Dr Sawyer Page 3

That plan of mine to have no contact with Devon would have worked just fine, because this would be one time I wouldn’t go back on my word. Except…there he was. Sitting in Dr. Morgan’s clinic room.

  Chapter 3

  Kelly

  As our eyes locked I experienced two different emotions.

  A possible third.

  The first was the standard shock the average human would feel. I actually felt the shock ignite within my brain and the neurotransmitters stimulate my nerve endings. The tingle rippled through me, setting off the other emotion.

  Anger.

  Fury even. Fury at Devon for not saying anything whatsoever about coming back to work. Then fury at myself for the little flutter in my heart that must have come as a displacement of time because that was the same flutter I’d get every time I saw him.

  I felt even more furious at myself for gawking at him as he sat there looking perfect like he had nights ago.

  His piercing brown eyes stared back at me with the same intensity with which I gazed at him. It actually made the sharp angles and planes of his perfect face look more enhanced.

  Then, as he leaned forward slightly, a lock of his longish dark hair fell over his eye and he brushed it away.

  Like days ago, my heart was doing all the work, shunning my mind.

  What the hell was he doing here?

  What the actual hell?

  “Great, you’re here. Do you plan to sit?” Dr. Morgan asked, eyeing me up and down with narrowed eyes. He shuffled and the overhead projector light beamed on his silver streaked hair making it look like a halo above his head.

  I hadn’t realized that I’d just stopped short at the door.

  Inside the room was him standing behind his mahogany desk. Devon. Who hadn’t taken his eyes off me and Connor and Adrian—guys I’d gone through my years here with. They would have remembered Devon from our internship year.

  Two weeks ago, I was under the impression that it was only going to be three mentees, and I knew who they were going to be. Nothing was mentioned of a fourth person joining us.

  “I’m so sorry Dr. Morgan,” I apologized. And damn…I had to sit in the chair next to Devon.

  It was clear that the chair was left out for me specifically. It would have looked odd if I’d gone to the other side of the room and sat next to Connor who was at the other end.

  I couldn’t resist the glare I gave Devon. While he looked uneasy at it he played it cool.

  “Great. This is all of us. I see no reason in waiting another five minutes to start,” Dr. Morgan began. “Short meeting today. Just to discuss how I roll.”

  I willed myself to push my angst over Devon out of my mind to admire the man in front of us.

  Out of two hundred applicants I was one of the lucky handful of people to get selected to work with him this year. I was guessing Devon must have used his parental influences to get his spot, because I went through hell to get my placement. Dr. Morgan’s mentee group was a whole other application process that was just as stressful as the application to medical school. Purely for his renowned work in stem cell research on patients with vascular disease. His clinical trials and research were world-renowned.

  We were kick-starting this year with a four-month rotation, beginning with vascular surgery. Because of this placement we would get to carry on our research with him in his clinic, and with his patients on current trials, for this year and next year.

  He was amazing, but also cool and the quirky kind of guy that I knew I would like working with.

  “Your schedule is like this: patients first. You each have your set patients as you did in previous years. But the bulk of your time will be taken up with your patients on the clinical trials. We have been provided with a substantial amount of funding this year to take our research further. As such, I will be taking over all other teaching activities you would have been scheduled in to do with other research fellows. You will each have one-to-one practical work with me. That extents to the ER and OR. If you need help you come to me or one of my assistants, and if you have a problem do the same thing. Understood?”

  We all nodded.

  It sounded great and I wished I could have been more excited, but Devon sitting next to me was sapping my energy.

  “Any questions?” Dr. Morgan asked.

  “What will our schedule be like?” Connor asked, widening his large blue eyes. “Realistically?”

  It was a good question. We got our information packs a few weeks back and the schedule was blank. I knew not to be foolish in assuming that this year would be a walk in the park. Every year of residency was meant to get tougher.

  Dr. Morgan shrugged. “At this point, as in today, your days and weeks with me could be filled with anything. The only certainty is the timeslots already allocated to you by the hospital for your patients. Outside of that I own your ass, day or night. That’s as much as I’m saying now. We’ll meet at seven a.m. every day and I’ll let you know what I need you to do for the day. Does that answer your question?”

  Connor nodded. “Thank you.”

  He knew not to be anything other than grateful. Dr. Morgan handpicked each of us…well, I didn’t know about Devon. But I know he did with the rest of us.

  “Perfect. Now for the nitty gritty. There’s four of you and I have two patients who need our attention. Same treatment, two different scenarios. I’m splitting you into two groups. Group A will be Connor and Adrian.” Then a lump formed in my throat when he looked at Devon and me. “And you guys are Group B.”

  Again, Devon and I exchanged looks. Mine was extremely brief because that anger I’d sated came rushing back.

  Thank you universe. First you spit on me by allowing the man sitting next to me to leave my ass, then you throw dirt on me when I got an invite to go to his wedding. Thank you for hammering the nails into the coffin by creating this wonderful morning where I got to work with a man I tried so hard to get over.

  I’d been looking forward to this day all summer. Right from when I got told I got selected. Now not so much. What was it going to be like working with Devon?

  “Group A will be working on my veteran marine, Group B on my retired ice hockey coach. Both have advanced arterial disease. Our mission is this, should you choose to accept it: we’re trying to avoid amputation of their legs. We’re at the start of the treatment so it will be very interesting to see what happens. All good?”

  I nodded again wanting to feel the excitement I should. It never came though. If anything, I felt trapped. Thrown in a boat with the only person I never wanted to paddle with.

  Dr. Morgan cleared his throat and continued. “Consider today and tomorrow as downtime. Get yourself set up, get familiar with the research center, and get to know one another because you’re going to be working together for a very long time. We’ll meet again on Wednesday, which will be time to throw ourselves in full force. Meeting adjourned.”

  I gathered my bag and left. It looked odd for the swiftness in which I fled.

  I got halfway down the hall when I heard Devon calling after me.

  That didn’t stop me. I continued my flight, heading toward the research center. My brain must have switched to autopilot by deciding what I was going to do for the day.

  He rushed up to me and grabbed my arm, stopping me.

  “Kelly, please. Stop.” He pulled me to him and I almost bumped into his chest. “Please don’t rush away again.”

  “I’m not sure why I shouldn’t. Something you left out of our little catch up session?” I threw back with all the sarcasm I felt.

  “Yes, and I’m sorry for all of it. I should have told you that I’m back. For everything.”

  “Everything? You’re working here, Devon! How did you just slip right back in like nothing happened?”

  “My time away with the UN counts as credits but I have to have extra training for the practical I missed. It means another year but it doesn’t set me back because of the training I�
��ve had,” he explained. “And as for Dr. Morgan…he’s my godfather.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “How come you never told me that?”

  “I thought I had. You weren’t exactly into this stuff back when we were together. You knew I had people here, I just didn’t want to bore you with details.”

  I just stared at him, not being able to process what he just said. Honestly, it felt like walking into a damn nightmare.

  Dr. Morgan was Devon’s godfather.

  Jesus…

  I guess he was right about me not really being into this “stuff,” as he’d put it. Back then in my internship I didn’t really know what I wanted to do specifically other than be a surgeon. Unlike Paige, who’d always had the zeal for cardiothoracic surgery, I just had a blanket category. An idea of what I’d wanted but nothing specific. I used to be the kind of person that hopped from one area of interest to another and never fully stayed long enough to appreciate the entirety of something.

  That was until I started looking into vascular surgery a year ago and realized that was where my interest lay. It, however, looked like my chosen interest landed me with him once again.

  I wrenched my arm free of his grasp. “So, what now?”

  “I made a call and got back in. I mean it about being back for everything.” He held my gaze. “That includes you.”

  As the words left his mouth it was like someone had shoved me through some sort of alternate dimension.

  “What did you just say to me?” I needed the clarification.

  “Kelly, there’s no point pussyfooting around. I’m just going to be straight up with you. I want you back.”

  I didn’t know what came over me. My hand took on a life of its own; it rose up and slapped him right across his cheek.

  His light brown eyes actually darkened and his hair ruffled from the impact.

  Tears stung the backs of my eyes as I beheld him.

  “Bastard! It didn’t work out for you so now you’ve come back to me? I am second to no one. You left me. You just left me, then you had the fucking audacity to invite me to your wedding. What the hell is the matter with you? You think I’d just come crawling back to you because your bitch fiancée cheated? No Devon. No.”

  I didn’t wait to hear his answer. I just left him.

  Chapter 4

  Devon

  I couldn’t say that I never had that coming.

  Everything Kelly said was true and she was right. And I was an idiot.

  “Wow…” came a voice from behind me.

  I turned to see Jeff. Who I’d have to get used to calling Dr. Morgan.

  He walked up to me with a smirk on his face, which told me he’d seen it all.

  “Hey,” I answered.

  My shoulders slumped as he approached.

  When I walked into the office this morning we didn’t really have time to catch up because the other guys came in too and then Kelly came five minutes later.

  “Hey indeed. You know I picked her for that fiery attitude of hers. I didn’t know the woman was literally on fire,” he surmised. “Or that she was yours.” He raised a questioning brow.

  “She’s not mine. Not anymore.” I think it was time to come to the conclusion that I may have lost Kelly for good.

  “Really?”

  “Did you see her slap me?”

  “I saw.”

  “How am I supposed to work with her?” I didn’t know he was going to put us together. Imagine what that was going to be like. “Can’t you shuffle us around?”

  “Nope. You working with her is admittedly coincidence, but I put you together because of your skill set. I want you with the coach.”

  “Jeff, come on man.” I winced.

  “No, no. I am not Jeff here. That’s Dr. Morgan to you, same as everyone else. I did your ass a big favor on account of my understanding of your current situation.” Something dark flickered in his eyes.

  I never had to guess what must have sprung to his mind. He always looked that way when there was any reference to Celia, his third wife. She cheated on him with her gym instructor.

  Jeff was notorious for the many girlfriends and wives he’d had but he loved her the most. He hadn’t remarried since. That was five years ago.

  “Thank you. You know I appreciate it.” I nodded.

  It was him I’d contacted a few weeks back when I decided it was time to come home.

  He was the guy who sorted everything out. Dad could have too but I didn’t want to speak to my parents yet on account of them still speaking to Todd.

  “I know you do. Just don’t blow it. This is a good opportunity. I specifically wanted three people this year but I guess having the four of you makes things more manageable.”

  “Thanks. And, I don’t plan to blow it.” It was the last thing I had left. Work. I glanced down the path to where Kelly had gone, then back to him.

  “So she was the girl you left behind I take it.”

  “Yeah. She was. It’s a real mess.”

  He chuckled. “If a mess is all it is just fix it.”

  He made it sound so simple. “This isn’t the sort of mess you can fix.”

  “Did you cheat on her?”

  “No! Not at all.”

  “Then it can be fixed. We’re surgeons, Devon. And we’re the type that keep finding a solution to something. That’s why I love research so much. We never give up. If there’s a way, we try to find it. Push barriers. Shit like that.” He smirked.

  I answered with a smile I admittedly didn’t quite feel. “Push barriers.”

  He nodded and backed away. “Yup. Simple as that. Want some coffee? We could get some off site and catch up properly.”

  “I’d like that.” It was the company I’d enjoy more. We hadn’t seen each other in a while.

  I fell instep beside him as he proceeded to walk down the corridor.

  ***

  After a long day at work on my first day back I just wanted to get home and sleep.

  Maybe have a beer, work out a little, and head straight to bed.

  I never wanted company and the company that I spotted waiting outside my apartment was not welcomed in the least.

  Todd.

  Fucking hell, was I ever not ready to see him.

  At lunchtime I’d called Mom and Dad. They didn’t know I was back until I called. I knew they would have told Todd I was back and where I was staying. I just didn’t know he’d make his way over here so soon, as in today.

  And, not when I’d specifically told my parents that I wasn’t ready to see anyone yet. I actually meant him.

  “Hey there,” he said, stepping forward from the balcony. The place was structured more like a motel complex setting with a balcony on the outside of the front and back.

  I just looked at him, not quite knowing what to say.

  The thing was, I was acting like it was losing Melanie that got me all worked up. I knew that was what it looked like. That would have made sense from my behavior. It wasn’t that though.

  It was him.

  It was the shock of what he’d done. I couldn’t believe that my own brother would do such a thing to me.

  It would have been easier to hate him if he’d been an asshole to me all our lives. But he was a guy I’d always looked up to. My big brother was supposed to be someone I could trust with my life. There was no way I would guess he’d betray me the way he did.

  “Devon, please talk to me,” he pleaded. He was two years older than me but the similarities between our appearances could have had us pass for twins.

  “And say what? What should I say to you Todd?” I asked. We had a massive argument before I’d left. Instead of apologizing he had the audacity to tell me I’d been distant toward Melanie and that was what drove her to him. That was what this prick said to me. As if he’d been some comforting support to her. Him and his dick.

  “I’m sorry Devon.”

  This was actually t
he first time that he’d apologized. I wondered why.

  “What’s with the apologies now? You two not together anymore?” Must have been that. Last time we spoke he was all high and mighty, telling me he was just giving her what she needed.

  “We are not together and it’s not what you think.”

  “What do you think I think?” I was interested to hear it.

  “You think she broke up with me and that’s why I’m here. It’s not. I broke it off with her and I tried to find you.”

  I gave him a crude sardonic laugh. “This is interesting. You seemed to blame me for the whole occurrence. It was my fault you two were cheating when last I checked.”

  “Devon, it just happened. I was talking out of my ass last time we spoke because I didn’t want to admit how wrong I was.”

  I wasn’t sure if that was an explanation that was supposed to make sense. I was twenty-nine years old. He was thirty-one. At thirty-one I was pretty certain that out of the two of us he would have had more sense.

  Also, being an investment banker, he should have been someone who was all about sense. However, what he’d said made none.

  “Todd, that sounds like bullshit. I’m not sure if you know that, but it does.”

  “I know you loved her and I know what I did was wrong. Every explanation I come up with will sound like bullshit because it was wrong and there is no excuse.”

  Well he was right about that.

  “What do you seriously expect me to say to you? How can we go back to what we were? How?” It was a wonder how I didn’t end up with trust issues. Two people who I was supposed to trust the most broke me.

  At least I had to give him some credit for trying.

  “You’re my brother Devon—”

  “Don’t you fucking dare!” I cut him off. “Don’t you call me that. Don’t. You lost that right the day you thought it was okay to screw around with my fiancée.”

  “I know. I know.” He spoke with a determination I’d never seen before. “You’re not saying stuff I don’t know and I’m not going to be the asshole I was and condone my actions. What I did was wrong and I’m apologizing, but I don’t expect you to forgive me. But don’t expect me to go away, or stop trying to show you how sorry I am. I can’t change the past or what I did. I know that. I just wanted you to know I’m sorry.”