A saccharine grin spreads across my face as I move out from where my chair sits behind me. Strutting over to Buckner’s seat, he leans away from me, eyes wide.
“Maybe, but you know what? I won’t have to listen to your bitching and moaning a second longer.” Turning back to face the room, my grin spreads, and I’m suddenly thankful we have such a shitty lawyer. “As you recall, our contracts state any party who chooses to depart the practice is not subject to a non-compete clause. There are no rules on patient recruitment, and as long as sufficient notice of three months is given, any partner can walk away.”
“You. Can’t. Quit!” Billings whines again.
“Why not? None of you seem to want me here or my opinion?” My head cocks to the side, mouth pressed into a straight line.
“You have the most stable patient base out of all of us and almost ninety percent of our VIP clientele,” Corkman sputters.
I shrug my shoulders. “Guess you should have thought about that every time you preferred to taunt me instead of showing me the respect I deserve.”
Then I’m out the door, snatching my bag from my office and marching straight to my car.
My entire body vibrates as I climb into the driver’s seat. This would have been a perfect day for Gray to pick me up, but with him taking on so much responsibility at the ranch and getting back into training for the circuit, it’s been easier for us to drive separately more frequently. A reality he grumbles about more than I do. My crazy bull rider is convinced he can always do it all. I kind of miss the solitude of driving myself and singing off-key all alone.
I take the drive home as fast as I dare.
The dogs greet me the moment I’m through the door, but no Gray.
The house is dark, except for an eerie glow coming from the back patio. Cautiously making my way out there, I find Gray.
The table is set for two with candles and rose petals. A giggle bursts out of me when he opens his arms to me. Sinking into his warmth, I let his scent envelop me. The beat of his heart settling the race of mine.
I’m home.
“Welcome home, Boss.”
“What’s all this?”
“I just wanted to do something nice for you since you were working late.” Gray guides me into my chair, before pushing it in and lowering himself into his. “How was the meeting?” he asks, pouring wine into my glass.
“More,” I coach him. He only chuckles but pours double what he started with.
“That good, huh?”
“I quit.”
He pauses, wine bottle held mid-air, tilted above his empty glass. A Rarity. Gray isn’t a wine guy, which is fine by me. Whiskey does us just fine.
“You… what?” he sucks in a sharp breath.
“Quit. They tried to bring in a new associate without consulting me. It’s not the first time they’ve tried to make big decisions without me.”
“River…”
“Don’t worry about the money. I have surgeries booked for the next year and will probably have more. And Betty mentioned a physician retiring in the next town over is selling his practice.” Grabbing my napkin, I flick it open before smoothing it over my lap. My tone remaining even as I continue. “So, I am going to look into it and maybe open my own practice.”
“River, stop. I don’t give a shit about the money. It’s not like you pay anything around here anyhow.”
My gaze shoots up to meet his, eyes narrowing in his direction. The man having enough decency to look sheepish. “Excuse me?”
He winces. A sign he hadn’t meant to let that secret slip.
“I put money for the bills in the joint account every month, Gray. Where is it?”
He winces again, coming to squat beside me. “It’s still in there.” He reaches for me before I can pull away. “Baby, listen. I can handle it all myself. I appreciate that you want to help, but I set up that account so you could feel like you were contributing. It’s my job to take care of you, not the other way around. Call it a rainy day fund.”
“Now I’m mad at you, too.”
