Page 66 of The Potter

I nod tightly, and it makes me dizzy. “I suppose the next thing you’re going to ask me is why?”

Her breath hitches as she stares at me. “No, I know why.”

“You have no idea.” I try lifting her by her hips to stand, but her hands atop of mine stop me.

“You’re right. I have no idea why you would go through so much trouble renting all the rooms when you could have just taken the jet back home and left me with Astor.”

My jaw tightens on the last bit of her sentence. “You’ve never been to Napa. You should see it since you had to come anyway.”

Her delicate brow arches. “And this is your way of showing me Napa?”

Haha. “No, I didn’t intend to see Napawithyou. I’m merely your hands-off travel agent.”

This time, she laughs a full belly laugh. “My hands-off travel agent, huh?”

I nod, not seeing why she thinks this is so hilarious. Well, I can, but I’m not in the mood to endure her teasing. “Get up.”

She sobers instantly. “No.”

“No?”

“You heard me.” Her eyes challenge me, and I am ready for it.

“Ms. Belle,” I clear my throat, “if you don’t get up, you’re fired.”

“I don’t work for you.”

She thinks that statement and sexy grin will stop me. Astor doesn’t care enough about this practice to keep me from firing his secretary. I can easily find him a replacement from a temp agency. She’d likely be able to fly alone, too. “Ms. Belle, I’m going to count to four—”

“Thank you,” she blurts out, cutting off the rest of my threat.

“What?”

Her throat works as she wrings her hands in front of her. “I said, thank you. I know you’d rather be at home, away from all these surgeons and whoever that awful woman is, but I’m thankful you’re here. I’m not sure if you’re still here because you’re forcing yourself to stay in order to distract me on the plane ride back or if you are too tired to leave tonight.”

I open my mouth to speak, but she stops me with a finger to my lips. “Either way, I really appreciate it. No one has ever done something so sweet. Not for me.”

Suddenly, the alcohol-induced fog clears, and I want to strangle the asshole in her file. Instead, I act like the asshole I am. “You don’t want my kindness, Peach.”

“That sounds like a threat, Dr. Potter.”

I lift one shoulder. “Nothing good comes from me being sweet. It’s best if you remember that.” All I can offer her is the truth. When I’ve been kind, people have suffered.

Without so much as another word, Halle simply tips her chin in agreement or defiance—who knows with her—and stands, offering me her hand. “Come on, Dr. Potter. Let’s get you sober so you can show me around Napa.”

I narrow my gaze. “Didn’t I say I was hands-off?”

She grabs my hand and pulls in a weak attempt to help me stand. “Well, I’m not going to let you sit here and destroy your liver next to my bed.”

Reluctantly, I take her hand, seeing how her standing over me only creates a distraction with her dress. “Fine. I’ll destroy my liver in my own room.” Straightening my shirt and tie, I try standing taller. “My apologies for the confusion.”

She rolls her eyes and pulls me by my belt. “Come on, I’m hungry, and I don’t know a good place to eat.”

“Room service,” I say dryly.

“Cute, but I’m thinking I’m hungry for something a little more… salty. I think it’ll work wonders on that attitude of yours.”

She shoves me hard, and my knees hit the back of the bed before I fall. “What the—”

---