Stay with Me (With Me in Seattle 9)

“Maybe. I don’t know. But you’re right, I’m silly. He’s great, and I’ll go talk to them about it this week.”

“Lia! I’m so excited! You’re going to live here. We need to celebrate right now with some shopping.”

“Well, I’ll never turn that down.”

Shopping is my happy place. Rachel, our sales associate at the Chanel boutique in Neiman Marcus, is an enabler, God bless her.

Both my and Jules’ cars are full of happy purchases.

I should head home right away. Wyatt and I have plans for dinner, and I still need to get ready, but something tells me to swing back by the hospital to see Dad one more time today.

The fact that he’s going to make a full recovery is a blessing, and I want to say goodnight. It shouldn’t take long.

“Hey there, poodle,” he says when he sees me in the doorway. He’s in the hospital gown and his own sweatpants from home, with his slippers.

“I always hated that nickname,” I reply and cross to him, sitting in the chair my mom’s been in for three days.

“Why do you think I always kept using it?” He winks at me and reaches out for my hand. “I’m happy you’re here.”

“Where’s Mom?”

“I talked her into going home for a shower and a change of clothes. I lied and told her she smelled bad.”

“She loves you, Dad.”

He smiles, the way he always has when he speaks of my mom. “And I love her, but the woman hovers, Amelia.”

I laugh and kiss his rough hand. “That she does. Are you being nicer to the nurses?”

“Speaking of hovering,” he mutters.

“You had a heart attack, Dad.”

“I was there,” he reminds me. “But, yes. That nice little brunette took me out for some fresh air, and that helped me feel better.”

“That was nice of her,” I reply. “Looks like they’ll be springing you free in the morning.”

“Thank God,” he says. “This bed is hard as a rock, and they have me eating cardboard.”

“It’s a heart-healthy menu.”

He scowls. “A salt shaker wouldn’t kill them.”

I sigh and roll my eyes. “I just wanted to stop by to say goodnight before I head home. Do you want me to come up tomorrow morning when they discharge you?”

“No, your mom will be here. I’ll text you when I’m home.”

“Well, hello there.”

I turn at what sounds like Wyatt’s voice, but it’s Jace, in a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck.

“Hi, Dr. Crawford,” I reply, making him grin.

“You can call me Jace just about everywhere,” he says with a smile. “Your dad’s doing great.”

He spends the next ten minutes filling us in on his most recent blood work and EKG, and when he’s done, I’m surprised when he says, “Want to grab a quick bite in the cafeteria?”

“Do you know each other?” Dad asks, hope in his blue eyes, and I can’t help but laugh.

“I’m actually dating Jace’s brother,” I reply, catching the grin on Dad’s face. “Sure, that would be great, Jace. Just give me a minute.”

I say goodbye to Dad, and Jace is waiting for me at the nurse’s station when I walk out.

“I have a break,” he says. “And, honestly, I’d like to get to know you a little better.”

“Likewise. Let me just text Wyatt.”

Hey! Sorry, I got hung up at the hospital. Everything is okay, but I think I’m going to miss dinner.

When we’re in the elevator, Wyatt replies.

No worries, I’m swamped with work. See you tomorrow?

I grin. Yes. I’ll be around all day!

“Is he mad?” Jace asks.

Sleep well, sweetheart.

“No, he’s busy tonight anyway.” I tuck my phone into my handbag and follow Jace through the cafeteria, choosing a salad and a bottle of water. We find a seat by a wall of windows that looks out across the city. “This is actually pretty nice.”

“And the food isn’t bad,” he agrees, shaking his bottle of chocolate milk. “Protein.”

“So, how is Dad, really?”

He frowns. “He’s going to be fine.”

“But you’re not going to tell me the nitty-gritty.”

He shakes his head. “There are laws, Amelia.”

“I’m his daughter.”

“Not his wife,” he reminds me. “But I’m not lying when I say that he’s going to be fine.”

“It was scary.”

“I know.” He takes a bite of his burger.

“How do you eat like that and still look the way you do?”

“And how do I look?” he asks with a grin.

“All three of you look like you walked out of an action movie.”

He laughs. “I’ve never heard that one before. I’m claiming Thor.”

“That’s what she said.”

He laughs again. “I burn a lot of calories every day. We are blessed with fast metabolisms.”

“No kidding.”

“So, I’m going to get to the nitty-gritty of why I asked you here,” he says, using the words I did a moment ago.

“Okay.”

“My brother is invested. I can see it in the way he looks at you, and you’re spending a lot of time together.”

“Is this where you threaten me about breaking his heart?”

His eyes narrow. “No. He’s an adult, and he’s no fool. Despite what Cruella pulled. I guess I’m curious if it’s reciprocated.”

“The investment?”

He nods.

“It is.” I sigh and set my fork down. “We’re both spending a lot of time together. I think we’re bad for each other’s productivity. At least, he has been for mine. It’s a good thing I’m self-employed.”

I prop my chin in my hand.

“Yeah, the investment is mutual.”

A slow smile spreads over Jace’s face. The Crawford men are sexy, I’ll give them that.

“Good.”

“Are you going to eat all of your fries?” I ask.

“Help yourself.”

~Wyatt~

It’s early Saturday morning, and I’ve already been in my office for an hour. Since I’ve been seeing Amelia, my work has slipped back a peg on my priority list, and I have a massive amount to catch up on. My partners aren’t pleased.

They aren’t pissed. No one has had to pick up my slack, and they won’t have to. But I’m not as available as I usually am, and rather than being way ahead of deadline, I’m rushing to meet them.

That’s not how I work.

Amelia is the priority right now, and that’s not going to change, but I need to find the balance between work and my love life.

I never expected to have this problem. It’s not a bad one in the least.

I’m finishing some changes to the outdoor space on a project when my phone rings.

“Hey,” I say to my brother.

“What’s up?” Jace asks.

“I’m working. Isn’t it early for you? You’re not a morning person.”

“I haven’t been home yet. I was on last night and ended up working on an emergency quadruple bypass.”

“Jesus,” I mutter and push my fingers into my eyes. “Just the words are exhausting.”