LITMIR.BIZ

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temples. The nurse had referred to Caitlin as Caitlin Madaris? Why was she still using her married name? His name? Why had she kept the name when she’d rejected the man who’d given it to her? He stared into the doctor’s face. It had aged considerably in the last four years. “This isn’t a pleasure trip, Doctor,” he said, shaking the hand the man offered.

      Dr. Flores nodded his head. “You’re right, it’s not. Did you have any problems getting here?” he asked politely.

      “No. I caught a cab from the airport.”

      The older man lifted a brow. “Your luggage?”

      “I didn’t bring anything but what you see here,” Dex said, indicating the overnight bag he carried. “I don’t plan on staying long,” he added in a clear, firm voice.

      Dr. Flores looked at him for a moment. “Oh, I see. Did you know that Caitlin isn’t living here in San Antonio, Mr. Madaris? She moved to Fort Worth six months ago.”

      Dex looked at the older man in complete surprise. “No, I didn’t know that.” Heat stained his cheeks and his eyes narrowed “But then I haven’t had a reason to keep up with my ex-wife over the past four years. Where she lives is no concern of mine.”

      The doctor appeared slightly flushed. “I’m sorry, my mistake.”

      Dex nodded. “No sweat. We all make them.” He glanced around. “Where’s Caitlin?”

      “She’s resting. I gave her something to relax her. It’s been a very trying time for her. I’ll go get her now.”

      Dex grabbed the man’s arm when he turned to walk off. “Don’t bother. Whatever Halston Parker has to say, he can say to me alone. There’s no need to involve Caitlin.”

      The older man shook his head. “Halston wants to speak with both you and Caitlin.”

      Dex studied the doctor for a moment. “Do you have any idea what this is about?”

      “Even if I did, I’m not at liberty to say, Mr. Madaris. If you would like to wait in a private waiting room, I’ll get Caitlin.”

      In the waiting room, Dex stood at the window looking down at the smaller office buildings below. His body tense, his senses alert, he knew the exact moment Caitlin quietly entered the room. He turned slowly to face her.

      Their eyes connected immediately. Dex dragged his gaze over her. Even with tired lines etched around her eyes, her hair in disarray and her dress slightly wrinkled, as far as he was concerned, she still looked utterly beautiful. His heart felt like it was about to explode in his chest. How could he find her desirable after the hell she’d put him through? He resented the fact that his strong attraction to her was still there. His reaction to her sparked his temper.

      “Hello, Dex.”

      “Caitlin,” he acknowledged curtly. “I’d like to see your father as soon as possible, so he can say whatever it is he wants to get off his chest.”

      “We can go see if Dad’s awake now. If you don’t mind coming with me,” she said, opening the door.

      “You go ahead. I’ll catch up in a minute.” He needed time alone to regain his composure. Seeing Caitlin again had brought a greater reaction than he had expected. Unwanted memories had coursed through him.

      Caitlin nodded and closed the door behind her. A shiver passed through her body. The memories she had carried of her ex-husband were nothing in comparison to the masculine, virile reality she’d just seen. Strength and power emanated from him. He was still the handsome Texan she’d fallen in love with four years ago. His features were rugged and strong, and his nut-brown skin had darkened to a coppery-brown from hours undoubtedly spent in the sun. Dexter Madaris was still the most attractive man she’d ever seen. A sudden feeling of dread washed over her when she remembered something else about him. He was a man who didn’t forgive easily. She’d discovered that the hard way when he had not responded to her letter.

      Her hands were numbed with cold when she found Dr. Flores at the nurses’ station. They were as cold as Dex’s attitude had been toward her. “Dex wants to see Dad now, Dr. Flores. Is he awake?”

      The older man searched her eyes. “Are you all right, dear?”

      She swallowed hard before forcing a smile. “Yes. I’m fine. Can we see my father now?”

      “Yes.”

      They turned upon hearing footsteps approaching on the tile floor. Dex came to stand before them. “I’m ready.”

      Dr. Flores gently placed his hand on Caitlin’s arm to restrain her when she turned to leave. “Please keep in mind at all times how much your father loves you, Caitlin.” He then walked off.

      Caitlin frowned, pondering the doctor’s words. Did he know why her father had summoned Dex?

      “Let’s get this over with.” Dex’s biting words intruded into her thoughts.

      “This way,” she said, leading the way to her father’s room. She wished she could ignore Dex’s obvious signs of anger, but he was definitely a brother with an attitude. When they reached her father’s room, without a single word, Dex pushed the door open and walked into the room past her.

      Dex sucked in his breath. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight of the man he saw lying in the hospital bed. The shriveled-up man caused a sick feeling to engulf him. Halston Parker was almost unrecognizable.

      He stood back and watched Caitlin square her shoulders and approach the bed. Her face didn’t reveal a flicker of emotion, but her eyes did. The pained look in them was unmistakable. Losing her father was affecting her more deeply than she was letting on. He knew she would have done anything to prevent that kind of loss. He continued to watch as she drew her hand across the bed, smoothing the wrinkles in the hospital blanket. She bent over the frail body and whispered, “Dad. Dex’s here.”

      Dex was suddenly filled with compassion when he could no longer retain his distant attitude. He was again confused by the betrayal of emotions he had held in check for so long. As if by some connective power, Caitlin’s pain became his. He was suddenly struck with a return of the urge to shield her from what she was going through. More than anything, she needed support. Support from family, friends or someone who cared, but right now she was all alone. All alone except for an ex-husband who wished more than anything he was someplace else.

      With a heavy sigh, he leaned against the back of the closed hospital door and continued to stare at her. Could he somehow find it within himself to give her the support she desperately needed after what she’d done to him? Could he put all his bitterness aside and reach out and give her someone to lean on? Forgiveness wasn’t one of his strong points. His family had told him countless times that he could hold a grudge longer than anyone they knew.

      “Dad, did you hear me?”

      Dex noticed the head of the frail body in the bed nod. Caitlin looked up at Dex, her dark eyes misty with tears, assessed his expression. Coming forward, he nodded his understanding. Looking down into the deathlike face, he watched as Halston Parker’s eyes slowly fluttered open. For a brief second he stared up at the both of them, seemingly in tremendous pain—both physically and mentally.

      “Caitlin. Dex. You’re here,” Halston Parker whispered hoarsely, a weak smile touching his lips. “I have the two of you back together again.”

      Caitlin could feel a sudden sharp chill in the air from her father’s words. “Dad, Dex can’t stay long,” she rushed in. “You wanted to see him, and he’s here.”

      Halston Parker’s eyes shut for a moment. He reopened them and stared intently at Dex. “Legally, Caitlin’s still your wife.”

      Caitlin stared at the deathlike face lying against the white pillow. “I don’t understand what you’re saying, Dad. Dex and I aren’t married. Don’t you remember? I filed for a divorce a month after he left for Australia. The papers were sent to him and he signed them.”

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