when Jake nearly choked on his scotch, using the back of his hand to cover the fact he’d sucked the alcohol down the wrong pipe.
“Your dad?” I questioned in disbelief. This should have ended my fascination instantly, but instead, I couldn’t give a shit who she was related to. I’d somehow mentally staked some claim on her and wasn’t losing her over anything now.
“According to your introduction to me on the dance floor, he’s your future father-in-law. I do hope you both get along. Life will suck if I have to pick between my beloved father and you, Dr. Brooks.”
I grinned and ordered a beer. The gin had handled my nerves from earlier, and now, all I wanted now was to nurse the beer and enjoy the company of the woman who made every cell in my body come alive.
“Dr. Alvarez was quite the brilliant neurosurgeon. We were sad to see him retire. And you?” I questioned. “You never thoroughly answered my question.”
“And which question was that?” she asked.
“Yeah, I think all questions are nailed into your coffin by now,” Jake warned with a smile.
Damn, it was so intriguing how she blended in with Jake and me as if we were all old friends.
“You think my dad will kick his ass for hitting on me, Dr. Mitchell?” she asked Jake while studying me.
“I think Alvarez will definitely kick his ass,” Jake said with a laugh.
“So the question is,” she said, ordering a beer herself, “am I worth that ass-kicking?”
“Yes, and you’re smartly avoiding my main question,” I said, taking another sip of my beer. “What exactly is it that you do, and where the hell have you been all my life?”
Jake’s eyes widened while he shook his head. “I’m going to need water and a Heineken, Mario,” he called out to the bartender and then looked at me. “This is going to be a long, entertaining night.”
Jake knew I’d already destroyed all our guidelines for playing it safe in this industry. Now here I was, pursuing our former Chief Neurosurgeon’s daughter. Miguel could easily kick my ass even in his sixties. Was it worth it? To see this smile and be around the boisterous energy of this woman for the rest of my life, you’re goddamn right it was worth it.
“Hmm, where have I been all your life?” she said with a devious laugh. “Well, I’ve been in Florida, busting my ass so I can work at Saint John’s. Looks like you and I might be getting married after all, Dr. Brooks. Well, professionally, anyway,” she teased.
I licked my lips after taking another sip of beer. “How so?”
“I’m working in Saint John’s neuro ward and will have my own office outside of the hospital as well. Quite the dream that I worked very hard to achieve.”
“What will you be doing exactly? Surgery? Research?” Jake asked, but I already knew.
She never pulled her eyes from mine. “I’ll be the new—”
“Neuropsychologist,” I finished her sentence.
“That’s right, Doc,” she teased me with those luscious lips.
“You’re moving into my office building,” I said, studying her. “And yes,” I arched an eyebrow, taking another sip of my beer, “you and I will be joined at the hip mostly. I’m the one who requested a neuropsychologist to work closely with me, my patients, and even in some of my surgeries. I didn’t know they’d already hired someone? I was supposed to have the final say in who took the new position.”
“Looks like we both got screwed this week, missing my brother’s board meetings,” Jake said, shifting to face us both and leaning against the bar. “Looks like you and your new wife have a lot to iron out, and forgive me if I say that it looks like the honeymoon is over for both of you.” Jake took a sip of his beer and smiled knowingly at me.
That’s when I watched a tiny ounce of vulnerability flash across her face. “Holy crap.” She softly giggled, pink coloring her cheeks, and her hypnotic eyes shifted the night’s gears into another pace. She held her hand out to me. “Allow me to introduce myself formally. I’m Dr. Elena Alvarez,” she said as I accepted her handshake. “Lovely to meet you, Dr. Brooks. I can already say I like your style.”
“And I can safely say, welcome to Saint John’s. Whether I hired you or not, those issues are irrelevant after meeting the woman who will make my job much more entertaining.”
“Quite a compliment,” she said. “I think we’ll enjoy