Chapter 39

"I'm certain they admitted Dr. Butler to the ICU," Alexis said, as she buckled her seatbelt. "Do you think Javier's doctor friend can pull a few strings so I could spend a few minutes with him?"

"I'm certain he'll sneak you in," Seb said. "I'll text Javier."

"Thank you." After everything that had happened, Alexis needed to reassure herself that Dr. Butler was fine.

Seb reached out and took her hand in his.

"Maxwell and Daphney retrieved the Sea Dragon and docked her at Sunset Key," he said, an almost imperceptible tremor in his voice.

Alexis stared at him. He was nervous. Sebastien Tremblay didn't do nervous. What was going on?

Seb rubbed the back of his neck and then cleared this throat. "Maxwell has a new barbeque recipe he wants to try out on us. I thought we could spend a day with them and then take the Sea Dragon out for a couple of days. It would give me time to convince you to marry me."

"So, this is the talk you said we'd have later?"

"Yeah, this is it." He looked at her, his brow a furrowed line.

"I'd enjoy spending time with Maxwell and Daphney, but it may take more than a couple of days to convince me to marry you." Alexis turned the corner of her lips into a wicked grin.

"I can be very convincing, but we could negotiate a few more days," Seb said, his body visibly relaxing. He raised her hand and pressed his lips to her palm.

The gentle kiss wrapped around her heart, burrowed into her soul, and etched a promise of what was to come.

"I love you, Alexis," Seb said and released her hand. He started the SUV.

Alexis's cell phone dinged with a text message as Seb pulled away from the curb. She took it out of her pocket and looked down at the screen. The number was one she'd never seen before. She swiped the screen to read the text message.

Dr. Butler and I have come to an agreement. I expect you to keep your end of the bargain.

So, Dr. Butler's amnesia was a ruse to keep him alive.

"Everything okay?" Seb asked, concern in his voice.

She must have been frowning.

Alexis shot him a smile. "It's a colleague from France. Nothing important."

Antoine had been right. She'd go to great lengths to protect her friends. He had no idea how far.

Alexis would let him think he was in control, for now.

The End