by Rush, Olivia
I opened my mouth, then shut it again. Could I? Christ, I’d wanted nothing more than to escape this town, and now, with my long-time colleague and friend seated across from me, I couldn’t get the words out.
“You’re still undecided,” Crown said.
I still didn’t answer.
“I urge you to make the decision before the month is out. I need to get everything in order should you choose to stay on. You understand there’s paperwork to attend to, and I have a business to run.”
“I do,” I said, at last. “I need a few more days to think about it.” The more time I spent with Becca, the clearer the decision would become. Leaving would be easy in one sense, staying would be…terrifying? That wasn’t a word in my vocabulary, but the thought of what it would mean still sent my pulse up a tick.
I’d sworn off intimate emotional connections. If I stayed, what did that say about Becca? About me?
I already felt the overwhelming urge to protect her and help her.
“Very well,” Doctor Crown said after a beat. “There’s one other thing I must tell you that might influence your decision.”
“Shoot.”
“I’ve hired Doctor Perry Jackson to work at the practice, starting next month. He’ll be coming to see me today to find out what I’ve decided. I know there’s history between you two, and I wanted to get this into the air before I tell him he’s hired.”
I ground my teeth, balled my hands into fists. “That’s fine,” I said. “Who you hire isn’t any of my business.”
“Mason, we’ve been colleagues for years. I’ve come to think of you as a friend, and I would be loath to jeopardize our working relationship because of something like this.”
“But your decision to hire Perry is final.”
“Yes,” he replied. “Jackson is a reputable doctor, and a good step toward growing the practice into what I’ve always wanted it to be. He’s a specialist.”
“I’m aware of what he is.” I couldn’t keep the edge out of my tone. Christ, I hated that motherfucker with a passion.
“Good,” Crown said. “I’ll expect your decision before the month is out. I want this ironed out as soon as possible. I need to know if working with Doctor Jackson is a deal breaker for you.”
It was clear he expected an answer, but I couldn’t give it to him. This was yet another sign that everything I’d placed in motion had come to a head.
I was meant to leave Stoneport. It wasn’t my hometown anymore. I opened my mouth to tell that to Crown and to let him know that Perry was a total fucking asshat and would only bring the practice down.
A picture of Rebecca rose in my head, standing by her car, frowning at Perry.
“I’ll let you know,” I said. What else could I do at this point?
Chapter 17
Rebecca
The practice had a warm atmosphere throughout, and the tiled kitchenette was no different. A coffee pot for employees to fix themselves a cup, a fridge humming away in the corner packed with lunch time snacks, and a few pictures of the bayou on the walls.
The window at the back of the room looked out on trees and the street behind the building, which was quiet at this time of the morning. Sunlight filtered through the window pane and danced across the tiles.
This was the happiest I’d been in years.
Easy, girl. You’re not in love. This is just a fling and a fresh start. That’s all.
I ignored the little voice in the back of my head, screaming that it was a lie, and that I was way too into Mason.
“Where are you?” Mary asked, beside me, as she set out coffee mugs on a tray. “You look like you’ve taken a trip.”
I laughed and turned away from the window. “Nowhere. I guess I’m just tired. I had a late night last night.”
“A late night, eh?” Mary set the coffee pot to brew. “I can guess why, but I won’t gossip. It’s a despicable habit to have.”
“We can gossip a little,” I said. “I think I can trust you. Besides, everyone in this town is already talking about Mason and me. It’s not like it’s some huge secret.” That ship had sailed a long time ago. The minute I’d moved in next door to the handsome doctor, in fact.
Mary laughed. “The people here are despicable when it comes to that type of thing. Most of them mean well, but they just can’t help themselves. I think it’s because there’s not much to do around here but get involved in each other’s business.”
“You don’t have a movie theater?”
Mary chuckled again and ran her hands over her distended belly, pressing the cotton of her flowery dress to her skin. “Nope. It’s either gossiping or, well, baby-making. I bet you can tell which I prefer.”
“Mary!” I mock-gasped. She stuck out her tongue, and it was my turn to laugh. “You’ve already made my day, you know that? You’re a hoot.”
“I bet your day was made long before you got to work,” Mary said. “Mason looked happy when he came in this morning.”
“Doesn’t he usually?”
Mary tapped her chin with two fingers, and her eyebrows drew inward. “Honestly? No. I haven’t seen him happy in a long time. He’s friendly enough, but the way he looked at you this morning, the smiles… That was something new.”
I resisted the urge to follow up on that, biting my bottom lip. My heart had already decided pounding against my ribcage like a mad construction worker with a jackhammer was the way to respond to that news.
Stop it. Just stop. It’s just a friends-with-benefits situation.
“Mason’s been through a lot,” Mary continued. “I think he gave up on happiness for a while there. That’s a big presumption on my part, but I guess I feel I’m at liberty to say that because I’ve worked with him for a really long time. And now that he’s planning on—” The phone rang from the reception desk, and Mary put up a finger. “Hold that thought. I’d better stop chatting and do my damn job before Crown decides to replace me entirely.”
She bustled out before I could say another word, and I sighed.
Mason was happy. Happy because of me. That was the implication, and it did nothing to still my beating heart.
Doctor Dunn wasn’t part of the “get my life back on track” plan. He was a complication, but gosh did I need that complication right now. It’d been so long since I’d enjoyed myself, and with him, it was nothing but fun.
I shoved aside all the thoughts about “feelings” and turned to the coffee pot instead. Today would be a good day. That was all there was to it.
I grabbed the sugar from the cupboard to my left, then the half-and-half from the fridge, and placed it all on the tray. I’d make the rounds once the coffee was done. One for me, one decaf for Mary, one for Doctor Crown, and one for…
Footsteps thumped up behind me, and two hands settled on my hips. Warm breath brushed the back of my neck.
Shivers ran down my spine. “This is brazen,” I said, holding back a grin. “And probably ill-advised, Doctor Du—” I turned, and Mason’s surname died on my lips.
Perry grinned at me, gripping me tight, his too-white teeth eclipsing everything else in the kitchenette. “I’m a brazen kind of guy,” he said. “I usually take what I want without asking.”
The shivers turned sinister. My skin tried to crawl its way off my body for the second time since I’d met this guy. “Get your hands off me, right now,” I said, firmly.
“Don’t be like that, gorgeous,” Perry said. “I know you felt what I felt yesterday. I figured, since we’re going to be working together, we might as well take full advantage of our situation here. Don’t you agree?”
“I couldn’t agree less,” I replied. “Seriously, dude, if you don’t let go of me right fucking now, I’m going to go to Crown and report this as sexual harassment.”
Perry laughed. The asshole actually laughed in my damn face and tightened his grip on my hips. He tugged me toward him, the scent of his cologne hitting me full in the face. It was nothing like Mason’s—it overwhelmed me,
stinging sharp and cloyingly sweet. My eyes watered, and I swallowed bile.
“You mistake me for giving a fuck,” Perry said. “Honey, c’mon. Do you really think anyone’s going to believe you? You, prancing around in a skirt and a transparent blouse at work? Babe, you’d be lucky if you didn’t get fired on the spot for even suggesting it. Do you have any idea how many women have tried that shit with me and failed? You can’t ruin my life. I told you, I take what I want when I want it. I know you want me, Rebecca. I saw the way you looked at me yesterday.”
“With revulsion?” I squirmed and tugged at his grip, but he was too damn strong.
“You’ve got a smart mouth,” he said. “I like that. I bet it’s good at sucking dick too.”
I raised a hand, palm itching to slap, but Perry jerked free of me before I could bring it down on his cheek.
“Motherfucker,” a voice growled.
It was Mason. Mason with his hand on the back of Perry’s button-down shirt, dragging him backward, his face folded into an expression of pure rage. He tossed Perry against the fridge, and bottles clinked inside.
“Mason—”
He cut me off by lifting Perry from where he’d landed, holding the front of his shirt in one massive fist, and raising him so that the toes of his smart shoes dragged across the tiles. “You sick fuck,” Mason grunted. “You motherfucker. I’m going to end you for this.”
“You can’t keep it all to yourself,” Perry choked out, putting on a shit-eating grin and holding Mason’s one thick forearm with both of his hands. He didn’t kick or struggle, either. It was as if he’d planned this. Like he wanted it to happen.
“Stop it,” I said. “Mason, put him down. He’s not worth it, OK? Just put him down.”
If he heard me, he didn’t show it. Mason shook Perry in his fist, jiggling the smaller man from side-to-side. “I should have done this a long fucking time ago, you weasel. You piece of shit.”
“Go ahead, Dunn. You’re only going to prove how worthless you really are. You can’t keep a woman in check. You can’t keep yourself in check. You deserve—”
“Mason, don’t listen to him,” I said, evenly. It was a miracle my voice didn’t tremble. The biting sensation of Perry’s fingertips on my hips remained, as if his grip had scarred or branded me. “He’s doing this for a reason. Don’t listen to him, please. He’s not worth it.”
Perry’s gaze flashed toward me, hot with anger. “You shut your mouth, bitch. You’ve got nothing to do with this. You’re just a worthless piece of ass. Something for Doctor Dunn here to fuck and leave—”
Mason let out a roar and rammed Perry’s head against the refrigerator. He lifted his left fist and cracked the other doctor on the nose. Blood spurted from it, and Perry groaned, lifted both hands from Mason’s arm, and clawed at the front of his face. “You asshole! Are you fucking kidding me? I’ll sue you for this! I’ll take every penny you have just like I took your—”
“What the hell is going on here?” Doctor Crown’s voice sliced the moment down the middle.
Mason dropped Perry and stepped back. The other doctor clutched at his nose, the blood already dripping from his chin and staining his shirt. “See what you’re dealing with, Crown? I warned you about him. Told you he was unstable. Look at what he’s done.”
“Dunn?” Crown’s focus switched from Perry to the other doctor. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“He attacked me, entirely unprovoked. I was just talking to the new receptionist over there, and he charged in and punched me. I did nothing wrong,” Perry said, stepping away from Mason, cowering as if he was afraid he’d snap at a moment’s notice and start throttling him. “I’m telling you, Doctor Crown, he’s unstable. I’m going to sue for this, you know. I’m going to—”
“That’s a lie,” I announced.
All three men looked at me, Mason still breathing like he’d run a mile, and Crown thoughtful. Perry brimmed with hatred, eyes narrowed, nose and the flesh around it already swelling from the break. Did this asshole think I’d keep quiet about what he’d done? He was delusional.
No, he’s just a creep in position of power.
“I was making coffee, Doctor Crown, when Doctor Jackson entered and grabbed hold of my hips. I told him to stop, and he didn’t listen. He turned me around, pulled me toward him, and propositioned me. He asked me to suck his dick,” I said.
“She’s lying,” Perry snapped. “You know how these women are. Gold diggers.”
“Quiet,” Crown said and raised his hand to Jackson. His hawkish stare swept from Mason to Perry, and he shook his head. Finally, he turned to me. “Are you all right, Miss Starr?”
“I’ve been better, but I’ll be fine. I thought it was best to report this to you immediately. After all, if Doctor Jackson can’t control himself around me, how will he interact with his patients at the practice?”
Crown pursed his lips and turned to the two doctors. “I want to see both of you in my office, now.” The older man faced me again. “Miss Starr, I’m sorry this has happened. I’m going to give you the rest of the day off to deal with this. I assume you’ll be going to the police? I can call them for you now and ask them to come down here.”
“Thank you,” I said, “but I’ll handle it myself.”
Crown nodded. “I’ll speak with you in the morning about next steps. Rest assured, I’ve heard your complaint, and this will be dealt with, swiftly.”
“There’s nothing to deal with. It’s her word against mine,” Perry grunted. “She’s lying.”
“That’s enough.” Crown clapped his hands. “My office. Now.”
The three men filed out, Perry without his casual swagger and refusing to meet my eye, Mason stiff-backed and looking nowhere else but at me. I blinked up at him and didn’t reach out even though I ached for it—for comfort and for his sake.
Things had already been complicated, but now? What the fuck have I gotten involved in here?
Chapter 18
Rebecca
I hadn’t gone to the cops yet. All I wanted, right then, was a minute to think this through and calm the hell down.
At one point there, I’d been angry enough to hit Perry myself. Of course, I wouldn’t shut up about this, but for now… I just needed to fucking breathe.
I sat on the stool in my kitchen and leaned my elbows on the top of the island, eyes squeezed shut. What’d happened today was probably the worst possible outcome. I’d been harassed, and Mason had lost control and come to the rescue.
“Goddammit.” I pressed the heels of my palms to my eyes, shaking my head. “Goddammit.”
This was too complicated. I’d already figured that part out. It was the next steps that confounded me. Report Perry was top on the list. Maybe not press charges because the dude likely had more than enough money to get a good lawyer—and it was my word against his. And Mason’s word too, but did it count when we were in a relationship? Even if that relationship was just friends with benefits?
And then what? I’d report him to the police and they’d keep an eye on him? Or nothing would happen? If that was the case, what was the damn point of going through with it?
No doubt, news that I’d gone to the cops would spread through Stoneport like wildfire, and the folks of this good town—the ones who didn’t like me—would have a field day with that. I’d be even less likely to settle in here comfortably if they all hated my guts.
I won’t take it. That was just who I’d become.
I’d taken years of shit from Kieran, and I’d be damned if I’d take shit from some guy I met a day ago. “Asshole,” I muttered.
I dropped my hands from my face, straightened my spine, and inhaled. Whatever happened, I’d work it out. I seriously didn’t have a choice here. It was eat or be eaten in life, and I was tired of being on the menu.
My doorbell buzzed, and I checked my watch. It was too early for it to be Kathy, who’d arranged today as the day to check the backyard was puppy-proof.
I pushe
d off from the stool and walked through to the old front door, still not replaced. I unlocked it and stood my ground against the wave of desire that washed over me.
He was here. So tall and still so handsome, even though his face was clouded by the remnants of anger. His forehead wrinkled like paper that’d been folded, crumpled, then smoothed out again. There were a million words written across it, hidden between the lines.
“Hi,” I said and stepped back to allow Mason entry. “I didn’t expect you to—I don’t know. I just didn’t expect you.”
“I had to come,” he replied and entered.
I shut the door, and Mason took both of my hands in his and squeezed gently. It was as if he was afraid squeezing too hard would break me. “Are you all right?” he asked. “Becca, I’m sorry that happened. That motherfucker…”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said and shrugged. “It was pretty damn disgusting, but I’ll survive. It’s not the first time I’ve been groped, unfortunately.”
“Jesus, that makes me angry.”
“You and me both.” I stepped away from him and nodded toward the kitchen. “Coffee?”
“Sure.”
We walked through in silence, but his presence was all I needed to fill it. He was so strong and so there, and it still scared the living crap out of me. I headed for the coffee pot, but Mason took my hand before I got there.
He drew me into an embrace. “Are you sure you’re OK?”
“Fine,” I said and rested my head against his collar bone, inhaling the scent of him. What’d happened earlier was separate from this. Being with Mason was like stepping into a bubble—it was just us. Just his smell and his body, his heart beating against mine. “I’ll be fine.” I looked up at him and snaked one hand up. I cupped his cheek, ran a thumb over the rough stubble there. “What about you? What happened in Crown’s office?”
“I’m fired,” he replied.
“What?! But you were just defending me.”
“It doesn’t matter. It was inexcusable conduct in a place of work. Honestly, I’m lucky if Crown doesn’t report me to the medical review board for unprofessional conduct. Perry’s still threatening to go to the cops and open up a case of assault.”