Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 156808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 784(@200wpm)___ 627(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 784(@200wpm)___ 627(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“Oh, great! I’m gonna get some things for my nephew too. So how are you feeling? You didn’t look so good when I walked out to get you,” she said, pushing open an exam room door. Kara picked up her notes from the tray on the door, flipping through a few pages before looking up at him, waiting for an answer.
All those warm thoughts about the place came back in full force. Of course she’d notice. They all always noticed. “I shouldn’t have gone to the waiting room. It was my bad.”
“I went to the hall first. I was surprised you weren’t there,” she said, holding the file open in her arms. “You won’t be alone forever. I promise. You have too much to offer. When you get ready to get out in the world again, the men’ll flock to you. I’m certain of that.”
Kara was the eternal optimist and good for his heart. He let her have her moment, just giving her a laugh in reply. She did manage to lift his spirits though. He teasingly waved his hand out in front of him and said, “Well, thank you. I’m not sure flocking will ever happen, but I think I probably need to be by myself for a while. You’re busy. You don’t want to hear all this. Get on with the questions.”
“So how’s the Genvoya working?”
“Okay, I guess. I’ve been having some stomach problems, but that could be the stress,” he answered honestly.
“It could be, but I’ll go ahead and make a note just in case.” She gave him a sympathetic smile before turning her attention to his chart. “Is that the only thing you’re experiencing? It says here you were feeling a little tired the last time you came in.”
“Yeah, but I think that has more to do with me not sleeping.”
“All right, you can talk to Dr. Johnson about that. He’ll be with you soon.” She tore a page from the back of the file and handed it over to him. “Write that site down for me. I’m really liking that cross.”
He scribbled the name down and then handed it back to her. “Remember to use my name.”
“I will.” She moved toward the door, tucking the piece of paper in her scrubs pocket. She looked back over her shoulder to grin at him before leaving the room. Thank God he’d found this place. He really liked all these people.
~♥~
BT chattered relentlessly from the passenger side of the sports car. Arik had loved this car. A gift to himself when he’d relocated his corporate headquarters from Chicago to Dallas. He’d figured the hot climate and dusty flatlands needed something like his new Audi R8 to help him absorb the culture shock. Now he saw the error of that decision. One he’d be rectifying pretty quickly. The two-seater made it impossible to drown out his passenger’s whining.
Since Arik hadn’t spoken a word since getting inside the car, he’d hoped Steffan might realize the fruitlessness of his complaining. He wasn’t budging on this decision. No fucking way.
As he pulled to the front of the resort, Arik’s thoughts shifted straight to work mode. From all appearances, the hotel looked ready for business, even down to the valet station a few feet away. On cue, a young man ran toward him while another went around to the passenger side.
“Good morning, Mr. Layne.”
“Keep her close by.” The word her must have confused the guy because his eyes darted to BT then down to the car before he lifted a questioning gaze to Arik. “The car,” Arik clarified.
“Yes, sir.” The valet nodded, not even questioning Arik’s chuckle. Good job on his part. He’d come across many questionable things as part of his job.
As he rounded the hood, he asked the other valet, “Has Tristan Wilder arrived?” This was as much a test as a legitimate question. At his resorts, every employee needed to know when certain people were on property.
“Yes, sir, he’s right inside the lobby.” Arik dismissed the valet with a nod, going straight to the front doors. BT’s heeled boots clicked like crazy on the freshly washed pavement as he struggled to keep up. The double doors opened to the main lobby of the hotel.
For the first time, Arik acknowledged Steffan by nodding in the direction of the large mahogany and granite counter that stretched across the left wall of the atrium. “Have the front desk take you to the bar. When I’m done, I’ll come find you.”
He didn’t wait for an answer as his eyes adjusted from the bright sunlight outside. He spotted Tristan standing with Gage and his husband, Trent. Arik looked down at his own loafers, hiding his grin. His cousin Gage was whipped, no doubt about it. He’d probably talked long and hard to convince Trent to stop by the hotel instead of house shopping like they had originally planned for the day.