Page 403 of The Doctors Will See You Now

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I mean, I just felt like I was forced into eavesdropping or something. And, it was a conversation with your daughter. I guess it just made me feel uncomfortable that I’d overheard the whole thing, like I was invading your privacy. By accident, obviously, but still, I want you to know that I’m not that type of person.”

“No apology necessary, Char.” He kissed my forehead. “So, don’t waste time feeling bad about it. It’s not warranted in the least.”

“Okay, good,” I said on a relieved sigh, and before my mind could forget one very important thing, I added, “Also, I have a supplemental question…”

“Okay…” he responded, stretching the “a” sound out with a curious lilt to his honey-smooth voice.

“So…” I nodded toward his answering machine. “Did you have to order that thing from 1990 or 1991?”

“Smartass.” He rolled his eyes and laughed. “I had a feeling you’d have something to say about my answering machine.”

“I mean, it is an extremely rare and vintage sight. I’m shocked the Museum of Natural History hasn’t contacted you directly to procure it for an exhibit or something.”

“Are you done yet?”

“For now, yes. But, later? Probably not.” I grinned as I sat up on the bed and rested my back against the headboard. He handed me my mug of coffee, and I took a much-welcomed sip.

But still, I couldn’t hide my continuing smile.

He scowled once his gaze took in my expression. “It’s not that funny.”

“Oh, but it is,” I teased. “One of the country’s best neurosurgeons utilizes an answering machine from the nineties. Trust me, it’s hilarious.”

It was hilarious. But the thing I loved the most was the adorable half scowl, half smile that kissed his lips.

Goddamn, he was handsome. I had the urge to wrap myself up in his smile, his laugh, his gorgeous brown eyes, and stay there forever.

It had been years and years since I’d felt such a connection to another human being. My fiancé had been the last man I’d felt that way about, and when I really looked back on the past, on that relationship, I couldn’t recall ever feeling this invigorated, entranced, happy by another person’s presence.

What was happening to me?

It sounds like you’re falling for him, Char…

I shook off the insane thoughts and buried my nose in my coffee. I mean, I’d known this man no more than a blink in time. No way in hell was I already thinking that four-letter word.

That was completely crazy…right?

Me: They just asked a question about prime numbers, and I swear to God, my daughter rolled her eyes. ROLLED HER EYES. Like it was beneath her.

Charlotte: HAHA OMG. From what you’ve told me, it IS beneath her. She’s a math diva.

At the feel of Wes’s eyes on me, I locked the screen of my phone and slid it back into my pocket. We’d been here for two hours at this point, and he’d had his own phone out a time or two. But his gaze was decidedly heavy. He didn’t look mad or even judgmental—just highly fucking curious.

Given the recipient of my texts, that seemed just as bad.

I didn’t need him to pry. I’d barely known Charlotte a week. I didn’t need Wes getting a hint of anything and maybe ruffling some feathers with Winnie. She had all the power when it came to Lexi—she’d earned it. And I wasn’t willing to fuck with what I had. She hadn’t really had to give me any chance after the amount of time I’d left them to their own birthdays, holidays…everydays. But she had for Lexi. I knew that, and I was fucking grateful for it.

A buzzer sounded to indicate the end of the main round of competition, and Lexi’s eyes gleamed. Her team was up by five points, and the two questions in the final round were only worth three points apiece. The only way their opponents would win would be to sweep the round, and fuck me if they had a chance.

I mean, they were kids and shit. So, sure, they had a chance.

But they didn’t really have a chance.

Not only had my little girl been a dominating force the entire afternoon, but her teammates weren’t slouches either.

The first question was a complex diagram of triangles, and after being directed to assess the total number of triangles within it, one of Lexi’s teammates was the first to answer and do it correctly. Lexi smiled the smile of a schemer, like she’d purposely withheld from answering to give the other team a slight advantage solely for her entertainment.

She was a cat, and they were just mice to toy with.