Page 43 of The Seal's Promise
Before every missionas a SEAL, Dalton would get focused on double and triple-checking his gear, adding extra ammunition, and checking his medical supplies. Then he’d get antsy for the departure from base, but once they were headed to the target location a calm would envelop him, like he was now cast off in a direction that couldn’t be changed. His fate was sealed. That was how he felt now with Brooke, as if he couldn’t keep his distance, or not touch her anymore. Like he belonged to her and his fate was set.
He had been shocked when she pulled him into the laundry room and kissed him. And pleasantly surprised that she hadn’t dated anyone since Max’s dad. She was a great mom, and he could see how a child would take over a person’s life, especially since she was alone. But Brooke was the kind of vibrant woman it was impossible not to notice, and he was surprised no one had managed to break through her shell. He assumed she expected him to leave again, and that was why she didn’t want anyone in town knowing they were together.
Which now left him with an even bigger dilemma: he would have to tell Wes and Levi that it was his fault their parents died, and he would have to accept his brothers’ reactions. If he wanted to stay in Sandy Point, he would have to face that memory of causing his parents’ deaths and then hold on to it for the rest of his life. But what was maybe even worse was that he’d have to tell Brooke too, and he could end up losing all of them.
“Good morning, Doctor.” A thick Southern drawl broke through his thoughts as he was looking over notes about the patients who had come through the evening shift. When he looked up from the table, there was a woman dressed in a bright white tennis dress, with barely enough fabric to cover her very large chest. She had a lot of makeup on for seven thirty in the morning, and wore large sparkling diamond earrings.
“Good morning, are you in need of medical assistance?” he asked, looking around for Nora.
“I guess I am.” She held up her hand, where she held an icepack on her wrist. “I’m so silly. I was grabbing my tennis gear and accidentally slammed my hand in the door.”
“Ouch,” he said, and looked around again, but still no Nora. “Alright, come on over to bay one and have a seat. I’ll get your information and take a look at your hand.”
He ushered her over to the open bay that had a crisp white sheet on the low set narrow bed. But he kept his distance, standing a few feet away while he pulled up the entry form on the tablet.
“Usually we have the patients complete this, but unless you’re left-handed that might be difficult.”
“Very observant of you, Dr.—what is your name?” the woman asked with a formal but flirty tone.
“I’m Dr. Hart.”
“Oh, you’re the man everyone’s been talking about in town,” she said.
His head whipped up, and he realized she’d stopped holding the ice pack against her wrist. Instead her hand now lay on her bare thigh, right where she had her legs crossed as she sat on the hospital bed. Not exactly the posture of someone in pain.
“Which man would that be?” he asked, right before Nora reappeared at the front desk with her hands on her hips and her eyes squinting at the woman.
“You’re the Navy SEAL doctor everyone has been saying is so gorgeous and single. Did you come home to settle down or just have some fun?”
He gulped.
“It’s hard to believe Wesley Hart has an equally gorgeous brother. Aren’t there three of you? Oh my word,” the woman continued as she recrossed her legs the other way.
Nora groaned in the background.
Dalton laughed. “Thanks, I think.” He shifted on his feet. “Looks like our intake nurse is back. Nora, can you help this patient fill out the paperwork? I’ve ordered an X-ray for her injured hand.” He turned to the woman. “We’ll wait to wrap your wrist until after the X-ray to see if it swells any further.”
“An X-ray, oh, I don’t think I have time for that today. It’s funny, my hand is already feeling so much better. You’re so thorough, Dr. Hart. Must have the magic touch,” she said, rotating her wrist and then uncrossing her legs before popping down off the hospital bed about a foot away from Dalton. “I’d like to invite you out to the beach club as my special guest for taking such good care of me.”
He didn’t miss Nora’s eye roll.
“Beach club?” What was she talking about? Just then Brooke walked through the sliding doors and looked between him and his patient before pasting on a big fake smile.
“Hi there, Ms. Robinson, you feeling alright?” Brooke asked.
“After seeing Dr. Hart, I feel just fine.” The woman winked at him. “Don’t forget to swing by the club later. I’ll have your name added to my guest list.”
He just nodded as the woman tossed her ice pack in the trash and sauntered away with a playful wave. “Bye now!”
“So I see news about you has made it into the beach club circles? Guess we better get ready for more minor injuries at the tennis club,” Brooke said.
“Good morning, and what beach club?”
“The Banks family opened a tennis club with beach access and a pool several years ago. It’s an exclusive club for residents of Sandy Point.”
“Residents with deep pockets who can afford the annual membership,” Nora said.
“I don’t like tennis,” Dalton replied.
