“Andi?”
I looked up and nearly ran for cover. I couldn’t believe Dalton recognized me after all this time.
“Andi Rivers, right?” He grinned. “Dalton Moore. You probably don’t remember me.”
Oh, I remember you. I’ve only loved you for half my life.
“Uh, hey. Right. Dalton. How are you?” I improvised.
Oh, good one, Andi. You’re so smooth.
“I’ve been better,” he admitted.
“Yeah, your dad’s in surgery.”
He smiled. “We know.”
“Right.”
He leaned against the counter. “Have you heard anything?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. As soon as I know anything, though, I’ll let you know.”
Samantha glanced at me before handing Dalton a bundle of toddler. “Hold Finn. Dr. Selliken is meeting me so I can find out what’s going on.” She kissed the big man holding the older child and then walked through the doors towards ICU. I remember seeing Dr. Moore’s name on a few documents, particularly in relation to research, so I knew Samantha used to work there.
“How are you?” Dalton asked, bringing my focus back to him.
“I’m good,” I said. “I need to get these charts done. Do you have any questions for me before I get back to work?”
He shook his head. “I have a feeling Samantha will get more information than you can give me.”
I bobbed my head up and down and struggled to find my voice again, forcing my mouth into some semblance of a smile. “You’re probably right. Your mom and aunt are in the waiting room. Do you want me to show you?”
He studied me for a second and then smiled. “That’d be great, Andi, thanks.”
I stepped out from behind the desk and walked toward the waiting room, assuming he’d follow. He did. As did the other man who still hadn’t spoken.
“You’re here,” Melanie cried, and wrapped her arms around Dalton, kissing Finn. “I can’t believe you made it so quickly.”
“Helps when your son-in-law owns his own plane,” Dalton retorted.
“Kade,” she said, and hugged him. “Thank you for coming.”
“My pleasure, Mum.”
“Where’s Samantha?”
“Meeting with one of the doctors,” Kade said.
Melanie held her hands out. “Come to Grammie, Liam.”
He reached his arms out and went in for a snuggle.
I felt like I was intruding on a private family moment, so I turned and walked back to the desk. I dropped my head on the desk in dismay.
As I was staring at my feet, my phone buzzed in my pocket and I sat up with a sigh, seeing Aspen’s name on the screen. We were still besties, and I was currently living with her while I got back on my feet. “Hey, Aspen.”
“Hey. Just checking what time you’ll be home. I’m heading out.”
I glanced at my watch. Six a.m. “Early meeting?”
“Yep.”
“I won’t be home for a few hours.”
“Okay. I’ll be super quiet when I come home then.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
“You okay?”
“Why do you ask that?” I asked, my voice pinched and thin.
“Oh, no reason...other than that weird thing you do with your voice when you’re all discombobulated.”
“You know I have a love-hate thing going with how well you know me.”
She giggled. “Totally. Spill.”
“Dalton Moore.”
“What about him?”
“He’s here right now.”
“Is he a patient?” she asked.
“Um, no. If he was, I wouldn’t tell you he was even here.”
“Oh, right, Hippa whatever.”
I smiled. “Exactly.”
“Andi?” a deep, sexy voice called my name and even though my back was to him, I knew it was Dalton.
“I gotta go,” I said, and hung up, turning to face him. He no longer had his nephew and was leaning across the desk. “Hey, Dalton. What can I do for you?” Desperate to do something with my hands, I picked up a chart and attempted to look totally in control.
“Just wondering if you’ve heard anything.”
I shook my head. “Sorry. Samantha will probably know something before I will.”
He studied me for several, very uncomfortable seconds. “You doin’ okay?”
“Just dandy,” I quipped.
“You talk to your brother lately?”
“No.” I almost threw up in my mouth. “I...need to get back to work.”
“Shit, Andi, sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” He sighed. “It’s gotta be tough knowin’ he’s in jail.”
The emergency alarm sounded, cutting off any lame response I could give, and I rushed from the desk and back to the ambulance bay. I didn’t have time to dwell on Dalton’s comments, but knew I needed to get him out of my mind. The fantasy was officially destroyed.
* * *
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Redeeming the Biker's Past (Dogs of Fire: Savannah Chapter Book 3) Page 19
