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I turned the scowl on Ruth as the elevator doors opened. “Did you list Dr. Rook as your PCP because you saw his name in your building?”

She sucked her cheeks in guiltily. “Maybe.”

“Oh my God. Youdon’thave a PCP?” I followed her into the elevator with an accusatory frown.

“I don’t need one,” she replied pertly.

My thumb mashed the third-floor button a little too hard. “Sure you don’t.”

Ruth folded her arms, and it pushed her breasts up so her cleavage nearly spilled out of her eyelet lace top. “Are you starting a fight over this?”

“Nope.” I drew in a breath for patience. “It’s your body.”

She gave me a dubious look. “Yes, it is.”

I jammed my molars together to keep from listing off the statistics that said seven out of ten deaths are caused by chronic health problems that could be caught in routine exams, or the fact that preventative care would literally add years of longevity to her life. I didn’t point out that her knee was a perfect example of why immediate health care was so importantbecause what could have been a visit with my tweezers and some ibuprofen had become a life-threatening infection and surgical procedure in a matter of days.

“I can hear you stewing,” she drawled.

I pressed my lips together hard. The elevator beeped, and I glanced down at Ruth with a silent look of censure. I took in her still-damp curls and the way her gray eyes watched me with uncertainty like I might blow a gasket. The doors opened, and I hooked my arm around her waist, fitting her to my side. “Relax, wifey,” I said low, glancing through the open doors at the lobby of her office. I tilted her chin up to me, bending down to bring my lips to hers. “It is your body… until it’s mine. And then you’re getting what you deserve.” I kissed her softly. “Make of that what you will.”

I felt her ribs halt, and she froze in my arms. Her hands came up and curled around my dress shirt, but instead of pushing me away, she pulled me in. She deepened our kiss, breathing in deeply, and it was only when the doors began to close, and I had to whip out an arm to stop them, that she finally stepped away. The receptionist behind the desk gawked. Ruth put a hand to her lips, glancing up at me, and then back down. “I should object to that.”

“But you don’t?” I guessed with a smile, leading her out of the elevator.

Her hand moved to the base of her throat. “No. And don’t you dare gloat.”

I grinned. “Sorry, I’m gloating.”

“Of course you are.” Ruth shook her head, scattering her curls down her shoulders, and she walked stiffly up to the front desk. “Good morning, Olivia.”

“Hi, Dr. C!” Olivia beamed at us both, her round cheeks dimpled with a smile. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.” She glanced between us as I came to stand by Ruth again and wrapped my arm casually around her hips. “Y’all are so cute.”

Ruth’s face went tomato red. “Yeah.”

I pinched her hip. “She has a knee injury, so tell me if she gets up and runs around the building.”

Olivia’s eyes widened. “Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that. I guess that means you won’t be participating in the volleyball tournament at the block party next weekend.”

Ruth gritted her teeth, clearly irritated at the mention of the party. “Probably not.”

“Block party?” I asked, rotating a significant look her way.

Ruth refused to look at me. “I’ll be there, though. Of course.”

Sneaky little minx. What was the point of having a fake husband if she wasn’t going to use me? Olivia turned a silent look of question my way, so I said easily, “We will be there. Naturally.”

“Oh!” Olivia turned in her chair, and with perfectly manicured red nails, she picked up three sheaves of paper. “You got some client feedback forms, Ruth.”

Ruth looked surprised but took them from Olivia with such timid care, as if they might have been rigged with explosives. “Are they… bad?”

“Oh, no,” Olivia said, like that was the last thing possible. “Your new three-choice system has gone over really well with the clients. They loved it, and two of them have had back-to-back dates already.”

Ruth put her fingers to her mouth, and her eyes danced down the page before she looked up with happiness lifting her features. “Wow. That’s so great.”

“Three-choice system?” I led Ruth away from the counter and waved to Olivia. “Nice to see you.”

“Same!” Olivia smiled brightly.