Sleeping with a Billionaire - Complete Series (An Alpha Billionaire Romance Love Story)

by Nella Tyler

  Therefore, I was happy to help and felt bad for not recognizing them right away.

  “Well, thank you. I’m glad you did,” I replied, genuinely pleased to see them. “I always hoped they did right by you.”

  “We couldn’t have imagined we’d ever have something like this. It’s a ranch, which is fine because we’re getting on in years and were getting to the point where the upstairs was becoming useless anyway,” Mrs. Hadline replied.

  “It’s perfect!” Mr. Hadline interjected.

  “Well, if you ever need anything else, please let me know,” I replied, almost hoping that I could do more for them, knowing that I could never express how much they, likely unknowingly had done for me.

  “Oh Lord, no,” Mrs. Hadline insisted. “We already could never repay you for what you’ve done. You are truly a blessing.”

  “Thank you. I’m happy I could help you.”

  “How’s your father?” Mr. Hadline asked.

  “Better,” I answered, not wanting to have my father be the highlight of our conversation. “The doctor said he’ll be home in a few days.”

  “Good! Good.”

  “Yeah…he was extremely lucky.”

  “Indeed,” Mrs. Hadline replied. “Well, we only wanted to say thanks. Perhaps we’ll see you around, and if you need a home cooked meal, you know our door is always open. We’ll let you get back to work.”

  “It was great to see you. I’m glad to know you’re doing well,” I replied as they both turned toward the door. As they walked away, I sat back in the chair, ignoring the squeak and thought about exactly how long it’s been since I had a conversation that didn’t have an underlying need or want.

  They had simply gone out of their way to say thank you. There was nothing about the conversation that insinuated there were more favors to be asked or opinions to be won over. There were no alliances or underhanded schemes. They were genuinely being friendly, thankful. Somewhere, buried deep inside, I knew that I missed conversations like that.

  However, I buried that feeling like a murdered body, stuffing it down into the recess of my mind, trying to forget it entirely. This was not the life I wanted to live. That couple, out of anyone in this town, would surely understand that and thus, I refused to allow their kindness to poison my way of thinking.

  I was a businessman. I enjoyed the finer things in life, most of which this town had never even heard of.

  Yet, after deciding this, I turned back to my computer screen and knew for certain that I wasn’t going to be able to get any more work done here. So, I closed my laptop, threw my cold coffee in the trash, and headed back to my father’s house.

  Once I got back, I looked around and realized that I didn’t want to go to the hospital. I couldn’t stomach another hour of silent judgment and deep-seated disappointment that had culminated for decades.

  Usually, I could cast a blind eye to his castigation, but today, I was already branded with inner-turmoil. I didn’t need my father’s disapproval to have a chance to weigh in, for I feared, to my disgust, it might destroy me.

  Therefore, I settled for a far less harrowing task. I searched through my contacts and found an old number that I never dialed, but could never dare to delete. After all these years, I wasn’t even sure it was still right. However, short of visiting him like I did when we were kids, this was the easiest way I could think of to reach Hayden.

  He answered on the third ring, indicating I had reached what was once his father’s hardware store. For whatever reason, it was taking me a little while to come to terms with the idea that it was actually Hayden’s store now.

  We had talked about it when we were kids, how he wanted to take it over. I had always teased him about not having bigger aspirations, while he told me I must be smoking some good shit if I thought I was going to pull off my plan.

  Yet, in the end, I suppose we both did what we were destined to do – exactly what we said we were going to do.

  “Dude…really? Do you answer your phone like that all the time?”

  It took a minute for Hayden to piece the voice to the name. When he did though, he laughed. “Wow! You’re calling me? Are you in jail?”

  “No…wait, you don’t have my number?”

  He chuckled. “I’m still waiting for you to text it to me, like you said you would when I gave you mine.”

  “Yeah, well, whatever. I’m calling you now, ain’t…aren’t I?” Oh God! I thought hoping I wasn’t sunk back into this life deeper than I thought.

  “Hey, buddy,” Hayden said, choosing to ignore my slip of the tongue.

  “Hi. I know it’s a little late for fishing today but I was wondering if you still wanted to go have a beer with me?”

  “Dude, when have I ever turned down throwin’ a few back?” I cringed at the saying again. “Meet you in a half hour?”

  “Sure,” I answered and hung up.

  I changed my clothes and got ready to go out. I didn’t dress as I normally would. In fact, for me, I dressed down, but I knew full-well that I would still be the best dressed person there.

  Hayden was already at the bar when I got there, nursing a beer. I sat down and ordered a drink.

  “Hey, how’s your old man doing?”

  “He’s fine,” I answered, wishing I felt a little guiltier for wanting people to stop asking me about him. I was tired of having to explain the situation, like everyone in town didn’t already know.

  “That’s great. I’m glad to hear it. He’s a tough old man. He’ll pull through.”

  “The toughest,” I grumbled, tipping the beer back against my lips and practically downing it in only a few slugs.

  I watched the enthusiastic light in Hayden’s eyes douse slightly as I spoke. Although, instead of judgment, I knew he was plagued with recognition. “Are you guys still at it? Damn, Tim. When will enough be enough?”

  I allowed my shoulders to raise and fall with indifference as I contemplated ordering a few shots. If we were going to have this conversation, beer wasn’t going to assuage me. I needed something far stronger if I was going to maintain my sanity. “Ask him. I don’t know. He’s never cared too much for me.”

  “I don’t think that’s it. I think he loves you; I just think you’re too damn different…or the same. I don’t know. But let me tell ya something, I wish you would bury whatever hatchet you and your father keep digging up, for good, cause when he’s gone—”

  “Yeah, I know, Hayden,” I interrupted, feeling a spike of anger course through me. I lowered my voice as I continued. “Trust me, if there was a fucking hatchet, I would have thrown into the mud and laughed as it sank, but there’s nothing. Nothing ever happened…

  “We were just, never close. He and I never saw anything the same way and no matter what I do, he acts like it isn’t good enough.” I thought about what that might mean and scowled. “Hell, maybe I’m the hatchet. I’m obviously some big disappointment.”

  “No, you’re not. How could you possibly be a disappointment?” he asked, and I honestly believed that he was being genuine.

  “I never did what he wanted me to do. I tore out of here the first chance I got and never looked back.” I took another long slug of my beer, finishing it and starting another. “But you know as well as I do that our issues started long before graduation day.”

  “Hmmm…” Hayden answered, but didn’t say anything more, giving me the idea that perhaps he was holding something back. Still, when he took it upon himself to change the subject, at least slightly, I didn’t object.

  “So, who’s his doctor?” Hayden asked, glancing my way and adding an explanation. “Momma wanted to make sure I asked.”

  “Jenna Barnes,” I replied, watching him stop mid-drink.

  “No shit?” he asked, peering directly at me.

  “No shit,” I assured with a confirming shake of my head.

  “You know, she’s single,” he offered as his lips curled into a wicked grin.

  “She’s a doctor. That makes sense,
” I told him, trying not to engage in the game he was attempting to play.

  “Yeah, but she’s hot.”

  I laughed out loud, remembering the freckle-faced kid from high school. “The years have certainly been good to her. I’ll give her that.” Hell, I was willing to give her more than that, but that was none of Hayden’s business.

  “Bullshit. Even for your city-boy ass, she is hot.”

  Again, I raised and lowered my shoulders with a nonchalant attitude. “Sure,” I agreed. “But if you’ve got a hard-on for her, why don’t you ask her out?”

  “’Cause, she isn’t my type, and besides, I’m enjoying the bachelor lifestyle.”

  “You live in your mother’s house and you own a hardware store. You keep saying that for too many more years and people ‘round here might start to wonder.”

  Hayden chuckled. “Dick,” he muttered, before taking another swig of his drink.

  After that, the conversation turned more towards catching up personally, but for some reason, I couldn’t get the thought of Jenna Barnes out of my head. She was gorgeous and after such a transformation from high school, there was no way she was oblivious to it, but still, the same thought still boggled my mind.

  Why the hell had she turned me down?

  Chapter 12

  Jenna

  When the alarm clock went off the next morning, I was tired. The week had definitely taken its toll on me and the hour I had spent brushing all of the glitter out of my hair before I went back to the hospital had severely cut into my sleep.

  Yet, in all fairness, anything I did outside of working and eating shaved off the few precious moments of sleep I had before my next shift. Even my sparsely placed days off blurred together, making my life seem like one continual rat-race.

  Still, I loved my job and therefore was more than happy to sacrifice a social life, sleep and a sure knowledge of exactly what day it was for my passion.

  After all, I didn’t become a doctor because I thought it was going to be simple.

  Still, while dragging myself out of bed, wishing I had spent another night on Michelle’s couch, my feet felt like lead and my body ached with resounding exhaustion. I slunk to the kitchen, made myself coffee, prayed that it was extra-strong, and prepared my bowl of cereal.

  While I watched my sitcom, I laughed and started to come alive a little more, finally realizing that missing my morning routine to catch up on a few more minutes of sleep wouldn’t have been worth it. After all, I thoroughly enjoy my routine.

  When my show was over, I ran to the bathroom, exchanged my towel for scrubs, and threw my hair into a bun before rushing out the door. I felt like I was always rushing but again, I’d known that was the life I chose when I decided to become a physician. My sister and others who were not in the medical profession couldn’t possibly understand.

  Of course, it was difficult, with long days and sights that will stay with me until the day I die, but there were also the most rewarding experiences I could ever imagine. I loved the fact that I was able to save people’s lives on a daily basis. I had always enjoyed helping people, however, becoming a doctor had taken that idealistic, almost adolescent joy and turned it into a daily reality.

  I didn’t expect anyone to understand. I knew this was something that I was meant to do, so I had to take the good with the bad – and to be honest, no matter what happened, I couldn’t actually say that anything in my life was all that bad!

  On my way to the hospital, I focused on the good things in my life, my accomplishments, and everything that I was blessed with.

  So what if I don’t have a boyfriend, I found myself thinking. I have enough trouble spending time with Kassie and Michelle.

  However, as much as I hated to admit it, Michelle’s comments the other day about me going out and meeting someone bothered me. I knew it shouldn’t. Life was too hectic right now for any kind of meaningful relationship and I was too old for one-night stands. I had learned that six months ago.

  Therefore, until my life calmed down, I resolved that there was nothing that was going to convince me that I needed any kind of companionship.

  “Good morning!” I called to Dr. Pierce as I walked into the break room, where I found him draining the rest of his coffee.

  “Good morning, Jenna!” he answered in a manner that made me wonder if he had too much coffee. He grinned in a warm manner. “How was your day off? You mentioned you were going to your sister’s house?”

  “Yes. We had fun. My niece put some sparkles in my hair, that I still haven’t gotten out. You should’ve seen it.” I chuckled and to my surprise, he laughed as I imagined he was visualizing my story.

  “You should’ve had her do it again. We’d make it thematic. Everyone come in with a different color. Really freak the patients out.” His eyebrows rose and fell in a teasing manner.

  “Oh God,” I responded, thinking about it. “How was your day yesterday? Did you play golf?”

  “Of course,” he insisted. “I was as bad as ever, but it was fun nonetheless.”

  “You’ll get there. Practice makes perfect, after all.”

  He snorted a laugh. “Yeah, but first you need talent. If that saying was universally true, I’d be playing the US Open and leaving this place to you and your idealism.”

  “Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if you continued to have a little bit of my idealism…both during your rotation and on the green,” I retorted as I poured a cup of what was now stale coffee.

  “No, I get it, Jenna. I wish I could maintain that kind of enthusiasm.” At this, his voice turned serious, almost sad.

  “I mean, don’t get me wrong, Jenna, you’re a great doctor, but I’ve been a doctor for longer than you’ve been alive. Every year, I find it easier not to get too close to the patients. There’s so much death that surrounds us. If I allow myself to get close to any of them, I have the guilt of not being able to save them when they pass away, but also the feeling of loss that comes with mourning.”

  “Yes, but surely, in all of your experience, there has been more lives saved than lost.”

  “Of course. Yet, even you have to agree, the guilt and remorse of a life lost at your hands cancels out a hundred lives saved.” He stared at me seriously as his expression hardened, “Or, hasn’t anyone died when you were supposed to save them?”

  I didn’t answer. I simply looked away. I knew he took it as the answer he expected, but that didn’t bother me. He didn’t need to know everything about me, especially with this issue. He took my silence for guilt and his expression softened.

  “Hey, Jenna, I’m sorry. I hope you never have to deal with something like that. I didn’t mean anything by it. We were just having a discussion. and I was explaining my position.”

  I found it strange that he felt the need to apologize. That was certainly a first. So, in an effort to keep him from feeling guilty, I returned a solid gaze to him and grinned.

  “I know. I’m not upset by what you said, but I still must disagree. I think that having compassion helps both the doctor and the patient. Sure, there are parts of our job that are devastating, but that comes with the territory, in my opinion. It still doesn’t serve anyone to be cold and distant. People live and die every day, and I believe that if it is their time, it doesn’t matter who is trying to help them – their life is going to end. We can’t play God. We can only do our best to help our fellow humans.”

  “All right…all right. You’ve made your point. Get off your soapbox,” he teased. “We have fellow humans to help.”

  One of my first stops of the day was to check on Phil Meck. “How are you doing today, Phil?” I inquired, grinning as I walked into the room.

  “Great!” he replied, beaming when he saw it was me.

  “Phil, you have four broken bones and a fractured tibia. You wouldn’t be telling me that just so you could go home, would you?”

  “No, ma’am!” Phil insisted. “Just the opposite, actually.”

  “Is that right?” I tease
d. “What’s with the change of heart? From what I’ve heard, the night before last you tried to bribe the night nurse to sneak you out of here in a laundry cart.”

  “She told you about that? Damn traitor!” he laughed, continuing his explanation after a moment of silence. “Naw, I was fighting it in the beginning. I like my freedom, but once I realized there ain’t nowhere I was goin’ with this damn thing on anyway, I figured it was better to be here.

  “It’s not all that bad! I’ve got three square meals a day, everyone does whatever I need ‘em to do for me…and, I have no responsibilities whatsoever. Hell, even my son came to see me – and he fixed the toilet!” He laughed. “Sad I have to nearly die for him to fix a goddamn toilet, but I suppose it’s better than him not coming at all.”

  “Well, I’m sure your son would do more if he were closer,” I answered, trying to be assuring.

  “Then, you obviously didn’t know him in high school,” Phil retorted, shaking his head. “If it didn’t have a motherboard and connect to something that took him into the world of technology, he wanted nothing to do with it!”

  “Well, please don’t think I’m defending him, but he did make a good life for himself.”

  “Yes, ma’am. He sure did. But you and I both know that there is far more to having a good life than the amount of zeros in your bank account.”

  I smiled kindly at him, knowing he wished more had come of his and Tim’s relationship. I wondered if it was what could have easily been a near-death experience for him, or if was simply his age. After all, he had told me many times that he was a burly man, but I’d never seen that side of him once in all the time he’d been here.

  “Well, hopefully when your son takes you home tomorrow, the two of you can have a long talk and even work some things out between you,” I replied softly, trying to break the news that he was going to be left in his son’s care to him gently.

  “Tomorrow?” His eyes grew large with surprise. “I just got done tellin’ you how much I was starting to like it here. I ain’t never leaving!”