Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
I smile at his mention of Athena Millett. She’s engaged to Matilda’s youngest brother-in-law, Liam Wolf. Athena owns a floral boutique and stops by regularly with flowers for Matilda and sometimes a bouquet to brighten the front desk of the clinic. She never asks for anything in return.
“I’ll text her now.” She tugs her phone out of one of the pockets of her blue scrubs. “I know she’ll do it and you’ll have to fight her to take your money.”
Matt laughs. “If that’s the case, I’ll stop by her shop next week for another bouquet when she’s out doing deliveries. I’ll add a huge tip to the order.”
“Sneaky but effective.” Matilda looks toward me. “What about you, Dr. Hunt? Do you want some flowers for a lovely lady?”
Fuck, yeah, I do. I’d give anything to see the look on Delia’s face if I appeared before her with a handful of fresh flowers.
“No,” I answer without any explanation.
“No surprise there.” Matilda flashes me a grin. “It’s time to get back to work, gentleman.”
She’s right. It is. I have a few patients to tend to before I get to see Delia again. This day has certainly taken a turn for the better.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Delia
I love this place. When Nikita first told me she was thinking of opening a candy store, I was completely on board. In fact, I offered to help fund the endeavor. She was wary at first because we both heard horror stories of friends going into business together only for it to tear the relationship apart, but that hasn’t happened with us.
In fact, we grew closer as I promised that all I wanted to be was a silent partner and an understanding ear when she needed someone to listen.
Since she launched the store a few years ago, it’s become a staple in New York City. Residents and tourists flock here because Kita offers bars crafted from the very best chocolate in the world and a myriad of sweet treats that can’t be found anywhere else.
Her front-end staff consists of a handful of people but she has a small factory operation a few blocks from here where everything is made. Since she started offering overnight delivery of everything she sells, her bottom line and mine, has increased substantially.
“You know how much I appreciate this, right?” She slides a hand along my back as we enjoy a short lull for the first time today.
“You know how much I love helping you, right?”
She wraps her arms around me for a quick embrace. “You’ve helped me more than I can ever possibly thank you for, Delia. I wouldn’t have this life if it wasn’t for you.”
Her brother, Nicholas, is incredibly wealthy and I know that he also offered to invest in the business. He did, in fact, at the same percentage I did. He’s also a silent partner since the majority of his time is spent writing and spending time with his wife and two daughters.
“It’s more than the money,” she says as though she can read my mind. “You’re am amazing best friend.”
“I feel the same about you,” I tell her as I get to work fixing a display of cherry suckers that have been picked over.
She glances toward the door when the bell above signals its opening. “How do you feel about Donovan Hunt?”
“We’re not going there.” I shake my head.
“Oh, you’re going there,” she says with a wink.
“What does that mean?”
She points toward the entrance. “He just walked in with your brother. Why don’t you take care of what he needs?”
In a repeat of recent history, I drop something as soon as I turn around and see Donovan standing mere feet away from me.
This time the cherry lollipop in my hand falls to the floor, but thankfully since it’s wrapped in a clear package with a heart shaped print, the shattered pieces stay within that.
Kita dips down to scoop it up. “I’ll go toss this in the trash in my office.”
“There’s a wastebasket right over there.” I point at the one near the counter.
“I know,” she says, as she turns to walk away. She tosses my brother and my boss a wave on her way to the back. “Hey Matt! Hi Donovan!”
They both mimic her movement by raising their hands in greeting, too.
As she disappears out of sight, Matt approaches me with open arms. He’s dressed much like Donovan is in dark blue pants and a button-down shirt. Matt’s is white. Donovan is wearing a light blue one that only serves to accentuate the unique shade of his eyes. It’s obvious that he’s shaved since we left the ship.
He didn’t bother doing that after we shut ourselves in his room so by the time the ship docked in Miami at the end of our journey, he was sporting the beginnings of a beard.