Read Online THE LAST TEMPTATION OF DR. DALTON by Robin Gianna - Free Book Online Page A

but don’t be surprised if I’m a little rusty. I bet you know this one: Debussy’s Clair de Lune .”
    When the last notes of the piece died away, the softness on her face only inches from his had him nearly leaning in for a kiss, forgetting everything but how much he wanted to, and the only thing that stopped him was Patience’s little face staring up at him from next to the keyboard.
    “I liked that, Mr. Trent!”
    “Yes.” Charlotte’s voice was a near-whisper as she rested her palm on his arm. “That was...beautiful.”
    As he looked at the little girl, and stared into Charlotte’s eyes filled with a deep admiration, the whole scene suddenly morphed from intimate and perfect to scary as hell. Why was he sitting here having fantasies about, almost a longing for, a life he absolutely did not want?
    Abruptly, he stood. He needed to get out of there before he said or did something stupid.
    Hadn’t he, just earlier this evening, been annoyed and disappointed in her? Then one more hour with her and, bam, he was back to square one with all those uncomfortable and mixed feelings churning around inside. What the hell was wrong with him, he didn’t want to try to figure out.
    “You know, I need to head back to my quarters. I’m going to get most of my things packed up. I’m sure the GPC let you know the new temp is coming in just a day or two?”
    “We need to talk about that.” The softness that had been in her eyes was replaced by a cool and professional expression. He was damned if it didn’t irritate him when he should be glad. “We have an issue.”
    “What issue?”
    She glanced at John Adams before returning her attention to Trent. “Come sit down and we’ll talk.”
    “I’m happy standing, thanks.” Her words sounded ominous and he folded his arms across his chest, the disconcerting serenity he’d been feeling just a moment ago fading away like a mirage in the desert. He had a feeling this conversation had something to do with him staying longer, and that wasn’t happening.
    “The new temp is delayed. I’m not sure when he’s going to get here.” She licked those tempting lips of hers and, while her expression was neutral, her eyes looked strained and worried. As they should have.
    “I told you not to try to guilt me into staying. I can’t be here indefinitely.” Except, damn it, as he said the words the memory of the comfort he’d felt a moment ago, that sense of belonging, made it sound scarily appealing.
    “I’m not trying to guilt you into anything. I’m simply telling you the facts. Which are that, if you leave, there won’t be another surgeon here for a while.”
    “The GPC does a good job finding docs to fill in when there’s a gap. Especially when a place has nobody. Besides, you have Thomas here, and he does a great job on the hernias and other simple procedures.”
    “But what if we get another appendicitis case? Ectopic pregnancy? Something serious he can’t handle?”
    He shoved his hands into his pockets and turned to pace across the room, staring out the window at the heavy blackness of the night sky. Looking anywhere but into her pleading eyes.
    “If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that one person can’t save everybody who needs help, Charlotte. I’d be dead if I tried to be that person. Think about the ramifications of this for others, too: the longer I’m here, the more the snowball effect of docs having to fill in where I’m supposed to be next, which is the Philippines.” He turned to her, hoping to see she understood what he was saying—not that the idea of staying here longer was both appealing and terrifying. “If the GPC hospital in the Philippines doesn’t have anyone because I’m not there, is that okay? Better for patients there to die, instead of patients here?”
    Her hands were clasped together so tightly her knuckles were white. “Just a couple of weeks, Trent. Maybe less, if it works out.”
    He shook his head.