Page 15 of Risky Move

Cassie cocked her head. “My mom taught me to respect my elders.” She giggled as she set the milk on the table.

“Just how old do you think I am?”

Cassie took her time before replying, enjoying the opportunity to look him over.Too old to be interested in me, that’s for sure.“Eh, I don’t know. How long does it take to become a neurologist?”

“Not as long as you assume. Andrew’s myolderbrother. I’m sure ‘respect your elders’ does not include anyone in their twenties.”

“So…you’re like twenty-seven?”

“Not quite. Twenty-six next birthday. Not that much older than you, Ms. Etiquette.”

She couldn’t suppress a chuckle. “Etiquette is not one of my strengths,Tom. You must have flown through your undergrad?”

His brown eyes pinned her with amusement. “Not entirely. Not taking summers off made a huge difference.”

“Well, I’ll be twenty-one next spring and do not know what I want to be when I grow up.” She swallowed a laugh. “My mom thought she could homeschool me. I did okay while in the primary level, but after my parents divorced, she lost interest. To catch up, I had to go to summer school, and I still ended up two years behind my age-group.”

“That must have been rough.”

“It only bothered me when I reached my teens. My classmates wanted to play hopscotch, jump rope, and other kid games during recess. My hormones had kicked in, and I spent recess hanging around the edges of the secondary school playground. Forbidden fruit,” Cassie said with a laugh.

“You never felt you belonged with either group?”

Cassie paused.Tom understands how isolated I felt.“Age-wise, I wanted friends in my age group, but they didn’t want to hang out with someone two grades below. Most people just assumed I needed to repeat two grades because I couldn’t pass the first time.”

“That’s rough. I can understand why you felt out of place with either group. But didn’t you graduate?”

She nodded. “Last May. The thought of more school makes me ill. Just a tad burned out. Thus, the gap year, much to my mother’s er…let’s call it disdain.”

“Take your time—I’d feel burned out, too. You can explore options while saving Caryn’s sanity.”

“Caryn’s amazing. I hope I’ll be half the mom she is…” Cassie let her voice trail off and watched as Tom gathered what looked like the ingredients for an egg dish.He cooks breakfast, too.

“Can I make you an omelet?”

“I’m good. But, thanks. I don’t know many guys who cook.”

Tom glanced over his shoulder and winked. “I prefer to eat clean and steer clear of fast food. That’s the only way to survive the long shifts.”

“I still can’t figure out your schedule. You’re not here when I think you should be and vice versa.”

She saw him glancing at the streaks she’d added to her light brown hair. “So, today it’s pastel blueandgreen. Yesterday it was lavender. Any secret meaning to the colors?”

“Not really. Just trying things I couldn’t do at home. My mom freaked when I tried subtle pink highlights.”

Tom laughed. “The colors complement your eyes. I like it.”

“I’ll send Mom a selfie. You’ll see how fast my phone rings.” The sound of unhappy babies echoed from the nursery. “Well, there’s my cue.” She took her bowl to the sink, rinsed it, and opened the dishwasher. “See you later…Tom.”

9

Tom tossed his scrubs in the bin and showered, ready to get home and sleep after another long shift.Home…if you can call freeloading at your brother’s house “home.”He enjoyed the privacy of the apartment that was part of their home—but every time he brought up the subject of paying rent, both Andrew and Caryn protested and refused to discuss it.Maybe now that I’m completing the residency, Andrew will accept rent payments.

Money was not an issue. His brother signed a lucrative contract with the Suns over two years ago—but if he continued to live in the apartment, Tom wanted to contribute more than babysitting the twins or serving as the resident doctor on call. He’d hash it out with his brother.

He saw the Chief of Neurology in the hallway as he walked toward the exit. “Got a minute, Tom?” Dan Forster asked.

“Sure, Dan. What’s up?”

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