by Tara Rose
“Oh no,” she said. “Totally not appropriate.” She started to approach them but Luke placed a hand on her arm.
“Wait,” he said quietly. “Listen. They’re talking about Preston.”
“Luke, I can’t let this continue. There might be visitors here.”
“No, there aren’t any up here. Remember? Jackie kicked them all out of the unit for now.” He grinned. “Just listen for a second, Vivian.”
“I want to hear you say it,” said Jackie. “Tell me again what happened yesterday morning.”
Kay-Jean had her hands on her hips, and if she knew everyone was watching her, Vivian couldn’t see it. She was completely focused on Jackie. “I told Miss Vivian the truth already.”
“Then why did I just hear you tell Savannah what you found online? And why did I hear you say he was going to pay?”
Vivian faced Luke. “What does she mean?”
He leaned closer. “Jackie overheard Kay-Jean tell Savannah Patterson that she’d found the lawsuit online, and was going to make Preston pay.”
Vivian opened her mouth but nothing came out.
“I should have fired you for sleeping on the job,” said Jackie. “But I didn’t. I gave you another chance.”
“One of my own co-workers told on me! Why didn’t you fire her?”
“I’m glad she told on you. Do you have any idea how inappropriate that was?”
Vivian glanced up at him. “Luke, this isn’t right. I have to at least tell them to take it someplace private.”
“Shhh. Jackie has her now. She’s about to hang herself. Don’t you dare stop them yet.”
“So that’s what this is all about?” asked Jackie. “Revenge?”
“You’re damn right it is. Do you know what he did in Chicago?”
“I don’t care what he allegedly did in Chicago. All I care about is what really happened here, on my unit. I want the truth, Kay-Jean. Did he lure you into the locker room or not?”
“No, he did not.”
Vivian put a hand over her heart. “Oh, God,” she whispered.
“Then what did happen? The truth this time.”
“Nothing. Okay? There. Are you happy now? Nothing happened. Not one thing. I made the whole thing up, Miss Jackie.”
“Why?”
“Why? How can you ask me that? Did you know they’re dating? Our HR director and Dr. Benson? They’re seeing each other.”
“So what?”
“So, she hired him! Isn’t that an ethical violation? I’m sure it must be.”
Jackie shook her head. “Kay-Jean, you don’t know whether you’re coming or going. I want you off this unit. Now. Stay home until you hear from me.”
“What?”
Vivian stepped forward. It was time to make her presence known. “Filing a false report about an assault is serious, Kay-Jean. Do as Jackie said. Go home until you hear from us.”
Several nurses and doctors clapped, and Kay-Jean glanced around as if seeing everyone for the first time. Her mouth opened and closed, and she gave Vivian a death glare, but she said nothing. She stomped off in the direction of the locker rooms, and as she did, a few of the nurses cheered.
“All right,” said Jackie. “That’s enough, y’all. Get back to work.”
Preston moved from behind a crowd of people, and met Vivian’s gaze. She had to dig her nails into her palms to keep from running toward him. The love and gratitude pouring from his eyes said it all. He sauntered toward her and Luke, stopping to talk to people along the way. Vivian nearly cried as she watched the obvious show of support they gave him.
It was over. Kay-Jean had admitted she lied in front of all these witnesses, and Vivian could see now that most of the ICU staff hadn’t believed Kay-Jean to begin with. She could hardly believe this had happened.
She caught Jackie’s eye and smiled. Jackie nodded a couple of times then walked into a patient room with her head held high.
“You do realize, don’t you, that now we’ll have to name your first daughter after her,” said Luke, quietly.
She turned around and beamed up at him, her heart filled with love and pride. When Preston finally reached them, Vivian wanted so badly to hold him, but knew she had to wait. “I can’t leave yet,” he said. “Not until we get everyone from the ER up here. It could take all day.”
“Then we’ll go home and wait for you.”
“Thank you.” His voice was filled with gratitude.
“Thank Jackie, not me.”
“No, I mean for last night. For not letting me walk out before you told me that you love me. Thank you for protecting me, and for believing in me.”
“Thank you for coming back,” she whispered.
He touched her face softly, and then he turned to go back to work. Vivian waited until they were in Luke’s truck, and then she embraced him. She no longer cared who saw her. She only wanted to be with him and Preston for the rest of her life, and now she could be.
Chapter Eighteen
Preston finally came home around six, and by that time Vivian had received calls from Joe Tyler, and every board member. It was finally over. Every nurse and doctor who had overheard the argument between Jackie and Kay-Jean had made at least one phone call, and by the time Preston was home, the entire town knew what had happened.
“I was wrong,” he said. “So wrong.”
“No,” she said, “I had the same worries you did. But thanks to the gossip mill in this town, this one had a positive ending. Kay-Jean had already alienated so many people that this was just one more thing she’d done wrong in their eyes.”
“Do you think they’ll ever accept me completely?” he asked.
Luke grinned. “Why don’t you stick around a few years and find out?”
“Well I have to now. Everyone knows I’m seeing Vivian. If I leave, they’ll hunt me down.”
“A few of them might,” she said. “And you know I will.”
“Both of us will,” said Luke.
Preston gave him a thoughtful look. “I don’t get it. You could have let me leave. You’d have had her all to yourself. Why are you so happy I’m staying?”
“You’re plum stupid for a doctor, ain’t you?”
Vivian laughed.
“No, I’m serious,” said Luke. “Don’t you get it? We’re in this together. She was miserable last night when you left. She’s stuck with both of us.”
“And there’s no place I’d rather be,” she said.
“I love you so much,” said Preston.
“And I love you.”
“But I think after last night I want to live someplace where the storm shelter is close by.”
“We’ll get started on yours tomorrow,” said Luke.
“But that means we all need to live there.”
Luke and Vivian exchanged a glance. “Funny you should mention that,” she said. “We were talking about it before you came home, and we agree with you. We all should live in the same house. It’s silly to have three separate homes.”
Preston beamed. “Are you serious? You two will move in?”
“Sure, why not,” said Luke. “Your house is the nicest one, and you have that big screen TV…”
Vivian laughed, snuggling up with her two men. “I knew it. I knew there was a catch here.”
“And that hot tub,” said Luke.
“So much for the country boy not caring about possessions,” said Preston.
“I never said I didn’t care about possessions. I only said I didn’t care about showing off.”
They all laughed, and Vivian couldn’t stop smiling as they continued watching a movie on cable. She’d never been this happy, or as relieved as she’d been when she’d heard Kay-Jean admit the truth.
And now, she’d have the rest of her life to love Luke and Preston, and to make them happy. From a fateful day taking back roads and carrying a stranger into town to get a new tire, to braving her co-workers and the aftermath of a tornado, so much had happened in a few short weeks th
at Vivian’s head spun if she thought about it.
But look what had been waiting on the other side. A man she’d been half in love with her entire life, and a man she had the remainder of her life to get to know just as well as she knew Luke. She loved them both so much that there was hardly room for anything else. And no matter what people at work thought about their arrangement, she would sell her home and move in with Preston and Luke.
She would even bear them children if that’s what they wanted. Because at the end of the day, what really mattered…what was most important…were people. People who cared for you, and people who loved you. Vivian had always understood that. It’s the way her mama and daddy had raised her, and it would be the way she and Luke and Preston would raise their children one day.
She glanced up at her men in turn, smiling so hard her face hurt. She loved them with her entire heart and soul. Nothing could change that. Nothing and no one. Not ever. She would brave attitudes and storms every day if that’s what it took to be with them. She’d braved both before, and she’d endured a loveless, lifeless marriage.
But none of that could touch her now. She was happy. Truly happy. And she would spend the rest of her life making sure that Preston and Luke were just as happy, and that they never ever doubted her love for them.
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tara Rose loves to write about small towns and the quirky people that inhabit them. You’ll find engaging characters, budding romance, intrigue, and plenty of hot steamy ménage sex within the pages of her books. You never really know what goes on behind closed doors, but her books will take you there, and leave you panting for more.
When she isn’t writing, Tara spends time with her husband—her real-life hero. She loves to cook, collect antique pottery, and she will read just about anything. Tara also plays the cello, and loves decorating her house for Christmas.
For all titles by Tara Rose, please visit
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