“She seems like a smart woman, so I wouldn’t worry too much.”
His eyes dropped. “Intelligence isn’t always enough to prevent heartbreak.” He cleared his throat and straightened. “When Mr. Torres gets here, I want his vitals, EKG, and blood work. And I want you in the office with me to transcribe the meeting. I don’t take notes when I see patients.”
I typed pretty fast after doing emails all the time, so that wouldn’t be a problem. “You got it.”
He silently dismissed himself and returned to his office.
My eyes watched him go, watched his muscular frame stretch the fabric of his shirt in every sexy way imaginable.
When Mr. and Mrs. Torres checked in, they were somber but also in good spirits.
Andrea escorted them into one of the rooms so she could get his vitals and other things Dex asked for.
I walked into his office and saw him sitting on the couch, one ankle resting on the opposite knee, his elbow on the armrest while his fingers gently dragged underneath his lip as he looked out the window behind his desk.
I set the refreshments and tissues on the table before I got my laptop ready in the armchair off to the side. That way, I could hear everything clearly but not be directly involved in the meeting. I was just a shadow, a fly on the wall.
Dex knew I was there, but he didn’t acknowledge me.
Instead of giving him words of comfort, I just let him be. He seemed to need the silence, to move through his own thoughts at his leisure, to think about things I could never understand.
I just watched him, stared at the sharpness of his jawline, the slight stubble of dark hair that gave it a distinct shadow. His face was still turned away, so the muscles of his neck were tight, the thick cords moving down underneath the collar of his hoodie. I’d heard Daisy’s joke about his attire, and I liked his response. He had this innate power and authority that rang in the silence, and a professional outfit wouldn’t enhance that more than he already did on his own.
The silence continued, and I just watched, stared, examined this very special person, this person who cared too much. I found it hard to believe he had been married to a woman who ever let him go, that she ever let this absolutely gorgeous and caring man walk out her door. Knowing his character, I knew there was no chance he was a cheater or a liar. He didn’t cause the end of his marriage. She did.
Footsteps sounded down the hallway as they approached.
Andrea came in and stepped aside so they could pass through. “Take a seat.”
Mrs. Torres entered first, her eyes moving to Dex, filling with immediate gratitude. “It’s so nice to see you again, Dr. Hamilton.”
Dex turned to them and rose to his feet as he approached them, his hand outstretched. With a very small smile that seemed forced, he shook her hand. “It’s nice to see you too, Mrs. Torres. Please call me Dex.”
She smiled. “Then call me Angelica.”
He nodded then turned to her husband and extended his hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
Her husband grabbed Dex’s hand and squeezed it for a long time, holding on to it like it was a lifeline, and he looked into Dex’s face like he didn’t know what to say, to express how thankful he was that Dex came out of retirement to see him.
Dex was patient as he waited, giving Mr. Torres all the time he needed, as if he understood exactly how he felt.
Mr. Torres finally dropped his hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, Dr. Hamilton. Thank you…thank you for seeing me. You have the hands of God and the heart of a saint, and we’re so thankful that you’re doing this. So grateful…because you’re my last hope.”
It was hard to watch their interaction and not get caught up in it, to witness such a heartfelt conversation that was almost too raw to digest.
Dex stared at him for a long time, as if he didn’t have a single clue what to say to that. “I’m going to do my best to take care of you, Mr. Torres.”
“Marc,” he said quickly. “Call me Marc.”
Dex gave a nod in understanding. “And call me Dex.”
This guy had no ego at all, not when he preferred to be called by his first name and took no identity from his title. It was strange, to see someone who cared so much about healing people but didn’t necessarily want to be associated with that passion.
They took their seats on the couch.
Andrea brought the paperwork to Dex and laid it on the table in front of him.
As if Angelica and Marc weren’t across from him, Dex grabbed the paperwork and examined it, taking his time as he looked at everything. With the EKG, he took his pencil and make a couple marks on it. He released a loud sigh, the kind that made his back and chest deflate toward his spine.