She sent a quick look at me before casting her gaze back on the road. “Well, I live here. This is where I’m licensed and work, so I have to be here.”
“That’s what I mean. I know all that, and I have flexibility. Especially when this movie is over…” She licked her lips and swallowed. I was watching every one of her moves for a sign she understood what I meant.
“I’m glad you do. That way, you can visit.”
“I don’t want to just visit.”
We came to a red light, and she turned to me and said, “Good thing I’m behind the wheel or I don’t know what… You said you like it here. It’s hard for me to keep traveling back and forth to see one another and operate on people. Football season is absolute bonkers for me.” She blew out a long breath and the light turned green.
“I’m going to say this, but I don’t want you to wreck, okay?”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have started this conversation in the car.”
“Yes, perhaps you’re right. But I’ve never been the smartest. What I’m saying is I want to relocate here.”
She let out a huge laugh. “From California?”
“Yes. From California. To here. But I don’t want to be presumptuous.”
“Daniel,” she whispered, pulling over on a residential street.
“We’ve waited a long time. At least, I have.”
She pivoted to the side so she could look at me as my gaze sought hers. “I never expected this. I thought we were having fun. A fling.”
My palm rose to her cheek. “We are having…fun…but not a fling. I’d like to move here. I don’t have to live with you…”
“What about the Riviera? Your backyard? All your friends?”
“Slow down. First off, Rourke is waiting, so I’ll make this quick. The Riviera will always be there. The Country Club is welcoming me to be a pro emeritus. My backyard will still be mine. I don’t have to sell my house. In fact, we can go anytime we want. And my friends are all incredibly rich, so they can come and see me anytime. Or meet anywhere we goddamn want… Maybe let’s finish this back at home? Do you want me to drive?”
She nodded, slipping out of the driver’s seat and rounding the front of the car. I’d never seen Wren this quiet.
Once we were back in the car, all she said was, “Wow.”
“Is that a good wow or a bad wow?” I couldn’t help myself.
“It was ‘looks like Rourke may have a new dog walker’ wow.”
And as simple as that, Wren and I were back to teasing. I didn’t know what I did to deserve this easy relationship, but it was the fucking bomb, as the young guys said.
Wren
“Good morning, Mr.—”
“Hey Doc, I told you Jay is good. None of this mister junk.”
I laughed at the first patient of my day as Genie rushed into the room, logging into the computer. She’d only arrived on the red-eye this morning, and I hoped she’d had a great weekend but now wasn’t the time to ask.
“Looks like you’re healing up nicely, Jay,” I said while looking over Genie’s shoulder at the chart. “Physical therapy says you’re gaining full movement.”
“Got me fixed up, Doc. Can I practice now?”
I laughed. “Aren’t you enjoying your time off?”
With an eyebrow raised, he said, “Not like you. Rumor is you got yourself a famous boyfriend.”
“Oh yeah?”
