Page 42 of Dr. Stone
“How sad that she had to get rid of him. It’s horrible to have a dog for so long and then give it away, especially when it was a present.”
“I think she’s hit some rough times—vet bills, food, working two jobs, paying for daycare. She had to make the hard choice to let him go to a home where he’d get the attention she and her son couldn’t give him.”
“Oh, that breaks my heart,” I said, truly saddened that hardship had forced them to give up Duke. “If you keep in touchwith her or your patient, will you let them know I promise we’ll give him the life they hoped he could have?”
He smiled. “Of course I will.” He stood as the breeze picked up. A chill filled the air as the sun dipped, and beyond Jace’s perfectly lit pool the sky darkened. “If you want to stay a little longer, I can turn on the patio heaters and light the gas fireplace to match the ambiance of my party lights.”
I nodded. “This place does have ambiance,” I said, admiring the deep blue of his infinity pool. “I love how you have the spotlights on the palms and banana leaves. I feel like I’m in a tropical resort.”
I pinched my lips to keep from smiling wider when Jace’s jaw tightened and his eyes stayed locked on mine.
“Wouldn’t be anything like what Titus Hawk demands his tropical resorts look like at night, would it?”
I decided to play along, glancing back up at the swaying party lights. “Hmm, I’m not one to compare, but if I had to, I’d need a margarita in my hand, that fireplace lit, and the sound of a live ukulele playing in the background.”
“You’ve come to the right place. I’ve got talent in all those departments,” he said. I watched him light the fireplace before returning to me. “Here,” he said, grabbing a remote. “It may not be live music, but the sound system I had custom installed might as well be. Let me get your music going while I mix up that cocktail inside.”
I couldn’t stop smiling. I was genuinely happy, more confident than I’d been in a long time. I liked this unexpected side of Jace. He was proving to be a quiet romantic in his own charming way, and I couldn’t help but adore that he was just a little jealous of Titus.
“So, tell me,” Jace said after we’d both had two margaritas and our minds were loose enough not to give a shit aboutanything, “are you the type who digs rich tycoons flying you to destinations most people can only dream of?”
“Are you jealous?”
“Absolutely,” he answered without hesitation. “I hate that the guy I’m up against is Titus fucking Hawk. Most women would kill for a first date with him, let alone a second. And here you are, what, on your fifth?”
I rolled my eyes. “If I take him up on dinner tomorrow night, it’ll be my fourth.”
“Jesus Christ, that man is blowing my mind with his pursuit of you,” he said, frowning into his margarita glass.
“You both crack me up, you know?”
“How so?”
“I don’t know if it’s because I’ve never had two gorgeous men hot on my ass, or because you’re both crazy, but it’s like you’re competing over something, and I’m not entirely sure it’s me.”
His expression sobered, the lightness fading. “I don’t know what Titus is after. Everyone knows he’s never been tempted to settle down, so I can’t speak for him. But for myself…” His voice grew quieter, more reflective. “I’m following something in me that wants more with you. Truthfully, I was just like Titus before I met you, but after the night we shared, I haven’t gotten you out of my head.”
My breath caught at his words. I had felt the same way, but I hadn’t thought he did. I’d assumed this was just a power play between billionaire friends, and I was along for the ride, a source of ego while they competed. With Titus, it was all fun and surface-level. With Jace, it felt different. There was something deeper I couldn’t explain, a pull that made me want more, even if I was afraid to admit it.
“I thought this was just some silly game between the two of you,” I said.
“It may be a game to Titus, but not to me. I want to know you better. I know I’ve wasted a lot of time working and letting Titus date the fuck out of you, but I’m done sitting back. If he wants you, he’ll have to work for it, just like I do.”
“I look forward to that, but I need to cut this short and get my son.” I grinned, stood up, and instantly realized I wouldn’t be driving anywhere. “Shit,” I muttered, head spinning. “I shouldn’t have had that second margarita.” I rubbed my temple, shifting Duke into my arm. “I have to get Brandon.”
“I’m not buzzed at all,” he said, chuckling at my lightweight status. “Let me drive you to Ash and Jake’s.”
“I would normally decline, but since I drank without eating today, I’ll take that offer.”
“I’ll get my keys,” he said, stepping closer. “I wish I could beg you to stay longer, but I can’t steal you from your boy like that.” His smile was tender, and my heart warmed that he’d consider Brandon over his own needs.
“Perfect response,” I said, tipsy and happy.
He stepped forward, eyes locked on mine with quiet intensity as his hand cupped my face. I hadn’t realized how much I’d been yearning for his touch until that moment—the warmth of his hand, the way his eyes stayed on mine, the subtle, nervous bite of his lip wrapping around me like gravity I didn’t want to resist.
“I want more with you. I swear to God, I won’t mess this up,” he exhaled. “I may not be the best in relationships, but dammit, I’m going to try. If I can be a genius with the physical side of the heart—performing transplants and shit—I sure as hell can figure out the emotional side of it.”
He gave a tiny smile just before leaning down to seal his words with a kiss. My heart took off, and my mind went blank with the desire to feel his lips on mine.
