Page 74 of Sweet Passions at Bayside
“You’re aMasters, son,” he said evenly. “For generations, the Masters men have not only been doctors, but we’ve been leaders in our fields. Don’t you think it’s about time to put this resort business on the back burner and get serious about your career? You’ve had a solid break after tinkering with trauma nursing. It’s time to get in the trenches and make a difference in this world.”
“If making a difference, in your mind, also means treating people the way you do, then I want no part of it.” He stepped closer, his tone deathly calm. “And for the record, my years spent as a trauma nurse were not only every bit as intense and important as your career, but they proved to me that while you can shut off your emotions, I cannot. The people I watched die were someone’s relatives. They mattered to them, and the moment they were on my table, they mattered to me.”
His father gave a half-cocked smile. “I forgot that you were too weak to handle trauma nursing. But there are other types of medicine—”
“Stop,” Dean interrupted. “I’m thirty-two years old, not a child you can direct as you see fit or demean at your will. There are many types of weaknesses, and the ability to connect with humans isnotone of them. You used to know how to do that. The resort, working with men I respect and love like brothers, and nurturing life through nature makes me happyandproud. It’s a shame you don’t appreciate the value in those things, but I’m not going to waste any more of my breath trying to convince you otherwise.”
His father seemed to mull that over with a lingering sip of his drink. “Fair enough. Then let’s talk about your personal life. Diana is still unmarried.”
“Seriously, Dad? Are you really going to try to pawn that poor woman off on me again?”
“She’s good for you, son. She’ll never try your patience or speak against you.” His father looked out the window again and said, “This woman, Emery, is clearly intelligent, but she’s a distraction, a—”
Dean grabbed his father’s arm, turning him forcefully so he had no choice but to look him in the eyes. With his heart slamming inside his chest and his teeth clenched tight, he seethed, “It’s one thing to push me toward a profession I don’t want, but don’t you ever—ever—talk about the woman I love that way.” He dropped his father’s arm. “I’m done with this. Whateverthisis between us.” He stalked away, and his eyes connected with Emery’s. His heart lurched as she turned and bolted toward the exit.
Chapter Twenty-Two
EMERY’S HEART THUNDERED against her ribs so hard it hurt. She pressed her hand to the center of her chest and burst out of the ballroom door, struggling to drag air into her lungs. She didn’t know exactly what type of argument she’d come upon when she’d seen Dean clutching his father’s arm, but hearing Dean profess his love for her in one breath and threaten his father in the next had knocked the wind out of her.
She broke into a jog when she hit the lobby.
“Emery, wait!” Dean caught her by the waist, but she twisted away and continued running toward the exit. “Em, please, slow down.”
“I can’t!” She was shaking all over as she stormed out of the resort. The crisp night air stung her cheeks as she ran down the steps.
Tears blurred her vision, slowing her down enough for Dean to tug her against him so hard she smacked into his chest, and her tears broke free. He was shaking too, his chest expanding against hers with each harsh inhalation.
“Please, Emery. Stop!” He held her at arm’s length, an immovable force trapping her in place. “I’m done with him. You’ll never have to deal with him again. He’s an arrogant, infuriating jackass.”
“And he’s yourfather,” she cried. “You’ve spent years trying to keep peace within your family because of Jett, and now—” She gasped, trying to regain control of her emotions. “Youloveme? Oh, Dean! Youloveme!” Her heart soared, and just as quickly, it tore right down the middle. “And you threatened your father because of me? I don’t want to be the thing that tears you away from your family! You shouldn’t love me!” Sobs racked her body and she twisted away from him before he could see she didn’t mean it, but his grip was too tight and he yanked her back.
She pushed at his chest, her mind whirring like a hurricane.Don’t let me go, she tried to say, but all that came out was “Don’t—” before another sob stole her voice.
“Don’twhatEmery?” he seethed. “Don’tfeelwhat I already feel?”
She turned her face away, slamming her eyes closed to try to stop the flow of tears, but the river continued, her heart crumbling to pieces. He jerked her toward him again, his free hand pressing to her back so firmly she could hardly breathe.
“That’s not going to happen,” he said through gritted teeth. “Do you hear me? You arenotthe cause of any of this. Don’t you see that? It’shim, Emery.”
“Because he wants to see you with someone like Diana?” She swiped at her tears, inhaling sharply. “I met her! She’s lovely”—sob, sob—“and nice”—gasp—“and totally wrong for you!” She couldn’t stop the words from coming out. “I’m sorry, but of course she bored you to oblivion. She’s…vanilla.”
A soft laugh fell from Dean’s lips.
“Don’t laugh at me!”Why am I yelling?“She’s not right for you, but I liked her, and she’s coming to my yoga class tomorrow morning!”
He framed her face with his rough hands and gazed into her teary eyes. “You’re incredible, do you know that?”
She shook her head, struggling to regain control, then nodded. “I am pretty incredible.”
He laughed, drawing a half laugh, half cry from her.
“My father was in there spouting bull about being with a woman who won’t get under my skin, and you meet my ex, and instead of getting jealous, like any other woman would, you make friends with her? Iwantyou under my skin, Emery. I want you to speak your mind, even when it’s not what someone else wants to hear. I wantyouatanycost.”
Her mind spun, and she was still too upset and confused to speak rationally. “I know that!” she snapped. “I want you, too, and I want you to want me! But your fatherhatesme.”
Fresh tears spilled from her eyes, the sting of the truth too much to bear. She turned away, but he pulled her close again and kissed the top of her head. He smelled familiar and safe, and her fingers curled naturally into the fabric of his sport coat. She didn’t try to push away, because the truth was, the only person she wanted to run to was Dean.
“I’mnotletting you go,” he said adamantly. “Iloveyou, and I’m not going to let you sabotage our happiness.”
