Page 36 of Dr. Stone

He glanced over at me, “Something tells me you know what I’m talking about, but for some odd reason, you won’t admit to it.”

Fuck.

“Is it too personal or something? Maybe bad memories?” he pried.

“Not at all,” I answered. “I love everything you mentioned about them. My dad owns a yacht company up in Santa Barbara. He’s a broker.”

“No shit?” he said as if that info blew him away.

“What’s the name of it?”

“My dad’s company?” I laughed. “Why? Are you gonna buy a sailboat from him?”

“No,” he laughed that off. “My dad is in the same business, but he works out of Los Angeles. If he’s not merging with a yacht or private aviation company, he’s competing with them and forcing a hostile takeover.”

“Damn. So, you’re telling me I’m with the son of a man who would put my dad out of business in a heartbeat if he didn’t bend the knee?”

He sighed, seeming upset about something. “Pretty much,” he glanced at the rearview mirror and then back to the road. “My dad and I are close in many ways, but his view of money and the ruthless lifestyle he lives by, being a vicious and heartless shark in business, is something we donotsee eye-to-eye on.”

I studied him momentarily, “I don’t know you well, but I can sense that about you.”

He smiled over at me, “I’m happy you sense that because it’s a fundamental tenet of mine. My dad’s a good man, but in business, he’s a brutal bastard.”

I chuckled, “Well, hopefully, my dad’s business is safe from the man, or I might have to hate you.”

“That better not fucking happen,” he answered.

“I agree,” I smiled. “I’d hate to have to blackmail you with something to make your dad back off of mine should the day ever come.”

“There would be no blackmail necessary, sweetheart,” he said. “I would back my dad off the second he mentioned it; however, I’d need to know the name of your dad’s business.”

“Marina Vista Yachts,” I said. “It’s an elegant and very established business, and if any big, rich corporation tried to bury it or do a hostile takeover, they would lose all their clientele.”

“How so?” he questioned as we pulled into the hospital parking lot.

“My dad has worked hard to keep his clientele happy and satisfied. He’s extremely outgoing and goes above and beyond to ensure word of mouth returns more business than selling sailboats alone. His heart is very much into it, and his extremely wealthy clients know and love that about him.”

“Definitely something my father is not,” he smirked at me, pulling up to the ER. “Here. Tell the ER receptionist that Dr. Cameron Brandt is waiting for you. I’ll bring his bag and stuff in after I park the car.”

After I got Brandon out of the car and marched into the hospital, the sight of the packed waiting room made me instantly realize that I couldn’t thank Dr. Brandt or Jace enough formaking this nightmare of a day just a little easier. They didn’t have to do this, yet here we were, walking straight past the chaos.

Instead of wasting energy on small talk, worrying about small dogs, or stressing that Jace’s dad could probably crush my father’s business without breaking a sweat, I felt grateful.

I was damn tired after the day Brandon and I had been through, and I didn’t have the words to express just how grateful I was to these men for letting us skip that line and for getting Brandon the care he needed. Just knowing he was on the road to recovery meant everything to me.

SEVENTEEN

Jace

I steppedinto 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?”