“His wife,” she repeated, and there was something in her voice. Surprise, definitely, but also curiosity and maybe a hint of amusement. “I’m Winnifred Potter, but please call me Winnie. I’m the administrative coordinator here.”
“Athena.” I reached across the desk to shake her hand, and the moment our hands touched, I felt it. That spark of recognition—not romantic like with Julien, butconnection, thekind that said, “We’re going to be friends, you and I. We’re going to understand each other.”
“It’s lovely to meet you, Athena.” Winnie’s smile was genuine now, not just professional. “I have to say, Dr. Darcy didn’t mention—”
“That he got married in Vegas three days ago?” a voice interrupted, smooth and British and absolutely dripping with amusement.
I turned to see a man leaning against the reception counter. Tall, dark-haired, with green eyes that sparkled with mischief and a smile that probably got him out of all kinds of trouble, wearing scrubs and a white coat with a stethoscope draped around his neck like a fashion accessory.
Oh,I thought.This must be Fitz.
“Dr. Fitzpatrick Lovejoy,” he said, extending his hand with a grin that was equal parts charming and delighted. “But please, call me Fitz. And you must be the famous Athena.”
“Famous?” I shook his hand, feeling his energy—playful, warm, genuinely kind underneath all that charm.
“Oh, absolutely. You’re already a legend. The woman who married Julien Darcy in Vegas after he got spectacularly drunk and decided to throw caution to the wind for the first time in his entire life.” His grin widened.
Winnie was staring at both of us now, her professional composure cracking slightly. “Wait. Julien got married? In Vegas? And you didn’t tell me?”
“And ruin our tentative truce?” Fitz challenged.
“I hate you.”
Fitz blew the woman a kiss, and she rolled her eyes.
I laughed because I couldn’t help it. Fitz’s energy was infectious— all light and humor and genuine affection for Julien underneath the teasing.
“The universe brought us together,” I explained to Winnie, who was still glaring at Fitz. “I saw him at his presentation and I justknew! You know that feeling? When everything inside you says, ‘That’s the one. That’s your person. That’s who you’ve been waiting for’?”
“I... can’t say I do, actually,” Winnie said carefully.
“Well, it’s very powerful. Very cosmic. The universe basically grabbed us both and said, ‘You two belong together!’ and who am I to argue with the universe?”
“Who indeed,” Fitz murmured, his eyes dancing with amusement. “So tell me, Athena. What brings you to our humble clinic? Surely not just to visit your husband?”
“Actually, yes. I wanted to see where he works. To understand this part of his life.”
“How wonderfully supportive.” Fitz leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Between you and me, he’s been an absolute nightmare this morning. Snapping at everyone, reorganizing things that don’t need reorganizing. Generally radiating anxiety like a nuclear reactor. I assume that’s your doing?”
“The universe works in mysterious ways.”
“Clearly.” He grinned. “I like you. You’re exactly the kind of chaos Julien needs in his life.”
“I prefer to think of it as cosmic balance.”
“Even better.”
Winnie was watching our exchange with an expression that was half-amused, half-concerned. “Dr. Lovejoy, shouldn’t you be—”
“Doing literally anything else? Probably. But this is far more entertaining.” He turned back to me. “So, Athena, tell me. What’s it like being married to the most uptight, controlling, obsessively organized man in the entire medical profession?”
“He’s not uptight,” I said, feeling suddenly defensive. “He’s just... precise. And he cares deeply about doing things right. That’s not a flaw; it’s—”
“A feature?” Fitz suggested.
“Exactly.”
“You really do love him, don’t you?” His voice had softened, the teasing edge replaced by something more genuine. “Even after three days.”
