Page 4 of Dr. CEO (The Doctors)

“Two cups of tea and a carrot cake for John,” I say.

“He’s getting two cups of tea?” she asks. Then she shakes her head and realizes what I meant. She stares at my aunt and uncle as they twist out of their layers. A small smile curls at the edges of her lips. She flips her pen toward Carole and John in a movement no one but me would have caught. “Your parents?”

I smile. It’s not just the older lady who’s full of questions.

I move a couple of steps to the edge of our crowd and she follows me.

“What’s your name?” I ask.

“Kate.”

I take in her face—the dark waves that escape her ponytail, the three freckles she has on her left cheekbone, and I enjoy the blush crawling up her neck. I don’t mean to embarrass her. “They’re my aunt and uncle,” I explain. “Jacob’s my cousin—Carole and John’s eldest. Sutton’s his soon-to-be-wife.”

“Fiancée,” she corrects me.

I grin and push my hands into my pockets to stop myself from doing anything else with them. “Then Parker is Sutton’s best friend and Tristan is her fiancé.”

She nods as if she’s satisfied with my answer. “Big family vibe. Lots of fiancés.”

I chuckle. “Not for me.” I meet her eye. I don’t know why I’m flirting so hard. It’s not like I’m going to get her number or take her to dinner. But there’s a pull to her I can’t quite explain.

“We’re expecting Nathan too. Another cousin. I have five. Nathan’s wife is tied up at work, so won’t be joining us.”

She sighs, turns to me and puts her hand on my arm. The gesture is entirely too familiar, but feels completely right. “Have a wonderful day.” She says it with such sincerity, it takes me by surprise. Then she turns and heads back to the counter.

“Thanks, Kate,” I call after her.

A familiar tune starts to play and then I hear the opening lyrics—it’s “Good Morning,” from Singing in the Rain.

“Don’t make them like this anymore,” John says. “Great piece of music. None of this Andrew Lloyd Webber nonsense. Singing in the Rain is a proper musical.”

“The Dueling Cavalier,” Carole says.

John laughs. “Is now a musical.”

Then it’s Carole’s turn to laugh.

It’s good to see them happy, even though I have no clue what they’re laughing about.

“You okay there?” I ask.

“I’d be better with a cup of tea,” John says. “Do we need to go up and order?”

“No,” I say, “One is coming.”

“You’re a good chap, Vincent. Unlike my lot.”

I smile, but the prickling on the back of my neck intensifies.

Kate returns with a tray of drinks. “Can I get you anything else?” She turns to look at me.

“Maybe when Nathan arrives,” I say.

“Until Nathan, then.” She smiles at me and then turns back to the counter, singing as she goes.

“British women are the way to go,” Sutton says.

I turn to her and it’s clear she was watching me, watching Kate.

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