Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Grace
I stepped into my suite and looked around at its beauty and elegance of it.
The marble floors were to die for as well as the impeccable décor that graced the rooms. The master bedroom had an enormous king-size bed with a private bath and a sunken jetted tub, a fully stocked wet bar, a separate living area, and the best view of the Strip.
I smiled as I took it all in. Taking my phone from my purse, I Facetimed my Aunt Cora.
“Hello, my darling.” She smiled.
“Hi. Look at this suite that Robert put me up in,” I spoke as I turned the phone and gave her a quick tour.
“Lovely. I’m jealous that I can’t be there with you. How was your flight?”
“It was good. Jamieson and I are going to grab some lunch in a bit.”
“I thought you said you were done with him?” Her eye narrowed at me.
“I am. I’m not sleeping with him again. But we work together, and we’re on this trip together, so we need to keep things friendly.”
“And he knows you’re not sleeping with him anymore?”
“Oh yeah. I made it very clear. You were right. I was using sex to escape Sam and the memories of being back in Los Angeles.”
“You seemed pretty upset that night when you called me and told me about him and that resident.”
“I wasn’t upset about that. I was more upset at myself for allowing me to be vulnerable.”
“Mhm.” Her brow arched.
I rolled my eyes and sighed as I sat down on the couch.
“It’s the truth, Aunt Cora. Dr. Jamieson Finn is a very toxic man.
I don’t need that kind of toxicity in my life.
Not now, not ever. I’m just focusing on my career and being the best trauma surgeon I can be.
Until I heal from what happened with Sam, there isn’t any room in my life for a man.
In fact, I don’t think I’ll ever have room again. ”
“That’s not true, darling. When the time is right, the love of your life will sweep you off your feet, and you’ll never look back.”
“I thought I’d found the love of my life.”
“Do you really believe that?”
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. I got up from the couch and opened it.
“I have to go, Aunt Cora. Jamieson is here.”
“Don’t be rude, Grace. Let me say hi.”
I turned the phone around and held it up to Jamieson as he walked into the suite.
“Cora?” he asked with a shocked look on his face.
“Hello, Dr. Finn.”
“Umm. How are you?”
“I’m good, dear. Enjoy the medical conference.”
“Thank you,” he spoke.
I turned the phone around and found my Aunt Cora sitting there with her left brow raised.
“Goodbye, Aunt Cora.”
I ended the call and sighed.
“Dr. Cora Wyndham is your aunt?” he asked.
“Yep.” I smiled. “She sure is.”
He stood there as his eye steadily narrowed at me.
“What?” I asked.
“You didn’t feel the need to tell me that?”
“To be honest, I didn’t think about it. Why? Do you know her?” I asked, knowing full well that he did.
“Yes, of course, I know her. We’ve worked together at Mount Sinai. She’s a great woman and an excellent psychiatrist. She never mentioned you.”
“She’s a private person. Did you ever talk about personal things with her?”
“No.”
“That’s why. Let’s go eat. I’m starving.”
We took the elevator down to the lobby, and when the doors opened, and we stepped out, Robert Conway was standing in the lobby.
“There she is.” He smiled as he held out his arms.
“Hello, Robert.” I smiled as he kissed my cheek.
“It’s good to see you, baby girl. It’s been far too long. “Dr. Jamieson Finn. It’s good to see you again,” he spoke as he extended his hand.
“Good to see you too, Robert.”
“Look at you.” He placed his hands on my shoulder. “You are more gorgeous than the last time I saw you. Isn’t she gorgeous, Jamieson?”
“Yes. She is.”
“I was surprised when Cora told me you left Manhattan Memorial, Grace. And I was even more surprised when she told me you were working at Cedars-Sinai. Is everything okay? I know it can’t be easy moving back to Los Angeles.”
“I’m fine, Robert. Everything is great.” I grinned.
“Good. Cedars-Sinai is very lucky to have such talent, besides Dr. Finn, of course.”
He looked at his watch and then kissed my cheek.
“I have to run. We’ll catch up later. It was good to see you both.” He pointed to us as he walked away.
“Shall we?” Jamieson gestured with his hand towards Eddie V’s restaurant.
As soon as we sat down, Jamieson ordered a scotch, and I ordered a glass of wine. It felt good to be able to drink without any worry of being called into the hospital for an emergency.
“Here’s to a weekend filled with alcohol.” He grinned as he held up his glass.
“For sure!” I smiled as I lightly tapped mine against his.
We were eating and making small talk about surgeries. The women who passed by our table gawked at the hotness sitting across from me and the small flirty smiles he gave back. It was irritating, to say the least.
“It must be hard to be you,” I spoke.
“What must be hard?” He chuckled.
“Always being stared at by women.”
“It has its perks.” A smirk crossed his perfectly shaped lips.
“There’s a rumor going around that Logan is the father of Riley’s baby.”
“It’s no rumor.” He sighed.
Suddenly, Jamieson’s face turned pale as he stared at the man and woman who were approaching our table.
“Hello, son.”
“Dad. Tracy. I didn’t know you were speaking at this conference.”
“Hello, Jamieson.” Tracy smiled.
“Nor did I know that you were. And you are?” His eyes turned to me.
I politely smiled as I extended my hand. “I’m Doctor Grace Harper, trauma surgeon at Cedars-Sinai.”
“Grace, this is my father, Dr. Carlyle Finn, and his wife, Tracy.”
“Trauma surgeon. I’m impressed. Nice to meet you, Dr. Harper.”
“Jamieson, we missed you at your father’s birthday party,” Tracy spoke.
“Sorry about that. I was tied up in surgery,” he spoke deadpan.
The tension in the air was so thick you couldn’t cut it with a sword. I got the feeling there was no love lost between either one of them.
“We better get to our table. It was nice to meet you, Grace.”
“It was nice to meet you as well, Dr. Finn.”
He looked at Jamieson, who was staring off to the side.
“How long are you staying in Vegas?” he asked his father.
“We’re heading back tomorrow after the conference. We’re leaving Saturday morning for a cruise. That’s something you can do when you own your own practice.”
Jamieson took in a sharp breath.
“Anyway, enjoy the rest of your lunch,” Carlyle spoke as he walked away.
Jamieson rolled his eyes as he picked up his scotch and threw it down the back of his throat.
“I had no idea you also came from a family of doctors,” I spoke. “What type is he?”
“He’s a urologist and has his own practice in Beverly Hills. To him, it’s not about the medicine. It’s about the money. It always has been.”
“It doesn’t seem like the two of you are very close.”
“We aren’t. I resent him for many things, and he resents me for becoming a neurosurgeon and crushing his dream of having a father and son practice.”
“Oh.” I picked up my glass of wine. “And the reason you—”
“This conversation is over. Understand?” he spoke in a harsh tone.
“Loud and clear.” I finished off my wine.
“Do you gamble?” he asked.
“A little.” I smirked.
“Let’s go to the casino.”
After Jamieson paid the bill, we headed to the casino and sat at a blackjack table.
“I’m not really sure how to play. Could you explain it to me, please?” I asked the dealer.
“Sure, doll. I’d be happy to.” He smiled.
The dealer gave an explanation while Jamieson stared at me with a steady gaze.
“Understand?”
“Yeah. I think so. Thank you.”
The table was full, and the cards were dealt. I watched carefully and made sure I lost the first five hands.
“You totally could have won that hand,” Jamieson spoke.
“Really?” I glanced over at him. “I guess I’m still trying to figure this game out.”
His eye narrowed at me.
I placed my bet, and the cards were dealt. The dealer lost, and I won.
“OMG!” I spoke with excitement. “I won!”
Placing another bet, I doubled it, and I won again. I let myself win three hands in a row, pulled back on my bet, and made sure to lose the next four. I was up over two thousand dollars, and when the last hand was dealt, I made sure to lose.
“That’s it for me,” Jamieson spoke.
“I guess I better quit while I’m ahead.” I smiled.
We got up from our seats, and Jamieson lightly placed his hand on my elbow. Leaning closer to me, he whispered in my ear.
“You knew how to play. You were counting the cards.”
I raised my brow with a smile as we kept walking.
“Do you know how much money you could have won?” he asked.
“Did you want to get kicked out of here?”
“Good point.”