Page 11 of What the Doctor Ordered

K iley

It’s been over a week since I got sick and Simon took care of me.

It was difficult just getting over the cold while I had midterms to study for, but I ended up not missing any work.

I passed each of my tests, not with marks as high as I would have liked but I had to be gentle with myself considering I had just been sick.

Simon assured me that he was proud of me anyway. I couldn’t figure out why that pleased me so much. I certainly didn’t need his approval. Then, why did the simple fact that he was proud of me cause butterflies to dance in my stomach?

I glanced at myself in the mirror as I finished a quick touch-up of my makeup. I shook my head hard when I realized how wide my eyes were. I looked as nervous as I felt and that just wasn’t going to do.

Tonight was a huge night. I was going to be accompanying Simon to a charity gala. It was our first event as a fake engaged couple, and I needed to make a good impression. There were going to be a lot of people that Simon knew at this thing, and I was going to have to talk to them.

Lily was out with some guy tonight so wasn’t able to help me pick out an outfit.

Thankfully, I planned ahead and found one online.

The gala was fantasy themed so I had on a flowing green gown that looked like it was designed by a fairy with a vine pattern on the bodice and a full, flowy layered skirt.

I felt like a princess, but something told me that it wasn’t going to really help me feel like I fit into Simon’s world.

I reminded myself that I didn’t need to fit in.

This was all just temporary. In about five months, things were going to go back to the way they were, and Simon and I would never see each other again.

I could hardly look at Simon when he came to pick me up. He was dressed in a forest green suit that matched the accents of my dress. His dress shirt had vine patterns on them. His thick dark hair was slicked back as always, leaving nothing between me and those golden hazel eyes.

“You look stunning, Kiley,” he said as he took my hand.

The simple physical contact reminded me of the way he took care of me while I was sick. No one had ever cared for me that way before and the memory of it caused prickles to rise up over my skin.

My nerves just escalated as we pulled into the long, cobblestone driveway leading up to the grand estate where the gala was taking place. Simon explained that it belonged to the CEO of one of the leading children’s hospitals. This gala was to raise money for children’s cancer research.

I jumped when Simon put his hand on my thigh, giving it a light pat. I hadn’t even realized that he had parked the car.

“You’re so tense,” he said in a low voice, looking at me with worry. “Calm down. All you have to do is stick by me and follow my lead. You’ll be just fine.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Simon could read me so easily, despite the fact that he had only known me for a month. Perhaps he learned quickly since he was constantly checking in with me, making sure that I was feeling alright physically as well as emotionally.

Simon offered me his arm, and I slipped mine through the loop he made as we made our way up to the extravagant mansion. It looked more like a palace. It was made entirely of smooth marble. Golden statues lined the long walkway leading up to the door.

The inside was even more fancy. The ceilings were high, with a golden spiral staircase leading up to the second floor.

Hundreds of people were already milling about, dancing to some classical music and chatting with one another.

I was relieved to find that the women were dressed similarly to me. I actually did blend in somehow.

“See?” Simon said, putting an arm around my shoulders. “It’s not so bad, is it? It’s just a big, fancy party. They even have one of those cheese fondue fountains that tastes suspiciously like the fake cheese that comes out of a can.”

I giggled, grateful for Simon’s attempt at calming me. He seemed to be very good at that.

Suddenly, Simon stiffened slightly. “I see my mother,” he said, bending toward me so he could murmur in my ear. “We should go over and say hello to her. Just follow my lead and things will go just fine.”

Before I could respond or prepare myself, he was leading me over to an elderly woman dressed in a rose-colored gown. If Simon hadn’t told me, I would still have been able to tell she was his mother. They had the same face shape and the same slightly pointed nose.

The woman’s eyes lit up when she saw us. There was some surprise when she saw me and her eyes immediately went to my left hand, where the glittering ring sat on my ring finger.

“Simon,” the woman sighed when her son came up to hug her.

“Hello, Mother,” Simon said, hugging her warmly. He stepped away from her and gestured to me. “I would like you to meet Kiley Hart, my fiancée.”

Simon’s mother looked comically shocked, and I found myself blushing shyly as she gazed at me in wonder. She recovered quickly and stepped forward so she could pull me into her arms for an embrace that rivaled the warm one she shared with her son.

“Such a pleasure to meet you, my darling,” she said, giving me a squeeze. “I have been praying for your arrival for quite a few years.”

“Mother,” Simon said, his tone only slightly scolding. “She doesn’t need to know that.”

I giggled and returned the hug. “It’s so very nice to meet you, Mrs. Vale.”

Mrs. Vale smiled wider at me. “Call me Fiona,” she corrected warmly. Then she turned to her son, eyes narrowing slightly. “Oh, I think she does,” she said, matching his tone. “It’s only right considering how fortunate you are to have her in your life. She is a true blessing; I can already tell.”

I couldn’t help but sneak a smirk Simon’s way, over his mother’s shoulder. Simon glowered at me but gave me a playful smirk back. After some easy chit-chat we walked away from Fiona.

We continued deeper into the mansion, toward where the majority of the guests were mingling and dancing.

“Your mother is delightful,” I remarked with sincere enthusiasm.

“She is a remarkable woman,” Simon agreed with a nod. He gave me a look though, as he led me forward. “I can’t help but feel as if you especially liked her because of how taken she was with you.”

I grinned up at him cheekily, unable to help it. “What can I say?” I asked rhetorically. “I’m a darling, a true blessing!”

Simon chuckled and shook his head. “I imagine I’ll be reminded of that often over the next few months, won’t I?”

Despite his light tone and teasing laugh, I found that his question caused an unexpected gloom to fall over me.

It was yet another reminder that this was all temporary.

That shouldn’t bother me so much though.

I was going to be able to take a break from work to focus on my studies since my next year’s tuition would be paid for. I should be happy, so why wasn’t I?

“Kiley?”

I jumped a bit and looked up at Simon. “Yes?”

“Are you alright?” he asked, stopping suddenly so he could study my face closely. “You looked down all of a sudden.”

I shook my head hard before forcing a smile onto my face. “I’m just fine,” I said. “I think I’m just taking it all in. Maybe I’m still a little nervous.”

Simon blinked before staring at me suspiciously, like he didn’t believe me. He seemed to nod to himself before he put an arm around me. “Maybe you need to visit the dessert bar to calm your nerves.”

A sweet treat did sound nice. I couldn’t help but give him a teasing look, though. “Are you encouraging me to indulge myself in sugar, Doctor?”

“A little treat once in a while isn’t going to harm you,” he said with a wink. His expression became stern however once the long dessert table came into view. “If I think you are going overboard, however, I will need to step in.”

“I’d like to see you try,” I said with a snort. No one came between me and my desserts, unless they wanted to lose a finger.

I inhaled sharply when Simon put his hand beneath my chin, tilting it up so that I could meet his gaze. His eyes had darkened, the gold flecks in them nearly gone. He leaned toward me so he could whisper in my ear.

“Don’t tempt me, little girl. You’d best behave yourself.”

I was barely able to repress the shudder that wanted to pass through me at his touch and the way his warm breath tickled my ear.

Simon ended up being right, of course. Dessert was exactly what I needed to cheer myself up. It helped that the treat bar was just as impressive as the rest of the mansion. The long white table took up an entire wall and was filled with all kinds of pastries from fruit tarts to little cakes.

“You may have one more,” Simon said sternly.

I blinked up at the killjoy next to me. I had just finished off a fruit tart after sampling one of the vanilla cakes. I gave him a dubious look. “How am I only going to have one more?” I demanded. “There are dozens to try!”

Simon narrowed his eyes at me and opened his mouth, most likely to scold me but then he spotted something over my shoulder.

“My mother’s coming this way,” he murmured to me.

I followed his gaze and easily spotted Fiona Vale heading our way. There was a young woman at her side, with flowing blonde hair and an icy blue dress that matched her eyes.

And she was glaring at me.

“Simon,” Fiona said as they reached us. “You remember Sicily Alcott, of course.”

Simon nodded. “Yes, of course,” he said. He turned to the blonde. “Good evening, Sicily. I trust your parents are doing well?”

Sicily smiled widely at Simon, batting her eyelashes up at him. “Yes, they are, thank you so much for asking, Simon. I’ve missed you. You really should come visit the manor sometime soon. Father asks about you.”

I thought I noticed Simon shift uncomfortably, but he was good at hiding it. “Perhaps we can arrange something,” he said. He put his arm around me then. “Sicily, this is my fiancée, Kiley.”

I tried not to look smug when I noticed Sicily visibly flinch at my title. She turned to me and wouldn’t quite look me in the eye as she nodded. “Good evening,” she said stiffly.

“Good evening,” I echoed tersely.

“Well, I’ll leave you kids to catch up,” Fiona said, clapping her hands and turning. “I am helping out with the auction later on so I will see you all a little later.”

“So, what is it that you do, Kiley?” Sicily demanded once Fiona was gone.

I blinked at her. The sugary sweetness was completely gone from her expression. She was openly glowering at me.

“I’m studying for my doctorate at the moment,” I said. “Studying to be a veterinarian. What about you?”

Sicily completely ignored my question. She sneered. “Oh, a vet,” she said, her tone mocking. “How interesting that you aren’t even studying real medicine. Simon, where did you even meet this girl?”

“That’s enough, Sicily,” Simon hissed.

Sicily and I both jumped at the dark tone in his voice.

Sicily frowned at him, her blue eyes wide. “What’s wrong, Simon?” she asked sweetly. “I was just trying to get to know Kiley a little bit. She is going to be like family, after all.”

“Getting to know her is perfectly fine,” he replied, his jaw tight. “But I won’t have you disrespecting her. Veterinarians are well-respected medical professionals. Don’t suggest otherwise. I will not take kindly to it.”

Sicily frowned at Simon, looking hurt by his words.

“I just remembered that I am needed elsewhere as well,” she said stiffly. “I’ll see you later, Simon.”

She glared hard at me as she turned to leave.

I was glad to see her go.