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`` so your father was also a doctor ? ''

`` yes , he had a general medicine practice for forty years .

he just recently retired . ''

`` did he pressure you to follow in his footsteps ? ''

he grinned .

`` i 'm starting to feel like i 'm being interrogated . ''

she laughed .

`` i 'm sorry if you feel that way .

i 'm just trying to get to know you . ''

`` you 're certainly a very attractive interrogator , '' he said .

`` i think you 're avoiding the question by flattering me . ''

`` there 's flattery and then there 's the truth . ''

cocking her brows , she replied , `` and then there 's not answering my question . ''

he held up his hands in defeat .

`` fine , fine .

no , i did n't feel pressure to become a doctor .

my father would have never wanted me to pursue a profession where i did n't feel useful . ''

megan smiled .

`` so you 've always had a need to help people ? ''

`` pretty much .

as the oldest , i always looked out for my two younger brothers and sister .

my mother has always called me an old soul . ''

`` i can see that about you . ''

leaning forward , he rested his elbows on the table .

`` now it is my turn to be the interrogator . ''

`` okay , i do n't mind . ''

`` what about you ?

did you always see nursing in your future ? ''

`` yes and no .

originally , i wanted to be a doctor . ''

his brows shot up in surprise .

`` really ? ''

when she nodded , he asked , `` what happened ? ''

there was no way she was going to tell him the truth about her past and why she had been forced to abandon medical school .

instead , she shrugged .

`` life happened , i guess .

i decided on the next best thing , which was nursing . ''

pesh stared thoughtfully at her .

`` was it your son ? ''

`` excuse me ? ''

`` was it your son who changed your plans about medical school ? ''

she shook her head .

`` no , it was before i had mason . ''

`` does he ... are you ... ? ''

pesh shook his head .

`` forgive me .

i was being too forward . ''

`` no , go ahead .

i told you i was n't afraid to answer your questions . ''

he grimaced .

`` but it 's rude to pry , and it 's not my business . ''

`` just ask your question , '' she replied .

after a resigned sigh , he finally asked , `` were you married ? ''

`` no , i 'm not divorced .

and no , mason 's father does n't have anything to do with him . ''

anger flashed in pesh 's dark eyes .

`` even though i know nothing of him , i know that he is not a man .

a man does not abandon his children and his responsibilities . ''

`` you would be right .

he 's just a boy playing at being a man , '' she replied , glancing down at the table .

when pesh took her hand in his , she jerked her head up in surprise .

in a soft voice that vibrated with empathy , he asked , `` he hurt you very much , did n't he ? ''

as she shifted in her chair , she tried downplaying the moment by wagging her free finger at pesh .

`` now you 're really turning the heated questions on me , are n't you ? ''

he quickly released her hand .

`` i apologize . ''

she sighed .

`` no , it 's okay . ''

she raked her fingers through her hair as she tried processing if she was really going to be honest with pesh .

gazing into his eyes , she did n't detect any judgment or prying-there was only compassion .

`` yes , he hurt me .

he continues to hurt me each time i look at mason and realize what he 's being denied . ''

she jerked her chin over to where aidan cradled a sleeping noah in his arms .

as the others talked and laughed around him , aidan stared down at his son with such love in his eyes and adoration on his face that it cut a jagged hole in megan 's chest .

her chin trembled as she replied , `` i want that for my son . ''

pesh 's dark eyes pooled with empathy as he once again took her hand in his .

`` it is n't the same pain , but i do know how you feel .

i experience it every time i see a husband and wife sharing a loving moment .

it drives home what i do not have ... what i have lost . ''

megan wiped her eyes with the back of her hand .

`` emma told me about your wife .

i 'm very sorry . ''

`` thank you , '' he murmured .

nibbling her bottom lip , megan then hesitantly asked , `` what was she like ? ''

by his raised eyebrows , pesh seemed surprised by her question .

megan hoped she had n't stepped over a boundary in asking .

he leaned back in his chair and drew in an agonized breath .

`` she was my world-the sun , the moon , and the stars . ''

he met her intense gaze , checking to see if she really wanted him to continue .

after she gave a brief nod , he began to talk .

he told her how they had met and all the little attributes that jade possessed that made her special .

as megan listened to him speak with such reverence and love about his late wife , she could n't help feeling just a little bit jealous .

she 'd never had a man possess such intense feelings for her .

she could n't imagine ever being loved so completely by a man that not even death could lessen his feelings .

`` what you had with jade , what you still feel for her , it 's really beautiful , '' she murmured when he finished .

pesh jerked a hand through his thick hair .

`` it 's interesting to hear you say that .

i think most women are turned off by what they perceive is a man who ca n't let go of his dead wife . ''

megan shook her head .

`` i do n't think so .