Valorous(47)

“I’m good now. You can go.”

He makes me light-headed with the way he loves me. It’s all-consuming and overwhelming in the best possible way. Inside, I find Marlowe in the kitchen running the blender as she mixes the drinks.

“Anything I can do to help?”

“Crack open that bottle of tequila.”

“Got it.” I twist the top off the bottle and hand it to her. “Hey, Marlowe?”

“What’s up?”

“Can you recommend a good doctor here? A female preferably.”

“Are you sick?”

“I’m fine. I just need, you know…” I realize I’m about to share something rather personal with a superstar I haven’t known that long. But I like her, and I’d like to think of her as a friend. “Birth control.”

“Ahhh. Gotcha. I have the best doctor ever.” She pulls out her phone, and before I can say a word, she’s making a call, explaining who I am and what I need and setting me up with an appointment at seven thirty Monday morning—all of this while continuing to run the blender.

I’m slightly astonished by her multitasking capabilities, and absolutely terrified about that appointment.

Marlowe ends the call and returns her focus to the blender, adding more tequila until she’s satisfied. “Doctor Breslow will see you at seven thirty before they open to other patients. That’ll get you in and out before anyone else is there. You’ll love her.”

“It must be nice to make a call on a Saturday night and get an appointment first thing on a Monday morning.”

“Celebrity does have its perks,” she says with a wink. “Breslow’s admin is a fan, and I get her tickets to premieres and stuff. We take care of each other.”

“Thank you.”

“Sure thing. Breslow will fix you right up.” She pours a margarita, takes a sip and declares it perfect so she pours one for me and then writes down the doctor’s address for me.

“I’ve never had a margarita.” The second the words are out of my mouth, I feel like an unsophisticated hick next to her.

“Well, you’ve been missing out. Give it a try.”

I love that she doesn’t blink an eye at my confession. I take a sip of the tart drink. “Mmm, that’s so good.”

“Right? Just go easy. You know what they say about tequila…”

“What’s that?”

“Makes you take your clothes off, not that Flynn would object.”

“Object to what?” he asks when he joins us and accepts the drink Marlowe hands him.

“Natalie finding out about the power of tequila.”

“You’re right.” He winks at me. “I won’t object.”

The doorbell rings, and Marlowe runs to get it.

Flynn notices the slip of paper in my hand. “What’s that?”

“Marlowe got me an appointment with her doctor for Monday morning at seven thirty. Is that doable?”

“Sure, I don’t have anything until the foundation meeting at nine.”

“I’m kind of scared. Will you come with me?”

He puts his arm around me and kisses my forehead. “Of course I will, sweetheart.”

I immediately feel less anxious about it, knowing he’ll be there to hold my hand.

Marlowe returns with two incredibly handsome men, both of them carrying twelve-packs of beer and bottles of wine that they stash on the counter.

Flynn greets them both with bro hugs. “Jasper, Kristian, I want you to meet Natalie.”

Jasper is tall and blond with a lean, muscular build. He hugs me like we’re old friends. “Natalie,” he says in the crisp British accent Flynn warned me about. “It’s a pleasure to meet the woman who’s finally brought our boy up to snuff.”

I wave a hand in front of my face in deference to the accent, and Flynn rolls his eyes.

“Nice to meet you, too, Jasper. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“What’s he said about me?” Kristian asks. He’s got dark hair and piercing blue eyes.

I desperately try to think of something. “The Lamborghini.”

“Yeah.” He laughs as he hugs me. “He hates it.”

“I don’t think he said ‘hate.’”

“Yes, I did,” Flynn says. “Now get your hands off my fiancée.”