Page 61 of Dr. CEO (The Doctors)

“One of the disadvantages of spending all my time at Crompton is that I tend to assume the world out there is worse than it is. I feel safe when I’m in this bubble. Nothing can go wrong—”

I pull my hand from hers and scratch the back of my head. “Until I arrived. Right?” This evening was going south quickly.

She looks me in the eyes, her expression serious. “This is terrible. I’m saying the wrong things all the time. I’m the arsehole, and if I’m not careful, we’re going to be enemies by the end of the night.” She stands, and I think she’s about to run out when she says, “We’re going to start again.”

“Okay?” I’m confused, but she’s right—tonight took a wrong turn and I’d like to get back on track.

She rolls her shoulders back, shakes out her hands and takes a deep breath before sitting down opposite me again. “I’m Kate Saunders. I’m twenty-seven and I think you’re completely attractive.”

I can’t help but laugh. She smiles and I feel like a teenager, like I did earlier in the evening—like I always do when I’m around her.

I start to speak but she leans in and places her index fingers across my lips. “And not just because you’ve got a pretty face and an amazing bod. I like that you’re a man of your word. That you care about the people of Crompton. You’re buying up properties to rent out to those of us displaced by the renovations; you’re investing in retraining people. You’re a good man, Vincent Cove, and I do know that, despite practically accusing you of having mafia connections or whatever I was going on about.”

Her words erase all the discomfort and irritation. It feels good to have her tell me what she thinks in such crystal-clear terms. She starts to lean back but I catch her hand and thread my fingers through hers.

“I think you’ve got a pretty face and amazing bod too.”

“So poetic,” she teases.

“They’re your words!”

She frowns like she’s taking absolutely no responsibility for them and I shake my head, trying not to laugh.

“I like how you handled that bump in the road back there.”

“Yeah, anyone would think I’m a pro at this dating thing,” she says.

“You’re not?”

“Well, if we don’t count Basil, then no.”

I close my eyes and scrunch up my face. “Please unsay that.”

“He’s an amazing lover. Wears his cap in bed.”

“Stop.” I rub my hands over my face. “You’re the worst.”

“I’m kidding about Basil. But not the stuff I said about you.” She looks at me, her gaze soft but purposeful. “I’m sorry. Did I fuck this up?”

I shake my head. “Never.”

Our waitress comes over with our food and wine.

“Speaking of Basil, it seems like it’s impossible to keep a secret around here,” I say. “Michael and Basil knew we were having dinner tonight.”

“And tomorrow morning, people might put two and two together.”

“Does that bother you?” I ask. I’m not sure how I’d feel if everyone around me knew everything about my life.

“I mean, we’re not doing anything illegal. These people care about me and want me to be happy, so no, but I could imagine there might come a time when it might.”

“When I’m with my cousins, it’s similar. Everyone’s in everyone’s business and it doesn’t come from a bad place. And it’s nice, because you feel part of something, but I have the luxury of disappearing if it gets overwhelming.” I sit back in my chair. “Huh. I never actually thought about that. I’ve always felt like I’m on the periphery when I visit them.” The prickling on the back of my neck has returned. “They’re very welcoming and I definitely feel like part of the family, but obviously, I’m not their brother or their son—I’m always slightly removed. But maybe I put myself there. It’s always felt…I’ve always felt like a bit of an outsider. I guess that’s why I ended up at medical school.”

Kate’s eyes widen. “Wait, you’re a doctor?”

“No, I dropped out. I was making investments, even back then, and struck lucky a couple of times. I realized medicine wasn’t for me.”

“Wow,” she says.

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