Page 3 of The Potter

I know what I’m asking him to do isn’t critical. It won’t save my life, but it has the potential to change it irrevocably.

I’ve earned something good, and he took it from me with one sentence.I can’t help you.Of course, I was going to act crazy. This surgery has been all I’ve thought about for the past four years. I want it more than I’ve ever wanted anything.

More than a new car, a flashy career, or a home of my own. I want a fresh start—a blank canvas. And Dr. Potter, the fixer of broken things—the man who can mold a woman into perfection—was the only person who could give me back my dream.

And he said no. Not even that he’d think about it or consider it later when I had the full payment for the surgery insurance would not cover.

Just. No.

I hadn’t expected a no.

I expected what the newspaper touted.

A brilliant surgeon.

A master sculptor.

Dr. Potter was supposed to take on the challenge and change my life like he’s done for countless others, but he refused. Why? What makes my case so different than others I’ve heard about?

“Let me guess, he ordered a sandwich on rye, and you delivered wheat?”

My gaze whips to my left, and I find a grin with a head full of dark, messy hair. “Oh, I’m not a delivery girl.”

His grin widens as he gives me a once-over. “I know, sweetheart. It just makes escorting you out of the building less awkward.”

Ah. I nod. “You’re security?” He certainly doesn’t look like a Serena.

He motions to the hallway to my right. “Nope. Just a dutiful brother.”

“Brother?” I give the dark-haired man another look. “You’re Dr. Potter’s brother?”

His mouth tightens. “Afraid so.”

I wouldn’t want to admit I was the rude-ass’s brother, either.

I drag my feet as I follow him down the hall. “Did he ask you to remove me from the premises?”

“Ha. Vance would neveraskme anything. Trust me, you don’t want to be next to that door when he finally decides to come out.”

“So, Dr. Potter does this often? Throwing women out of his office and all?”

A similar version of Dr. Potter looks down at me from his impressive height of likely six-foot. “Actually, I can’t say that I’ve ever escorted one of Vance’s patients out.”

Great, so it’s just me he hates. “I’m not his patient,” I explain. “He refused me.”

Like his brother, this kind stranger’s dark brows pinch together. “Vance refused to treat you?”

I nod. “Yep.”

Running a hand down his face, confusion lingers in his eyes. Clearly, that wasn’t what he was expecting to hear. “Huh.”

We round the corner and pass a desk full of women in various black pantsuits and skirts.

“Where’s Serena?” my security escort asks the women.

“Lunch. Can we help you with something, Dr. Duke?”

I look up and watch as the charmer grins at the blonde. “Later. But call Serena now and tell her she’s likely fired if she isn’t in Dr. Potter’s office in the next five minutes.”