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even as she flailed her wrist back and forth from the obvious pain , megan still managed to bellow , `` get the hell out of here .
now . ''
dev stared at her in shock as he rubbed his jaw .
`` crazy bitch , '' he muttered , before stalking off .
when megan turned to him , her glowering expression faded to one of concern .
`` you 're bleeding ! ''
she cried , rushing for him .
his hand came up to grip his cheek .
surprise flooded him when he felt wetness .
dev must 've hit him harder than he thought .
he slid his jaw back and forth , causing him to grimace at the popping sound .
`` come here , '' megan said , grabbing his hand .
she started leading him over to one of the examining rooms , but he jerked back .
`` i do n't need all this fuss . ''
megan shook her head .
`` we need to get you cleaned up . ''
resignedly , he followed her into the room .
for the first time in a long time , he found himself on the opposite line of care .
he eased down onto the examining table .
`` really , megan , this is n't necessary . ''
as she busied herself taking out gauze , cotton balls , and antiseptic , she replied , `` quit your bitchin ' . ''
she glanced over her shoulder at him .
at what must have been his incredulous expression at her word choice , she grinned .
`` that 's right .
just shut up and let me take care of you . ''
`` when you put it like that , how can i not ? ''
he teased .
her laughter warmed his heart .
deep down , he was pleased to find her so attentive to him .
she obviously really cared about him if she insisted on cleaning him up .
or was she just attentive because she was a great nurse ?
but then there was the fact she punched dev for insulting him .
of course , that was also mortifying .
did that mean she questioned his manhood since he did n't go toe-to-toe with his brother ?
god , what she must think of him now .
as he allowed megan to treat his cuts , his thoughts turned to dev 's last verbal punch .
he grimaced about dev 's alluding to the fact he was in love with a ghost .
was that what stopped megan from believing his attraction to her ?
was she really hiding her commitment phobia behind a belief that he was still completely in love with his wife ?
his feelings gave him away when megan asked , `` are you hurting ? ''
`` no , i 'm fine . ''
when she gave him a skeptical look , he replied , `` it 's more the fact that i 'm angry than i am physically hurt . ''
`` so what exactly was all that about ? ''
she asked , as she dabbed some antiseptic along his jawline .
he winced when the medication hit the broken skin .
`` my brother is angry with me . ''
megan snorted .
`` no shit . ''
she held the cotton ball frozen as she eyed him curiously .
`` what i 'm wondering is what got him so fired up that he would stomp into a hospital , call you out , and then punch you ?
you are the last person on earth i would imagine being in a fight . ''
`` the reason is so cliche , '' he murmured .
`` enlighten me , '' she urged .
`` he 's a petulant child who did n't get his way-he 's lashing out at me because he thinks it 's all my fault . ''
`` i heard the name mia .
was it all about a woman ? ''
`` yes , that 's why i called it cliche . ''
he sucked in a harsh breath before filling megan in about what all had transpired between him , dev , and mia .
`` wow , '' she murmured , when he finished .
`` i suppose that is all one can say about the situation . ''
`` you were awfully kind to take care of her like you did-i mean , with both her abusive ex-boyfriend and dev . ''
he shrugged .
`` what else was i supposed to do ?
i cared for her , and i wanted to see her happy . ''
at the look that flashed in megan 's eyes , he quickly added , `` there was no amorous love between us .
i was happily married at the time , and she desperately needed someone to be strong for her . ''
megan cupped his unhurt cheek in her hand .
`` you really are the most decent man i 've ever known . ''
`` i do n't know about that , '' he murmured .
`` you truly are . ''
she shook her head .
`` no wonder women are so crazy about you .
it 's one thing for you to be so good-looking and a smart doctor , but then when you add in the fact of how sweet , caring , and compassionate you are , it 's like you 're a triple threat . ''
she turned to throw the cotton ball into the trash can .
his heartbeat thrummed louder and louder at her words while he sat unblinking and unmoving .
part of him wanted to rail at her for not seeing him like all the other women did .
if she truly saw what others did , then she would want to date him , would n't she ?
why could n't she see how good he could be for her ?
when megan met his tense gaze , she jerked back and momentarily faltered by dropping the piece of gauze in her hand .
she quickly deposited the soiled one in the trash and then got another one .
`` so this mia chick , she 's run off with some drummer , huh ? ''
she asked , clearly trying to change the subject and lighten the mood in the room .
`` not just any drummer .
a famous one at that . ''
`` really ?
what band ? ''
pesh 's cocked his head as he tried remembering .
`` something train . ''
megan gasped .
`` not runaway train ? ''
he snapped his fingers .
`` that 's it . ''
clapping her hand to her chest , megan 's eyes widened .
`` you know someone who knows aj resendiz ? ''
pesh laughed .
`` i suppose i do if you consider that 's mia 's fiance . ''
`` that is so wild .
i love that band . ''
`` i 'll see if i can get you an autograph . ''
with a squeal , megan said , `` really ?