Reza spoke like the expert doctor he was, saying, “She’s vaccinated, and Rose has been on medication for more than twenty-four hours so she’s not contagious.”

  Okay. Being married to him was a blessing. She pushed her sister’s hair back as the two girls dozed together. Patti kissed both of their foreheads and said, “I’d like to stay with her.”

  Reza stood and looked down at all of them. He reached for her hand. “We have guests. Please come out for a little bit and then you can return, and relieve the nanny.”

  “Why?” She wanted to stay but knew he was right. She got to her feet. She couldn’t disappear and avoid Leila forever.

  He held her elbow and said, “Because everyone is here to meet you.”

  “Okay.” She walked with him back into the light of the hallway.

  Reza quietly closed the door behind them and she waited for him.

  Once he turned toward her, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.

  He held her close and kissed her back. His lips were like a calming, warm summer day. As he ended it, she relaxed and stayed beside him.

  She shouldn’t let her nerves over tonight get in the way of meeting his friends.

  They walked out to the patio where their guests all stood and clapped like they were at a wedding reception. Reza waved and said, “Sorry we disappeared. Patti’s sister is getting over pneumonia.”

  Patti’s eyes narrowed as she gazed down at the table toward the cake with her and Reza’s names on it, and a small bride and groom cake topper in the corner. “Zahra was super sweet to bring this cake.”

  The nurse stepped toward them. “You’re newlyweds. I thought it would be fun to celebrate.”

  Zahra pushed them both into the crowd who continued to cheer as Patti said, “You didn’t have to. We were keeping it small.”

  Leila handed them champagne flutes as she smiled. “Your wedding should be a dream come true. We want to hear how you caught Reza’s eye.”

  Something about the woman’s perfection struck Patti like she’d been physically assaulted. Too glossy. Too unreal. She accepted the glass, and tried to think precisely what to say as adrenaline rushed through her. She glanced at Reza, unsure how to answer. A deal at the bedside of her sister wasn’t exactly romantic. “Ah. He…” She then swallowed and said, “had a lot in common as our lives changed around the same time so we talked about it.”

  “Yes.” He clinked flutes with her, not correcting the fast story she’d made up.

  People banged on their glasses and Reza kissed her.

  He swallowed a tiny sip. “And then when she came to our hospital with Rose, well, Patti and I decided to make this official.”

  Cool under pressure was a good thing. And he had that in spades.

  She tried to tell herself to breathe calmly, but she wasn’t sure she could.

  Zahra had a bright, infectious demeanor that probably came from working with children. “The ceremony was so simple that I thought we could at least offer a small party for you both today.”

  Reza kept her close and nodded at everyone as he said, “Thank you all.”

  If only this whole thing was real. If they were truly in love then differences in their culture wouldn’t matter.

  She’d learn and jump at the chance to show him that having an American wife was good for him and differences might not be that bad.

  They cut the cake together like they were posing for a real wedding reception.

  At Reza’s request, the housekeeper sliced the cake. Patti helped pass out plates to everyone. As Leila took her cake, she asked, “Patti, do your parents like Reza?”

  Her stomach knotted. She wasn’t sure what they’d say about him, honestly—she hadn’t brought guys home to really get a sense of what they might think. She ignored how her veins buzzed a warning near Leila and said, “My parents died six months ago, which is how I ended up raising my sister, alone, until Reza.”

  “So he was your knight in shining armor,” Leila said and smiled at her.

  Something about Leila was like a girl in school she’d have avoided. Patti nodded. “That he is.”

  Patti returned to his side and refused to budge for the rest of the party.

  They acted like they were together, and she wished silently that they somehow were for real and in love. Then everything would be possible.

  Chapter 13

  Reza walked Zahra out, as his friend from the hospital was the last to leave their small party. Patti had stayed by his side the entire time even though he saw her glance at the children’s bedrooms and leave to speak to the nanny once.

  Once he closed the door, Patti’s shoulders drooped and she swayed on her feet. She was a trooper and kind and maybe they were the perfect man and wife. She’d snuck out to talk to the nanny and come back to the party without anyone noticing and told him that the nanny volunteered to stay the night if Patti cared for the children tomorrow.

  Sara was with Rose in her room, though the nanny had brought her a sleeping cot.

  Patti managed everything seamlessly. She more than fulfilled their deal. He honestly couldn’t think of anyone he’d rather marry. As they walked back through the hall, he traced her lower back and said, “The party was great.”

  She sighed and nodded but then she motioned with her thumb that she wanted to go to Rose’s room. “It was. Let’s check on Rose and Sara.”

  “Yes, but then I want to talk to you.” She wouldn’t rest if she didn’t know her sister was healing from the antibiotic and the humidifier.

  He walked beside her and opened the door. The room was dark and moist, but he didn’t turn anything on.

  The nanny had fallen asleep at the foot of the bed in her chair she’d pulled beside Rose.

  He checked Rose, then whispered to not wake anyone, “Rose is getting better.”

  Patti tiptoed behind him and whispered, “This room is warm.”

  True, but he pointed to the bed and said, “But listen, she’s breathing better.”

  She knelt down, kissed her sister’s forehead, seemed to listen closely and then said, “I see.”

  Reza checked Rose’s pulse which was normal and from the small touch, he realized Rose was fever-free.

  Patti relaxed enough to unclench her hands.

  He fixed the blankets around both the girls and straightened. Patti was behind him and he motioned for them to go.

  Once they were back in the hall and he’d shut the door, he briefly considered grabbing Patti and bringing her back to the bedroom.

  However he needed to be sure she wanted the same thing, so instead he headed toward the living room and said, “We need to hire a new part-time second nanny to have one on call—I have two applications for you to check out.”

  She walked beside him but her eyes widened like she’d just woken up from a coma as she pressed her hand to her heart and asked, “Me?”

  Of course. They were going to work together and maybe stay together. If that happened then her opinions mattered, but he only said, “Yes. You’re her stepmother now.”

  He directed her toward the couch and grabbed his laptop. She settled beside him and he opened the screen. Patti shifted closer and relaxed her shoulder on his as she said, “Okay, can I see the two applications?”

  “Sure. Here.” He handed over his laptop with the two PDFs opened side by side.

  She read the applications closely and checked every word on two pages before she said, “Both of these women sound fine.”

  Yes, they were both good though whoever they chose would be first choice and the second would be backup. Hopefully he wouldn’t have to go through the pile again—last time he’d gone through five applications before finding this one who complained her hours were too long. A part-time nanny, and Patti, would be enough for now, until one of the girls needed a tutor in the future. “Agreed. Any preference?”

  She handed him the laptop back and quickly said, “The one that teaches multiple languages sounds lovely.” Patti lowered her lashes and her cheeks had a blush to them when she asked, “Do you think she’d help Rose?”

  Perhaps Patti didn’t see them as long term. Maybe she did. He needed to be clear. “She would be in charge of both girls, so yes. Patti, I want you free to do what you want to do.”

  She glanced at the closed the laptop and asked, “You have that in the application already? Both girls?”

  “Yes.” He put the laptop on the coffee table. He wondered why she hadn’t said anything at all about staying.

  She crossed her legs and smiled at him. “You think of everything.”

  Maybe he needed to rephrase what he’d said. He took her hand and held it in his palm. Her eyes widened but she didn’t move a muscle. He traced her arm and kept his voice low. “Patti, I don’t want to think of us as temporary. I want us to be happy together. Do you want that?”

  She breathed heavy and her lips parted but for a moment she didn’t say a word. He froze, unsure what to do or say.

  Then she licked her lips and he was mesmerized. She patted his knee. “Reza, I don’t ever want to leave you.”

  The motion on his leg wasn’t romantic. He held still, narrowed his gaze and asked, “But?”

  Her face grew redder and she stared at her hand on his knee until she took it off him., “But I’m scared.”

  Scared because of their differences? To him that hadn’t been so bad. She’d been a perfect hostess tonight. But he ignored how his pulse quickened slightly and asked, “Of?”

  She held both of her hands on her heart and seemed like she was in prayer though she stared right at him as she said, “That you’ll want someone more sophisticated and charming.”

  Now he didn’t understand. Patti was sweet and charming, so she was describing herself. He’d give her anything she wanted if she stayed forever. Fast thinking was necessary for a solution. What could he give her that she didn’t have? Her guitar… “I want you to succeed at your music.”

  She blinked and scooted away as she shook her head. “Why? I told you I wasn’t good.”

  Perhaps that wasn’t the best option then. He sat taller and decided to see through his point. “You need to start trusting in yourself.”

  She jumped off the couch like there’d been a fire. She then avoided his gaze and held up a finger. “Here, let me show you. Don’t go anywhere.”

  She dashed down the hall. He wasn’t sure what to do. So he did as she’d said and stayed put.

  Seconds later she was back, plopped into the seat beside him and held up her phone. He glanced at it as she pulled up a video website. His mind raced as he asked, “Show me what?”

  She continued to type in her name on the video site as she said, “Wait… pulling it up so you can see.”

  Then she handed him a video of an older talent show, with three celebrity judges. He hadn’t seen this show in years. And then the blonde singer caught his eye.

  He glanced at Patti again and then at the phone screen. He hadn’t known about this. “How old are you here?”

  “Twenty one.” She grimaced like she was in pain but needed to explain her symptoms to the doctor.

  On the video, her voice squeaked and one of the judges hit his buzzer right away.

  Jerk. He ignored that and saw how she still grimaced the same way as he said, “You look almost the same now as you did then.”

  She massaged her neck like she needed to get out a knot as she shook her head and said, “Thanks, but keep watching.”

  Another judge hit his X and he saw Patti’s young face on the verge of tears.

  The last judge did the same and she stopped her shaky singing. He put the phone down an asked, “What is this?”

  She lowered her head like she relived every awful moment and said, “Every one of them buzzed for me to leave.”

  So she judged herself hard. He reached for her hand. “You were nervous.”

  She refused his hand. Instead she met his gaze like she needed to reason with him as she said, “I was, but I’m obviously not cut out for a career in music. I’m not good.”

  So she’d tried and failed. He’d known many of his doctor friends who’d failed the MCAT the first round and had worked on upping their resumes before resubmitting.

  Either way, what she’d done in the past didn’t match her dream she’d told him. He brushed her shoulder with his and said, “You said you liked writing songs.”

  She curled into him and her lips gently kissed his cheek like she had another plan in mind that had nothing to do with the talent show. “I did.”

  Her touch became hotter as her fingers traveled down his chest. In a few minutes, he’d take her to bed, but she didn’t need to change the conversation. So he took her hand off his button and pressed his forehead on hers. “That doesn’t require being on stage.”

  Patti sucked in her lower lip. She didn’t break their connection though, and finally, she released her imprisoned lip and said, “I don’t have anyone to sell songs to. It’s just a pipe dream.”

  Pipe dreams? Everyone he knew worked hard to be a doctor and follow through on their plans. He shrugged. “Wishes need work. But your life is yours, Patti. I won’t make you do anything. I just want you to be happy here.”

  Her leg crossed his and she scooted closer, letting her desires be known. “If I just stayed home, and didn’t get a job, you’d be okay with that?”

  If she stayed here, he’d never worry about her. However something about that seemed like she’d hide and she couldn’t hide from her own wishes and dreams. “Yeah. You’re helping with Sara and Rose. I’m happy if we work as a team.”

  She played with his top button again and asked, “But what do I do for you, Reza? Why would I be enough?”

  She smelled sweet, like rose petals in a garden. And her nearness meant he could also be who he wanted to be without pretense. “Because you don’t stress me out and aren’t looking to change me.”

  Her eyes widened and she stopped playing with his shirt. “What?”

  This wasn’t the plan. He shouldn’t have opened his mouth with the last sentence. He traced her legs that were now around his and said, “Let’s go with your scenario. If I married Leila, and not you…”

  “Yeah?” She scooted higher on his lap, but didn’t say or do anything else.

  Once he was sure she wanted him to continue, he said, “She’d have expected me to start my own practice, hire younger doctors and quit the hospital.”

  She ran her hand through her hair and lifted her breasts in the same action, catching his attention. “And you want to work at the hospital?”

  Yes. Saving children meant he saved the innocent and sometimes he saw cases that made his heart drop. Rose’s case had been easy. The cancer, abuse, and death of little ones broke his heart though he continued to help the ones he could. This was better than seeing patients in an office. He made a difference, so he hoped she understood. “I like being there. I like helping the truly sick and not stressing about insurance paperwork. And I like helping the residents. If I quit, then I’m more about money and paperwork than healing people.”

  She cupped his face and peered into his eyes. “You’re a great doctor.”

  A huge sigh of relief came out in a deep breath. She understood. There was nothing else to say. He swallowed and nodded. “Good. I need to be better.”

  She patted his cheeks on both sides and smiled at him. Then she lifted one hand like she was swearing in court as she said, “I swear I won’t ever make you quit what you love.”

  A laugh bubbled out his lips fast and unexpected. He hugged her hips and rocked her gently on him, hoping to transition this to the bedroom. “Then you’re the best person to be my wife. And besides…”

  She teased him as she asked, “Besides what?”

  Words escaped him. He wanted to unzip his pants and claim her as his own, right here, right now. All he could say was, “You’re the prettiest woman I know.”

  She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and despite the cute blush on her cheeks, she asked, “Pretty?”

  Maybe she didn’t need to go to their bedroom. He ran his hand up and down her black dress and played with the zipper. She didn’t stop him as he peeled the dress down. “Not because of the outside. You actually care and opened your heart to Sara.”

  “I haven’t done anything.” She shrugged her shoulders out of her dress.

  Patti was beautiful. Her skin glowed and the black bra she wore under that dress covered way too much of her. He needed to get her smaller bras as he pulled her closer for a kiss. Before he lost his senses he said, “You included her, and that little girl needs a mother figure. I need a wife I can trust.”

  She tugged on his pants for him to lower them. “So because I won’t force you to quit, you’re happy to be married to me?”

  Every part of him was hard and wanting. He ached and this wasn’t settling. She was like a secret goddess he’d uncovered. “Because you make my life better, Patti. There is no more I need to know.”

  “Kiss me, Reza.” She closed her eyes.

  Finally, he claimed her lips as his own while he helped her out of that dress.

  Tonight he was insatiable. The only thing he wanted was Patti and he needed to ensure she loved every second and had no regrets.

  Chapter 14

  Patti woke up in the soft blue cotton sheets of Reza’s bed. She’d never slept naked before but next to Reza, she’d been warm and sated.

  However, the space next to her was empty. She turned over and saw a note left on the pillow of the half-made bed. Her heart raced for a second that something was wrong.

  She shook that nonsense out of her head and once her eyes could focus, she read the note.

  Had to go to work. I’ll be back by lunch. Reza.

  Perfect. This morning she’d spend time with the girls then—she had agreed to switch with the nanny for today. As if on cue, the older woman texted that she was ready to leave, so Patti hurried, looking forward to getting to know Sara.

  She quickly cleaned up and got dressed, stopping by the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. She heard them laughing in Rose’s bedroom from the hall.