Page 14 of Doctor Frost

“Okay,” she said, getting up from the chair and shoving the pad into the pocket of her jeans. “Oh, and, Amelia?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t tell my dad, okay?”

I flinched a little, not sure I really wanted to keep something like that from her father. I softly smiled. “Honey, don’t you worry. I will talk with your dad, but I’m almost certain he will understand. He deals with this stuff every day at work. There is nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I know. I just don’t want him to know.”

I softly smiled. “It’s okay, I will talk with him,” I assured her. “Now go on and get ready.”

I gave her a moment to head into the house and then got up and made my way inside, where I found Dalton still in the kitchen, still barefoot, drinking his coffee.

“Everything okay?” he questioned the moment I came inside.

“Yes, everything is fine,” I answered.

Without asking, he poured me a cup of coffee and placed it down in front of me, which I gladly accepted and took a sip.

“She really had me worried. She’s never refused to speak to me before.”

I walked over beside him and looked out the back window out to the sprawling yard I’d just sat in.

“She doesn’t want you to know, but you need to. She got her period,” I said.

Almost immediately, Dalton’s cheeks flushed as he tore his eyes from mine. “I see. Well, that definitely called for needing another woman.”

I’d never seen him act this way before. “Are you okay?” I questioned.

“Yep, thanks for coming over,” he said, swallowing hard.

“Dalton, are you embarrassed? You deal with these things for a living.”

Dalton met my eyes. “Not embarrassed. Guess I forgot how old she really was. Most days I look at them and still see them as five years old.”

“Gotcha. Well, I told her I’d take her over to the drugstore and get her some supplies.”

Dalton looked at me, relief washing over his face. I was about to ask him if he was okay when I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. I glanced at him.

“Say nothing.” I whispered.

“My lips are sealed,” he whispered back, gently smiling.

“Ready to go?” I questioned, turning to see Claire standing on the other side of the island.

“Yes,” she answered.

I made my way around the island and began following her to the front door when Dalton cleared his throat and called my name. We both turned to look at him.

“I was wondering if perhaps you might like to join us for dinner tonight?”

“Oh, well, I—”

“Please, Amelia!” Claire begged.

I smiled at her and then looked over at Dalton. I really didn’t know how to take this at all. First, he was more human than I’d ever seen, and second, he was inviting me into his home to have dinner with him and his kids.

“I mean, if you already have plans, I understand. I just thought it might be nice…”

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