Page 128 of Kiss Marry Kill

She shrugged. “You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

I sighed, enjoying the warm sensation the martini gave me. “I didn’t have a good example of parenting growing up. My parents were horrible people.”

Raising her brows, she looked surprised. “Oh, really?”

“Yes. I’m the way I am because of them.” I frowned. “I mean, maybe I was also born this way though. Let’s just say they didn’t help any.”

She put her hand on my arm. “I’m sorry.”

I grimaced. “Oh, it’s fine. Maybe it’s for the best that they were demanding. It made me a good doctor. I learned to shut out unimportant stuff and just do my job.”

“Unimportant stuff?” she asked.

“Yes, you know, all the peripheral stuff like relationships and things that can drag you away from the work. I was raised thinking those things were a waste of time, so I made great strides in my career because of that.”

She hesitated. “But then you left that career behind.”

My face warmed. “True.”

“So… without all that other stuff… like relationships, what was left?”

Her question threw me. “Well… I… I… got a new focus. A new career.”

“And that made you happy?”

I nodded. “Of course. I had a new path to follow.”

She studied me without speaking for a few moments, then said quietly, “But Royce isn’t unimportant to you, right?”

I glanced at her sharply. “Not at all. I told you, he’s the reason I stay in Rainy Dale.”

She smiled. “So maybe relationships aren’t a waste of time after all?”

I sipped my drink, embarrassed by how personal the conversation had gotten but unable to stop talking. “Royce is different. Special.”

“I agree.”

“I think he’s the first person to ever love me.”

She grimaced. “I’m sure your parents loved you.”

“Most definitely not. I was more of a commodity to them. My father wanted me to be a surgeon, so I became a surgeon. Back then, I wanted his approval. That was before I realized I’d never be good enough.”

“Oh, dear.” She looked nonplussed.

I was definitely talking too much. I waswayoversharing. Why was I babbling to her about such personal things? I cleared my throat. “Anyway, thank you so much for getting me my new location, Mrs. Numi.” I forced a smile. “Without you, I might be stuck at the Bandito Business Park.”

She laughed and held up her drink. “How about we toast to how amazingly surprising life can be?”

I lifted my glass and brushed hers. “It certainly is that.”

The little bell over the door jingled behind us. When I glanced over, I saw Girdy walking in with Todd. She grinned and hurried toward us.

“Girdy,” I said in a surprised voice. “I didn’t know you were going to be here.”

Girdy put her arm around my shoulder. “Mrs. Numi called me with the good news. She knew I’d be happy to know you’d found a location, seeing as I work for you.”

Guilt nudged me because I hadn’t even thought to call Girdy. “Oops.”