My offices are all dark except for the examination room that Donna and Jackson Parker are in. “Thank you so much,” Donna Parker says and puts her hand over mine. “I know so many mothers must call you and they’re hysterical about their fevers, but Jackson has had all these ear infections this year, nothing like with my younger Tara, I didn’t know what to think…” Donna has those big grateful eyes and I feel for her.

Not the feel her up, pervy way. No, the way I take care of children and their mothers is nothing like that.

See, I’m not just a doctor. I’m Dr. Single Dad.

Six years ago, a baby was left at the doorstep of my practice. I was a pediatrician then, too, but I thought I was going to be working with hot single moms. Fate had something else in mind. When I saw that little girl, my whole life changed.

I’m buying the bookstore as a solid investment in not just my financial future, but my Rose’s. Yeah, I named her Rose because she’s beautiful. I’m a proud Daddy.

“I know how I am with my Rose, Donna,” I say, smiling at her. “And I would never let another parent worry about anything. We gotta be vigilant as parents,” I say, and I can’t help but feel that sharp stab of pain. I became a pediatrician because I remembered what it did to my parents when my little brother died. I didn’t want any family losing their child whenever I could help it. My mother blamed herself for my brother Jamie’s death and thought she could have seen it.

So Donna thinks she’s being nuts but I totally get it.

“Thank you so much,” Donna says. Her fears settled, she does give me that look. The one that means her husband doesn’t pay attention to her and she wants to take blue-eyed, dark-hair doctor for a ride.

I actually sleep with anything that walks..except for my patients’ parents. That’s too complicated even though I’m a manslut. But of course I’m always tempted, ya know? Like 12 inches of cock and I’ve never fit any ethics in there.

But right now? No bulge in the suit to shift to hide.

Hmm.

Literally no reaction, and Donna has two very obvious breasts overflowing from her shirt that she’s trying to get me to notice now. I don’t blame her.

I just immediately think of Elia. I wanna see her spilling out of something.

And I was focused on the fever -- low grade, normal, nothing to worry about. “Keep Jackson hydrated,” I say as I direct Donna out of my office.

But now I head to my car. Carl, my driver, sent me a text to let me know that he has Elia. I knew I sprung this whole date on her but she’s taking it well. She went for it. I can't believe how attracted I am to her and it isn't because she's beautiful. She’s a knockout and I want to lick every inch of her sexy body. No, I just have never felt this intense of an attraction to anyone in my life.

I...I have fucking butterflies in my stomach right now. Fluttery, nervous, tense but excited. I am anxious to see her.

Sure, Elia wants to know why I’m buying the bookstore. I can tell she’s suspicious. Her fidget spinner comment made me want to laugh right on the spot, but I was too intently focused on just how much my body ached for me to touch her. I watched her lips as she talked and thought about tasting her.

Tonight I can charm her and tell her the truth.

Of course, this all feels suspiciously like dating in a relationship. As a wealthy doctor and father, I find myself too busy to date even if I wanted to consider it. I’m grateful I didn’t tell Elia an exact time that I would be at the restaurant, because I wouldn’t have kept that.

I head for one my cars and setup a call with my assistant.

Once in my car, I go ahead and make the call hands free.

“Jess, I’m ready for the financial brief on Zedova’s Bookstore,” I say, rounding a corner and realizing that I’m about to lead foot the gas before I think about it. Fuck, it is like I think laws don’t apply because I’m that eager to have dinner with Elia.

“There’s something odd in payroll,” Jessica says. She sounds weary and I wonder what’s she’s found. For her to not take a systematic approach of briefing the whole thing, as I have had her do with every investment briefing, but to skip right to a problem, well, I know it’s big. “Hit me with it.” I expected to find a mostly failing business. But is someone getting grossly overpaid? Like that store needs another financial hit against it.

“Of course,” Jessica says. “According to the financials that the owner provided, the store has five listed employees,” She sighs before she continues her report. “But the weird thing is that four of the employees are paid nearly twice what the fifth one is.”

“Oh, is that the owner, Ryan?” Maybe the guy is taking less pay. I know he’s got no reason to keep on with that place. He makes damn good money in freelance IT work with lots of top tier clients, middleman work for companies that need semi-permanent staff that travels. He ignores the store, and seemed pretty willing to sell. Maybe he trades his lack of involvement for a lack of pay. Still, the guy struck me as slimy. I tend to trust my gut, and my instincts tell me that Ryan Zedova is not the kind of man that takes less pay.

“Nope. He’s not a listed employee. It looks like some poor girl my age is getting paid way less, Elia Watson. I looked her up on Facebook, she’s young, pretty...and I don’t know why he’s paying her less but it seems...gross.”

Fuck. Jessica is smart as hell. That’s why she’s been my assistant for long, and why I’ve never fucked her. I don’t want to screw up a good thing. “I didn’t get a good feeling from him, either.” I grit my teeth. Something shitty is happening. “Did you find anything else out of the ordinary?”

“No, sir.” My phone makes a little ping. “The files are in your email, with my written briefing. Anything else I can help you with before your dinner?”

I put the dinner on my calendar, but not Elia’s name. I was in a hurry and told Siri to do it anyhow, but I have Jessica manage my calendar because I’m so damn lazy about things like that.

This less pay shit with Ryan is really fucking weird. She called this guy, I heard her say Ryan. If they were dating, one, she’d have a better phone if he was any kind of man and it is obvious that he could afford to that...and he’d pay her more.

“Yes, I met Elia today. She said something about her phone being busted and that’s the reason she was late. Do you think her boss would deduct her wages for a pattern of tardiness?” This is a long shot, I know, but it just seems weird as hell.

“Odd as that would be, I just don’t think so at this ratio of her pay to the other employees, even if one is her supervisor, a Dana. This is the only that stands out in the financials. Do you think that you want me to find a new bookstore for your allocation?” Jessica sounds chipper...even though I’d allocated funds for this investment and decided against every possible opportunity since.

“No, I think I will move forward with Zedova’s. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Enjoy dinner,” Jessica says.

“Thanks, enjoy your night,” I say and I disconnect the call. Just in time because I’ve arrived at the restaurant. But then I think about how quickly Elia changed her tune today after that phone call.

Something really weird is going on here, so I call my private investigator.

I’ll have William, my PI, follow this Ryan and figure out what he’s up to. There was something strange about him when I talked to him last week. I couldn’t figure out what it was, but now I’m curious.

“Hello, Mr. Vanderville,” says Will when he answers. “What can I do for you?”

I could ask how he’s doing and have a little small talk. But Will’s never been much for that, and it is one of the qualities I appreciate in a PI.

“I have a new job for you.”

“Name it.”

“There’s a man I want you to follow. He owns a bookstore that I’m looking to buy. His name is Ryan Cooks. Just get me anything you can find on him. I’ll get Jessica to send you the details. I need it done as soon as possible. Do you have something else on your plate?”

There is a short silence, then, “I have some free time. When would you like me to start?”

“Yesterday.”

“That soon? Okay. I’ll have a report tonight.”

“Good. Talk to you later, Will.”

“Sure, I’ll call as soon as I have anything worth looking at.”

I don’t need to tell him what to look for. He’s worked for me for a long time and knows exactly what I need, so as soon as he hangs up, I have a sense of relief knowing it’s all in good hands.

There’s one person that I wouldn’t mind adding to the list and that’s Elia herself, but I decide that I’ll find out what’s up with her without getting an invoice from my PI. I’ll wine and dine her, and then after that who knows. I don’t like mixing business with pleasure. But with her curvy ass and wide hips, I might make her an exception to my golden rule.