Read Online One Heart to Give (Heart's Intent Book 1) by Dawn Brower - Free Book Online
Authors: Dawn Brower
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won’t do anything stupid,” Matt agreed.
“Don’t say that to placate me. I know you. Now promise me you won’t leave this bed without medical permission.”
He remained silent for a few moments. No doubt trying to figure out a workaround that would get him what he wanted. She couldn’t allow him to find some loophole that would harm him further.
“Don’t even think about it,” she said in a steely voice.
“What?” he asked, the epitome of innocence. “I don’t have a clue what you’re referring to.”
“Don’t overthink this. Promise me you’re not going to do anything infernally stupid.”
He smiled. It was disconcerting with all the bandages covering his face, but it was also a relief he could find something worth grinning over in his current condition. “Yes, counselor.”
Ren cleared his throat. “She’s right. Make sure you listen to her.”
She didn’t need Ren backing her up. Why did he feel like it was his place to interfere with her and Matt’s relationship? “Did you have anything else to add, doctor?”
“Not about Matt’s condition, but if you have a moment I’d like to speak with you.”
Dani wasn’t ready for that conversation. If she had her way, she’d continue to avoid it for the foreseeable future. “Now?” She raised an eyebrow. “I don’t want to leave Matt.”
“Don’t think you need to keep vigil at my bedside. Go see what the doctor has to talk to you about. I’m not going anywhere any time soon.”
Damn Matt. She didn’t want to have a private conversation with Ren.
“Dani, please,” Ren begged. “Give me five minutes.”
She glanced down at Matt and considered her options. “Fine, but not now. I have a couple things to discuss with Matt before he rests. I’ll meet you in your office in a half hour.”
“Very well. I’ll see you soon.”
Ren turned and left the room. She breathed a sigh of relief as she watched him leave. It was a short reprieve, but she needed it. Maybe when she saw him again she’d be able to handle her raging emotions better. She needed ice to flow through her veins to deal with Ren one on one again. Her luck, Jessica would return and then where would that leave her? It killed her to see them together. She couldn’t handle it.
“Want to tell me what that’s all about?” Matt asked.
“Not really.” She fidgeted and looked down at the floor. Matt knew about her former best friend. She’d told him everything on a drunken night during law school. She never told him Ren’s name though. He wouldn’t put two and two together unless she enlightened him. Maybe she should. It would help to get some of it off her chest. It was weighing down on her pretty heavily, making breathing almost impossible.
“I know something’s going on. I hear it in your voice. Tell me,” he urged.
“Do you remember why I ran away from my hometown?”
He nodded. “I do. What does that have to do with the doctor?” His mouth fell open. “Oh, I think I understand. He’s the man, the best friend.”
She nodded, and then remembered he couldn’t see her. Damn, she was a bumbling mess. “Yes. Dr. Rendell Sousa. The only man I ever loved and also unequivocally unavailable.”
“What’s he want to talk to you about?”
She was sure there was a long list of things she had to answer to him for. Dani wasn’t ready to face even one of them. “I’m sure he wants answers. I didn’t leave him with any when I disappeared.”
“Let me guess. You’re doing what you do best—avoiding the situation until you have no choice but to face him. Are you even going to meet him in his office?”
“Didn’t plan on it, actually. I have to go back to work.” She patted his arm. “Since you’re awake and I can quit hovering at your side, I’m going to leave. Someone has to keep the day to day things running. Claire can only do so much to keep the clients at bay.”
“Is there anything I need to worry about?”
She would not add to his stress.
“Don’t say that to placate me. I know you. Now promise me you won’t leave this bed without medical permission.”
He remained silent for a few moments. No doubt trying to figure out a workaround that would get him what he wanted. She couldn’t allow him to find some loophole that would harm him further.
“Don’t even think about it,” she said in a steely voice.
“What?” he asked, the epitome of innocence. “I don’t have a clue what you’re referring to.”
“Don’t overthink this. Promise me you’re not going to do anything infernally stupid.”
He smiled. It was disconcerting with all the bandages covering his face, but it was also a relief he could find something worth grinning over in his current condition. “Yes, counselor.”
Ren cleared his throat. “She’s right. Make sure you listen to her.”
She didn’t need Ren backing her up. Why did he feel like it was his place to interfere with her and Matt’s relationship? “Did you have anything else to add, doctor?”
“Not about Matt’s condition, but if you have a moment I’d like to speak with you.”
Dani wasn’t ready for that conversation. If she had her way, she’d continue to avoid it for the foreseeable future. “Now?” She raised an eyebrow. “I don’t want to leave Matt.”
“Don’t think you need to keep vigil at my bedside. Go see what the doctor has to talk to you about. I’m not going anywhere any time soon.”
Damn Matt. She didn’t want to have a private conversation with Ren.
“Dani, please,” Ren begged. “Give me five minutes.”
She glanced down at Matt and considered her options. “Fine, but not now. I have a couple things to discuss with Matt before he rests. I’ll meet you in your office in a half hour.”
“Very well. I’ll see you soon.”
Ren turned and left the room. She breathed a sigh of relief as she watched him leave. It was a short reprieve, but she needed it. Maybe when she saw him again she’d be able to handle her raging emotions better. She needed ice to flow through her veins to deal with Ren one on one again. Her luck, Jessica would return and then where would that leave her? It killed her to see them together. She couldn’t handle it.
“Want to tell me what that’s all about?” Matt asked.
“Not really.” She fidgeted and looked down at the floor. Matt knew about her former best friend. She’d told him everything on a drunken night during law school. She never told him Ren’s name though. He wouldn’t put two and two together unless she enlightened him. Maybe she should. It would help to get some of it off her chest. It was weighing down on her pretty heavily, making breathing almost impossible.
“I know something’s going on. I hear it in your voice. Tell me,” he urged.
“Do you remember why I ran away from my hometown?”
He nodded. “I do. What does that have to do with the doctor?” His mouth fell open. “Oh, I think I understand. He’s the man, the best friend.”
She nodded, and then remembered he couldn’t see her. Damn, she was a bumbling mess. “Yes. Dr. Rendell Sousa. The only man I ever loved and also unequivocally unavailable.”
“What’s he want to talk to you about?”
She was sure there was a long list of things she had to answer to him for. Dani wasn’t ready to face even one of them. “I’m sure he wants answers. I didn’t leave him with any when I disappeared.”
“Let me guess. You’re doing what you do best—avoiding the situation until you have no choice but to face him. Are you even going to meet him in his office?”
“Didn’t plan on it, actually. I have to go back to work.” She patted his arm. “Since you’re awake and I can quit hovering at your side, I’m going to leave. Someone has to keep the day to day things running. Claire can only do so much to keep the clients at bay.”
“Is there anything I need to worry about?”
She would not add to his stress.
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