Page 95 of Body Check

“Is that what we’re doing here?” Gavin asked, keeping his voice as neutral as possible. Because he had a feeling if he pushed too hard, Dakota would spook.

Dakota turned to face Gavin. “I don’t know.”

“Okay.”

“Is that what you want?”

“Dakota, I care about you,” Gavin admitted. “And I know when we started this, a relationship wasn’t something either of us wanted. But last night … it, well, it shifted the way I’m looking at my life.”

“You had a near-death experience and now you’re questioning everything?” There was a hint of humor in Dakota’s voice and Gavin smiled at him.

“Not quite that dramatic, but yeah, that’s the general idea, I guess.” He’d suddenly realized how alone he was. That he didn’t have family or a husband or boyfriend or partner in the waiting room.

But he did have Dakota.

The thought had been a strange comfort. It had kept the panic at bay.

And then he’d thought about his conversation with Wade, and he let himself wonder what his life would look like if he allowed Dakota in. If he did let himself fall in love again.

Because Dakota wasn’t Rory.

And as terrifying as it was to allow someone in again, wasn’t it worth trying? Gavin was a man who thrived on risk taking. Wasn’t falling in love the biggest, wildest risk of all?

“So, what did the doctors tell you, exactly?” Dakota asked.

“Well. I’m overworked and overstressed.”

“No shit. I knew that the minute I met you.”

“Well, you’re smarter than I am,” Gavin admitted wryly. “Because I thought I could handle it.”

“I know.”

“Hey!” Gavin protested.

“No! I meant the second part, not the first.” Dakota reached out and took his hand.

Gavin squeezed it, feeling hopeful. “I mean, you probablyaresmarter than me. It certainly seems like you have a better work/life balance.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Dakota sighed. “Violet would tell me I work too much as well.”

“So, what if we worked on that?” Gavin asked. “Find better balance in our lives together.”

“You really want to date?” Dakota’s gaze searched his face, expression a little puzzled.

Gavin nodded. “Yeah, I really do.”

“Even though we argue about ridiculous stuff?”

“What if we tried workingtogetherinstead?” Gavin offered.

“Well, that would be novel.” Dakota laughed softly.

“Can’t hurt to try, right?”

“I suppose not.” Dakota bit his lip. “Except, what about work?”

“Well, I had an idea last night. It came to me when they had a heart monitor strapped to my chest and they were muttering about PVCs.”

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