Page 74 of Yours to Keep

“What if I took you somewhere else?” I held her gaze, tightening my hold on her hips. “Somewhere nobody knows either of us. No hospital. No politics.”

“For how long?” she asked cautiously, staring up at me like she wasn’t sure a place like that even existed.

I made the decision on the spot. “A weekend.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. I have responsibilities. You have responsibilities. We can’t just disappear because you⁠—”

“Because I want to take you somewhere I’m allowed to hold your hand in public?” I cut in. “That doesn’t seem ridiculous to me at all, and if we have to leave the city to do it, we might as well go for long enough to make it worth our while.”

She exhaled slowly, eyes moving from one of mine to the other. “Where would you even take me?”

I shrugged. “Just agree and I’ll handle the rest.”

“That is the vaguest and most suspicious pitch I’ve ever heard.”

“Is that a yes?”

She studied me for so long, I almost lost hope, but finally, she turned out of my grip and handed over a plate. “It’s a maybe. Now eat. If we don’t leave soon, we’re going to be late.”

I grinned, triumph coursing through me because a maybe was all I needed. I’d turn it into a yes. “Okay, then. Let’s eat. Be ready after your shift on Friday, okay? I’ll pick you up.”

She sighed. “I still think it’s crazy to go away for a whole weekend just so we can have dinner together.”

“We could always make it a week,” I said, not even really joking, but she laughed anyway.

We raced through breakfast together. Then I went back to my place to shower and change while she headed straight for the hospital. Over the next few days, I worked on turning that maybe into a yes while at the same time making the arrangements.

By Thursday night, I had it all worked out. Grinning, I took a sip of my scotch and sent her a quick text.

Me: Pack for warm weather.

Bree: That is not information.

Me: It is if you trust me.

Bree: Sullivan.

Me: All you need is comfortable clothes, a swimsuit, and your passport.

Bree: My passport??

Me: Weekend trip, remember?

Bree: A passport, though?? You’re insane.

Me: Is that a no?

Three dots appeared, then disappeared, then reappeared again. It took a few minutes longer than I would’ve hoped for her response to come through, but finally, my phone chimed and relief sped through me.

Bree: What time are you picking me up?

Me: 6 p.m. I’ll be outside staff parking.

Bree: If this ends with me arrested or stranded somewhere, I will haunt you.