Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
I reached out to let Hector sniff my fingers and he licked them, which I took as an okay to pet him. He bussed into my touch as I scratched behind his ears and told him he was such a handsome, gorgeous boy. Hector lapped up my attention, staring at me with open adoration, and I felt a brief pang of longing in my chest. “I think dogs are my soul mates.”
“How so?”
I looked up at Rafe and found him watching me with a softness in his eyes that made my breath catch. It took me a second to remember my train of thought. Wrenching my gaze from his and back to Hector helped. “Well, they’re just so open and full of love. Aggressive dogs are generally made, not born, right?”
“Correct.”
“And if you treat them well, feed them, take care of them, provide them with affection, dogs love with an unfaltering loyalty that puts us humans to shame.”
“And they’re your soul mates?”
Realizing what he thought I meant by that, I shrugged with a small laugh. “I just mean that I admire their openness and sense of loyalty. I try to be the same.” Standing up, I gazed around his apartment to change the subject. “This is very stylish, Mr. Whitman.”
It was true. Unlike my eclectic collection of stuff, Rafe’s living room and small dining area looked like something out of a fancy magazine. Plush chaise sofa, end tables, modern table lamps and decor. A flat screen was mounted on the wall. A hallway to the left of that wall clearly led to the bathroom and bedrooms.
“Want a tour?”
“I am nosy.” I grinned in the affirmative.
His eyes brightened with amusement, and he led me down that hallway.
It turned out the apartment was one bedroom with a decent-sized and exquisitely designed bathroom. The bedroom, like the living room, had bifold doors that led onto a balcony overlooking the Hudson.
“You have nice taste,” I told him honestly. It wasn’t my taste but it was good taste.
His lips twisted as he led me back into the living area, where Hector was now asleep on his dog bed. “My mom furnished it. I don’t have the time or the patience for that stuff.”
“I thought it had an experienced touch.”
“Take a seat.” He gestured to the couch. “You want a drink while I cook?”
“What do you have?”
“Beer, wine, water.”
“I’ll have a beer.”
A few minutes later, I was sipping on the chilled bottle of beer he’d pulled out of his fridge while he sipped on one as he cooked a pasta dish. I’d kicked off my sandals and made myself at home, curled up on his couch. Rafe moved around his kitchen at ease, seeming more relaxed than I’d ever seen him.
“You seem like you’re in a good mood?”
Rafe looked up from chopping and shrugged with a small smile. “Pippa hasn’t sent anyone into my clinic since the charity auction. Mom hasn’t called to set me up on a date with another friend’s daughter or tried to psychoanalyze why I’m alone or tried to dig deep into my past relationships and where they all went wrong. She actually asks me about my work now rather than about my personal life. It’s nice.”
“I’m glad this is working out how you hoped.”
He met my gaze. “Oh, it’s definitely working out better than I’d hoped.”
I stared at him. What did that mean?
Rafe gave me this sexy, mysterious smile before he returned to chopping up vegetables and asked me how I felt about anchovies.
Chapter Thirteen
Wednesday 11:24 am
How is today’s line sitting?
Wednesday 11:34 am
Dramatic. Some girl tried to jump in front of a bunch of us and I thought the others were going to kill her.
Wednesday 12:45 pm
And how did that end?
Wednesday 12:47 pm
I talked everyone down with some crude jokes and candy bars. We’re all friends now.
Wednesday 12:48 pm
Of course that’s how it ended with you in the mix.
Wednesday 12:49 pm
Well I am awesome. How’s your day going?
Wednesday 12:50 pm
Up and down. Had to put a patient to sleep this morning and an hour later had a successful surgery with another patient. Just how it goes.
Wednesday 12:51 pm
I’m sorry you had a sad morning. Do you need anything? I can walk out of this line if you need me to bring you anything.
Wednesday 12:51 pm
Thank you, I appreciate it. But it’s unfortunately something I’ve gotten used to doing.
Wednesday 12:52 pm
I’m here if you need anything.
Wednesday 12:53 pm
Thanks.
At two minutes past two, just as I was nearing the front of the line to buy the new Nike sneakers my client wanted, my phone rang. I smiled at the sight of Rafe’s name and wasn’t surprised considering I’d received a text to inform me my package had been delivered to his clinic.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” His voice was low, a little hoarse. He cleared his throat. “You sent me things.”