Page 26 of Paging Dr. VanRyan

He refused to answer.

“As for falling in love, I hadn’t realized you’d fallen out of love with me. You could have mentioned that,” I snarled as I headed to the door. “Would have saved us all this embarrassment.”

“Where are you going?”

“Anywhere you’re not. I don’t ever want to see either of you again.” I looked at John. “My family welcomed you. We went through med school together. I was there when your dad died. My parents helped you financially when you needed it. And this is how you repay them? And me? Fuck you, asshole.” I glanced between the two of them. “Fuck both of you. I hope you’re miserable together.”

And I walked out, closing the door firmly behind me.

I had tried not to think of that dark day very often. Oddly enough, now that I’d told Maddy, it didn’t hurt as much. I felt regret. A slight sting. But not the gut-wrenching pain it used to cause me.

Perhaps sharing it had helped. It made me wonder if I should share it with my parents. They had always been curious and, as I told Maddy, suspected what had happened but never talked about it. I had asked them not to, and they respected my privacy enough to comply. But they deserved to know. Deserved to know why I moved to Victoria and gave up my dream of the big city and the goal of being head of ER medicine there.

Strangely enough, I had John and Maria to thank for that. I preferred Victoria. It was still busy and challenging, but I got to know the staff more. I liked how they ran the ER. Efficient, brisk, but there was still some humanity when making decisions. I liked being part of that. I would never have thought of coming to a smaller hospital. But I liked it. And even with the hours I put in, I had more time to have a life.

And I could see a future here.

I stopped sweeping, leaning on the handle as I listened to Maddy singing.

How much, I wondered, did she have to do with that feeling?

I wanted to explore it more and find out.

Maddy wiped her hands. “Done.”

I took in the various storage containers filled with cakes, cookies, and pastries—some baked, others ready to be put in the oven. “You accomplished a great deal in a few hours,” I informed her. “I’m impressed.”

“When the other oven couldn’t be fixed, I started right away, knowing I’d have to bake later. Prepping ahead made that part easier. I’ll finish the rest in the morning.” She indicated those containers. “But the special orders are ready. Those were my biggest concern.”

“You’ve earned a good night’s sleep.”

“So have you. Honestly, Matty, I couldn’t have done it without you. The company and the delicious dinner you brought helped so much.”

“You’re forgetting the four cupcakes I iced,” I pointed out dryly. “And how well I swept the floor.”

Maddy laughed, the sound airy and light. “Of course. Those four were fundamental to the success of the evening.”

“You also forgot the dancing.”

She frowned in confusion. “We didn’t⁠—”

She gasped as I tugged her close, sweeping her into my arms and beginning to sway to the catchy Michael Bublé song playing on the radio. She fit well into my arms and moved with ease, our steps matching quickly. She pressed her head to my shoulder, and I tucked her close, enjoying the feeling of holding her. I moved us around the kitchen effortlessly, then twirled her at the end of the song, smiling as she giggled and let me dip her, bringing her up and kissing her before standing her on her feet.

“We did,” I said with a grin.

“You dance well,” she complimented me. “Your dad, I presume?”

I chuckled. “Him and Gramps. They think that a gentleman should know how to dance well. They insisted dancing was a part of a good courtship.”

Slowly, she lifted one eyebrow in question. “Courtship? Is that what this is?”

I dipped my head and kissed her nose. “It’s dating. Exclusively seeing only one person.”

“Exclusive?” she repeated.

“I don’t want to see anyone else, Maddy. Do you?”

She shook her head. “I’m not a multidater type of girl.”