Page 57 of Dr. CEO (The Doctors)

What Granny doesn’t realize is that I don’t want to be strong. Being strong is overrated. “No danger of that. But it’s nice to be asked out to dinner by…a man like that.”

“And he’s from New York. I heard he has family over here.”

“Yes. An aunt, uncle and five cousins. They’re split between London and Norfolk.”

“And Crompton is the halfway point between them all. Imagine being so rich you could choose to buy a stately home because it’s halfway between two places you want to be.”

“I get the impression Vincent is rich enough to get just about everything he wants.”

“I can only hope,” Granny says, and I don’t quite know what she means, but I understand her tone well enough not to ask.

TWENTY-THREE

Vincent

I’m not sure why, but I have a jittering in my stomach that, in theory, I associate with nerves.

But I don’t get nervous.

It’s just dinner, but I showered after work. And changed into a clean shirt and pants. It’s probably too smart for what I’ve got planned, but I don’t want to make Kate uncomfortable if she’s dressed up. Plus, I want her to know that an evening with her is worth dressing up for, no matter where we’re going.

I start down the stairs of Crompton House.

“You’re leaving?” Michael says from the bottom.

“It’s nearly seven,” I say. “Can this wait until tomorrow?”

“Sure,” he replies as I pass him and head to the front door. “Have a good time on your date.”

I don’t look back but raise a hand in thanks. I didn’t expect we’d keep it a secret. After all, we’re having dinner in front of the entire village. I’m just not quite sure how Michael knows.

As I close the doors of the house behind me, Basil is tending to the plant that grows up the front of the house. I don’t want to tell him I want it cut down completely. The first impression of the house must be clean and crisp and welcoming.

“Good evening, Basil,” I say as I pass.

“Good evening, Mr. Cove.” He won’t call me Vincent, despite me trying to convince him. “Enjoy dinner with Kate.”

Clearly it’s safe to say every person who works on the Crompton Estate knows I’m taking Kate out to dinner. “Will do.”

The staff cottages are just a few minutes’ walk to the side of the house, and I can see them as soon as I turn left. The jittering ramps up as Kate’s cottage comes into view.

Could I actually be nervous about taking a woman to dinner?

Surely that’s impossible.

I get to her front door but Kate opens it before I have a chance to knock. I can’t stop the huge smile sweeping over my face. This is my favorite side of Kate: straightforward, unabashedly herself. There are no games, no keeping me waiting, no pretending she wasn’t watching for me.

“You look so handsome,” she says and my heart lunges toward her like a puppy enjoying her attention.

I finally break eye contact and glance down at her. She’s wearing a white sundress with pink flat shoes, her hair is loose and the sun-kissed ends curl up as if trying to find the last of the day’s rays.

She looks like an angel.

“You’re gorgeous.” Without thinking, I take her hand and press my lips to her knuckles, like I’m the earl of Crompton eight generations ago.

She laughs at the gesture, and I can’t help but laugh too. What are we doing? I feel like a kid. All the jittering in my stomach has been pushed out by joy and warmth and happiness.

“To dinner,” I say, reaching out a hand. She slides her palm against mine and I feel something. I can’t quite put a name to it, but it’s an easy, light comfort. That’s how it’s always been with Kate, even when I first saw her singing show tunes and introduced her to my family.

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