Love In The Time Of Outbreak

Chapter 4

Thalia's heart actually flipped. She thought that once you're thirty years old, you won't be as excited as a teenager. But she felt the opposite at that time because she was even more excited than a teenager.

Of course, how could her heart not be going to flip when the sexiest man she'd ever met was flashing that gorgeous smile at her?

She imagined Deanver Magallon because she had never seen him before, his face was mirrored, formal and serious. But she didn't think he was a tall and muscular man. And even though she didn't see his naked body, she imagined that his abs were like luscious bread. He wasn't pretty-boy attractive, but ruggedly handsome, hard lines and angles creating a stark, masculine face that was more Marlboro Man than a movie star.

"Your saliva is dripping, Doc."

Holy cow! He has such a sexy voice to listen to.

She blinked. "Sorry, but I'm not JJ's mom in cocomelon, kissing boo-boos is not part of my job description," she said jokingly. "But I can clean it for you."

He laughed softly. "That's not necessary. It's just a paper cut."

She was already heading for the small cabinet next to the door. "We're in Valera," she replied. "Even a paper wound can get infected."

She appreciated Dean not arguing with what she said, not even when she rummaged in the cabinet and pulled out a small bottle of antiseptic, a piece of gauze and a bandage.

Heading back to the desk, she hopped up on the edge and gestured at his hand. He raised an eyebrow for a moment, but he willingly offered his hand to her.

"I know it seems extreme," she admitted as she poured some antiseptic on the gauze and wiped the thin cut on the pad of Dean's thumb. "But just suck it up and say thank you."

His eyes shine. "Thanks a lot."

A corner of her lips lifted. "Huh, I didn't think it was that easy."

"What?"

"Because you dropped your macho image and accepted my authority."

The grin he flashed made her heart skip a beat. "I know when to pick my battles."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning you strike me as the type of man who likes calling the shots."

"I am," she admitted.

"Like being in control, huh?"

"Of course." She frowned. "Who wants to feel out of control?"

A seductive glint lit his brown eyes. "People really want to be in control every now and then." He raised an eyebrow. "Especially if they're inside the room..."

Her cheeks suddenly warmed. Did the man say that?

Averting her eyes, Thalia swiped the gauze over his thumb one final time before unwrapping the bandage and sticking it on him. Then she said, "It is finished."

His soft laughter tickled her back, which she kept turned as she shoved the supplies into the cabinet. Her heart skipped a beat again, and she had to take a moment to collect herself.

Deanver Magallon was really a sexy man, and it didn't seem like this was the type of man to have an attraction to her. Her self-esteem is not low, she is satisfied with her beauty, she is not even an actress or a supermodel, but it is enough to call her Doc Beauty. And after eight months of working herself ragged in Valera, she was now officially ten pounds underweight. It's rare to have time to eat, especially since he works twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

That's why she's not what they used to call a gorgeous doctor, maybe she's sexy. She didn't even have time to groom herself, even lipstick, her hair was always braided because she didn't have time to comb her hair, and she always wore a lab coat, which she still wore until she sleeps. Sometimes she just forgets to take it off because of fatigue.

That's also why she wondered why Dean was staring at her as if he was undressing her. Did she find her attractive?

"Sorry, Doc, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

His rueful voice stilled some of the butterflies floating around in her stomach. "You didn't make me uncomfortable," she assured him, then he met her gaze.

The moment their eyes met, the attraction she felt for the man was there again.

Holy cow. What is happening to him? She had never felt so instantly attracted to a man.

God, if the man crossed the distance between them to kiss her now, maybe she wouldn't protest.

Swallowing, she broke eye contact with him. "Anyway, do you have any questions? Because I'm going to check out my patients."

With a knowing smile, Dean stood up. He rolled his shoulders for a moment, as if being stuck in that tiny chair had done a number on his back.

"I think we're all done." He reached for the mini recorder that he placed on the desk. He turned it off and put it with the notebook in his canvas bag.

"So when will this article of yours come out?" Thalia asked casually.

"I'm not sure yet. I don't work for a specific publication, remember? So I need to plan what I'm going to write. Anyway, I already have your email address, so I'll just update you."

"Thanks, I'd appreciate that."

They slid out the door and fell into step with each other in the corridor. When they met the two volunteer staff, Thalia immediately introduced Dean to them, and it was undeniable how much they admired the man. He won't deny that they have the same reaction to the man, but of course she doesn't show it, unlike these two.

When they continued walking, Thalia breathed a sigh of relief just then because the two staff disappeared from her sight. The clinic wasn't tiny by any means, but Dean seemed larger than life, because he was immediately noticeable even though he was from a distance

She inhaled the humid, late-afternoon air, her gaze sweeping over the dusty courtyard that housed a few rust-covered pickup trucks, the two vans they used for transporting supplies, and the crappy old car she rode when she visited the more remote settlements to see patients who were too old or sick to travel, or who refused to come into town.

For the past eight months, this has been her life. She sleeps and wakes up in a canvas tent with three female staff members. Treat patients who come to their clinic and visit those who cannot come to their homes. Every night before going to bed, they would listen to Nadine's father play the guitar, or listen to the dirty jokes of Doc Kelvin and Doc Luke, who are both British physicians.

At the thought of Kelvin, a frown marred her lips, reminding her that the Brit still hadn't returned from his visit to the north. It's been a few days but he still hasn't returned, he should have been here this morning. Today is his due date to return to their clinic.

"Everything is all right?" Dean asked her, looking like he could see the frown on her forehead.

"Yeah, it's fine," she said absently. "I'm just making a mental note to radio one of our doctors. He visited patients in neighboring towns, and he should have returned by now."

"Is there a reason for you to worry?"

"Not yet. Doc Kelvin usually loses track of time, so we will always adjust to his being tardy. Just like when he said he was on the way, but we will have to wait for him for an hour or two. But if it's more than those hours, well, of course we'll worry about him."

Dean laughed. "Looks like all of your fellow doctors here are close to each other."

"Yes, we are. It's bound to happen when you spend every waking hour with the same group of people. We're like family here."

"I know exactly what you mean." He paused for a beat. "In my line of work, you tend to run into the same journalists and media folks and a sense of camaraderie develops."

There was a sudden silence between them, Thalia wondered if she should ask the man if he would be staying at their place, not that it was too obvious that she was interested in knowing that. After a moment, she gave up. Screw it. She hated playing games, or saying anything less than what was on her mind.

So she opened her mouth and said, "Will you stay here in San Jose for a few days?"

She saw the regret in his eyes. "Maybe not. I have a nine-o'clock flight tomorrow to El Salvador."

*****