Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 87091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Had he really been blind all these years? He used the landscape as an excuse to regain his composure, shielding his eyes against the sun and taking deep breaths of the pine-scented air. Exhaling, he knew that he would have to play things carefully. He couldn’t risk jeopardizing their friendship just because he’d suddenly noticed she was hot. Nor could he push Crystal to make changes in her life until she was ready.
“All right. But this isn’t over, Dr. Lopez. Not by a long shot.”
Chapter Ten
When Damien called her Dr. Lopez, Crystal felt all her old enthusiasm return with a rush. Maybe she’d watched too much Grey’s Anatomy lately, but she’d be right at home in the hustle and bustle of a city hospital. Or maybe her calling was family medicine. She had no idea, but deep down the old dream was beginning to stir.
It was a dangerous thought. One she didn’t take lightly. She almost cursed Damien for bringing it to the surface. On the other hand, this was what she had missed during the years he’d been away. Their easy closeness. The way they were able to swing between light and deep subjects. How he had known her as a geeky student who only wanted to study and dance salsa in the rare moments she allowed herself to step away from her books. Now she had him back. For longer than she’d ever dared hope. Would Damien really be able to shrink his world enough to stay in one place?
As they made their way down from the high summit of their hike, Crystal swigged from her water bottle and allowed herself a moment to catch her breath—right before the view took it away. The air was sun-warmed, carrying the pungent scents of pine and oak and the earth beneath their feet, the silence only broken by the occasional rustle of wind through the trees, punctuated by birdsong. The landscape felt vast and serene, offering a peaceful respite from the world below.
She was lost in all that beauty when Damien suddenly said, “Remember the dare game?” He turned to look at her with a mischievous grin.
“Vaguely.” Crystal took a deep pull on her water bottle. She had a feeling she knew where this was heading.
“Come on, we used to dare each other to do ridiculous stuff. It was about stepping out of our comfort zones.” He stopped and turned to face her. “I dare you. In the next few days, I dare you to take one step toward your dream of becoming a doctor.”
Her heart pounded against her ribcage; a wild rhythm that refused to be ignored. But the real world roared back. “It’s not that simple,” she began, but even as she spoke, the weight of possibility tugged at her resolve.
“Isn’t it?” He stood closer now, and she could see the sincerity etched into the planes of his face. “You’ve got this incredible talent. Your attention to detail, your compassion, your intelligence, the way you care about people—it’s all perfect for medicine.”
“But my company…” Her protest sounded weak, even to her own ears.
“Will thrive because it’s built on solid ground. You’ve made sure of it.” Damien’s hand found hers, callused fingers gently squeezing. “You’ve boasted to me before about how good your staff are. I know you have qualified planners who could run the business while you check in and take care of the big-picture stuff. Maybe you take on a few less gigs, but you’re not abandoning anything. You’re embracing another part of who you are.”
Crystal looked at their entwined hands, feeling the strength in his grip. The idea unfurled within her like the first bloom of spring, fragile yet insistent. Could she really do this? Was the risk worth the reward?
“Damien, I never even went to college. It would take me years to qualify as a doctor.”
“So? You’re not even thirty yet. You have plenty of time. I’m not asking you to apply to Stanford Medical School. Start small. Junior college. One step.”
“Okay,” she whispered, almost to herself. “One step.”
“That’s all it takes to get started.” His smile was a promise. “One step, Dr. Lopez.”
The forest around them breathed a chorus of life, the afternoon breeze rippling through the leaves, creatures scurrying across the cool earth. Nature knew all about change and growth, and as they continued down the trail, Crystal’s mind buzzed with plans and questions.
The afternoon was getting late as they headed back to the car. Crystal’s heart felt lighter than it had in years, buoyed by the possibility of her dreams, made possible partly by the reality of her successful business. She had not grown up with money and so she had saved scrupulously as soon as she started to turn a profit. Apart from the fancy dresses she wore to look and act the part at her events, and the dance studio she’d added to her small house, Crystal had continued to be savvy with money. She had enough put away that she could at least contemplate going back to school. Maybe the years she’d spent planning, organizing, and keeping a hundred balls spinning in the air at once could be transferable skills. How would she know if she never even tried?