The Fall (4 page)

Oh God.

I couldn’t shake the images of our past flooding my brain as his smell invaded my senses. We stood stunned for a moment until I broke the silence.

“Seriously, Dean, is there someone else? This is too weird even for us professionals.”

“Yeah, I will go get Margaret. She’s great. So you are here at Dallas Memorial?”

“Yep, just started my second year. Rose is almost done and she is going to start a surgical program while I start our practice. I can’t believe this. Why haven’t I seen you?”

“I just moved back from New York last month and started this week. Hey, congrats on the baby. Who is the lucky guy?”

“I’m not pregnant,” I told him quickly and could see his exhale. “Though from the looks of the waiting room, you will be a very busy man,” I joked, absently straightening the thin disposable table cover as I avoided his gaze. His eyes were covering me and I couldn’t help the slight tremble that started at the weight of his stare. The initial excitement of seeing him for the first time in so long was over now and I couldn’t stop replaying the memory of the last time we had seen each other. I looked up, noting my bravery for doing so was stupid. It seemed he was thinking the same.

“Let me take you out tonight, to eat?”

“I’m really tired, Dean. How about a rain check?” I said, making a lame excuse, anything to get myself together before we were forced to make more small talk.

“Sure, it’s so good to see you, and you will be a wonderful mother someday.” I felt the change in the air as we stared at each other. I felt both the familiarity and the distance between us. It was odd and uncomfortable and yet I couldn’t tear my eyes away. I felt a stir from a place I had long ago forgotten and cleared my throat quickly to keep myself from entertaining it.

“How about you? Any kids?” I asked, desperately trying to draw in air as slowly and inaudibly as I could. He reluctantly let go of our connection, his perfect full lips turning up at the corners in a knowing smirk.

“None, are you kidding? I am not falling for this crap.” His eyes twinkled with his chuckle. I grabbed the plastic pillow from the exam table then threw it at him.

“It’s so good to see you, Dally,” he whispered as he closed the small amount of distance between us and kissed my cheek, pulling back an inch away from my mouth. I stood stunned at his proximity. He traced my jaw line with his thumbs and pecked my lips softly. I jumped at his kiss and he quickly came to, seeming to catch himself.

“Sorry, horrible bedside manner. I do it with all my patients.” His joke fell on deaf ears. He noticed my demeanor had changed and quickly spoke up.

“I will go get Margaret, but I can stick around to make sure she is thorough,” he joked.

Still unable to shake his soft kiss, I looked up at him, but couldn’t utter a word. Dean knew every look I had. He had touched every inch of my body. He was so familiar and yet so much time had passed. I knew nothing about his life now. He was engaged, though his kiss tried to deem that fact unimportant. I felt the burn in my throat as I made a joke to keep things light.

“Yeah, why not? Bring in the other doctors too and a bucket with butter.”

“Still a sarcastic, sassy spitfire, huh, Dallas?”

“Still just the way you like me, Dean,” I said without thinking through my words.

His eyes flashed with recognition as he swiped his tongue over his full bottom lip. “See you in a bit, Dally.”

I quickly realized I was clutching my chest with both of my hands as I stared at the closed door. Of all the damn OBs offices in all of the great state of Texas, he and his perfect hair had to come waltzing into mine. I groaned as I buried my head in my hands. Engaged. He was engaged.

And I had Josh.

So why did his absence from the room already make me feel cold? He had been a closed chapter in my book since I had heard the news from his old frat brother Rob that he was engaged to another doctor in New York. I never thought I would see him again. To me, Dean was off in some foreign land, never to return.

Why had he come back?

It sure as hell wasn’t for me.

I lay back on the table as all thumbs Margaret poked around my pelvis.

“You’re a doctor. I’m guessing first year?”

“Second,” I said, baffled at the conversation. I in no way wanted to talk while she was staring at my nether region.

“So you are here for more birth control and a possible bladder infection?”

“Yes, I had a scare yesterday and I want to take away the possibility. I have no time for that,” I stated simply. Not to mention the thought of carrying a child terrified me to no end. I wasn’t equipped.

“I can tell you right now, this isn’t looking pretty. You know as well as I do that we are so busy looking at others’ symptoms to notice our own most of the time. It’s time to shorten your work days, reduce your case load and stress and keep up with what weekday it is or your career won’t last long.”

I nodded though she couldn’t see me. It really was time to make my health a priority.

Margaret was older and graying, and wore huge black rimmed glasses. She was chubby with a sweet smile, and I immediately decided to keep her as my OB. She continued to make small talk as I kept my inner grunts inside and answered her uncomfortably with thoughts of Dean whirling around in my head.

I had only spent a year being Dean’s significant other. That year had changed everything between us. The last time we saw each other had completely ruined us. It was seven years too late for an apology. I knew he was thinking the same thing when he looked at me earlier. Seven years and so much had changed.

When I had my prescription and another firm lecture from Margaret to take it easy in the bedroom and take time to heal, I gathered my purse and jacket from reception as Dean rounded the corner, stealing my breath. I saw the receptionist eye him and shook my head in amusement. The man was a walking magnet for any female in a ten mile radius. He was simply the most beautiful man on the planet. His confidence was unbeatable and charisma oozed from every pore in his body. He was a ladies man and always had been.

“Dinner tomorrow, Dallas?” Dean offered again as I put my jacket on.

I paused only for a second before nodding. “Let’s do it. I’m on floor six. Pick me up at eight?” I saw Margaret’s lips twitch with a smile as she walked past us. “See you soon, Dallas,” she offered in goodbye.

“Thank you, Margaret,” I replied, turning back to Dean whose stare was on my lips. I stood stunned as he kept his gaze there through his next question.

“Are you working under Pierce? I heard he is the worst,” he finished, flicking his eyes to mine. I recognized what I used to know as heat.

“I can handle him just fine,” I said confidently, though I was anything but. I felt the burn build in my stomach and start to spread throughout my lower half. I licked my lips as Dean briefly closed his eyes.

“Ugh hmm,” the receptionist interrupted. “Dr. Martin, your two-thirty is in room four,” she said sweetly.

“Thank you ...” he trailed off and quickly recovered as they both said the name in unison, “Maggie.” I saw her visibly blush in embarrassment at his failure to remember her name and couldn’t help the smile that gathered on my lips.

“I’m sure you can handle him just fine, Dally. See you tomorrow.” He gave me a smile and walked out the door, leaving me there thinking about him.

I left the room with memories I had pushed away for years clouding my mind, and a rapidly beating heart.

Dean

• Then
  

The first time I saw Dallas Whitaker I was lounging against my lockers listening to Jon Reiner comment on every passing pair of tits and ass. I had to agree with him on a few but kept it to myself. I prided myself on that. It was a gentlemen’s view, and I wanted to be just that, a gentlemen. I wasn’t the kiss and tell kind of guy, and I could already tell Reiner and I wouldn’t see eye to eye on that. He was more than vocal as he taunted half the girls around us.

“Hot damn,” he crooned after a great set of legs as she looked at him, clearly irritated. Her attention turned to me and I smiled. The invitation was instant with her come-hither smile back. I laughed as Reiner followed her, briefly arguing his case. When I averted my eyes, I caught sight of her. I took in her long, dark brown hair and beautiful features and felt my entire body jolt. She was young, too young, but what I noticed most were her striking eyes. They were a pale green and seemed to sparkle as she noticed me, absently digging in her purse. Once she saw my attention was solely on her, she looked away.

That was a first.

When she finally looked at me again, I saw something else in her eyes. She seemed more confident than the girl who had just shied away from me. I stood curious as she approached. She was just about to address me when I saw her stiffen with Reiner’s swaying attention.

“Dallas, give me some sugar!” She half-masked her smile for Reiner as she scolded him, slapping his hands away as he pawed her.

“Get your hands off of me, Reiner! We went out once and it was a disaster. Stop molesting me in the halls!”

“Awwwe, Dallas it was not a disaster,” he reasoned as she fought his busy hands from around her waist.

Her eyes were glued to me for a brief second before she turned to him with malice. “You got drunk and threw up on me, idiot!”

I laughed at their banter, watching her without being noticed. She was completely animated as she put Reiner in his place. I could tell beneath her menace that she genuinely liked him. They had history. It was easy to tell. She also had a smart mouth on her that was for sure. I took in her perfectly glossed pink lips and the way she held herself with such confidence, and I instantly wanted to know her.

“Dallas, give me another chance,” Reiner begged.

“Nope, it’s a one shot deal,” she scoffed, shooting him down. She turned her beautiful green gaze back to me and I felt my heart rate pick up. She scrutinized me with her stare and I had to stifle a laugh. Who the hell did this girl think she was?

“Who are you?” she asked, demanding an answer.

I lifted my brow and peered down at her with a smirk before giving it to her. “Dean, Dean Martin. I just transferred.”

“Dean Martin,” she said with a snort, “sing us a tune.”

I shook my head with mild irritation. “Yeah, no one has ever used that line on me,” I replied, clearly unimpressed as I ripped my eyes from her to grab my history book from my locker. The truth was, I wanted to look at her, but for some reason it hurt. She was just a kid, not really a young woman yet. She was, however, absolutely beautiful and she didn’t know it. I loved that fact.

“Sorry,” she said sincerely, her confidence slipping slightly as she weighed my reaction. I felt a tug in my chest for her then. I could tell in that moment that she really wanted me to like her.

“Forgiven, and your name is Dallas. That’s pretty cool,” I said, closing my locker.

Long eyelashes, prominent nose and perfect lips...Damn, Reiner had it right with this one.

“I guess,” she said, glancing down at my history book before her jade eyes shot up to mine. The shyness was back and I was getting whiplash from the mixed signals.

“Martin?” She looked at my jet-black hair and olive skin with a question in her eyes.

“My mother is from Spain,” I said with a smirk. This girl was anything but subtle.

“Hmmm,” she mused, scanning my dress skeptically.

I had always made it a point to dress impeccably, just like my father. It was one of the things I had admired most about him. Dallas seemed to be amused by it. “Are you going to church later? A funeral, maybe?”

“Don’t even think about it, Martin. She’s mine!” Reiner interrupted as he scooped her up over his shoulder and began to walk away as Dallas protested, raising total hell and punching at his back repeatedly. I had no choice but to just laugh and wave.

Dallas the spitfire. God, I loved that.