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Justice nodded and fell into step beside me as I resumed my trek toward the front doors. “Thanks. I’m hoping you can help me with my daughter.”
I glanced at him with a raised eyebrow, and he laughed. Justice and his wife, Blair, had nine children, and I was pretty sure that at least six of them were girls. I’d probably met them all at some point, but I was a workaholic and rarely home, so I wasn’t sure I could pick any of them out of a lineup.
“Jenna. She’s my eldest daughter. She’ll be eighteen in a couple of months.”
A black Town Car idled at the curb as we stepped out into the late morning sunshine. It was a deceptively beautiful day. Despite the brightness of the sun, it was cold as hell. I grimaced when a rush of frigid February air blew over us and wrapped my long wool coat tightly around me.
My driver—and covert bodyguard—was just rounding the hood of the car and opened the back door. “Thanks, Linus,” I said with a smile before climbing inside. Justice greeted him warmly before sliding onto the seat next to me.
He was one of the few people who knew that Linus was more than just my chauffeur. Mainly because one of his best friends, Jonah Carrington, owned a security company and had found Linus for me.
Justice was also one of the few people who knew why I had a bodyguard. I certainly didn’t make peanuts at my job, but it was the medical research company I owned that put my net worth in the billions.
I was considered a prodigy growing up. I graduated from high school at sixteen and finished my bachelor's at eighteen. When I was in medical school and started doing my own research, one of my professors found out what I was working on and encouraged me to form a company.
Some of my ideas had been ground breaking, so our reputation grew at sonic speeds. By the time I graduated, I’d made several million and had expanded the business, opening several labs throughout the state of New York, each with a different specialized area of research.
Having that many zeros in my bank account alone made me a target, but I’d also been threatened a few times by people who reacted violently without doing their research. My company didn’t test on animals, yet I’d nearly been killed twice by activists. After the second attempt, I’d given in to Justice’s advice and hired Linus.
“How can I help you?” I asked my friend.
“Jenna graduates from high school in May, and she’s not sure what she wants to do. She loves kids and has a way with them that is just incredible, but she’s adamant that she doesn’t want to work with her mom at the K-Corp daycare. My wife suggested that she spend some time looking into other jobs that involve babies, and I remembered that your hospital has several volunteer positions that work with kids.”
I nodded. “We do the standard patient pals, room buddies, and open playroom, among others.”
“Yes, but doesn’t your hospital also have one of the few cuddler programs?”
“We do,” I confirmed. “But we don’t usually accept volunteers under twenty-one for that program.”
Justice leaned back against the seat and scratched his salt-and-pepper beard while thinking. “I can certainly understand that,” he replied eventually. “But Jenna is already a mature and responsible young woman. I’m sure she’d be happy to volunteer in any capacity you need, but if age isn’t a hard and fast rule, would you consider it?”
If what he said about her was correct, then I was open to his idea. “Send her to the hospital tomorrow after school,” I told him with a nod. “I’ll have the volunteer program coordinator go over her options. I promise to keep an eye on her, and if I feel like she’s a good fit, I’ll make sure she’s given a spot as a patient cuddler.”
Justice grinned and clapped me on the shoulder. “You just made me Dad of the year, Chase. Anytime I can return the favor, you just let me know.”
“I’ll think of something,” I chuckled. The car slowed to a stop in front of an employee entrance to the hospital administrative offices. “I have rounds tomorrow at five, so ask Jenna to try to get there before then. That way, I can get her squared away before my shift starts.”
“Will do,” he agreed as he exited the car, allowing me to get out before returning to his seat. “Oh, and Thatcher told me to remind you that poker is at his place on Tuesday instead of Jameson’s.”
“Duly noted.”
Justice and his brother, Thatcher, co-owned the investment firm K-Corp with Jameson Kennedy. I’d met them all when they took me on as a client ten years ago. The owners rarely managed accounts themselves anymore, but a friend had made the introduction, so I’d been given a coveted spot on their small list. Despite our age difference, I’d become good friends with all of them.
A year into my residency, an apartment had opened up in Justice’s building, and he’d offered it to me. It was a better investment to buy a place, but it was only me, and I had no intention of having a family anytime soon. Plus, the building had top-notch security, so I’d said yes.
“I’ll take Mr. Kendall wherever he needs to go, and I’ll be back at the end of your shift,” Linus said as he closed the car door. “Text me if you need me before then.”
I nodded before hurrying to the building entrance to get out of the cold.
“Dr. Sutton?”
My head whipped up at the sound of the vaguely familiar voice. One that was sexy as hell and sent a streak of desire straight to my dick. When I saw who stood in the doorway to my office, my jaw almost hit the floor.
“Sunshine?” I blurted, then mentally smacked myself upside the head.
But rather than be put off by my nickname, her lips curled into a smile, and her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. “It’s you,” she breathed.
The husky quality of her voice sent all the blood in my head rushing to my dick. I’d happily give up every penny in my bank account to hear her say my name like that again.
