Page 72 of Dr. CEO (The Doctors)

“A little toast,” Jacob says. “To the calm before the storm.”

“What does that mean?” Carole says. “What storm?”

“Just this weekend. It feels like every few months one of us brings a woman up here and expands our crew. This time it’s Vincent. Next time maybe it will be Beau.”

“Who would have Beau?” John asks. “They’d have to be desperate.”

John is less than complimentary about his sons, but I get the feeling it’s a bit of an act. They clearly all love him dearly. No wonder Vincent wants to be part of all this. It feels like a community, or a club with very exclusive, if eccentric, membership requirements.

“He’s got a pretty face and could sell sand to Arabs,” Jacob says. “He’ll get someone to marry him.”

My stomach roils. Is that what people are thinking? That Vincent and I are on our way to marriage? I don’t let myself think about next week when it comes to Vincent, let alone the rest of my life.

“How’s that Crompton place coming along?” John asks, interrupting my train of thought. “Is it the money pit I told you it will be?”

“We’re breaking ground next week,” Vincent replies. “I guess we’ll know then.”

“Well, Vincent,” John says. “You have great taste in wine, women, and investment opportunities.”

Vincent shoots me a look of concern. “By women, you mean Kate, right?”

I take a step closer to him and circle my hand over his back. He doesn’t need to worry so much. I’m not made of glass. I’m also not blind to how handsome Vincent is and how that, combined with him being richer than any person I’ve ever known, means he must have his fair share of female admirers. I’m not an idiot. But I also don’t want to think about anything but right here and now. I don’t want to ruminate on what it means that Vincent brought me to a family occasion. I don’t want to speculate on how long he’ll stay at Crompton. We’re together now and that’s all that matters.

John scowls as if Vincent is being an idiot. “Of course I mean Kate. I’ve never met any of your other women, have I?”

Vincent freezes next to me and I can’t help but laugh. “Relax,” I whisper to him. “I’m not freaking out and neither should you.”

“Let’s take our drinks out into the garden,” Carole says. “Zach and Ellie should be here any minute. Jacob, can you get another bottle from the fridge?”

“Done,” he says. “I’ll bring two glasses. Dax and Beau aren’t coming until later.”

“Thank goodness,” John says as he takes a seat around a huge, round teak table under a gazebo full of jasmine. “Three of you are enough.”

We all sit down, Vincent one side of me, Sutton the other.

“What about Nathan and Madison?” Vincent asks.

“They’re not here until tomorrow night,” John says. “They have a human parasite of their own to deal with now.”

Carole’s sitting next to John and playfully kicks him. “That’s our granddaughter you’re talking about. We need to do something about seating. Our family is growing and I want everyone to be able to come together.”

“We need to move into a bloody mansion,” John says.

“Poor Vincent is having to stay at the Blakely Hotel. I don’t like it,” Carole says. “Not at all. He should feel there’s room enough for him. Because there is.”

I glance over at Vincent and a small smile nudges at the corner of his lips.

“That was my fault, Carole,” I say. “I do hope I’ve not offended you. The truth is, I don’t leave home very often at all, and I was a bit nervous about coming up here. I’ve not stayed a night outside of the Crompton Estate since I was at university. Vincent thought I might find it easier in a hotel.”

“Oh darling girl,” Carole says and my heart seems to bulge with the love she’s sending to me. “I’m not offended at all. Thank you for telling me and we’re very honored you decided to come and visit. This won’t be the last time, I guarantee you’ll be back.” She glances at Vincent. “I know it. And next time you can stay.”

“Where did you go to university?” John asks me.

This is followed by a groan of “Daaaaad” from Jacob, and mutterings from everyone else.

“What?” John asks, his expression affronted. “I only asked the girl where she studied.”

There’s another chorus of woman around the table and I can’t help but laugh.

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