The Reluctant Romantics Box Set (The Fall, The Mind, The Heart)

“Aren’t you going to answer me?” I gazed up at him as his stare penetrated me as he grazed his bottom lip with his teeth, a move I had specifically told him I found irresistible when we were dating. He chuckled when he saw me take in a breath.

“You know, old habits,” he said before he pecked my cheek and stepped inside, letting the door close.

I stared at the elevator and heard my name being called.

“Dr. Whitaker, good morning.”

I turned to see Dr. Peirce giving me an odd look. I quickly shook off the spell I was under and nodded to him, regaining what senses I had left. I became angry instantly at myself and at Dean for what he had just done to me.

I finished my rounds with the med students and Dr. Pierce and found refuge in my office. I sat at my desk, clicking and un-clicking a pen in a complete stupor. Why the hell was he coming on to me when he was engaged? What the hell was he trying to do? I heard the light knock on my doorframe and looked up to see Josh.

“Hey, baby, lunch,” he said as he stuck a plastic container on my desk and kissed my cheek. I smiled as he pulled away.

“This is awesome,” I said, pulling the lid off and inhaling the mouthwatering scent of sautéed vegetables and risotto. “The perks of having a chef for a boyfriend.” I beamed as I took a huge bite and exaggerated a moan in appreciation.

“There are more than one,” he reminded me with a cocky grin.

Josh took a seat next to me as I ate and stayed with me until it was time for his shift. We were laughing as he left me at the reception desk and turned to walk toward the elevator.

“That man is in love with you, honey,” Beatrice said, looking between the two of us as Josh stepped on the elevator and it closed. “I can almost guess that this time next year he will make you his misses,” she added.

“Will she say yes?” This time the voice belonged to a distant memory. Someone who didn’t belong in the new world I had created. I jumped at the intrusion and turned quickly to face Dean, who was being scrutinized by Beatrice as he stood behind me with his arms folded on the counter. His stance was arrogant and I couldn’t help but notice the tick of his jaw as he eyed the closed elevator behind me.

“What’s up, Dean?” I asked dryly as I braced myself for a look at his gorgeous face. As usual, it did not disappoint. My insides sighed as I studied him.

Beautiful bastard.

Dean was half-Hispanic from his mother’s side and could credit her for his flawless olive skin and startling blue eyes. His parents had met when his father had taken a trip overseas after college. I had met them a few times when we were kids and once in college. His mother, Dayana, had a nickname for me that she spoke frequently in her native tongue. Dean had refused to tell me its meaning. I would constantly worry when we were younger that she didn’t approve of me, but she treated me with nothing but kindness. It seemed so long ago and yet I couldn’t help but notice the same kindness in her son’s eyes now as he watched me closely.

Dean grabbed his tie, studying it without interest as he spoke. “I was just meeting you halfway and to treat you to day-old egg drop soup and green Jell-O for lunch in the cafeteria, but it looks like you already had a lunch date.”

“Yes, I’m all set. Maybe tomorrow.”

“Sure.” He gave me a small smile, nodded, and waved a goodbye at Beatrice before he walked off.

“Oh…shit…honey, I smell trouble,” she said, shaking her head as she picked up the phone when it rang.

I couldn’t help but laugh at her spot on assessment of the situation. I fully intended on making sure that lunch happened with Dean soon. I wanted to know why he was back in Texas and working in my hospital, and why he was so reluctant to talk about his fiancée.

Whatever the hell was going on with him, I had decided to find out sooner rather than later.

Dean

Then

It was three long years before I heard three words that would forever change me. I was walking across campus toward the Marshall Hall building when the voice sounded. “Dean, Dean Martin?” A smile was already on my lips as I looked in the direction of the voice. Dallas’s laugh was unmistakable as she walked toward me. What I wasn’t expecting was the mere sight of her would leave me scrambling to regain basic fucking motor function. My smile quickly faded as she flew at me in a hug. All the breath left my body as I inhaled her scent. I gripped her to me tightly as she laughed and hugged me back. When she pulled away, my arms were still securely around her. I knew I had to be grinning like an idiot as she

beamed back at me.

“How the hell are you?” she asked, a little Texas twang in her voice.

“Better now,” I said, still refusing to let her out of my grasp.

We spent a little longer than we should in our embrace, neither of us willing to pull away from the other. In that instant, I felt the pain of missing her ease slightly. My chest tightened at the return of a familiar stir.

It was just that damned easy.

“Let me look at you. Damn …” My voice was hoarse as I let her go to take her in. She was wearing tight jeans, knee high, rider boots and a tight fitting red sweater. I took in every curve as I whistled slowly.