Page 23 of Deal Takers

“I can always count on you to make me smile,” she explains. “Don’t get me wrong—you drive me crazy more often than not—but it’s a good crazy, if that makes sense. I could’ve spent this weekend obsessing over some stuff I have going on, but you didn’t let that happen. I had a really good time and…as much as it pains me to admit this, you were a big part of that.”

“I’m happy to be of service, princess.”

Andthat, boys and girls, is what we call progress.

CHAPTER 15

Rainey

I haven’t heard from Adam all weekend—which now that I think about it, is really weird—so I call him as soon as I get home.

He answers on the third ring. “Doctor Walker speaking.”

I chuckle. “Why are you being so formal, you goof? Did you not check the caller ID before you answered?”

“Oh…no, I didn’t. I was just in the middle of something.”

I look at the time on my phone. It’s after eight in New York on a Sunday night. I would have expected his conference to be over by now.

“What kind of something?”

Adam clears his throat. “Yeah, I’ve been keeping busy. New York is alwaysgo, go, go.”

Um…that didn’t answer my question. Like, at all.

“Adam, did I catch you at a bad time?”

I hear his phone shifting as he speaks to someone in thebackground. It’s muffled, but the other person’s voice is undeniably female.

“Adam?” I repeat. “Is your conference still going? Who’s that in the background?”

There’s more muffled conversation before I hear a door closing.

“Sorry about that, baby,” he says. “I was just walking out for the day when you rang.”

“Wow, things ran late today, huh?”

“Well, you know how we doctors get—can never turn down an excuse to hear ourselves talk.”

“Well, I happen to like it when you talk.”

His voice drops a few octaves. “You do, huh?”

“You know how sexy I think your voice is.”

“Just my voice?”

“The other parts aren’t half bad either.”

He laughs. “Maybe I’ll have to remind you how sexy you think the rest of me is when I get home.Several times.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” I smile. “How was your weekend? I miss you so much.”

“It’s been great,” he replies. “You know how much I love being home.”

“When does your flight come in? I want to pick you up at the airport.”

“Aren’t you back on day shifts starting this week?”

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