Page 33 of Dr. Stone (Billionaires’ Club #9)

TWENTY-NINE

Jace

I finished the last of my office work at ten this morning, tightening up a few medical charts for patients. It sucked having to come in on my day off, but I was playing catch-up from the last week of nonstop hell.

“Here’s the deal,” Jake said while I was packing up, hoping not to see anyone.

I glanced at my watch. “You’ve got fifteen minutes to tell me the deal—which I’m going to refuse, because I have to pick up Andie for lunch.”

He leaned casually in my doorway, smiling brighter than the lights in the OR, and nodded. “I’m not asking you to come on shift, dipfucker,” he sighed. “Ah, love. Love. Love?—”

“Jake, honestly, I don’t have time for you to quote Ben Stiller from one of your movies. I seriously have?—”

“Wasted enough time when it comes to dating Andie? Yeah, we know.” He smirked. “I’ll hit you straight. What car did you plan to impress her with today?”

“I brought my bike, which is why I’m in jeans and a shirt,” I said, shutting down the computer and clearing my desk.

“You brought your bike?”

“Why not? Your first date with Ash was on yours,” I nudged him, trying to get past. “Worked out well for you in the end.”

His eyes narrowed. “Champion move, pal. Following me for inspiration.”

“I’m not following you for shit. I’m just shutting you up so I can get out of here.”

“Damn, this is nice, you know that?” Jake said, trailing after me.

“What’s nice, me being a total dick to you right now?” I asked, stepping onto the bridge toward the parking garage.

“The fact that you’re officially off the market. You just brushed off Steph again. You know that RN is about to corner you for ignoring her, right?”

“She and I never were, and never will be, a thing,” I muttered.

“She didn’t know that, though, you casual flirt!” He laughed. “Seriously—it’s nice not having you seduce every woman in this place anymore. Now maybe they can focus on bigger and better men.”

“So, is that what you needed to talk about? No more office drama for the chief?”

“No, even better.” He grinned. “Because you’ve been dragging your ass, Ash and I decided to give you and Andie a little push. You’re welcome.”

“How so?”

He glanced at my bike. “You thought of it all, huh?”

“Yep,” I said, grinning as my adrenaline surged the second my bike growled to life.

“Except I don’t see a helmet for Andie?”

“Shit!” I knew I’d screw something up by trying too hard.

Jake chuckled. “Good thing Ash’s helmet is at the gallery for the romantic rides I take her on.”

“Thank God, man.”

“Just a heads-up—Andie’s probably arguing with Ash right now about us meddling. You might want to work that bike a little harder to unwind her nerves.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ll see.” He smirked. “Dinner at Darcy’s tomorrow. You’re buying.”

“I always am,” I said, pulling on my helmet and taking off with two minutes to spare.

The forty-minute ride down PCH helped. By the time I pulled into the gallery in Malibu, I felt more in control, the nerves fading with each mile.

I wanted to know the real Andie—her favorite color, food, the show she binged when no one was watching.

Did she like books? Music? I didn’t know, but I wanted to.

Needed to. It wasn’t just that night in bed—though, damn, that had been unforgettable.

This pull toward her was something else entirely, and I couldn’t shake it.

“Hey, gorgeous,” I said. “Ready for lunch?”

“Apparently we have the rest of the day and evening too—should you want to spend more time with me,” she said.

“You seem annoyed by that?”

“I’m not. I just feel like I’m the worst mom in the world if I let Ash pick Brandon up from the sitter again so she can watch him for us.”

I stepped closer, smiling when she rolled her eyes. “How about this—after lunch, I’ll bring you back here so you can grab your car. If you want more time after you get Brandon, I’ll invite you to my place…or I’ll hang at yours.”

She blinked, like I’d surprised her. “I’d like that,” she said softly, then pulled back, almost as if she’d felt the same pulse of energy crackle between us.

“You sure? You’ve got a look,” I teased.

“You remembered my son’s name,” she said, smiling in a way that damn near wrecked me. “Thank you.”

“No thanks needed. He and I hit it off that night. I even remember Duke’s name, too.”

She laughed. “That means everything to me.”

“Oh, quick question—you up for a ride on my bike? Otherwise, you’re driving, Miller.”

Her daring smile was all the answer I needed. “I think that would be sexy as hell. Except…no helmet, and I’m not dressed for it.”

“Your outfit’s perfect. Ash has a spare helmet. Jake said she’d set you up.”

“Yes,” she laughed, heading toward the painting room. “Apparently they’re babysitting my ‘carefree ass’ again this afternoon.”

“Andie.” I stopped her. She turned, and damn—her beauty would never stop hitting me like a punch to the chest. “Don’t talk about yourself like that. From everything I’ve heard, you’re a mom who puts her son before everything else. Even yourself.”

She licked her lips, uneasy with the compliment. “Everyone says that. I just don’t feel like it.” Then she softened. “But yes, to your earlier offer. Brandon, Duke, and I would love to have you over tonight. Hope you’re up for chicken nuggets and fries?”

I chuckled. “More than a Michelin-starred meal, gorgeous.”

“A walk on the beach after, maybe?”

“Am I pushing the stroller or walking the dog?”

“Walking the dog,” she grinned. “He hates men around women.”

“I’ll win him over in minutes.”

“That’s what Jake said.”

“Come on, let’s get out of here. I’m starving.”

Andie climbed onto the back of my bike like she’d done it a hundred times. Her hands slipped around my waist, her body molded to mine, and heat pulsed through me so sharp I almost ditched lunch altogether.

The engine rumbled beneath us as I pulled onto the highway, ocean glittering to our left. It was magic. But all I could focus on was her. The way her tailored slacks hugged her body. The way her grip tightened on me every time I shifted gears.

The ride was quiet, but the tension was loud—screaming everything we weren’t saying, everything we were about to finally give in to.

By the time we pulled into Paradise Cove and I killed the engine, we were both ready for more than food. Maybe she’d take Jake and Ash up on their babysitting offer. Maybe tonight, we’d finally make up for lost time.