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I ponder that for a few seconds. “I’ve never asked why you became a doctor. Especially a pediatrician. What made you choose that specialty?”
She hums softly. “I was really sick when I was little. The symptoms started when I was around seven. I had infective endocarditis. It’s an infection that damages the heart valves and disrupts the normal flow of blood to the heart. You’d never know it now, but I spent the better part of my childhood moving from one hospital to another. Endocarditis is usually healed through antibiotics, but it took a while before it was detected, and by the time I was taken to the hospital, it had spread. I had acute heart failure and I had to have a couple of surgeries. It was pretty life-threatening. I had surgery to repair my heart and a long recovery time, but I finally started to get better. There weren’t any complications after and I’m fine now.”
My voice is gruff as I speak. “I had no idea.”
“Yeah, my parents kept it pretty low-key,” she says softly. “Anyway, growing up like that surrounded by doctors and nurses fighting hard to save my life, I guess it bolstered my interest in pursuing medicine. I’m a survivor and I really wanted to give back in some way.”
I rub her arm for comfort.
“One of the doctors who participated in my surgery was this amazing woman, one of the best pediatric surgeons in the world. So, there you go. That’s my story, the reason I became a doctor.”
I have no idea what to say right now.
She lifts her head to look at me. When she notices my expression, she smiles. “I can’t believe I made you speechless.”
I swallow softly. “You have no idea how in awe I am of you, Tori Bianchi. You’re fucking amazing.”
“I know,” she says, beaming. She reaches up to place a soft kiss against my lips. “But it really doesn’t hurt to hear it.”
We fall asleep like that—her telling me stories of her experience as a doctor and me listening quietly, thinking that nothing’s ever felt more right than being with her.
There’s this niggling doubt taking root inside me, though. Warning bells are starting to sound in my head. Warning me not to get too attached.
After all, I grew up watching my father rip away all the things I got attached to.
CHAPTER17
Astoria
Akiss to the cheek is what wakes me up in the morning, followed by what I can honestly say is the best thing I’ve ever woken up to—a smiling Carlo D’Angelo.
“Hey,” he rumbles in a sleepy, sexy voice that has me tingling.
“Hi,” I say softly.
“It’s seven a.m. and you need to get ready for work.”
He kisses me on the lips. One barely-there kiss and then he’s sliding out of bed. I try and fail to hide my disappointment, scowling at his back.
“We can get ready together in the shower,” he suggests, turning around to shoot me a flirty wink.
My cheeks heat and my mood brightens.
“Who says I want to?” I challenge teasingly.
He smirks before reaching for me and pulling me to the edge of the bed. “And why wouldn’t you want to?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m not in the mood to shower with you.”
He starts massaging a spot on the edge of my neck and it takes a concentrated effort not to moan out loud.
Carlo shoots me a knowing look. “Want me to get you in the mood? I have a few ideas.”
There’s no mistaking what he plans to do. I grin and nod.
“That might not be a bad idea.”
He pretends to think about it for a second. “Lie down,dolcezza.”
