Page 32 of Hearts Clash

“Mmm, what can I say? I’m cardiology director at one of the most esteemed hospitals in the country, I live in a beautiful mansion in the suburbs, and I’m engaged to an incredible, smart, gorgeous, talented doctor. I’ve got no complaints,” Gianna purred, trailing a finger along Scarlett’s bare arm.

“And you still look like that,” Scarlett added admiringly, eying her fiancée up and down. “Forty-one, and looking better every year. What’s your secret?”

“Love, light, and great sex,” Gianna answered smugly. “Anyway, how’s your presentation going? Are you ready to dazzle us all on Monday, Doctor Miller?”

Scarlett shrugged bashfully. “It’s a long shot,” she said modestly, “but I think I have a solid chance. It’s really all in how they receive it, I guess.”

“Oh, please,” Gianna scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. “You were born to be Queen of Rose Bay Hospital, and everyone knows it. Doctor Thomas wants you to be his successor. All you need is for those committee members to give you their support, which they’re going to do because they know damn well they’d be stupid not to.”

“You sound really excited about the idea of me being your boss,” Scarlett noted suspiciously, glancing at her fiancée over the rim of her glass.

“Eh. You’ve been answering to me for three years. I can be magnanimous and let you pretend to be in charge,” Gianna quipped with a sly wink. “Anyway, I get to tell everyone my wife is the hospital director, you know? If any of the other department heads get on my case, I’ll just send them to you to sort them out. Also, I can show up late whenever I want, because what are you going to do, fire me?”

Scarlett sighed theatrically and shook her head, fighting back a smile.

“I feel like you have some questionable priorities there,” she pointed out wryly.

“My priority is your happiness,” Gianna cooed lovingly, “and mine too, obviously, but you come first.”

They leaned in close for a sweet, tender kiss. It felt like they were sealed away from the world, alone, the air crackling around them with sparks of electricity as their lips met in the cool evening air. In a minute, the heat and excitement might grow enough for them to rush upstairs, but for now, it was enough to simply luxuriate in this moment and enjoy the peace and calm.

“I love you, you know that?” Scarlett whispered against her lips.

“Mm, yeah,” Gianna agreed happily, “I love you too.”

As the sun sank down beneath the tree line and the evening faded into darkness, Gianna and Scarlett snuggled close, wrapped in fluffy towels and exchanging lazy, satisfied kisses. Somehow, after everything, they had ended up exactly where they were always meant to be.

Together.

Forever.

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