Page 20 of My Heart's Doctor

—Well, princess, let’s read this book.

—Yaaay.

The first one we read wasCinderellaand as I read, I pointed out the images and commented on what we were seeing. After 15 minutes, Aurora was sound asleep hugging me. I caressed her little head and started thinking about what it would have been like to be a mom. I shook my head, there was no point in thinking about that since I would never be one. When I was about to get up, she complained and hugged me tighter. To keep her from waking up, I decided to stay a few more minutes, but my eyes began to feel heavy as if my eyelids were made of lead and I couldn’t keep them open. My body was limp, without the necessary energy to get up from the bed.

I’ll just close them for a few minutes, I told myself, and closed my eyes.

—Devon. Devon, wake up.

I heard a voice calling me, but it was impossible for me to open my eyes. I was in a warm, restorative, and happy state of rest.

—Devon, wake up.

At that moment I felt someone caressing my cheek, it was a gentle touch that I didn’t want to leave me. My senses were deliciously drowsy, but little by little I opened my eyes and focused on the person in front of me. When I managed to focus clearly, my eyes crashed into a pair of deep blue eyes that shone like two sapphires. He was sitting in front of me and I had to blink several times because either I was dreaming or I was in big trouble.

—Mr. Cavaller? —I managed to stammer.

—You fell asleep.

Oh my God! I wished the earth would open up, swallow me, and spit me out in China! I had fallen asleep in his house. How embarrassing!

I looked down and saw Aurora with her little head resting on my stomach and her little arms around me. Very carefully, I separated her and adjusted her so she could sleep peacefully, always under her father’s watchful eye. I started to get up, but his arm prevented me.

—You don’t need to leave. If you wish, you can stay. We have several guest bedrooms —he said, looking at me in a way that confused me because I couldn’t decipher what was going through his mind.

I would be crazy to stay under the same roof as him. That man already stirred up my heart, my blood, and my entire body too much to have him near the room where I would sleep.

—No way, I’m leaving now. I apologize, I was reading her a book and must have fallen asleep. What time is it? —I asked, completely disoriented.

—One in the morning.

—What? I can’t believe I fell asleep. It’s just that I had a long workday today and…

—Thank you for what you’ve done for my daughter —he interrupted, without releasing my arm and with his gaze fixed on me.

The difference was that this was a sincere, grateful look, not arrogant like the one he usually gave me.

—You don’t have to thank me. Aurora is an incredible child and has earned my affection. I should go —I stated, and this time he didn’t prevent me from getting up.

Why hadn’t Alba called me? Wasn’t he supposed to be traveling? A thousand questions were running through my head, but I couldn’t get distracted, the first thing was to get out of there. I felt extremely embarrassed.

Before leaving, I leaned over Aurora and gave her a kiss on the forehead. When I turned around, his gaze once again left me breathless. The sparkle in his blue eyes was incredible, but I had no idea if it was from anger, fatigue, or… no, impossible, that man couldn’t be emotional.

“Devon, it's very late. Please stay,” he said, addressing me informally for the first time, and hearing my name from his lips made my heart beat even faster.

“No way, I'm leaving now. I'm used to leaving the clinic at this hour. You have no idea what my schedules are like,” I commented nervously, as I walked toward the living room to get my purse.

“You shouldn't be out alone at this hour, I'll drive you,” he stated, walking behind me.

“Mr. Cavaller, I came in my car, but thank you.”

“I'll accompany you anyway,” he affirmed, looking at me seriously.

“It's not necessary for you to accompany me. I already told you I'm used to driving at this hour. Nevertheless, I appreciate the offer.”

I grabbed my purse and started walking toward the front door. Once again, his hand closed around my arm to stop me.

“I won't let you go alone. Either you get in my car or I get in yours, and that's final,” he stated, returning to his already familiar authoritarian mode.