Page 208 of My Rules

How did we get here?

Gratitude washes over me for this beautiful man, and I lean over and kiss his face as he drives. I cover him in baby kisses all over, and he laughs as he tries to swat me away. “Stop it, or I’m dropping you at home.” He acts grumpy.

“Sure you are.”

Blake

I read through the file and glance back up at the small boy sitting in the hospital bed. “You are getting stronger every day.”

He frowns. “Where does it say that?”

I take the file to him and point to a line. “Right here, see?” He’s only four, and I know he can’t read yet. “Callum Rogers is getting better every day and is a fantastic patient. We’re very impressed with how he helps the nurses and takes his medicine.” I pretend to read the words out loud as I throw a wink to his mother. I run my finger along the line as if I am reading some more. “It also says here that you are brave, an excellent listener, and deserve two desserts today.”

“It says that?” Callum bites his lip, trying to hide his goofy smile.

“It does.” I nod. “You are doing so well, Callum; we are all very proud of you.”

Mom smiles and rubs his arm. “Great job, baby.”

Callum has tetanus from a scratch he got a few weeks ago. It was touch and go for a while, and he’s been in the hospital for a few weeks, but thankfully he’s now on the mend.

From my peripheral vision, I catch sight of someone standing just outside the door waiting for me. “I’ll be back later this afternoon,” I tell Callum and his mother. “Hopefully it will be home time soon.” I close the file and put it back on the shelf. I make my way out into the corridor to see a woman standing there.

“Dr. Grayson?”

“Yes.”

She puts her hand out to shake mine. “I’m Sam Holland.”

“Oh.” My eyes widen. Shit, I thought she was a man. “Dr. Holland, nice to finally put a face to the name.”

Dr. Holland is the head of the pediatrics board and is revered among her colleagues. How didn’t I know she was a woman? ... An attractive one too.

“Yes, you too.” She smiles. “I’ve been wanting to catch up with you before I return to New York.”

“You have?”

“Yes, it seems you’re hard to catch.”

“Well, between here and my practice, I’m run off my feet twenty-four seven.” I smile. “My apologies.”

“That’s why I’m here. I have an offer for you.”

“You do?”

“Can we ...” She looks around guiltily. “Talk somewhere in private?”

“Sure.” I gesture down the corridor. “Come into my office.” She follows me down the hall. We walk into my office, and I close the door behind us. “Take a seat. How can I help you?”

“I think we both know why I’m here,” she says as she takes a seat.

“You’ve lost me.”

“I’d like to offer you a position.”

I frown. “What kind of position?”

“I want you to be the new medical director of Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York.”

---