Page 29 of Deeply Examined

“It’s fine. I’ll erase you from the server once you’re gone. It only takes one step on the app.”

And now I’m not so flattered. “Thanks,” I repeat again, this time with much less enthusiasm.

Oblivious, he reaches past me to push open the door.

I gasp when we enter the room. It’s two stories tall, a great room with a living room and kitchen open to each other. The kitchen is super-modern, with shiny white cabinets without handles.How does he open them?Double stainless-steel refrigerator and freezer.Does he cook?The kind of oven that has red knobs on it.I can make cookies!

The elegant living room is dominated by a large sectional in a U-shape. It faces tall windows that show off a nighttime view of the city. Twinkling lights from distant buildings look like a fairy village from up this high. The long stretch of the Navy Pier is visible, its large Ferris wheel flashes with a multitude of colors.

Of all the things that impress me in this space, there’s one that stands out more than any of the others.

Books.

The back wall of the room has rows and rows of bookshelves. They reach up two stories tall. A ladder on wheels can access the top shelves.

Without thinking, I reach out and clutch Dr. West’s sleeve. “Oh. My. God! You have your very own library.”

He follows my gaze and shrugs. “Yeah. I like to read.”

I give his arm a small shake and say in an awed whisper, “You even have a ladder!” The last word comes out as an excited squeak.

“It’s no big deal,” he says.

“Shh.” I hold up my hand, almost wanting to cry over all the beautiful books. “Don’t ruin this. I’m having aBeauty and the Beastmoment. I mean, you have aladder!”

“I assume I’m the Beast in this scenario?” he asks dryly.

“Well,duh.” I release his arm and turn to him, grinning. “Of course.”

“Don’t get too excited. Unlike the Beast, I’m not giving you my library.”

“Aha!” I point at him, bringing my finger so close to his face that he flinches backward. “So you admit that youhaveseen the movie!”

He shoves my hand away with an irritated scowl. “Everyone’s seen that movie.”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “Lots of people, especially guys, haven’t seen it. Only secret romantics have watched it closely enough to remember a small detail like that. Men who go around saving damsels in distress, for example.” I send him a pointed look.

He fixes me with a stare. “Trust me. I don’t have a romantic bone in my body.”

I wag my finger at him, teasing. “I’m not buying it. As matter of fact,” I say as I lean forward and pretend to sniff his shirt, “I think I smell marshmallow because deep in your soul you have a secret soft side.”

He rolls his eyes. “If my soul had a smell, it would be decay from all the grudges I’ve buried down there.”

I give him a knowing look. “If you say so.”

He heaves an exasperated sigh. “You’re loopy from all the adrenaline. Let me give you a quick tour and then you can go to bed.”

Quickly, he shows me the downstairs. Besides the kitchen and living room there’s a hallway bathroom, office, and professional-looking gym. Each room is illuminated by a night light in the corner, small but surprisingly bright.

“This place is gorgeous,” I say as we continue down the hall. “Good to know what doctor money can buy.”

He laughs, the sound gravelly and delightful since it’s so rare. “Oh, no. Doctor money didn’t buy this. Doctors make a lot less than people think.”

I quirk my head. “If not doctor money, then what? Trust fund money?”

He scoffs. “Hardly. I used to get bullied for wearing the same dirty pair of jeans to school every day.” His expression contorts into something bitter, but when I put a soothing hand on his arm it quickly morphs into irritation.

He jerks away from my touch with a scowl. With short, clipped words, he says, “This is stock market money.”

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