Protect Me

by Lacey Black

  Cruella. AKA Carmen Brady. AKA my bitch boss from hell.

  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out where she got the nickname. It was either that or Bitch Boss and we all felt like it would be less noticeable as to whom we are talking about it we left the word “bitch” out of it.

  Carmen joined the staff at Rivers Edge Medical Center about ten months ago. Her bossy and condescending demeanor didn’t go over too well with everyone in the emergency department and the ambulance crew that she oversees. Especially when we went from a man who was as laid back and easy going as humanly possible to a know-it-all, authority-hungry witch of a woman. To say the transition between the two bosses was extreme is an understatement. We’ve lost several good employees in the past few months, and with tight budgets hitting every department within the hospital, they aren’t in any hurry to hire more staff. It’s, also, the first time I’ve actually considered finding something new as well.

  The fact that Ms. Brady is attractive does not go unnoticed. She’s fucking hot. Her brown hair is radiant: soft and silky and begging for my fingers to tangle in it every time she walks into the room. In natural light, strips of natural red reflect from it, giving it a glowing auburn look. Her eyes are deep brown like smooth, rich chocolate. She’s a few inches shorter than me, probably around five-eight and has curves that almost make you forget how much of a royal bitch she is.

  Almost.

  I finish breaking down the boxes and decide to head out. The last thing I want is to keep the boss waiting and have her wreaking havoc on the department by coming down here. Like a storm cloud on the horizon, you never know what kind of damage she brings with her and will leave in her wake. The only certainty is that the storm is brewing.

  I slowly make my way out of the room, automatically locking the door behind me as I go, and head towards the bank of three elevators. Carmen’s office is on the second floor with most of the others in administration. She is the newest member of the administration team, and has definitely made a name for herself. And not a good one.

  The door opens with a swoosh and I press the button for the second floor. In a matter of seconds, I’m enclosed in the familiar spot heading towards my boss. With another swoosh, the door opens again and I step into the long, sterile hallway. Florescent lighting illuminates the standard gray floor tiles and white walls. The occasional picture promising motivational quotes or announcing hospital rules is the only images in this part of the building. Warm and inviting, it is not.

  Her door is closed when I finally reach Carmen’s office towards the end of the hallway. I raise my hand to knock when I hear her voice, firm and terse on the other side of the door. After several long seconds of listening, I conclude that Carmen must be on the phone since I don’t hear another voice. She sounds agitated. Annoyed.

  Great.

  I step away from the door to give her privacy. I don’t know whom she’s talking to, and I frankly don’t care. I just hope she calms down before I have to walk in that office and face the high heel wearing she-devil.

  After several minutes, I no longer hear talking coming from the other side of the door. I contemplate going over and knocking, but decide to give her a few more minutes. I hate to stir the beast.

  And then she starts to yell again…

  I distract myself with thoughts of Sunday’s family dinner. My family gathers every Sunday at my parent’s house. With Jake, Nate, Maddox, and sometimes myself working every other weekend, we don’t get the entire family together as much as I’d like. This Sunday just happens to be one of those weekends where everyone will be there. Talk of Nate and Lia pending wedding and the spring arrival of Jake and Erin’s twins are sure to be front and center at the dinner table. Plus, Christmas looms in three short weeks. I’m sure my niece, Brooklyn, has a list a mile and a half long.

  Avery has been on me - again - about dating. I date. Okay, fine. I’ve dated. Not so much lately, especially since Carmen started here at the hospital and changed our entire scheduling format around for both the emergency and ambulance department that she oversees. Never mind that it might actually be a better system, which gives us the same amount of hours with more time off between days worked. I will never admit it out loud nor will I ever acknowledge it to her face.

  Avery tried setting me up about two months ago with her part-timer, Sandra. Nice girl, really. She’s definitely cute with her dirty blond hair and blue eyes, but there just wasn’t that spark. That flare. That moment where you can’t wait another moment longer to taste her lips because the thought of waiting another second slowly kills you inside. At least not to the extent that Avery always talked about. We went to the movies and dinner a few times, but after a few dates, we both decided that friendship was all we’d ever have.

  That hasn’t deterred my sister from name-dropping a few of the single ladies around towns every time she sees me. Why she thinks I need a woman in my life is beyond me. I am content and happy being single. A few dates every now and again to keep me sane, get me out of the house, and keep the pipes from getting rusty, and I’m good. Work. That’s what I do. Twenty-four seven. My work is my life. I live, breathe, and thrive on the excitement of my job. It’s who I am.

  As I lean against the wall across from Carmen’s office while she threatens whomever she’s speaking to on the phone within an inch of their life, I can’t help but acknowledge the stress of the job. EMT’s and paramedics have been dropping like flies lately - mostly because of Carmen’s iron fist - and I’ve been left to pick up the slack. I’ve worked more overtime already this past two months than I did total last year. Usually, I wouldn’t mind. But right now, I’m thinking that my weekend off will be a welcome reprieve.

  Maybe I should call up one of the many names Avery has saved for me. Maybe I should enjoy female companionship over dinner. Maybe I should have a few drinks and flirt a little while shooting pool. Maybe I need to get laid.

  The fact that I actually have to stop and think - hard - of the last woman I slept with is a little alarming. Unsettling. Perhaps I should head up to Jack’s Pub soon and see about taking care of that problem. Though that thought doesn’t sound too appetizing, either. I’ve never been a huge fan of casual sex. I’m more like Travis in that regards as opposed to my older two brothers. They were the Kings of Casual Sex. And kings, they are no more. They were dethroned by two bewitching Queens named Erin and Lia.

  Speaking of bewitching - or witching as may be the case right now - I hear Carmen’s terse voice raise to an octave that only dogs can hear moments before the phone slams down on the base. I’ll be surprised if maintenance isn’t bringing her up a brand new phone later today.

  An uneasy feeling settles in my stomach. I feel like the piece of steak that the zookeeper chucks into the lion’s den. I’m not nervous or scared of being called into the boss’s office. I’m more worried that, eventually, I’m not going to be able to hold back my hostility towards this woman. I fear I’m not going to be able to bite my tongue and just let the words fly. Words that I won’t be able to take back. Words that will probably cost me my job.

  I’m just settling in for a self-help, blood pressure calming pep talk when I hear the hard clickety clank of her heels on the tile floor. I stand up as straight as possible as if someone shoved a rod up my ass, shoulders square and hands firmly held behind my back. I plaster on my best hard as steel, cool as ice demeanor and wait for Carmen to open her office door.

  When she finally swings her door open, she doesn’t notice me right away. Her dark eyes are casted downward, and she has a sad, distant look on her face, which leaves her vulnerable and exposed. She looks almost human.

  I don’t say anything. I don’t move. Hell, I don’t even breathe. I’m taken aback by the sheer beauty of this woman. The delicate lines of her face. The softness in her brown eyes. The breathtaking way she lets her hard shell soften just a little when she thinks no one is watching. The way my traitorous body responds to her presence.

  Carmen look
s up at that moment and notices me for the first time. The hurt is evident in her eyes for only a few nanoseconds before her bitch exterior is slammed back into place like the slamming of the prison cell door. She stands up straight and the softness in her face evaporates into thin air. Cruella is back and she’s gunning for me.

  How did I get so lucky?

  Want more Will and Carmen?

  Watch for the final book in the Rivers Edge series, Boss Me, in October 2015.

  Acknowledgements

  Can you believe we’re 4 full-length books and 1 novella into this series? It still blows my mind to think a year and a half ago, I was sitting down and talking to my best friend about writing Trust Me. I have THE best friend ever! Thank you, Holly, for your continual support and love.

  Amanda, Taryn, Sandra and Joanne – thank you for your help in finding all of my typos and grammar errors! I have the best Betas around because you guys are fans and believe in me. Thank you!

  Emily, my editor and friend – I love you and thank you with my whole heart! We’ve come along way since riding our bikes while wearing big plastic eyeglasses and baggie shirts with knots tied on the sides.

  Ginny Gallagher – Another beautiful cover! You blow me away every time, and I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!

  Kelley at Smut Book Junkies – For your help in spreading the word about my books. Thank you!

  Brenda – Thanks for not killing me when I’m being difficult. You’re a formatting goddess!

  To my family and friends – I am who I am because of you all. Thank you for your support and encouragement, and most of all, love.

  Lacey’s Ladies – I hope I never forget to show you every day how much I love and value you all! Your support and friendship is unwavering and invaluable. You make me smile every day, and this wouldn’t be the same without each of you!

  And to my hubby (the Original Book Boyfriend) and our two beautiful children – Thank you for sharing me with so many others while I write, edit, proofread, pimp, email, post, and publish my dream. You are my heart and soul.

  Until next time!

  All my love,

  Lacey

  About the Author

  Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and a chocolate lab. Lacey loves watching NASCAR races, shooting guns, and should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight.

  Lacey’s debut novel, Trust Me, was released in August 2014. It spent six weeks in the top 100 in contemporary romance on Amazon’s Top 100 Best Sellers for e-books. Fight Me, book 2 in the Rivers Edge series, released December 2014 and was another Best Seller in contemporary romance, as was Expect Me, book 3, which released in February 2015 and Promise Me: A Novella, released in April 2015.

  Email: laceyblackwrites@gmail.com

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