Page 84 of Born into Darkness

I look around the nice waiting room that doesn’t feel anything at all like a stuffy doctor’s office. There are comfortable chairs, a large fish tank along the length of one wall, and instead of annoying talk shows or news coverage, there’s peaceful, classical music playing at a low volume.

Max and I walk up to the check-in counter where a model-gorgeous woman is giving Max a smile that’s a little too big for my liking. Her look goes way beyond typical friendly customer service, and it has my hackles raising in no time. The man next to me is beautiful to look at. I know this. I’ve always known this, but this is my first time seeing another woman’s reaction to him, and I can’t say I care for it. It would be different if it was just a quick, appreciative look, but she’s eye-fucking the hell out of him and completely ignoring me.

Feeling the anger radiating off of me, Max wraps his arm around me and says, “I have an appointment at eleven.”

“You must be Mr. Melnikov,” she says, smiling even bigger, and I swear she leans forward just to show off her big tits. To his credit, Max ignores her and doesn’t even glance down at what she’s offering. Instead, he looks down at me and gives me a wink.

Turning back to the receptionist, he says, “I’d like to add my fiancée as my emergency contact.” Lowering his voice, he leans in and says, “Try and flash me your tits again, and I’ll have you fucking fired. Insult my girl again by flirting with me, and I’ll make sure you never get another job in this city. Understood?”

She visibly pales and finally turns to look at me. Getting her shit together, she hovers her fingers over her keyboard and asks me, “What’s your name?”

I tell her my info and get added as Max’s emergency contact, and by the time we’re taking a seat, Danil is fighting a laugh and the receptionist is embracing her new work ethic of not being a complete and total asshole while my bodyguard pretends he has no fucking clue what’s going on.

“Thanks,” I tell Max after we’ve taken a seat.

He puts his arm around my shoulder and kisses my head. “For adding you as my emergency contact? You’re very welcome, and I expect you to do the same. Actually, never mind,” he says with a soft laugh. “I’ll just have Niki do it for me.”

“He can do that?”

Max grins. “He can do anything.”

“I would love to add you as my emergency contact,” I tell him with a smile, “but that’s not what I was thanking you for.” I glance back over at the woman, pleased to see that she’s still keeping her focus on her work and off of Max. “Thanks for not flirting with her in front of me.”

“There’s a few things wrong with that sentence. First, you don’t have to thank me for being faithful to you, and, second, there’s no reason for you to addin front of me. I would never flirt with anyone else. Whether you’re right next to me or not makes no difference. You’re the only woman I want, and I would never be unfaithful in any way to you, and that includes flirting with idiotic receptionists who try to flash me their breasts.”

I lean in and kiss him. “Thanks, Max. I feel the same way about you.”

“Glad to hear it, but if any man ever flirts with you in my presence, I will fucking kill them.”

I see the truth in his eyes, reminding me that the man I love isn’tjusta pianist who’s here for rehabilitation on his hand. He’s a trained killer. It’s easy for me to forget that because he’s always so sweet with me, but there’s a whole other side of Max that has nothing to do with sexy smiles and unlimited orgasms.

I’m not sure what to say about his promise of murder, so I look around and change the subject. “Pretty swanky place.”

Max gives a soft laugh, letting me steer us in a safer direction. “He’s the best hand therapist in the city, and for what he charges, it should be swanky.”

We’re the only ones in the waiting room, so it’s not long before the door opens and a woman asks, “Maxim Melnikov?”

Max and I stand and Danil lets us go first while my bodyguard takes a seat. Evidently, his instructions aren’t to actually follow us into the appointment itself. We’re taken into an exam room, and Danil and I take a seat while the nurse gets Max set up and takes his vitals.

He stays seated on the exam table after she leaves, and a few minutes later a tall, middle-aged man walks into the room. His smile is warm and genuine, and I like him immediately. He’d already met Max and his dad at one of his other appointments when they were first deciding on his schedule for therapy, and even though next week is when the actual rehabilitation starts, today is a big day because all the bandages are coming off so we can see what his hand looks like. I’m nervous enough for everyone.

Dr. Bennett must see it written all over my face because he holds out his hand and says, “You must be Talia. Max mentioned you during our assessment. Don’t worry. I’m going to take good care of your fiancé.”

I look over at Max, who gives me a wink. Even though he still hasn’t officially proposed with a ring, he’s apparently been telling everyone who will listen that we’re engaged.

Shaking Dr. Bennett’s hand, I thank him and then lift a brow when he adds, “So are you excited to learn all the finger exercises?”

“What?” I look between the doctor and Max.

Dr. Bennett laughs. “You didn’t tell her?”

Max grins and says, “I didn’t want her to worry about it.” Then he quickly says, “You don’t have to do it. My dad can, and he can teach Niki so they can take turns.”

I look at his dad, who quickly nods and says, “I don’t mind doing it, Talia. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”

I turn back to the doctor. “What is it exactly?”

He sits on a rolling stool and pushes himself across the floor to Max. “Well, I’m going to take off all the bandages today and see how his fingers are looking. I might be able to get away with leaving some of the finger splints off altogether, but right now what I’m worried about is finger stiffness and scar tissue formation. We need to keep the circulation going for healing. He’ll need help with these exercises, and I want them performed three or four times a day for about fifteen minutes each session.”

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