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summers he’d spent with his paternal grandfather in Kentucky, up in the mountains. There were regular meals, chores, swimming and stability.
    Those summers had ended when he was ten, when his grandfather got Alzheimer’s. Reece’s father had sold the Kentucky cabin and put his grandfather in a home near Memphis, where he’d died alone a year later.
    Reece had never seen his grandfather again. It was then he’d decided to dedicate his life to curing Alzheimer’s.
    That was all that mattered.
    Medicine. Not music.
    “She should be fine, but maybe try to find out if your mother tried to do harm to herself in her past. If she regresses it could be a repeat episode.”
    Vivian nodded. “I will. She doesn’t talk much about those times. She’s private too.”
    Reece chuckled with her. “I know, but I would hate to have to put her on a suicide watch.”
    “She’s not suicidal when she’s lucid,” Vivian snapped defensively.
    “Okay, but you understand where I’m coming from as her doctor.”
    “You’re not her doctor.”
    “I will be.”
    Vivian looked confused. “What do you mean?”
    Even though he shouldn’t do it because it would mean that he would be further getting involved in Vivian’s life, he couldn’t see her suffer like this. Her mother was a good candidate anyway—given that Vivian had said she was early onset and was diagnosed only three months ago—and he had to keep telling himself that he was going to make the offer because it made sense for his trial...not because of his past with Vivian.
    “I mean I’ve decided to take your mother in my trial.”
    Vivian was stunned. “What?”
    “That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it? Your mother can start my Alzheimer’s trial tomorrow.”
    This is not distancing yourself from her.

CHAPTER FOUR
    “ I THOUGHT YOU said your trial was full?” Vivian asked.
    Reece shrugged. “There’s room for a good candidate and I think your mother is a good fit.”
    “You don’t have to make room for her because it’s me.” In fact she didn’t want him to. She’d taken so much from him already. She didn’t deserve this kindness and didn’t want any handouts.
    She didn’t need them.
    Except, her mother needed to be on his trial. It was a shot.
    “I’m not. Don’t mistake my offer for anything but the fact your mother is a good candidate.” His eyes were dark, cold and it sent a shudder down her spine. “This has nothing to do with our past relationship. It’s purely medical.”
    Vivian tried not to blush. Of course he wasn’t doing it for any other reason and she felt foolish for saying it. What did she think—that he would still care for her seven years after breaking off their relationship with a note?
    “Of course. I’m sorry. You don’t deserve that. It’s been a trying day.”
    His expression softened. “I’m sorry too.”
    “So why don’t you tell me what you need for this trial?” Vivian asked, trying to steer the subject away from apologies for something that was no longer there. Something she never really deserved since she’d thrown it away.
    “Well, first things first. I will get her admitted up into the neuro floor and we’ll go from there.” Reece turned to the computer and began to do the paperwork.
    “Admit her?”
    “Yes. All my trial patients are admitted until after I administer the medicine and they recover from the procedure so I can keep a close eye on the protocol. Will that be a problem?” Then he frowned. “I know you didn’t want this spread around...”
    “You’re right, I didn’t, but it’s okay. She’s more important. Besides, she has a different last name from me.”
    “Not Maguire?”
    “No.” And she didn’t elaborate that her mother had kept Vivian’s father’s name, but Vivian had taken her mother’s maiden name when she’d turned eighteen. She’d wanted to wipe her father’s name from hers. She didn’t need to be reminded she was the daughter of Hank Bowen, failed country singer,