The Pairing (The Proposition #3)(37)

“Wow,” she murmured, when he finished.

“I suppose that is all one can say about the situation.”

“You were awfully kind to take care of her like you did—I mean, with both her abusive ex-boyfriend and Dev.”

He shrugged. “What else was I supposed to do? I cared for her, and I wanted to see her happy.” At the look that flashed in Megan’s eyes, he quickly added, “There was no amorous love between us. I was happily married at the time, and she desperately needed someone to be strong for her.”

Megan cupped his unhurt cheek in her hand. “You really are the most decent man I’ve ever known.”

“I don’t know about that,” he murmured.

“You truly are.” She shook her head. “No wonder women are so crazy about you. It’s one thing for you to be so good-looking and a smart doctor, but then when you add in the fact of how sweet, caring, and compassionate you are, it’s like you’re a triple threat.” She turned to throw the cotton ball into the trash can.

His heartbeat thrummed louder and louder at her words while he sat unblinking and unmoving. Part of him wanted to rail at her for not seeing him like all the other women did. If she truly saw what others did, then she would want to date him, wouldn’t she? Why couldn’t she see how good he could be for her?

When Megan met his tense gaze, she jerked back and momentarily faltered by dropping the piece of gauze in her hand. She quickly deposited the soiled one in the trash and then got another one. “So this Mia chick, she’s run off with some drummer, huh?” she asked, clearly trying to change the subject and lighten the mood in the room.

“Not just any drummer. A famous one at that.”

“Really? What band?”

Pesh’s cocked his head as he tried remembering. “Something train.”

Megan gasped. “Not Runaway Train?”

He snapped his fingers. “That’s it.”

Clapping her hand to her chest, Megan’s eyes widened. “You know someone who knows AJ Resendiz?”

Pesh laughed. “I suppose I do if you consider that’s Mia’s fiancé.”

“That is so wild. I love that band.”

“I’ll see if I can get you an autograph.”

With a squeal, Megan said, “Really? That would be amazing.”

“Anything for the woman who is willing to risk her life for me.”

Megan laughed. “It was nothing.”

“What about your hand?”

“I’m not going to lie. It hurts. I kinda forgot what punching someone felt like.”

Pesh couldn’t help his brows from rising in surprise. “Have you done a lot of fighting?”

She grinned. “Not exactly MMA material, am I?” When he merely shook his head, she replied, “I may have thrown a few punches in my early college partying days when a guy overstepped his bounds.”

With a smile, Pesh said, “Good for you.”

“Yeah, my dad was really big on teaching me self-defense moves. You know, with him being ex-military.”

Pesh couldn’t help liking Megan’s strength and spunk. He hadn’t known a lot of women like her. In his world, women were bred to be demure and obedient. Even though Jade wasn’t Indian, she would’ve never dreamed of throwing a punch to defend him against Dev. But Megan, she was so refreshing with her ability to stand up for herself and others—to voice her mind whether it was good or bad.

“You would have made your father very proud today.”

“Thank you. I’m sure later on today when my knuckles are bruising, he’ll want to know why.”

“I’m very sorry.” He took her hand in his before bringing it to his lips. “Here’s a kiss to make any bruises go away.”

She gave him a teasing smile. “Is that the best medicine you can do, Dr. Nadeen?”

His mind went wild with illicit images of all the “medicine” and “healing” he could give her. A chaste kiss to alleviate her pain was all he could really offer. His pager went off before he could reply. “I better go.” He hopped off the table and started for the door. As his hand hovered over the doorknob, there were so many things he wanted to say to her. But finally, he just said, “Thanks again for taking care of me.”

“You’re welcome.”

“And you should probably ice your hand during your break tonight.”

“Yes sir,” she replied, with a mock salute.

He shook his head at her with a smile before heading out the door.

Chapter Twelve

Days melted into weeks as Megan immersed herself in her clinicals. Every day she found a new challenge to conquer. She hadn’t imagined how hard it would be, or how exhausted she would be most nights when she crawled into bed. But it was a thrilling exhaustion because she was doing what she felt like she was called to do.

Each day, she spent more and more time with Pesh. She loved working beside him on cases. He had the best bedside manner of all the residents and interns. Patients, both young and old, adored him. And the more she was with him, the more Megan began to adore him as well.

She had just left an examining room where he had charmed a little boy into finally letting them run the tests they needed when Kristi beckoned her from down the hall. After hustling to join Kristi, Megan was quickly ushered inside one of the trauma rooms. Immediately, her entire body switched gears as she prepared herself for what she might face.