Page 18 of Dr. Stone (Billionaires’ Club #9)

SEVENTEEN

Jace

I stepped into Mrs. Kilgore’s room, finding her propped against the pillows, cheeks pink, eyes bright—the picture of someone who had no intention of letting heart surgery slow her down.

“Well, look at you,” I said, flipping open her chart. “Still making a full recovery look easy.”

“I told you, Dr. Stone, not even this stubborn heart could keep me down.”

I grinned. At seventy-three, she had more spark than most people half her age. “That’s exactly why I like you. You give the Grim Reaper the finger and keep on going.”

She smirked. “So… when are we going on that date?”

I glanced up, catching the mischief in her eyes. “Flirting already? You’re going to give my nurses ideas.”

“They already have them,” she shot back.

I chuckled and stepped closer. “Well, I can offer you two tempting options. Option one—you and I go on that date you’ve been angling for. Option two—I transfer you to the Cardiac Surgery recovery floor so you’re only a couple of good days from busting out of here and back home.”

“I can’t have both?” she asked, feigning innocence.

“Afraid not. The last woman who asked for both… well, she still sends me Christmas cards.”

Mrs. Kilgore laughed so hard her monitor beeped. “As much as I’d love to scandalize my friends with a date with you, I think I’ll take option two. My roses and sweet Daisy are counting on me.”

“I’ve heard all there is to hear about those rose bushes; however, this is the first time I’m hearing about your love for daisies?” I said, giving her my full attention before I left the recovery floor.

“Daisy is my sweet teacup Yorkie. She’s such a doll.”

“You don’t say? I have a lady friend who just mentioned something about wanting a Yorkie,” I said. “Interesting it’s coming up with you now, Mrs. Kilgore.”

“Well, they are quite a popular dog breed,” she said. “Now, tell me about this lady friend of yours who wants one. Perhaps I can help you out.”

I smirked, “You are quite bold, and that’s what I’ve admired about you since the day I met you, Mrs. Kilgore.”

“I’m not prying into your personal life, Doc. I’m just taking advantage of the fact that my hot doctor might be interested in a Yorkie because, unfortunately, my daughter has to rehome hers. I’d take the mischievous little fellow in myself, but Daisy would never allow it.”

Interesting thought…

“Well, I’m not sure she’s a candidate for adopting a dog or anything. I’d have to run it by her,” I smiled and then winked. “And since I need excuses to continue contacting her, I’ll happily pass along the message. I can’t quite seem to lock this lovely lady down.”

She chuckled, “Ah, I like her already. Not falling so easily for the handsome doctor’s charms? Very admirable.”

“You could say that,” I sighed. “It’s partly my fault. I’ve been busy with work, and the only time I’ve had to give her was when I helped take her son to the ER for ear infections a few days ago.”

“Well, then, you’re off to a shitty start, young man,” she said while I laughed in response. “But if you think she’s in the market for a Yorkie, I have the one for you. He loves children and women, and he needs a good and loving home.”

“Her son is about a year old.”

“Perfect,” she said. “His name is Duke, and he was raised with little children. My five-year-old grandson was a toddler when my daughter brought Duke home as a puppy. If you think your friend will be interested, I will talk to my daughter about the possibility.”

“Why do I feel this is a blessing in disguise?” I said, standing. “Sure, go ahead and tell your daughter about my friend, Andie. I’ll see if she is up for adopting an adult dog or any dog, and we’ll go from there.”

“I don’t see why she wouldn’t want Duke?”

“Me either,” I said. “Now, rest up before you’re transferred, and I’ll be back to check on you when I’m back for my evening rounds.”

I left the hospital, excited that I might be able to help Andie get the kind of dog she mentioned loving the other night. This could be an excellent way to score some points with her. Even though the visit to Brandt was fantastic, Andie and I couldn’t seem to get past the fucking small talk.

I mean, I get it. We had a bit of a situation on our hands with her boy being sick. It wasn’t exactly your preferred date night, but still. I wanted to get past this part. Maybe I just sucked at dating?

“Stone,” I heard Collin Brooks call, catching up with me near the fountains in the garden that connected the hospital to the doctors’ offices. His grin was cocky as hell, same as always. “So, I hear you’ve been playing house with the goddess of love. Cute little date the other night?”

“Ha, lord only knows what Brandt thought about that,” I muttered.

“That you’re in over your head,” he said, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Which—spoiler alert—is exactly what the rest of us think, too.”

“I might be,” I admitted. “Hell, I’ve got Titus running on a ten, busting out helicopters and yachts. Meanwhile, I’m over here playing paramedic, taking her sick kid to my buddy, and then so buried in surgeries I haven’t even checked in.”

“Hold the hell up,” Collin cut me off, hand raised like he was flagging down traffic. “Hawk is flying her around in helicopters, throwing yacht parties, and probably building her a damn castle in Spain—and your play is… a dog? That’s not romance, Stone. That’s a pet adoption ad.”

“She mentioned wanting one?—”

“Yeah, and I’ve mentioned wanting abs like Chris Hemsworth. Doesn’t mean anyone’s delivered them to me with a bow,” he fired back, shaking his head. “Jesus, man. You’re Stone. Cardiothoracic god. You don’t chase a woman with chew toys—you chase her like she’s the only one worth the hunt.”

I narrowed my eyes. “If it helps, I don’t suck in bed. That much I know.”

He barked out a laugh. “Buddy, you’re proving my point. You think the win was what happened that night. It wasn’t. It’s what you do after . Right now, you’re looking like the guy who peaked on the yacht. And trust me—no one wants to date the highlight reel.”

I bristled, jaw tight. “So, what? I’m supposed to compete with Titus dollar-for-dollar? Helicopter for helicopter? That’s not me.”

“Exactly,” Collin said, voice suddenly sharper, almost serious.

“That’s why you’ve got the edge. You don’t win her with flash.

You win her by being the guy who sees her, who shows up, who’s got more grit than gloss.

Stop second-guessing and stop playing small.

She doesn’t need another billionaire. Women want a man who’s willing to fight for them instead of throwing shiny toys at the problem.

” He paused, pinning me with that maddeningly direct stare. “You do want the girl, right?”

I exhaled, somewhere between frustrated and relieved. Leave it to Collin to shoot me in the chest and hand me the bandage in the same breath.

“I thought that’s what I wanted,” I admitted. “But I’m not sure anymore. We can’t even seem to have a normal conversation. Half the time my brain shorts out, and the other half she’s ready for battle.”

Collin rolled his eyes. “God help me. That’s called being nervous, hot shot.

Shocking, I know.” He gave a low chuckle.

“That’s why you’ve got me. I’ll get the ball rolling for you.

But tell me this—” he pointed at me like a prosecutor—“you’re cool that she has a kid, right?

You can handle the whole stepdad thing?”

“Jesus, dude,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “I’m not trying to marry the woman. Can we maybe start with a normal date before you sign me up for Little League practice?”

“Well, you’re dating a single mom, big man.

You’ve got to have some concrete end-game goals here.

You don’t waste a single mom’s time or energy if you plan on being in their life.

They’re not easy dates, and you should always think long-term before you even step on the path so no one gets hurt, especially the kids. ”

“How would I know if I want to be a fucking stepdad or not? I like the woman and want to get to know her better. I’d like to see if there is potential for more between us, but like I said, I can’t get past the small talk.”

“You mentioned she wants a dog?”

“Right.”

“Then you’re going to show up with the fucking dog she wants, offer to pay for obedience school for a year, and do everything to make her and her son feel blessed to have you in their lives.

The small talk will wrap up on its own. She just doesn’t trust you yet.

You haven’t forgotten you were her one-night stand, right? ”

“That usually never works against me,” I said.

“Well, this time, you fucked a woman who has a sense of self-worth, and she’s going to make you bust your balls if you want more, not the other way around. That’s where your problem is,” he said. “You’re way too used to women begging for you, not the other way around.”

“I don’t think getting her a dog without discussing it with her first is a good idea,” I said, feeling frustrated that I was even having this conversation with Collin Brooks.

“Dude, trust me,” he said. “We’re getting information fed to us through Ash, okay?

Titus has already made plans with her again, and she accepted.

This whole love triangle you’ve entered is going to end up with your ass babysitting the kid while Titus flies her off to Paris for fashion week. Do you follow me?”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah, you went a little too fucking hard on the Mr. Nice Guy routine. Casanova Tycoon has got you beat by miles right now, my man. You’re not a fucking chump, so don’t act like one,” he said.

I chuckled, “Well, that’s all you fuckers ever refer to me as whenever I bring up my hot and spicy nights.”

“That shit is just to keep you on your toes. We can all see a difference here, and whether you even know what is so different about Andie, the truth is written all over you that something is fucking different.”

I sighed, “Fuck, this all almost seems like too much work.”

“If you can win the girl in the end, it’ll be worth it. Nothing perfect in this wretched life is ever free,” he chuckled.

“True,” I answered.

“Come on. It’s only six-thirty, and that gives us about thirty minutes to get Jake caught up and get some game plans in motion. One thing that must happen is that you’ll make time for her every day and allow her to see she’s more important to you than your fucking job.”

I couldn’t believe it had come to this, me seeking relationship advice from these two clowns.

The only reason I was going along with this was because I had to admit that when it came to relationships, I didn’t have the first clue what to do or where to start.

I guess I could thank my parents for that.