Page 12 of Silver Secrets

“You can try all you want but?—”

“Red! This isn’t about your ethics. Everyone knows you put your patients above everything else. But it’s for your safety. And since they are no longer your client… don’t even try to deny that you just shared that with me… then you can give me their name so I can run a check on them.”

“Fine. David Busche.” She huffed, crossing her arms and jutting out her hip to show just how irritated she was with his pushing.

“Do I need to call a deputy over here to get an order of protection?”

“No! Absolutely not. I’m finishing up my notes and then I’m going home. I just want to wash this day off and go to bed.”

He nodded. “Fine, but promise me that if that guy comes back around, you’ll call me immediately.”

“I’m really trying hard not to roll my eyes right now.”

“Your safety matters to me, Sloane. You matter to me.”

“I, uh, okay. I’ll call you if he comes back.”

“Good. Now go get your stuff. I’ll walk you to your car.”

Gage walked around the reception area, peeking into the small room Sloane had set up as a nursery for when Lily brought Sage to work with her. Having Sage in the office was special to him. He hadn’t been able to do something like that with his own son.

“I’m ready,” Sloane said as she cleared her throat behind him.

“Sorry. Got lost in thought.”

He watched as her features changed from curiosity to compassion. He didn’t keep his loss a secret, and he was sure everyone in Silver Springs knew about his family, but it wasn’t something that came up all the time.

“I understand.”

“The room has really changed lately.”

She laughed. “Yeah. Sage is good at getting into things. Lily and I spent time a few weekends ago moving it all around and making things more toddler friendly. I can’t believe she’s going to be one so soon.”

“Me either.” Gage shook his head as he turned, his hand hovering over the small of Sloane’s back as they made their way out of the office. He’d never been one to think about small touches like that before meeting her. Now, he tried to always be aware.

“So, you’ll be at the race on Saturday, right?”

“Unfortunately,” she groaned, pulling a laugh out of him.

“It’s for a good cause.”

“Of course it is. I would just rather donate my money and not have to run. But Lily’s so excited about it, I don’t want to let her down.”

“I know how you feel. Gunner basically threatened us all about being there, with smiles on, to support her. Can you imagine Gunner talking about smiling? I swear, Lily has rewired his brain in the weirdest ways.”

“She’s good for him. I think?—”

“Dr. Donovan?”

Gage watched her back stiffen as a man near Sloane’s car started walking towards them.

“David, you need to leave.”

Well, fuck. “This is the guy? He put his fucking hands on you?”

Yeah, Gage wanted the asshole to hear his possessive tone. And from the look of shock in his eyes, he had. Now, Gage waited to see whether the guy would just walk away, or if he was ready to double down and do something even more stupid than waiting for a woman to walk into a parking lot alone to confront her.

“Give me one second.” Sloane went to take a step away from him, but Gage was faster.

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