Read Online Fractured by Amanda Meadows - Free Book Online Page B

vest. The small office appeared remarkably the same as it had when Hunter was just a kid. Even the beehive candy jar was still on the desk.
    Dr. Gautier smiled warmly.
    "I wasn't sure if you would remember me," he said. "Your mother thought you might be upset. I assured her that you were probably way past pitching a temper tantrum these days."
    Hunter wanted to be insulted by the doctor's words. Instead, he felt an ease that he hadn't expected. For the first time since he allowed his mother to make the appointment for him, he actually relaxed.
    He found himself smiling. "I've set aside my demon theatrics," he said. "I should thank you for treating me so nicely when I was such a little monster."
    Dr. Gautier waved a hand as though to dismiss the need for apologies.
    "I should be apologizing to you," he said. "I always wondered if I pushed you too far too early. Perhaps you would have eventually opened up."
    Hunter laughed.
    "I'm afraid that wasn't going to happen, Dr. Gautier. I was pretty damned determined that nobody was going to learn my secrets. I only grew afraid because . . ."
    He broke off, embarrassed to say the rest.
    But Dr. Gautier simply sat there, his eyes on his own fingers as he patiently waited for a response. Perhaps he was used to having people talk in fits and starts.
    "Well, the thing is that I was convinced that you had super powers and could see into my brain," Hunter admitted at last.
    His deep blue eyes crinkling at the corners, Dr. Gautier smiled delightedly.
    "Ah! A super power! That would have been a wonderful tool to have in my bag of tricks."
    "So, anyway, my mom thinks that whatever happened when I was a kid might have made me more controlling than is appropriate."
    "Do you think that you are too controlling?" Dr. Gautier asked, gazing at him serenely.
    The question caught Hunter off guard.
    "Well, um . . . I get accused of it a lot. So I suppose so."
    "But how do you feel when you are actually engaged in the so-called controlling manner?" Dr. Gautier persisted. "Do you think that your actions are appropriate at the time?"
    "Actually, I think I'm doing the right thing most of the time," Hunter confessed.
    "Sometimes I don't get why people react why they do. I mean, sometimes I know that I'm exerting some pressure to get someone to agree. But most of my problems with my girlfriend surface when I'm trying to do things to keep her safe."
    Dr. Gautier nodded his head. "You mother told me that your friend has experienced some very real danger in the recent past. I would think that it was reasonable for you to be antsy. The question is the degree to which you are offering your protection for her."
    Hunter shook his head. "I don't get it. I limited her involvement in this one situation and she went nuts."
    Dr. Gautier tapped his fingers together thoughtfully.
    "And what level, say on a scale of one to ten, would you have rated her level of mortal danger in that particular scenario?"
    Hunter flushed. "Well, there probably wasn't a huge element of danger."
    Dr. Gautier wasn't letting him off that easily. "So, the number would be . . . ?"
    Hunter sighed. "I suppose a one or a two. But anything could have happened."
    He wished Dr. Gautier would say something else. Instead, the man had gotten up and was walking to his desk.
    "I'm afraid I'm rather addicted to these sweets," he said, pulling out the familiar caramel candy from the bright yellow pot. "Care for one yourself?"
    Hunter held out his hand. He wondered if Dr. Gautier did this when he wanted a patient to stop beating around the bush and get to the heart of things.
    "I never told anyone what really happened," he said. "You were right that day. There was something that I was afraid to tell anyone. And later it seemed stupid to bring it up at all."
    Dr. Gautier relaxed back in his chair, gently chewing his piece of candy.
    Hunter kept his own in his hand, moving it from palm to palm.
    "The only rule my grandparents ever had for me at their house was to