Chapter 11
“How’s your tooth?” Jay asked as we drove to his place in his truck. I kept my eyes on the window, scrutinizing the trees like I might catch sight of the bear again.
“It’s fine,” I said. “Um… thank you for helping me check it,” I added at the end. He did just chase a bear off for me, after all.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help.”
“And thank you for helping me with the bear. I can call a repairman to come fix the stairs.”
“I really don’t mind helping you, Hope.”
My stomach did that annoying swoopy thing again, and I clutched the seatbelt like it could protect me from bad decisions. He’s a dentist, I reminded myself—a dentist.
The fluttering in my chest fizzled out like a bug hitting a zapper.
When we finally pulled up to the house, it was nearly dark, but I could still see the cabin thanks to the outdoor lights. It felt almost like a scene from a movie as we pulled into the driveway. I looked up at his cabin-castle, and my breath hitched. It was even more beautiful up close.
He got out of the truck and came around to open my door. I couldn’t help gawking as I stepped out.
“This is unreal,” I murmured.
“This way,” he said, a faint smile playing on his lips.
We climbed the stairs leading to the front doors.
The landscaping was gorgeous—bushes and idyllic flowers, rocks and trees placed so perfectly that the yard by itself looked like it belonged in a luxury magazine.
Then the cabin’s front door greeted us, framed by dark rustic timbers and a giant outdoor chandelier, and my mouth fell open a little.
I’d grown up in a decent-sized home, so I wasn’t immune to nice things, but this? This was next-level.
The inside was just as stunning as the outside.
Dark wood beams, gorgeous chandeliers with candles, and a giant fireplace in the middle of the living room with real flames softly licking several thick chunks of birchwood.
Plush couches, carpet that looked more comfortable than the bed back at my cabin, a kitchen with black hardware and modern elements.
Then there were the floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining room that overlooked the private dock and lagoon just outside.
He must’ve really been cooking a homemade stew when I called because the place smelled like mouthwatering meat and vegetables. My stomach growled, and I couldn’t stop the blush from rising to my cheeks.
Brilliant, I thought. Hide from the dentist for a week then immediately end up at his house.
So much for avoiding the enemy.
“Have a seat; I’ll dish up the food,” Jay said, gesturing toward the grand dining table that could seat twelve. My mind swirled with questions. Did he have a bunch of family nearby? Why was it just him in this house alone? Wasn’t this a little big for one person?
I took a seat in one of the gorgeous wood chairs that looked custom-made from some kind of expensive oak.
As I admired the craftsmanship, something nudged my hand.
I turned in surprise to find Luna right at my hip.
The white Samoyed was bright-eyed and excited, tail wagging, mouth open, panting for pets.
“Well, hello again,” I said, scratching the little creature behind the ear. “It’s good to see you, Luna.”
After a few more scratches, Luna seemed to get bored and meandered over to her dog bed by the fireplace, curling up into a little white ball and closing her eyes.
Jay tinkered in the kitchen for a bit, then a few minutes later, he set a big bowl of steaming stew in front of me, along with a glass of water.
“Here you go,” he said, sitting across from me with his own bowl filled with chunks of meat and vegetables in the most incredible-smelling broth.
“This looks amazing,” I said, my stomach growling as I sat down. “What kind is it?”
“It’s called Cocido Madrileno,” he said, picking up his spoon as if giving me permission to dig in.
“Even though we moved back to the States when I was three, we would go to Spain almost every summer until I was seventeen. My Abuela made this for us the first day we arrived, and it was always my favorite meal.”
The first bite hit my tongue, and a quiet, blissful moan escaped me.
“Okay, wow. You made this? It tastes amazing,” I said, wide-eyed. It really was one of the best stews I’d ever tasted.
He nodded. “I’m glad you like it.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Real food hasn’t tasted this good in… forever. It really, really sucks that you’re a dentist.”
Jay chuckled, leaning back in his chair, studying me like I was far more entertaining than the food, which was weird, because the stew was pretty freaking interesting, in my opinion.
“I’m afraid to ask, but why does my profession ruin perfectly good Cocido?”
I took another bite, delaying my answer because I didn’t exactly know how to explain why I loathed dentists without spilling everything about my past.
“Because I despise dentists.”
His brows rose. “Despise? That’s a strong word. Did you have a traumatic experience as a kid?”
I shook my head, swallowing. “No, nothing like that.”
He waited, one brow arched, clearly expecting more. “Then I’m more confused than ever.”
“My family’s in the business.”
Jay’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? Is your father a dentist, or your mother?”
I nodded. “My dad.”
“And are you in the dental field too, then?” he asked. Man, this guy isn’t subtle in the slightest, is he?
But for some reason, I didn’t hate it. It was actually sort of refreshing.
I hesitated, biting my lip. Then I sighed. “I’m a dental hygienist. And I’m supposed to apply to dental school next month.”
Jay let out a surprised laugh. “You’re kidding.”
“Unfortunately, no. I wish I were.”
“Wow,” he said, smiling fully now. “So the woman who ran from me for being in dentistry… is in dentistry herself. Interesting.”
“It’s juicy stuff, I know,” I said dryly, folding my arms across my chest. I’d drained the stew in under five minutes like a ravenous beast, and I wasn’t going to apologize. You can't make something that good and expect me to eat it slowly.
“So if you’re supposed to be working on dental school applications but you’re here in Big Bear…” He tapped his chin. “Let me guess. Daddy issues.”
I let out a dry laugh. “You really don’t hold back, do you?” I shook my head, a wry smile tugging at my lips. “I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t part of it. But it’s more complicated than that.”
“Complicated how?” he asked without missing a beat. I paused. Was he really going to try to get all of this out of me tonight?
I sighed, glancing toward the lake through the gorgeous black-framed windows beside me, trying to figure out how to explain it.
“My dad’s kind of a big deal in the implant world.
He teaches, runs clinics, invents things…
so naturally, my parents shoved me right into it all.
My father wanted me to be a dentist. So I told him I’d start with hygiene first, and if I liked it, I’d try for more schooling. ”
Jay’s expression softened. “You didn’t find it interesting?”
“No, it wasn’t that,” I admitted. “There were times I enjoyed it. I liked school, and the bookwork was actually sort of interesting. That wasn’t what made me hate it.
It was my father controlling me every step of the way and talking about the plans he had for me before I even finished with something.
He kept tabs on me and made sure I was performing perfectly.
I wasn’t allowed to make any mistakes—especially because I needed good grades to apply to dental school. ”
I swallowed, hating how talking about it brought back all the emotions.
“After graduating, I took the DAT and was waiting to submit my applications. My father had me work in the clinic for a bit to gain clinical experience. He didn’t want me to have a lull in my résumé.
But he isn’t the only dentist at the clinic.
He has multiple business partners. One of them is his best friend… ”
I paused, unsure how far I should go. “Conrad was the most difficult. Particularly neurotic and temperamental.”
Memories of the incident three months ago flashed through my mind. My fingertips started to tingle, and for a moment, the world seemed to close in. I sucked in a sharp breath and shoved the image of Dr. Pike back into the darkest corner of my mind.
Jay didn’t speak. He just watched me, the soft crackling of the fire in the hearth the only sound for several minutes.
“I’m guessing that’s why you’re here, then?” he said gently. “To get away from your father and this business partner of his?”
The question hung there, suspended in the air. It was pretty dark now, everything bathed in the warm glow of the fire and strategically placed lamps. Whoever designed this place really knew how to make it feel cozy.
Maybe it was the glow, or the comfort of a full stomach, or the expert interior design, but something about the moment loosened my tongue.
“I couldn’t take it at that clinic anymore,” I admitted softly. “And I don’t want to go to dental school just to appease my father. It’s not that I don’t think I’m capable. I mean, I got a 25 on the DAT, so I was confident I’d get in. But if I’m being honest, it’s just not what I want to do.”
Jay whistled. “A 25, huh?” He chuckled. “That’s an insane score, Hope.”
I shook my head, letting out a bitter laugh as I remembered the pain it took to earn it. “It wasn’t easy.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t,” he said. “So if not dentistry, what would you rather do?”
I shrugged. “It’s stupid.”
“I doubt it’s stupid. Come on—don’t leave me hanging.”
I’d never really said it out loud. It took a moment to work up the courage. “I want to be a writer.” The words came out in almost a whisper.
“A writer,” he echoed, surprise curling his lips upward. “That’s not what I expected you to say.”
I frowned. “Why?”
He laughed softly, shaking his head. “I don’t know. You just don’t strike me as someone who gives herself permission to dream.”
The comment hit deeper than I wanted to admit. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and looked away. “It’s hard to dream big when your life doesn’t make sense,” I said with a weak laugh.
“You’re hoping to get published?”
I let out another soft laugh. “Someday, if I can ever finish the book. I was hoping to find a temporary job here while I wrote it, but it’s been hard to find something when I’ve been in school so long with very little work experience.
It also doesn’t help that all my knowledge revolves around teeth.
If I can’t find something soon, I won’t have a choice but to go back home. ”
A bitter feeling settled in my chest as I realized how much I despised my father for setting me up like this—always promising to pay for things, never letting me get a job, assuring me he’d take care of everything.
I hadn’t realized that paying for my life, shaping me into his little prodigy, and never letting me stand on my own was his way of controlling me.
Making sure I had no choice but to feel completely and utterly dependent on him.
Jay leaned back, studying me again with his dark navy eyes.
“Would you stay a while and try to finish your book if you could find a job?” he asked quietly.
“One hundred percent.” I didn’t hesitate. Despite just running into a bear an hour ago, I still loved it more than the place I’d left behind.
“Hope,” he said, leaning forward, “I think I can help you.”