“It’s antiquated.”
“So change it.” Shelly shrugged. “What you’re saying makes sense.”
As if things could just change because he wished them so.
While Shelly was efficient, she was also nosy. “Late night, Doc?” she asked as they closed for lunch. She was the same age as his mother and equally as interested in his social life. Or lack thereof.
“He didn’t get home until after two.” Hetal smirked.
Shelly raised her eyebrows, interested. “You know, Doc, if you had your own place, you could have had a sleepover.”
Yep. Well, for that to happen, Riya would have to want to sleep over. Which she did not. “We’ve been over this, Shel.” He threw Hetal a glare.
“I know, I know. It’s the Indian way—”
“It’s an excuse. He doesn’t have to live at home.”
His sister was really pushing it today.
Shelly glanced between brother and sister. “I’m going to run a few errands. I’ll be back in time for afternoon patients.”
Hetal sat engrossed in something at the front-desk monitor. He looked over her shoulder. “Are you applying to be a firefighter?”
“Yes.”
“Do that on your own time,” he snapped at her.
“This is my own time.” She looked up at him. “You’re, like, extra grumpy today. Maybe don’t stay out so latedrinking with Ryan.” She used air quotes.
“I don’t pay you to look for work elsewhere,” he barked.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. But you’re only saying that because you don’t approve.”
“You’re right. I don’t approve. I actively disapprove.”
“Whatever. You know Riya saved a woman’s life the other day?”
“Did she also tell you she got into big trouble with her captain for trying to be a hero?” Dhillon headed back to his office.
Hetal followed. “That’s her job.”
“Her job is to put out fires and help people. It’s not to be a hero. And it certainly does not need to be yours.” Dhillon started to walk away from his sister.
“Well, I guess you didn’t hear how her boss told her she did good work yesterday.”
Dhillon froze. She hadn’t mentioned it.
“Well, he did.”
Fine. Good for Riya. She’d had a compliment from her boss and never mentioned it. Just like she never told him whatever she and Daniel had been talking about. Her career was progressing.
The pathetic part of the whole thing was that he was actually happy for her.
Dhillon pulled into the driveway to the sight of Riya wiping down her motorcycle, Scout running around the small yard on a tether. The summer sun was still strong, though it was evening, and the air was as thick as ever. Her hair was tightly braided, though some loose strands had escaped. She was wearing scrub bottoms and an old T-shirt, grease smudging her cheek. She’d never looked so sexy. Images of her from last night flashed across his mind. Her singing karaoke, her in the moonlight, her next to him in bed.
Dhillon took a deep—and hopefully cleansing—breath before exiting his car. Her living next door for the next few weeks was not making this any easier.
The sight of the motorcycle stirred an irritation inside him. She had got that right when she’d moved out. Her parents had forbidden it while she was living at home, but as soon as she’d got the paramedic job, she’d bought the bike and moved out. No, that wasn’t right. She’d moved out two years ago, and she’d already had the paramedic job for a while. Riya had moved out when she started training to be a firefighter. The motorcycle irritated him even more now.
