.

I curse under my breath.“Iwantto, Alexi.”

“I’m not taking your money,” she says firmly.

I squeeze her hips.“What if it was our money?”

She frowns.“What does that mean?”

“Marry me.”

“Are you insane?”she shouts, jumping up off my lap.

“No.”

“We can’t get married!We’ve known each other for like five minutes!”

“It’s been closer to a week,” I correct.

She glares at me.“A week!You say that like it’s better!”

“It’s enough time for me to know that you’re it for me.I love you, Alexi.I think I fell in love with you the moment I saw you.I never believed in love at first sight.Not until it happened to me.”

She’s breathing harder now, her eyes indecisive.I know she wants to believe me, but she thinks she shouldn’t.I can’t have that, so I stand, closing the distance between us.

“I love you, baby.More than anything.I want to help you.I want to support you in everything: finding a new job, paying the bills, in sickness and in health.I want to be with you for all of it.I want you to lean on me, and I want to lean on you.I want a life with you.”

Tears swim in her dark blue eyes as I lean down, pressing our foreheads together.

“Let me be there for you.I want to give you whatever you need.Comfort, support, money.All of it.”

“I don’t want you to just give me money,” she says.

I huff out a laugh.“I don’t care about the money.I have more than enough.Take all of it.”

“Hugh—”

“I love you, baby.”

“You’re crazy.”