Page 48 of Dr. Stone (Billionaires’ Club #9)

FORTY-ONE

Andie

The sunset walks and all the little things—even being surrounded by the mystical, beautiful paintings in Ash’s gallery—felt brighter since I finally let go of my fear and hesitation and trusted Jace with my heart. Everything had become more vivid and wistful.

I was happy. Honestly, I felt even better than I did after first meeting Jace on the yacht.

I had no idea what shifted to align the stars like this, but I wasn’t asking questions anymore.

“Are you ready for Jace to pick you up and whisk your sexy little butt off into the sunset?” Ash asked, still unfazed by our inconveniencing her with our dog and needing her car a few days ago.

“I cannot figure out how you and Jake don’t hate us yet,” I sighed. “You’re too sweet, as always,” I smiled and hugged her.

Ash laughed into my hug and stepped back.

“That’s because I absolutely love everything about new love,” she said.

“When the Universe aligns two souls that were meant to be together…” she drifted off, floating up into her hippie-Ash world.

“It’s just beautiful. I experienced it with Jacob, and I know the feelings that come along with two perfect halves uniting. ”

“Oh, babe,” I said, smiling at her. “We’re barely starting to date, and although I can’t get the man out of my mind or this damn smile off my face, we’re just getting to know each other.

Unfortunately, getting to know each other means banishing the dog-who-hates-love to another room and risking Jake ending up with a case of blue balls so bad he might never speak to us again by the time we even figure out each other’s birthdays. ”

She rolled her eyes. “We’ve managed just fine with Duke.

Jake is just being dramatic so he can give Jace shit about it.

That’s how those men are, trust me. Duke is not a problem; in fact, he sleeps with Kaley and is becoming quite attached to her,” she laughed.

“ That might be your real problem; Duke never wanting to leave his favorite girl for you.”

I rubbed my forehead. “What an ordeal, you know?” I laughed. “I mean, I take in a perfect little dog from a guy who was trying to date me. I wind up dating him, and now that dog hates the guy, and I’m about to lose said dog because I can’t have him around if I want to be with the guy.”

“Sounds like a classic crossroads scenario,” Ash chirped. “Boyfriend or the dog?”

I laughed and shook my head. “There’s no better way to put it,” I said with honesty. “However, boyfriends come and go, and dogs stay loyal until the end, right? So, my choice should be easy here,” I teased.

“In my opinion, that dog’s loyalty is starting to shift to my little girl, and you’re about to lose the dog entirely.”

Our laughter and silly conversation came to a halt the moment Jace walked in. He pulled off his silver Ray-Bans, his hair tousled in that unmistakable just-fucked kind of way, looking like a gift from the gods.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he said, approaching me, kissing my cheek, and then turning to Ash. “Hey, Ash. Thanks again for keeping the dog for us tonight.”

“I was just telling Andie that soon enough, you both won’t have to worry about him,” Ash answered.

“How so?” Jace laughed, his hand sliding to my lower back. “Does Jake have plans to drop him off at an animal rescue shelter?”

“He wishes, but no. Kaley and Duke are best buds at home and the sitter’s house. They’re becoming quite inseparable.”

“No shit?” Jace said as if his secret prayers had been answered.

I nudged him in his side. “We’re not dumping the dog you gave me on Jake and Ash,” I chuckled.

“I don’t see why not?” Jace said, eyes bright and practically filled with holiday cheer. “The dog loves their daughter,” he extended his hand out toward Ash, “Ash loves him, too, and I think we should do what’s best for everyone, mainly the dog, you know?”

I narrowed my eyes at him while Ash laughed.

“You spend way too much time working with my husband,” Ash said. “You guys get out of here. We can’t wait to see you at our place for dinner tonight.”

“See you then,” I said, taking Jace’s hand and leaving work to go wherever this place was he’d been planning to take me since his seventy-two-hour-long shift.

“Okay, I’m very curious as to where we’re going.

You sounded like a little boy who just walked into a room full of Hot Wheels last night when you called to let me know Ash would be taking me to work and you’d be picking me up. ”

I eased my arm around his waist and leaned into him like we’d been a couple for years. His strong, imposing demeanor and commanding masculinity felt like second nature to him and to me.

“You’ll see, gorgeous,” he kissed my cheek.

We got into his sleek Aston Martin and drove up the coast, and I had no clue where we were headed.

“Ash told me about Sebastian’s dad,” I said. “I don’t know much about the Asters, but she said your family is close with them?”

He nodded, his hand casually gripping the steering wheel. “I’ve known them my entire life.” He smiled over at me, “Old man Sebastian is like an uncle to me. They’re some of our oldest family friends, doing vacations and other extravagant shit together for as long as I can remember.”

“It’s incredible that you saved his life,” I said.

His lips tightened and he let out a breath while changing lanes, “I’m thankful I was able to treat him like he was any other patient I’d bust my ass to save in that ER. I just had to bury my emotions pretty deep.”

I interlaced my fingers with his, loving the warmth and comfort I felt doing it. “I’m happy that you saved him. It appears you’re a damn fine doctor, Dr. Stone.”

He smiled and brought my hand up to his lips for a kiss. “It’s always awesome when I save a life, especially a friend’s.” He smiled at me, “Which brings me to what we’re doing today and why.”

“Ah, this I’m excited to hear about,” I said with excitement.

“I’m doing this for you with the hope that you easily accept gifts from the heart?”

I felt all warm and fuzzy inside, as every woman did who was falling in love.

“Of course,” I laughed, seeing the same excitement I heard on the phone last night.

“Just the answer I wanted and needed to hear.” He kissed the back of my hand again. “So, unfortunately…” he sighed. “Lord, how do I present this?”

“It’s just me. Just say it,” I urged.

“Well, my family and their circle are a lot like what you saw and experienced when you were with Titus.”

He paused and waited for my response.

“Okay? Are you trying to tell me you’re going to start acting like them now?”

“ Fuck no,” he stated emphatically. “Okay, after I saved Sebastian life, his wife, Margot, insisted that a celebration be thrown in my honor. I want you to come with me, and if you can’t find a sitter for Brandon?—”

“I cannot ask Jake and Ash to watch him again,” I said, chuckling.

“No, no,” he laughed. “I wanted to ask if you’d bring him along? When I introduce you to my family and their friends, I want them to see everything and every reason I want and need you in my life.”

“Good grief,” I leaned my elbow on the door and brought my hand to my forehead. “I’m so sorry for this, but I was already introduced to them…when I was with Titus.”

“Don’t worry about that,” he said. “Hawk will be there, too, and since you both parted ways as friends, that shouldn’t be awkward. But if you’re worried about what others might say, then don’t. Titus would never allow anyone to say anything negative about you. It’s just the kind of man he is.”

I inhaled deeply and nodded. “Okay, then. I’d be delighted to go with you. When is it?”

“Next weekend when I have Saturday off from work,” he answered. “Does that work for you?”

“My parents are taking Brandon next weekend,” I said.

“Ordinarily, they wouldn’t mind me shuffling weekends, and I know you said you want everyone to meet him, but maybe it should wait for a less formal setting?

It might be easier for me to navigate this for the first time without a one-year-old hanging on me. ”

He nodded. “I completely understand,” he agreed. “I would love my guy there, but perhaps you’re right. It would be much easier on him and you not to force the kid into an exhausting evening of lavish bullshit. He should enjoy his grandparents for the weekend instead of a bunch of strangers.”

“I love that you are so thoughtful when it comes to him,” I said. “Really, I do.”

He grinned. “Well, then you’ll love what I have planned for today for him…

and you, and of course, for me too. Now, I want you to know it’s yours, if you’ll take it.

The reason I’m gifting this to you, and covering all the extra expenses, is to show you what you mean to me, not just as my girlfriend, but as the person who’s transformed me into someone I barely recognize.

” He kissed my hand again and smiled. “I used to be stuck in a lonely, empty life, and if, for some reason, I fuck all this up by not living up to your boyfriend standards, I want you to know there are no strings attached to this gift. It’s simply my way of saying thank you. That’s all.”

“Damn, I almost feel like I need to sign a disclaimer from the way you’re talking about this gift. What did you do, buy me a new house?” I chuckled.

Then we turned into the luxury Porsche dealership in Beverly Hills.

“Oh, shit,” was my first and only response as I sat suddenly tense and not knowing what the fuck to think about this gift .

“Like I was saying before…” he paused, parked, and placed his hand over the seat rest. “There are no strings. I did this so we didn’t have to borrow Jake and Ash’s Range Rover anymore. We need an extra seat now that you’re allowing me to join in on all the fun with you and Brandon.”

I didn’t know what to say while Jace’s eyes roamed my face for something.

“It’s not an SUV. I didn’t think you’d be up for that since you drive a 911 Carrera,” he chuckled while my shock was subsiding.