He hadn’t blinked since he’d looked at me again. This was a version of Dex I’d never met before, someone who absorbed his surroundings with seriousness, someone who didn’t deflect his experiences with insincere humor. “Yeah…I’m with you.”
I stepped into the medical office with Tim and tried not to make a big reaction.
It was on one of the top floors of a prime building in Manhattan, having one hell of a view of the city, the park, and even the ocean.
“It was remodeled just this last year.” Tim wore a suit and tie because he was one of the biggest real estate agents in the city, handling commercial properties that pulled in quite the pretty penny. “New hardwood floors, new windows, great energy, the flow is perfect for a medical office.” He showed me the space, the waiting room, the main desk where I’d be handling patients at check-in, along with the different exam rooms as well as a couple offices. One of the offices was in the corner with a glorious view of the city—and I imagined that’s where Dex would reside. “So, what do you think?” We returned to the lobby area, and he stood with his hands in his pockets.
“It’s beautiful, obviously.” I didn’t take any notes because it was unnecessary. There was nothing I would change, and while I thought someone of Dex’s caliber deserved an office like this, I couldn’t imagine how he’d be able to pay for it. “What price point are we talking?”
“Cleo gave me the budget, and it’s just slightly below that.”
Now I knew how Dex would pay for this. I pulled out my phone and read the message I’d just received from Dex. I’m in the elevator. Be there soon.
“Sorry, Dr. Hamilton is running late. He’ll be here in a minute.”
He nodded. “I’ll meet you in the lobby downstairs so you guys can have some privacy.” He walked to the elevators, and when the doors opened, they greeted each other with pleasantries before Dex joined me in the main waiting area with the big windows.
He was in jeans and a hoodie, casual like his father always seemed to be. He stood beside me, and his eyes scanned around, taking a look at the space with a hard gaze. He crossed his arms over his chest.
“What do you think?”
“I think my parents are ridiculous.” He stepped away and headed into the hallway.
I followed him and watched him enter the patient rooms, which were currently empty. As if he could visualize his equipment and the furniture, he walked around with his fingers cupping his chin. Then he abruptly left and moved into the other rooms, checking the corner office at the end. “This place reminds me of my old practice.”
I lingered behind as I clipped my pen to my notebook, watching Dex’s muscular frame remain rigid as he walked to the windows and took a look at the world around him. “Was it here in Manhattan?”
He was quiet for a long time before he gave a short answer. “Yeah.” He turned back around and walked toward me, having barely looked at me since walking inside. His mind seemed to be filled with a lot of information now that he was getting back into his field. There was no extra space for jokes or pleasant conversation. “The price?”
“When I asked, he said it was within Cleo’s budget.”
He released a loud sigh in irritation as his hands moved to his hips. He stared at the wall for nearly a minute, deep in thought. “I guess there’s no other way. I can’t get a loan. I should be able to pay them back within a year.”
“Why can’t you get a loan?”
“No collateral.” He left the office and returned to the lobby where the patients would wait to be seen.
He’d practiced medicine for many years, so I imagined he had quite the nest egg saved up in a savings account. It didn’t make sense that he lived in Brooklyn. I wanted to know why he needed his family’s money at all, but I knew it wasn’t my place to ask. “Let’s do it.”
My train of thought faded away when I heard the sweet sound of his cooperation. He was finally on board with this, finally committed to making this work. “Great. I’ll let Tim know. Let’s go to our next stop.” I turned to the elevator.
“I’m taking this place, so what does it matter?”
I turned back around. “He’s going to show us a place for you to live.”
He gave me a cold stare, clearly not pleased by that. “I have an apartment.”
“Your mother said that you need to be closer to work—”
“My apartment is fine. I can get a new place on my own when I’m ready.” He walked past me and headed to the elevator.
I knew Cleo wouldn’t be happy about that, but I doubted she would push him. I joined him in the elevator, and we descended to the lobby. When we met Tim, we agreed to take the space and get the paperwork in progress. Then we stepped outside onto the sidewalk.