“The London family case,” she said. “They came up in research last week, so I pulled their files from your archives. You’ve been treating them for a long time and I found something odd. Something really odd.”

“Is there a question coming?”

“Maybe.” She picked up a few other files. “There’s actually something off about twenty percent of all your patients.”

“I’m still waiting for the question.”

“Every time I drop off certain files at the desk, they come right back within an hour, unmarked. There’s no payment method on file — yes, I checked illegally, but only because I was investigating.” She looked at me. “This month, not a single payment has been made for any person you’ve seen. Are you trying to go bankrupt or are you really just that generous behind closed doors?”

I smiled, but I didn’t answer.

“We’re talking about a loss of over two hundred thousand dollars here,” she said. “You can afford to lose that type of money?”

“It’s not a loss, but even if it was, yes. My father’s generosity rubbed off on me,” I said. “I run the practice the same way he did for the most part.”

She stared at me a long time before saying anything else. “Dr. Ashton—”

“Garrett.” I corrected her. “I believe we’re definitely on a first name basis now.”

“Yes, well, Garrett. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you don’t necessarily strike me as the super-philanthropist type at all.”

“What exactly do I strike you as?”

“An asshole.” She laughed and I narrowed my eyes at her. “An attractive and charming asshole, though.”

She laughed, rolling her eyes. “Good to know.”

“Thank you for that backhanded compliment.”

“You’re more than welcome,” she said. “But in all seriousness, it’s very sweet of you to follow in your dad’s footsteps.”

“Thank you.” I looked at her. “I take it my practice wasn’t your first choice for completing your residency?”

“You weren’t even on my list, no offense. Only Manhattan Medical, as that’s just always been my dream.”

“You’re still holding out hope of going back there?”

She nodded. “Not as a slight against you, though. It was just —”

“Your dream.” I leaned forward and kissed her lips, catching both of us off-guard. “Let me know when you have some free time in your schedule outside of the office soon. I really need to talk to you about something that’s been bothering me about ‘us’ for awhile.”

“Are you ending things with me already?” She looked suspicious. “Is that what this is?”

“No.” I kissed her again. “We’re just getting started.”

THE RESIDENT

New York, New York

Natalie

Subject: Your Manhattan Residency Application.

I stared at that subject line Monday morning, too anxious to open it, too nervous about what it would say. I distracted myself by opening every other email in my inbox — including the spam ones I never opened, and then I braced myself for the big reveal.

Subject: Your Manhattan Residency Application.

Dear Miss Natalie Madison,

Thank you for applying to the Manhattan Medical Residency Program. We truly appreciate your enthusiasm for our mission.

However, we regret to inform you that we are not able to extend you an offer for our program at this time. Please feel free to call our office if you have any concerns, and feel free to apply again during the next term.

Human Resources,

Manhattan Medical.

I forced a lump down my throat, and I didn’t let a single tear well in my eye. It just wasn’t meant to be for me, and besides, I was starting to truly fit in and fall in love with a certain doctor here at Park Avenue Wellness anyway.

I’ll just be happy and grateful for that ...

I deleted the email and left the break lounge, heading back to my shared space with Garrett. I picked up the appointment cards from Emily on the way and cleared my throat as I stepped into the office.

“Dr. Ashton?” I asked, walking over to his desk.

“Yes?”

“Um, have you looked at the schedule for the day?” I handed it to him. “This can’t be right. It’s a brand new patient and they’re booked for all three of our morning sessions.”

“No, it is.” He looked over the sheet and handed it back to me. “This is exactly correct.”

“It can’t be,” I said. “There’s not any information on this patient in our system. All we have are the patient’s initials: F.N.A.M. Is this code for an old friend of yours, then?”

“No.” He laughed and locked the door. “And those letters aren’t patient initials. They’re an acronym.” He pressed a finger against my mouth before I could ask another question. “Fucking Natalie All Morning.”

I blushed. “Does this fall under you being more romantic as well?”

“No, just horny and insatiable.” He laughed and pushed me against the desk.

THE DOCTOR

New York, New York

Garrett

Subject: You Have to Tell Me Something Important?

I rushed all the way here when I got your voicemail, so I’m sitting in your office now. Where are you?

—Dr. Madison

Subject: Re: You Have to Tell Me Something Important?

I’m in a meeting. I’ll be with you in a few, and it’ll only take five minutes.

—Dr. Ashton

“Well, Dr. Ashton ...” Dr. Laurel sat at the center of the conference table, flanked by every doctor who had a stake in the practice. “On behalf of everyone else here, I’d like to say we appreciate you for bringing this ‘relationship’ to our attention, and I respect you more and more every day by the fact that, even as majority owner, you truly put what’s best for the practice first.”

There were murmurs of agreement from the other doctors.

“That said, the rules we agreed on when we came aboard are quite simple. No doctor can engage in a relationship with any employee here, no matter their employment status or level, so you already know that one of you has to go.”