Page 54 of Family Bonds: Coy & Angel

He leaned down and gave it to her easily.

“You’re different too,” he said.

“I’m giddy. I’m not normally this silly so if you could indulge me for a bit, I’ll stop.”

“Don’t stop being who you are,” he said. “Never.”

“True,” she said. “It’s not like my brother tried to dress me like a guy.”

He lifted his eyebrows. “I wish I didn’t tell you that, but I can tell right away you’re going to fit in with my brothers.”

Which meant at some point his family would know.

Not yet. They had to get through this newness.

Not really new for her, but it’d take some adapting to a new dynamic.

One she’d been waiting to experience.

“That’s good to know,” she said. “You can tell me anything. I’m almost afraid to know what Spencer has said about me for years.”

“Nothing horrible,” he said.

“Just that I’m weak and frail and that he thought he was going to lose me before I had open heart surgery?”

“Yeah,” he said softly. “Remember, you had surgery that first year he and I were roommates. I saw what your brother went through.”

“Tell me,” she said.

“No,” he said. “It’s in the past and you don’t need to know. And I don’t need to think about it because I’m going to feel as if I’m betraying him.”

Which she knew was going to be the biggest obstacle for Coy.

She squeezed him and then moved away from him. “You aren’t betraying anyone. We are entitled to feel what we do and act the way we want. We are two consenting adults.”

“We are,” he said. “Though I still see you as a teen and that is hard to get past.”

“You’re just going to have to. We aren’t that far apart in age. Seven years isn’t much.”

“No,” he said. “I’ve got relatives that have bigger age differences. It works for them.”

“It’s going to work for us too. Unless you think I’m immature.” Which she had been acting today and had to rein that in.

“You’re not,” he said. “It’s refreshing.”

“I like the sound of that better,” she said. “And just so you know, I’ve worked hard to get to where I am in my career. I know I’m just starting out and the last thing I want to do is jeopardize that. I expect you to tell me if I’m doing something wrong.”

“Trust me,” he said. “I will. That is a given. It’s my practice and my patients have to come before any relationship for safety reasons.”

“Then I think we’ve got a good understanding of everything. No more talk about that. Let’s just pretend this is date three rather than one and get comfortable like we’d been.”

“Sounds like you’re the smart one tonight,” he said.

He grabbed a pan, turned the burner on and started to cook the sausage. “Can I at least chop up the vegetables and help? I’m hungry. It will get done faster.”

“Sure,” he said. “Just don’t cut yourself.”

She turned her head sharply. “What did Spencer tell you?”

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