Lone Wolf Read Free

hand. No problem. The view was amazing from back here, despite her nondescript lab coat.
    They walked down a small hallway and she stopped in front of an open door. “Just climb into the chair. Lana will be with you shortly to prep you, and then I’ll be back. She’s with your daughter right now, but they were almost finished.”
    Thomas just nodded, inexplicably tongue-tied. He watched the beautiful new woman retreat and then sank into the firm cushioning of the dental chair. He heard Whisper’s giggle and the friendly dental assistant directing her to go sit with her brother. Then he heard the whizzing sound of a drill in the next room and he clamped his jaw and closed his eyes.
    â€œHello.”
    Thomas’s eyes popped open. It was the dental assistant who had helped Whisper.
    â€œYou’ve got a great little girl there,” her singsong voice continued as she busied herself at a nearby counter.
    â€œUm…yes.” He closed his eyes again.
    The sound of a stool rolling toward him told him she had moved closer. “I take it Dad isn’t as brave as the kids.” There was a smile in her voice.
    â€œHow can you tell?” He opened one eye just a crack.
    She shrugged. “Oh, I’ve been at this awhile. The signs are usually pretty easy to spot. Now, if you can just relax and open your mouth really wide, I’ll do a preliminary cleaning before the doctor gets here.”
    Thomas did as he was told, willing himself to relax. The procedure wasn’t as bad as he remembered, except for his sensitive tooth. He jumped when she touched it.
    â€œSorry. We’re almost done and then the doctor will be right in to address that.”
    Thomas made a gurgling noise in the back of his throat since he couldn’t acknowledge her any other way. Some rinsing and spitting later and he was finally alone again. Maybe he should just get up from the chair and leave. The toothache wasn’t really that bad. Some sensitivity toothpaste would probably do the trick.
    â€œMr. Lone Wolf?”
    He started again and opened his eyes. It was the pretty native woman. “Hi.”
    â€œSo, you have a toothache. Let’s take a look.” She donned a fresh pair of gloves and a face mask.
    â€œThe other girl said the dentist would be right in.”
    She nodded. “And she was right. I’m Dr. Ducharme.”
    Thomas’s eyebrows shot up. He was about to apologize or at least make some kind of comment that didn’t make him look like an utter idiot, but she was already gesturing for him to open his mouth and he complied.
    â€œIt’s okay. Most people are a bit surprised when they find out I’m the doctor, not the nurse.”
    Thomas grunted his agreement.
    â€œNot just because I’m a woman, although that’s part of it. But people aren’t expecting a native dentist.”
    Thomas raised his brows in surprise but couldn’t respond.
    She winked directly at him and then carried on with her scraping and prodding. “I’m allowed to say that to you. With anyone else I’d use the politically correct terminology.”
    â€œOh” was all he could manage.
    She continued to carry on her one-sided conversation. “I like your name, by the way. Lone Wolf. You born with it or did you pick it?”
    He managed to make a sound that came off like the first part of the word orange .
    She nodded. “Born. I often wished I had a name like that. One that sounded authentic. Not that Ducharme is bad. Probably goes back to some French voyageur. But Lone Wolf? That is classic.”
    His thanks was a guttural sound that didn’t resemble the word at all.
    â€œHmm. Looks like a cavity, all right. You’re willing to get it done today?” she asked.
    Thomas nodded.
    â€œGood. Best to get it looked after right away. Other than that, you have really good teeth for a guy your age.” Thomas’s eyebrows rose and she laughed.