Page 57 of Dr. Stone
And with the pace he was setting—this new way of seeing what it truly meant to have a woman in his life—I couldn’t help but believe Titus had a future. A damn good one.
TWENTY-SIX
Andie
After rejoining everyone,we began eating food that was nothing short of refined culinary artistry. The menu offered a playful yet comforting nod to the culture of the resort, and the Michelin-starred chefs went aboveboard in showcasing their talents while accommodating this particular group.
It was difficult to stay focused after what had happened with Titus. Even after he’d kissed me senseless—and despite the knowing smiles on the faces of those who had clearly noticed—I couldn’t contain the restless urge building inside me. I wanted to be back in the States. With Jace.
It felt as if the moment I admitted what my heart already knew, everything inside me shifted. My emotions. My desire. That old saying suddenly made sense—you find love when you’re not looking for it.
“How’s your filet, love?” Titus asked after finishing his conversation with Jim.
“It’s delicious,” I replied, though I’d barely touched it.
I was embarrassed that my appetite had been replaced with anticipation. The best part was knowing the man I wanted apparently wanted me just as much. He’d simply been a few steps ahead of me all along.
“Very good,” Titus said, his smile warmer than ever. His eyes flicked to my barely disturbed plate. “If it doesn’t suit you, you need only say the word and I’ll have something else prepared. Perhaps pizza?” He chuckled before taking a bite of his steak.
I laughed softly. “I have no idea why I don’t have much of an appetite,” I admitted, while everyone around the table carried on in quiet conversation over their meals.
Titus smirked. “Perhaps you feel you’ve made a horrible decision, choosing the wrong man to spoil you with passion and purpose for the rest of your life?”
“Proposing marriage, are you?” I teased, laughing under my breath.
“Why the hell not?” he shot back, more playful and carefree than I’d ever seen him. “Anything to keep the girl, right?”
Once our plates were cleared, the atmosphere shifted, the dinner morphing into a more casual setting for guests to mingle. That was when I was introduced to some of Titus’s dearest, longtime family friends: the Stone family.
I had to bite back a laugh at the irony. Instead of putting on a show that this would be Titus’s and my last appearance as a couple, which would only stir more gossip, we silently agreed to enjoy the evening as planned. Still, the moment I was swept into Jace’s arms after tonight, everyone would have plenty of shit to say about me anyway.
“This is a most excellent tribute to your mother, Titus,” Everett Stone said as he extended his hand. Jace’s father was an imposing man, the kind who didn’t need to say much; his presence filled the space without effort.
“Everything I was hoping to hear,” Titus replied with a rare, easy smile. “Your opinions on my investments have always been held in high regard.”
While Titus continued talking with the Stones, I stayed quiet, studying Jace’s parents. They hung on his every word about the personalization of the resort and his reconciliation with his aunt. Their approval seemed to carry more weight than any investor’s signature, almost as if their nod alone could open the doors to the public in two days when the event was over.
Jace’s father carried a quiet command, dressed in a bespoke suit the same deep blue as the night sky. He looked every inch the billionaire tycoon, blending seamlessly with the crowd around us. His silver hair was combed neatly back, a sharp contrast to his sun-browned skin and piercing steel-blue eyes—Jace’s eyes. His expression held a balance of admiration and critique. Clearly impressed with Titus, yet too seasoned to show it outright.
Beside him, Jace’s mother was the embodiment of timeless sophistication. Her floor-length gown shimmered with crystal embroidery, like starlight scattered across water. Blonde hair curled and swept to one side revealed diamond drop earrings that caught every flicker of light. She was the kind of woman who turned heads with a whisper, never a shout.
“It is all perfectly lovely,” Victoria said with poise, her voice calm but resonant. “Isabel would be dearly impressed that her vision has been brought to life, and that her darling son made it happen.” Her icy blue eyes shifted to me, locking on with quiet intensity. “It is always a pleasure to meet a dear friend of Titus’s. Forgive me if I seem surprised—Titus has never introduced us to any of his lady friends.” A smile curved her lips, softening her tone. “You must be very special indeed.”
My stomach tightened. What the hell was I supposed to say to my maybe-boyfriend’s parents while clinging to Titus’s armlike some rare ornament? If I wasn’t ready for Jace to meet my dad, there was no way I was ready for this.
“That’s very kind of you to say,” I managed, scrambling for composure. “I’m humbled he thought to invite me.”
“We’re all humbled this guy thought to invite any of us,” a tall, dark-haired man chimed in, his features a strong echo of Jace’s mother. His grin was easy, but his words carried weight, pulling every set of eyes back to Titus.
“This is Jace’s younger brother, Dorian,” Titus said with a broad smile. “It’s a good thing he lives in Madrid, because if Jace and his brother were ever in the same place, hearts would be shattered night and day.”
“You’re one to talk, my man,” Dorian replied, his amused eyes flicking toward me. “Very lovely to meet you, Miss…?”
“This is my lovely date, Andie Miller,” Titus said smoothly.
As Jace’s parents drifted away, Dorian took my hand. His gaze lingered, curious and sharp, as if he were trying to unravel who I was and why Titus had brought me here. He didn’t strike me as younger than Jace—if anything, his presence mirrored their father’s commanding gravity.
It was surreal, realizing the Jace I knew belonged tothisfamily. I never would’ve guessed Dr. Jace Stone had grown up surrounded by this much privilege and power. Somehow, it only deepened my admiration for him—that he chose medicine, chose saving lives, instead of drowning in the extravagance around him.
