Page 16 of Doctor Frost

Dalton fell quiet as we both sat there. The look of heartbreak combined with sadness pulled at my heart. It wasn’t a wonder the man was the way he was. He’d suffered not only a devastating loss, but had seen it with his own eyes. It would cause the warmest, caring person to turn inward.

“When I heard that flatline, I knew my entire world was about to change, only it didn’t just change, it literally stopped.”

My heart hurt for Dalton and for Claire and Tommy.

“Dalton, I’m sorry, I did not know.”

“I wouldn’t have expected you to,” he quietly answered.

Almost immediately, I remembered all those horrible things I’d said to him that afternoon when I’d lost my composure. How horrible he was, how his significant other must hate being around such a grumpy man. Those words were now that bitter pill I had to swallow and made me feel like a fool.

“I think I’m going to get going,” I said, swallowing hard, wishing I’d never said those words to him.

Dalton nodded and whispered, “I understand.”

“Before I do, I want to apologize for all the things—”

He placed his forefinger on my lips, silencing me. “No need. They needed to be said,” he whispered, meeting my eyes.

Embarrassment and anger flooded me. They didn’t need to be said. I should have been fired over those words. I’d overstepped. I’d attacked his personal life, and that wasn’t professional in the slightest.

I grabbed my purse and keys and made my way to the front door where I slipped my shoes on. I could barely breathe at the thought of my words from that night.

When I turned to say goodbye, I didn’t expect Dalton to be right there. His body was so close to me, I could feel the heat pouring off it. His eyes met mine, and I felt him take my hand in his.

I had no idea what was happening inside me at the moment. I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted to know what his lips would feel like against mine. I wanted him to take me in his arms and pull me against him. I wanted to feel his body against mine, but most of all I wanted to take his pain away, if only for a moment or two.

My heart pounded as I studied his eyes and silence fell between us. The longer I stood there, the warmer I felt, and the realization that I was about to cross a professional line was staring me in the face.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at work,” I whispered, as something in my brain forced me to stop thinking that way.

“Good night, Amelia.”

“Night, Dalton.”

Amelia

“Carol,if you’d like to come with me, I’ll get you set up in one of the treatment rooms,” Charlotte said, taking the file folder from the pile I’d just placed on the desk.

The lady smiled at me as she passed the desk and followed Charlotte down the hall.

It was Friday. It had been five days since I’d been at Dalton’s house, and he’d barely even spoken to me. I went back to the file I was working on when Dalton came around the corner and dropped a file folder down in front of me without so much as a word, and then went to go back down the hall when he stopped.

“Amelia, call Mrs. Johnson and share with her the results of her tests,” he grunted.

I stopped what I was doing and looked up at Dalton. I’d seen Mrs. Johnson’s test results this morning, and it wasn’t good news. I knew she’d have questions, as would anyone with a cancer diagnosis. I also knew I shouldn’t be answering them.

“Wait,” I said, loud enough to get the attention of some patients in the waiting area.

“What?” Dalton barked and rolled his eyes.

Charlotte stepped out of the treatment room she’d just put Carol into and looked at the pair of us, wondering what was going on.

“Can I speak with you in private, please?” I questioned, looking up at him.

I could see the annoyance in his eyes as I continued down the hall and entered his office, waiting for him.

I was looking out the window when I heard his door click shut.

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