Page 39 of My Silver Fox Savior

Carter gives me a harsh look, but when he talks to Grace, he becomes the uncle everybody loves. That’s one of the most impressive things about Carter. He can change from a seasoned man who’s seen it all to an absolute favorite of the kids.

“Let’s get you home, Grace. Sound good?”

“Sure.” She rolls her eyes, then winks at me.

I do my best to smile at her, but she doesn’t even realize how messed up her situation has made her. Maybe she doesn’t know I can see through the sassy, cocky front she’s putting on. I can see through it to the terrified child underneath because I used to be her.

Carter leans over as we lead her out of the building. “You can’t help her.”

“How can you say that now?” I hiss.

“Because you look like you’re going to do something stupid.”

“You know I can hear you, right?” Grace says.

“Sorry,” we both echo.

“Youcanhelp me,” she says.

This time, I don’t reply. I don’t want to shatter the hope in her voice, but there’s nothing I can do—nothingIcan do.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

LANDON

“He just doesn’t understand me,” Rosita Rubberton, the English heiress who apparently has a one-way crush on me, says. I can feel Ethan glaring at me, silently telling me to focus, flirt, and invest time in this business relationship.

I can’t because I’m distracted. I keep waiting for my cell phone to ring or vibrate. Maybe I shouldn’t have told Vivian about the “kiss,” but lying to Lily’s mom would’ve felt wrong. If we’re going to have a … a what? A relationship?Months, not years.

“Excuse me,” I say, standing up, my chair making a scraping noise on the floor.

“Uh, all right,” Rosita mutters, narrowing her eyes at me.

I go into the hallway, take out my phone, and scroll to Lily’s name. I want to call her so damn badly. I don’t like how we left things at all, but how can I pursue a woman after her mom warned me away? Then, there’s last night. It was too … hell, hot and steamy, but it wasn’t asromanticas she deserved.

“What are you doing?” Ethan snaps, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“I was going to make a call.”

Ethan grits his teeth, then sighs. “It better be goddamn important.”

I can’t take the impatience in his voice or the disappointment. Deep down, I know I’m causing him so much hassle. Somehow, all this seems less important now. “I was calling the oncologist to schedule that appointment.”

“Oh.” He nods, relaxing a bit. “Okay. Good. Sorry, bro …”

I press down on the number on therecent callslist. I need to face this anyway. I need to know just how long or short I’ve got. I can’t keep running. Maybe I’ll find out I’ve got even less time than I thought, making me realize I should leave Lily alone. What can I offer her?

“Hi, I’m calling to book an appointment …”

After some back and forth, the receptionist says, “Our notes tell us you were waiting for Doctor Coleman?”

“No, that’s fine. I can see anybody.”

“Oh, let me see then …” She taps some keys. “It looks like our next appointment is—I’m sorry—the day after tomorrow at five p.m.”

“No, that’s good for me,” I say, trying to hide my relief. It’s another day of putting off the inevitable and not facing it honestly. It turns out I’m not as brave as I felt moments ago. “Thank you.”

“Good, brother,” Ethan says. “I’m happy you did that. Now …” He gestures at the office door. “Can we?”

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