Page 97 of Dr. Stone
Dorian leaned back. “At any rate, it’s a pleasure to see you again, Andie. For the record, I haven’t seen my brother’s smile light up like that in years, so it appears you are to thank for that.”
“How’s Madrid treating you, hermano?” Titus asked. “It’s been a while since I’ve visited your cocky ass.”
Dorian raised a brow. “Same shit, different continent. How’s that yacht treating you? Is she still running smoothly?”
Titus raised his eyebrow. “Oh, hell, man. Are you talking about the one I refitted because your broker oversold the interiors?” He took a sip of his drink, a tiny smile playing on the corner of his mouth. “That lady is fine now. I only had to rework the galley and crew quarters, but we made it,” he dramatically sighed, then said. “Tolerable.”
Mickie laughed. “Of course, you, Titus Hawk, would spend three hundred million and call that bullshittolerable.”
Dorian chuckled with a bit of edginess. “Well, I’m glad you made her work for your tastes, my friend. There are not many people who appreciate European design.”
“Meh, not everyone needs to,” Titus replied coolly. “But some of us—myself included—like things to respond when I push hard.”
Sebastian laughed softly and raised his glass to Titus. “There’s nothing better than watching you two bicker like a couple debating what to order at a drive-thru on a Friday night.”
Avery leaned in toward me, “I give Dorian seven more seconds, then his ass is going to be competing for top spot again.”
“Wasn’t that what he was trying to do before Titus just knocked him down a couple of notches?” I whispered back.
Jace stayed quiet, a faint smile playing on his lips, content simply having me by his side. Though the conversation seemed like one he’d usually dive into, tonight he chose to sit it out.
“Aside from my company not meeting my best guy’s standards,” Dorian said, “it’s good to see my big brother and be among his friends and achievements. Damn, I thought that hospital would swallow him whole before he ever made it to an event like this.” He glanced at the group, thumb pointing in Jace’s direction. “I keep telling him to get into yachting with the rest of us and broaden his tastes, but my big brother just likes to sail little boats.”
“You don’t feel the ocean in your soul on a super yacht,” Jace said, meeting Dorian’s gaze. “That just feels like standing in a palace on the water. Sailing is different. You feel the pull of the wind, the current beneath you, the shift of the boat when the sails catch right. It’s not about luxury.” He lifted his glass toward his brother. “It’s about letting the boat and the ocean into your soul.”
“Well, damn,” I said, unable to stop smiling at him. “That’s the perfect way to describe it.” His words pulled me in, reminding me of everything I loved about sailing, the raw beauty, the intimacy of it. All I wanted in that moment was to be out on the water with him, feeling it all, just the two of us.
“You’re perfect, gorgeous,” he whispered, his eyes softening before the conversation drifted toward some acquisition Jim’s company was making.
This world was overwhelming, yes, but with Jace at my side, it felt strangely natural. He navigated it with ease, never letting it define him, never letting it overshadow who he was. That was what mattered to me, not the money or the names, but him. The man who saw the world in a way that mirrored mine, who made everything feel right.
I leaned into him, letting the warmth of the fire bowls and the low hum of laughter wrap around me. For the first time all night, I stopped thinking about appearances or expectations. The onlything I cared about was the way I was falling for this man, harder with every glance, every touch, every word.
FORTY-FOUR
Jace
Some days,I loved being in my office and conducting patient consultations, and other days, I preferred the adrenaline rush and high of the OR. Today, I was content to be in my office, seeing my patients.
I was fully booked, which explained why the day was flying. By two o’clock, I’d already seen four patients—two post-op follow-ups, one who needed imaging reviewed, the other discussing recovery after bypass surgery. The other two were pre-op clearances: walking families through surgical risks, consent forms, logistics, and every anxious question they could throw at me.
My last patient, Mrs. Bethany Combs, had been more complicated. We’d moved to the family consult room, big enough for her seven adult children and their spouses—all armed with questions. I didn’t use that space often, but in cases like hers, it was necessary.
I was relieved once that marathon ended, but the consult in front of me wasn’t much easier—just demanding in a different way.
Mrs. Lucinda Haughton sat with her husband and their two daughters, nerves tight in every glance. First-time surgery consults were always the hardest. These were the draining ones. Still, this was my job: to calm fears and guide them through what lay ahead. Her heart valve repair wasn’t just about surgery—it was about giving a mother the chance to keep showing up for her twin daughters. They might be wrapped up in crowns and pageants, but my focus was keeping their mom alive to see all of it.
“Girls,” Mr. Haughton said in a steady, yet somewhat fearful tone, “now is not the time or place for this.” He sighed, “Forgive us, doctor. It’s just that we weren’t expecting this kind of surgery.”
“Easily understandable reactions, Mr. Haughton,” I said. “Allow me to help set you all at ease as best I can.”
“Thank you,” Mrs. Haughton said with a somber nod.
“I won’t dance around the seriousness of this surgery or pretend it’s just another day in the OR. Every procedure I perform carries weight, and I take each of them very seriously. With that in mind, our Chief of Cardiology, Dr. Jacob Mitchell, and I will go in with precision and focus, committed to delivering the best possible outcome. Dr. Mitchell and I routinely perform these operations together. In addition to being Chief, he’s one of the most experienced cardiologists in the country, which is why you’ve placed your trust in us.” I looked directly at the more shaken of the two daughters. “We will treat your mother as if she were our own.”
She exhaled, but it was shaky and still riddled with nervousness.
I went on, “This surgery gives her the chance to keep showing up for both of you. One day, when you start families of your own, she’ll be there for that, too.” I held the gaze of both identical twin daughters. “We will do everything in our power to bring your mother safely through this.”
