Page 48 of Just One More Moment

Raven stood infront of the bathroom mirror. She splashed cold water on her face and patted her skin dry. As she went through her morning routine, her thoughts drifted to last night and how easily she’d forgiven Remy. Not just for his raised words but for storming out on her in the middle of an argument.

The only reason she had was because when she’d walked into his office to have it out with him, he’d been on his feet and ready to come back to bed. And because he’d apologized in seconds, which told her he’d been mulling over their argument just as she had. And since he’d obviously felt bad.

She wasn’t one of those women who fell at a man’s feet or was desperate to believe easy words but who knew he’d be repeating the pattern soon. No, Remy was a good guy who’d been in terrible emotional pain, so she pushed last night’s events aside and moved on.

With that settled, hisotherwords came back to her.

Another woman I love.

Remy loved her. If not for the argument after, she’d have been reeling from that revelation. Had she allowed herself to consider their connection, she’d have already known how he felt. He showed her every single day that he wasn’t just in this for thebenefits, she thought, her lips lifting in amusement. And no matter what she told herself, neither was she.

She loved the man who was protecting and caring for her. And under any other circumstances, she’d have wrapped her arms around his neck, looked into those sexy eyes, and said it back. Another thing she could blame Lance for. Taking away her ability to admit to loving the best man she knew.

Her smile turned into a frown. No thinking about Lance. Today was about being there for Remy.

When she walked out of the bathroom, he wasn’t in the room so she dressed and went to find him, discovering him in the kitchen. She joined him and he handed her a bagel with cream cheese.

“For the road,” he said. “I’m hoping to get to the hospital in time to be the first to see Dad.”

She smiled at that. “Good. And if anyone else is waiting, just tell them you need a few minutes with him alone,” she said and took a bite of her bagel, enjoying the delicious doughy breakfast. “After you talk to him, can we spend the afternoon at the bar? I am so behind on paperwork.”

“I already asked Stevie to drop the laptop off along with the papers on your desk. I figured you could do your work here?”

Raven sighed. “Okay, Mr. Obvious.”

“What does that mean?”

She shrugged. “Just that I can see through yourI’m just being so accommodatingact. You want me here and not at the bar where Lance just might show his face.”

“Busted,” he said, not the least bit bothered by being caught. “Come on. Just humor me until we have some kind of plan in place.”

She stared at him for a good thirty seconds, hoping to convey her annoyance. But in the end, she knew why he was keeping her prisoner here and gave in. “Fine. But we’re going to talk to Caleb and Zach again. Soon.”

The worry lines she’d seen last night were back in his forehead as he agreed with a nod.

Chapter Seventeen

When they arrivedat the hospital, Remy was relieved to see Dex checking in at the main desk, too. On the drive over, he realized he couldn’t leave Raven alone in the waiting room. He’d been racking his brain, trying to figure out a solution for where she could sit while he talked to his father. Now he had one.

Dex waited as Remy gave his name and received a pass to stick on his shirt, along with a reminder that it was two people allowed up at one time.

They walked over to the chairs in the lobby and Remy turned to his brother. “Can you stay here with Raven while I go see Dad? I need to talk to him and I don’t want to leave her alone.” Worst case, he’d have brought her into the room with him but he’d prefer privacy to have this heart-to-heart with his dad.

“Of course. I can get to know her better.”

Remy glanced at Raven. “Are you good?”

She smiled. “I think I can handle hanging out with the hottest quarterback in the league.”

“Retired hottest quarterback,” Dex said with a smug grin.

Remy shook his head at his brother’s ego. “I notice you aren’t arguing about the wordhottest.”

“What can I say? When you’ve got it, you know it.”

After rolling his eyes, Remy turned to Raven again, raising his eyebrows. “And you? Flirting with my brother in front of me?” He kept his tone light because he was joking.

“I’m just repeating what I read about him on social media!” she exclaimed. “We all knowyou’rethe hottest Sterling brother,” she assured Remy, obviously stroking his ego, and he liked it.

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