The Proposal (The Proposition #2)(24)

Emma smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

Once Connie and the orderly left, Emma turned on the TV to try to get her mind off of things. She was enjoying some old reruns of I Love Lucy when a gentle rapt came at the door.

“Yes?” she called, her brows furrowing at who would possibly be knocking.

It cracked open before Pesh stuck his head in. “Hey there.”

Emma inwardly groaned. He was the last person on earth she expected to see. Shooting up in the bed, she smoothed her ruffled bed hair and hoped she didn’t have leftover raccoon eyes from crying. “H-Hi.”

Wagging his finger, he made a tsking noise as he stepped into the room. “Just couldn’t let Mr. Fitzgerald be outdone, huh?”

Emma laughed. “No, I don’t suppose so.”

Motioning to the chair next to the bed, Pesh asked, “May I?”

“Sure.”

His jovial expression suddenly grew serious. “You can’t imagine how horrified I was to see your name come across the computer screen.” He shook his head. “So I was right in thinking you needed to take better care of yourself?”

“Unfortunately yes. But it’s not only today though.” Emma glanced down at the standard order hospital blanket. “The last three weeks have taken their toll, I suppose.”

“Does it have anything to do with your relationship with Mr. Fitzgerald’s son?”

Emma jerked her gaze from the blanket over to Pesh. “W-Wait, how did you…”

He gave her an understanding smile. “It’s a long story.”

“So is mine,” she replied, with a mirthless laugh. At the tension in the air, Emma desperately sought to change the subject. “I thought you had gone home for the day. When I was brought in, I was hoping you would be my doctor. Dr. Pendleton’s bedside manner is quite lacking.”

“I apologize for that.”

“It’s not your fault he’s so gruff.”

“No, but it’s my fault that you had to see him.”

“What?”

A sheepish grin curved on his lips. “You were assigned to my caseload, but I asked him to see you instead.”

Emma gasped. “But why?”

Ducking his head, Pesh replied, “Because I knew I wanted to see you personally in the future, and that would be too uncomfortable for both of us if I had to…” He drew in a sharp breath as pink tinged his tan cheeks. “Well, if I had to examine you physically.”

Understanding crashed over Emma as she thought of how thoroughly Dr. Pendleton had examined her. “Oh,” she murmured.

He leaned forward in his chair, his dark eyes taking on a pleading glint. “I don’t want you to think I’m a creep or something for wanting to get to know you better. It was Mr. Fitzgerald who first broached the subject.”

Emma widened her eyes in horror. “He actually did that? I’m going to give him a piece of my mind when we’re both better!” When his shoulders sagged in defeat, Emma felt terrible that he appeared insulted by her words. “Oh Pesh, I’m so sorry. It’s not that I wouldn’t want to go out with you.”

His dark eyes lit up with hope. “Really?”

“Yes. I just can’t believe that Patrick would do such a thing.”

“Because of what was once between you and his son?”

“Yes that and the fact he was laid up in the emergency room. It’s not the most opportune time to be playing matchmaker.”

“I guess I planted the seed when I called you beautiful.”

Emma’s cheeks warmed at his compliment. “Thank you.”

Staring down at his hands, Pesh said, “I want you to know that taking your phone number from Mr. Fitzgerald, saying that a total stranger is beautiful—that’s not who I am. I’m sure none of my colleagues would believe I had done such a thing.”

“Really?”

Pesh nodded. “The truth is I haven’t reacted to a woman like I did with you in a long, long time.”

“Oh?”

He peeked up at her through his long, dark lashes. Sorrow radiated in his eyes. “Eighteen months ago I lost my wife to an aneurysm.”

Emma gasped. “I’m so sorry.”

“You can’t imagine what a helpless feeling it is to be a physician, and you can’t save the woman you love most in the world.”

“How old was she?” Emma tentatively asked.

“Only thirty-five.”

“That’s so young.”

Pesh nodded. “Jade was adopted when she was just three. Her adoptive parents didn’t know anything about her medical history. From what I’ve been able to gather, it could have been preventable had we known the signs and symptoms of what to look for.”

At his anguished expression, Emma reached out for his hand. With a grateful smile, he slipped it into hers. “I know what it’s like to lose the love of your life.”

Pesh’s dark brows arched in surprise. “You do?”

She nodded. “Five years ago my fiancée was killed in a car accident.”

“I’m so sorry.” An awkward silence filled the room. Finally, Pesh gave a short shake of his head. “Hmm, between your lost fiancée, your breakup, and me being a widower, I suppose we would make a tragic pair, wouldn’t we?”