Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
“Go, I’m fine.” I smile and lift my glass of champagne. “I’ve got company.”
She smiles and waves at me, and I wave back. I’ve seen this woman at a lot of the charity events we go to. She’s a doctor and seems nice.
Nathan kisses my cheek. “I’ll bring you another one back. Won’t be a minute.” He nods to our tablemates. “Excuse me.” He gets up and goes and talks to her, and they walk over to the bar and fall into conversation.
Mario frowns at me. “That’s not the Dr. Mercer, is it?”
“Umm.” I raise my eyebrows. I get asked this a lot.
“The heart surgeon?”
“That’s him.” I smile.
He watches Nathan across the room at the bar. “Wow, he’s so young in the flesh.”
My heart beams with pride. “He is, and his reputation is well deserved.”
Another couple sit down at our table. “Hello.” They both smile, and we do the introductions and shake hands.
I glance over to see Nathan is looking my way. He doesn’t leave me alone for long. He’s now talking to three other men, and he holds up a finger as if to say he’ll be a moment.
“I’m fine,” I mouth over at him.
“Eliza?” I hear someone call.
I turn to see a familiar face, and I laugh. “Gretel.” I turn to the people at my table. “Excuse me.” I stand and kiss my dear friend on the cheek.
Gretel is my ex-boss. The best damn boss I ever had, actually. If she hadn’t retired, I probably never would have even contemplated leaving. She’s beautiful with her silver bob haircut and glamorous designer clothes. Her husband is the mayor of San Francisco, and Gretel knows everyone in town.
“Oh, it’s good to see you.” She smiles as she holds my hands in hers. “Are you here with Nathan?”
“Yes.” I gesture over to the bar. “He’s talking to some friends.”
“Oh my God, what is this I hear about you leaving?”
“Wow.” I shake my head. “News travels fast. I only resigned today.”
“Where are you going to be working?”
“For Doctor Morgan.”
She frowns. “The plastic surgeon?”
“Yes, that’s him.”
“Boy, he’s a dish.” She smiles and plays with a piece of my hair. “You sure are a magnet for good-looking doctors.”
“Too bad I can’t snag any of them.” I laugh. “And Nathan doesn’t count.”
“Speak of the devil.” Gretel smiles. “Hello, darling.”
Nathan kisses her cheek. “Hello, Gretel, lovely to see you.”
Gretel looks him up and down. “Good grief, do you get better looking every time I see you, Nathan?”
I smile as I watch the two of them exchange.
He chuckles and shakes his head. “You’re as shameless as ever.”
“Gretel!” someone calls.
She looks over. “I’m being summoned.” We glance over to see her husband at the bar, obviously needing help. “I’ll see you both later.”
“Okay, bye.”
Nathan hands me a glass of champagne. “Thanks.”
“Eliza,” a deep voice says from behind me. We both turn to see Henry Morgan.
“Oh.” Fuck, what’s he doing here? “Hello, Dr. Morgan.”
“Henry,” he corrects me. His attention turns to Nathan, and he puts out his hand to shake his. “Henry Morgan.”
Nathan smiles and dips his head. “Nathan Mercer.”
“Ah.” Henry’s eyes hold Nathan’s for a moment, and I can see he’s just worked out who Nathan is. “I’m the new boss.”
Nathan’s eyes meet mine and he subtly raises an eyebrow. “Really?”
“And you must be the boyfriend?”
“Yes,” I cut him off before Nathan can answer him. “This is my boyfriend, Nathan.”
Nathan’s eyes flicker to me in question. “That’s right.” He puts his arm around me, and pulls me close, smiling sexily. “Well, you hired the best possible person for the job. I trust you will look after her.”
Henry smiles broadly at me. “I intend to; don’t worry.”
His eyes go back to Nathan, and they stare at each other for a moment. Something is exchanged between them, although I’m not sure what it is.
Nathan’s eyes come back to me.
Fuck.
“We need to get back to our table. Let’s go, baby.” I smile as I pull Nathan by the arm. “Nice to see you, Dr. Morgan,” I say in a rush. Go away, now.
“Henry,” he corrects me. “And do come quickly. The sooner you are under me, the better.”
Nathan stares at him.
“Working under me, I mean.” He chuckles. “That sounded wrong, didn’t it?”
“Not to mention deluded,” Nathan replies dryly.
“Goodbye.” I fake a giggle. “Lovely to see you again.” I drag Nathan back to the table.
Oh, crap.
Nathan sits down with a thud. He tips his head back and takes a huge gulp of his scotch.
I smile around my champagne glass. Oh, great.
Nathan’s eyes meet mine. “I thought you said your boss was old.”
“He is old.” I lie as I try to act casual.
He raises an eyebrow. “Why did you tell him I was your boyfriend?”
I put my hand on his thigh under the table. “I tell a lot of people you’re my boyfriend,” I whisper.