Page 35

“No, you act like that’s all that matters and always tore me down about it.

” I frowned at her. “Listen to how you’re treating me right now.

I’d have to be nuts to want to get back with you.

And I’m not. Also, I was talking about being a successful doctor.

What the fuck does being an Alpha wolf have to do with my career at the hospital you’re trying to fuck with? ”

I gave her one last look that she deserved before going back to my practice. We were busy with appointments, still helping out dermatology while they got everything reworked.

I managed to get my mum on the phone in between appointments and warned her that I only had a few minutes. I apologized for being rude, but she was used to it given all of our family—my father especially.

“What has happened?” she worried. “I can feel the anxiety in your voice.”

“Mandy Tate is here,” I answered. “We’re not getting back together and I hate her. But she’s telling everyone we are and I basically asked her to come get a job here. Funny for how long we haven’t spoken.”

“I am pleased to hear that,” she cut in. “What can I do to help?”

“Something is up, Mum. She’s pushing for me to clear her a path and—something is up. I need to know what. Why is she—ASH was never her dream. She thought it was overhyped and basically a monopoly on healthcare.”

“So why show up right after you get your dream job and push for her own position?” Mum muttered. “I will get you answers as soon as I can. Tell Ms. Reed the truth and let her protect you from that snake.”

“I told her, but I can protect myself, Mum,” I chuckled.

Yeah, I didn’t blame her when she seemed less than convinced. I’d let Mandy do a lot of damage to me that I still carried.

But I’d been blinded by puppy love and her cheerful personality after how I was raised with my siblings. I wasn’t that boy anymore.

I saw her as a snake too.

I thanked Mum and got back to work, texting Dr. Tai in between appointments that I was going to take care of Ellie and asked if she had any ideas. She wouldn’t tell me over text but demanded that I stop by when I had a break instead of dumplings.

Okay then. I wasn’t sure why I needed to come to her.

“What do you have planned?” she asked. “Set the stage for me and I can help.”

Okay, that made more sense and was fair.

“I promised her a soak and to not push her,” I admitted. “I figured I’d order some bath bombs and wine? She liked the wine my mum put in my fridge and I have more.”

Tai nodded. “She likes those clay masks. She doesn’t like to admit it or spend the money, but she loved the one I use and gave her. I’ll text you it.”

“Thanks.” Yeah, that would help, but it wasn’t really what I’d been looking for.

“Also skip the wine and get her brownie edibles.” She nodded when I did a double take. “Not often, but that’s her jam.”

I was honestly shocked. I didn’t see Ellie as someone into pot. I didn’t judge. I was a shifter and we—pretty much every shifter had their medical marijuana card. We were two people and personalities at times in one body. Yeah, we needed pot now and again.

I liked the chill edibles for workouts because my wolf could get too hopped up and demand to come out. Our metabolisms were so fast that they lasted an hour normally and then were fully out of my system. Maybe two if I doubled something or smoked directly.

Which I planned on exploring more now that I had a nice balcony and my mum not coming around as often. I loved her, but she was a bit judgy on that.

“Any place you recommend? I only ducked into one place fast to get a feel. I keep getting it from London still until I can try what’s here.”

“Stronger shit than you’re used to from what I hear so be careful,” she said with a chuckle.

“Yeah, I’ll text you the place Ellie likes and the brownies.

She doesn’t have a high tolerance since it’s rare, but—she needs it today.

” She looked to her right in the direction of where Ellie’s office was even if a few buildings away. “Yeah, needs it today for sure.”

I wouldn’t disagree.

She also told me the place where Ellie splurged on sushi, what rolls to get, and the array of appetizers she loved from there. It wasn’t a Japanese place but Asian, so it had a lot of everything which made for a long appetizers list instead of a more specialized Chinese restaurant.

I had a bunch of the stuff delivered to the hospital, even some flowers that could be nice for her or used in the bath.

Then I went out and picked up the rest. I got a little lost in the dispensary since I could buy more than in London and there was lots I wanted to try.

But I did get the brownies Tai told me to get plus a new version with caramel and marshmallow.

Yes. Please.

I texted her that I was picking up her favorites and where I was going… And I expected her to be waiting at my condo for spoiling. So no working late today. One day she could put herself first.

After a bit of pushing, she agreed when I told her the bath bombs I’d gotten. So apparently, the promise of relaxing truly was the way to her heart.

I wasn’t worried about cleaning the tub or any of that. Mum had done that with a cleaning team, and they’d promised that the tub with jets was like brand-new they ran it so many times to clean it. I believed them.

I’d used it a few times already since I loved soaks with jets as well.

I happened to catch her pulling into the condo’s garage right before me which made me smile that she would treat me well when I was trying. I caught up to her by the elevator and lifted the bags. “Dinner and the funny brownies Tai told me that you liked.”

“This is exactly what I needed,” she groaned as she took the food bags. “Yes, yes . Nummy time.”

We ate at the counter since she’d skipped lunch and I was always hungry.

She told me it was official and Fitz was going to Asia to work with one of the hospitals that handled most of their disaster responses.

He was going to go in and train the next generation of surgeons because even with all of his flaws, he was a stellar surgeon.

No one would have put up with his bullshit for as long as they did if he wasn’t actually a rock star.

The stress was mostly the hospital not believing that Fitz wasn’t coming just to recruit after the issues between the hospitals…

And apparently, that hospital had tried to steal half a million in our beds after the earthquake?

She talked so fast in between eating that it was hard to keep up, but I was glad she felt comfortable enough to vent to me.

Trusted me with the information.

“I never trusted him like this,” she whispered when she was slowing down. “I cannot believe I just told you all about that. I never tell—I only tell Alan really.” She looked torn and lost when she met my gaze. “What have you done to me?”

I reached over and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’d love to think that I’m special or was able to help you open up. I don’t think it’s that and simply timing. You’re about to explode with too much, love. And I was involved with the Fitz situation. That’s all. You’re still you.”

She nodded, but I smelled the worry and sadness from her.

I brought out the brownies and cut her a small one.

She gave me a hurt glance and took only a little bite. The look she gave it was weird as she licked her lips. “What bakery did you get these from? I’m not big into brownies, but they sounded good.”

I froze, my eyes going bug wide. “They’re funny brownies, Ellie. I said that.”

She studied it before taking another bite. “They’re not decorated strangely.”

I moved my hand over hers holding the brownie. “No, funny as in pot brownies.” I nodded when she did a double take.

“You gave me edibles?” she bit out as she let go of it and moved her hand away from me. “Without telling me?”

“I did,” I stuttered. “I also told you I got the brownies Tai said you liked.”

She lost some of her anger. “Yeah, that didn’t make sense, but brownies sounded good.”

“Oh fuck.”

She snorted. “Yeah. I’ve not had pot—I think I smoked some like thirty years ago? It’s not really my scene.”

“Tai told me you—she said—I fucking asked—” My phone was out in a flash and I called Tai, putting it on speaker. She barely said hello before I was blasting her. “You told me that Ellie liked funny brownies and where to get them. What the fuck?”

“Oh shit,” Tai hissed. “Ellie, I’m so sorry. I meant to tell you what I did and to not eat them. Shit. Did she have—”

“A few bites,” I snapped. “You said she didn’t have them often, so I got the low-dose ones and cut her a sliver only.”

“Oh, I thought I got the small brownie because you were hinting I needed to lose weight,” Ellie mumbled.

“No, never,” I sighed. “I love your body and—what the fuck, Tai?”

“And how did you get the lie past the Alpha wolf?” Ellie added, sounding amused. “Cooking up something?”

I hadn’t even thought about that. I couldn’t sense all lies, but I could normally scent the guilt or whatever… And I hadn’t. “Tai?” The growl that came out of me was deep.

“Right, so I was trying something—a lotion that—a new potion. Sorry, Ellie. You could use the fun and relax. Just don’t eat a whole one.”

“You’re grounded and we’re both kicking your ass tomorrow, you shithead,” Ellie grumbled before reaching over and ending the call.

Then she took another bite of the brownie. My eyes went wide, but she just shrugged.

“She’s not wrong that I could use it. I have no idea how I’ll react so sorry in advance. I can’t even warn you. I only smoked that pot when… Insomnia.”

Yeah, clearly, she didn’t want to talk about what caused the insomnia, and I’d promised not to push her.

I certainly wasn’t going to talk about old things.

“I’m sorry.” I gestured to the brownies when she seemed confused.

“I’m really sorry. I would never do it without permission or—I should have been clearer and—”

“It’s fine. You did say funny brownies. I was the twit,” she forgave and stretched. “I believe there was a promise of a soak and bath bombs? Are you getting something set up?” She smirked at me like she knew she was being spoiled and into it.

Good, because I was the type of man who liked to spoil… And be spoiled too. Both people had to be spoiled at different times.

She offered to put the food away in the fridge while I went to handle the bath. It was all ready about fifteen minutes later. I checked the water again and went to go tell her it was ready… Only to find her standing there in only her undergarments.

“That’s really, really inviting,” she groaned as she moved closer, checking it all out. “Wow, candles and rose petals. You fancy .”

And she was already a bit high. I knew edibles now were faster acting and with our metabolisms it really could take no time at all. But she’d also savored the brownie in her mouth, not just swallowed it, and… Yeah, she was already a bit high.

It was fucking adorable .

She barely noted me as she checked it all out, her clothes strewn about by the door. “I don’t want to undo my bra. You do it.”

I thought she was teasing me, but I saw she was moving her arms like it took too much effort.

Oh, for real? She was a petulant and whiny high girl? Stern and always on point Ms. Reed got whiny?

I was going to enjoy every second of this. Beat Tai’s ass for pulling this shit… But enjoy it.

I helped her out of her bra and then panties before swooping her up and sitting her on the edge of the tub so she could easily get in.

“I like you best today,” she said as she leaned back against me. “No one’s ever spoiled me like this when I’ve had a rough day.” She frowned, which I could see in the mirror. “Not anyone.”

She slid in but didn’t seem to linger on the feeling which I was glad about.

Pot was amazing like that.

“I’m going to get you some water and—”

“I was itching for that wine, but that’s probably a bad idea.” She gasped and turned around with a huge smile. “Do you have any of that sparkling grape juice or apple cider? Wouldn’t that be like the best thing after our funny bunnies? Brownies. Whatever.”

I squatted down and gave her a soft kiss. “I don’t, but I will always stock it now. I can do orange juice and Sprite? Or just sparkling water with something?”

She shrugged. “Surprise me.”

I was seriously in trouble with this woman.

I ended up finding a few different options and brought them on a tray to the bathroom. “I have orange juice with Sprite, mango juice with Sprite, and—”

“Mango, please!” She beamed up at me, now all wet from having dunked under the water. “I like the service from the pool boy.” She let out a soft giggle when I handed her the drink.

She seriously giggled?

Ellie took a sip and smacked her lips. “You converted me on getting a bigger tub with jets.” She looked like she might say more but then frowned. “Are you really only going to be the pool boy? I want you naked in here with me.”

“I’ll join you,” I promised as I set down the drink I wanted on the far edge of the tub and the others on the counter. I undressed, feeling her eyes on me the whole time, and moved closer to the tub. “I said I’d leave you alone, so I didn’t want to intrude.”

“Yeah, I really just came to use your tub.” She snorted. “Silly pup.”

I swallowed a chuckle and slid into the water with her, not crowding her but simply enjoying the bath with her.

“Dunk under,” she told me as she set her drink off to the side.

Whatever she wanted. I did and moaned. I’d gotten good bath bombs. That was for sure.

When Ellie plastered her naked body to me, I made a mental note that funny brownies and a spoiled soak were definitely on the agenda more often.

Definitely.