“Hiring you?” she spluttered. “One thing you definitely don’t need is a barely-above-minimum-wage job.”

“Actually, that is exactly what the doctor ordered. That is who I was with when you got here.”

Turning her head to the side, she asked, “Your doctor comes to you?”

He nodded as if that were the most normal thing in the world. “I went into her office for some tests, but yes, she came here to talk to me about the results.”

“Wow, I think we really are from two completely different worlds,” Ellie mumbled, shaking her head at the idea. Trey would be appalled by the two-hour wait for a three-minute visit whenever she went to see her doctor.

Turning the conversation back to the point he had been trying to make, Trey said, “She told me that you hitting me with your car was probably the luckiest thing that ever happened to me.” He paused and grinned up at her facial expression, which was utter disbelief. “I couldn’t argue with her about that because it did allow me to meet you, but she didn’t know that part yet.”

Ellie felt squirmy at his use of the word ‘yet.’ Had he talked to his doctor about her?

“Anyway,” he went on, “she said my body is under too much stress. I have the heart of a man twice my age, and if I don’t make some immediate changes, I won’t live another ten years.”

Ellie’s mouth fell open at his sobering statement. She plopped back down on the couch beside him in shocked disbelief. “Well, what are you going to do?” she finally asked him. “It’s not like you can just quit. There are hundreds––probably thousands––of people that work for you and are counting on you.”

“True,” he confirmed. “My little brother has been nipping at my heels for years wanting to take on more responsibility. I think he might get it sooner than he expected. He’s the next in line to take over if something happens to me anyway. He might as well be prepared,” he added practically, shrugging his shoulders.

“You are going to give all of this up just like that?” she asked, snapping her fingers, and not quite believing it could be possible.

“It’s either that or die trying to hold on to it all.” The grim reality seemed to have already sunk in with him.

His easy release of it all seemed too good to be true. “You’ll maintain control of the company, and just let your brother handle the day-to-day decisions, right?” she guessed.

He only pondered the question for a moment before answering. “I think I’ll give it a year and see how it goes. I found this great little town with the most divine bakery that I’d like to stay in for a while, if it’s okay with you?”

He looked deep in her eyes to gauge her reaction to his question. “That would be fine.” She looked down, grinning to herself at her calm answer, despite her fluttering heart.

“Fine?!?” He pretended to be outraged, even as he took her hands within his own. “I think you mean splendid or magnificent or…”

He seemed to be searching for another word, so she filled it in for him. “Perfect.”

She was surprised to see the look of relief on his face, but it was quickly replaced with one of concern. “You won’t be disappointed that I don’t have all of this power?”

He waited with bated breath for her response. When she did answer, it blew him away. “I like you better without all of this.” She used her arms to indicate their surroundings.

“I’ve never known anyone like you,” he revealed. “Most people are enthralled by the money and power, not turned off by it. It’s refreshing and charming that you truly don’t care about it.” He leaned in to kiss her on the cheek, which made it flush a gorgeous shade of hot pink.

“So, I didn’t break you with my car?” She asked one of the questions that had been burning deep in her belly since the accident.

“I was already broken,” he answered near her ear before adding, “You saved me.”

Relief flooded her system at hearing him say the words. She turned and pressed her lips to his cheek. Unable to ignore the other question that had been near the top of her mind since she had seen the extravagant flower arrangement in his hospital room, she decided to just ask him directly, “Who is Selena?”

“No one that you need to worry about,” he assured her, before adding, “You are the only one for me.”

“I want you.” Her whispered words were filled with the promise of delightful things to come. The noise he made deep in his throat should have frightened her, but instead, it made her feel bold. Trailing light kisses along his jaw line, she made her way as close to his mouth as she could without making direct contact.

Both of them were breathing heavily, their lips fractions of an inch apart. “Are you ready to practice NOT being in charge?” Her voice sounded husky as she hovered very near him.

“Oh, yes!” he answered enthusiastically, and her mouth closed over his.

* * *