by Chloe Lang
“Yes, Jennifer did.” Pop Larry put his arm around her. “We all thought when the suit was settled he’d return to the courtroom.”
“He was supposed to.” Dustin still couldn’t believe Mick had worked for the woman for almost a year now. “It’s way past time for him to get serious and get back to building his law career. That’s where he belongs.”
“Dustin, you’ve always been so serious and intense.” His mom smiled. “You get something in your head and you can’t let it go, a quality that makes you such a wonderful physician. But can’t you see Mick is happier than he’s ever been? Isn’t that what’s most important in life, honey?”
“I just don’t understand how he can be happy on a ranch with his knowledge. How are we ever going to win Paris back if he’s playing cowboy all the time?”
Pop Larry smiled. “Finally. The truth comes out.”
“What do you mean by that, Pop?”
“Deep down you want to blame your brother for the reason you three aren’t together. How’s that working for you?”
He grimaced, feeling his gut tighten. His pop knew how to zero in on the truth. “Not so good. I blew it with her. When Paris came back to the practice, I thought we might have another chance at a future together. But I can’t stop wondering about the years she was away. She’s so secretive about it.”
“A woman has a right to her secrets, honey.” His mom grabbed his hand. “I still believe you three are meant to be together.”
“I thought so, too, but it seems like every time I open my mouth we drift further and further apart. She’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever known. Brilliant. Beautiful. Kind. The whole package.” He shook his head. “She would be such a better doctor than me if she only gave it a chance.”
“Same old song different verse,” Dad Leo said. “You know how much we love you son, so I’m going to be honest with you. You have to quit trying to run other people’s lives. Mick and Paris are adults. They can choose to do whatever they want to do.”
“So you’re saying the problem is me.”
“Quite frankly, yes, son. I’m sure Paris and Mick have a share in why you’re not together but you have the bulk of the blame.”
“We’ve been over and over this, Dustin,” his pop said. “We’re not trying to be harsh but it is time we lay everything out for you.”
His mom leaned forward. “Honey, the last thing we want for you is to lose the girl of your dreams, but if you keep pushing Paris you will.”
“The big question you need to ask yourself, young man, is why you keep trying so hard to get Paris to become a doctor and Mick to return to the law. You might already know, deep down, but are afraid to face it.”
Dad Leo asked, “Have you thought about talking to her father, son? He’s always been your mentor and he’s her dad. I bet Dr. Cottrell might shed some light on what you could do to work through this.”
“We’ve talked a little about the situation.”
“A little won’t suffice.”
They were right. He knew it, but change didn’t come easy for him. “I love Paris. I don’t want to lose her. I’ll talk to her dad.” Maybe he can help me figure out what she’s hiding.
* * * *
Peter Barkley carried all his belongings in a brown paper sack that the prison had placed them in. The woman in the shiny new Mercedes who had come to pick him up after his release remained inside the car. She had short dark hair and wore designer sunglasses. He’d never met her but had been communicating with her via e-mail for a couple of months.
He climbed into the passenger seat. “Nice to finally meet you, Miss Trollinger.”
“And you, too.” She started the engine.
“I’m not sure why you’re helping me out.”
“Because you and I have each lost someone dear. You lost your wife. I lost my brother. The guilty need to pay. Don’t you agree?”
“That’s all I’ve thought about since I was sent to prison.”
She smiled and placed her hand on his leg. “We have a lot to talk about, but we’ll have plenty of time during our trip.”
“Where are we going?”
“Not we, Peter. You. You’re going to where those responsible for taking away our loved ones from us live. Destiny, Colorado.”
Chapter Four
Even though his brother’s digs had mostly been directed at Mick, it was obvious they’d bothered Paris even more than they had him. Mick put his arm around her, trying to think of a way to get her mind off of what Dustin had said.
“I’m sick of this, Mick. I’m tired of Dustin making us feel like we’re not good enough. We’ll never be good enough in his eyes. I thought we could at least be friends, believing that when I came back home after being away for so long things would be different. They aren’t. It’s like we are at the same spot we were ten years ago. Damn, I’ve been such a fool. I should’ve stayed away.”
Is she thinking about running away again?
This wasn’t like her, not really. Sure she’d come back to Destiny changed, but she was still the sweet, wonderful woman he’d fallen in love with. His feelings for her hadn’t lessened but had actually multiplied. He knew he could not let her disappear from his life one more time.
God, his brother could be such a jerk. Mick understood that Dustin was a little more serious about the lifestyle than he was. For Mick, he loved the playful side of BDSM. Still, he and Dustin both practiced BDSM as Doms, and they both enjoyed it, too. Hell, all three of them had explored the life together before the breakup. They had all been so green. He missed those days.
Mick was a fully trained Dom, just like Dustin. He could read a woman quickly and determine her level of submissiveness in the subtle signs that were lost on the inexperienced and untrained. Reading Paris now, it was clear to him from her reaction to Dustin’s earlier digs that things were spinning out of control. Dom or not, there was no excuse for his brother continuing to treat Paris the way he did.
He needed to get her back on track and smiling. Once that happened, he was going to have a heart-to-heart with Dustin, or fist-to-face if necessary, to get his brother’s undivided attention. Dustin knew damn well he was pushing her buttons, and that had to stop.
“Let’s go and have some Chinese food, Paris. That’ll fix everything.”
“If only it could.” She sighed the sigh of someone who was about to give up.
Fuck. He certainly couldn’t back down now. “When did you eat today?”
She shrugged. “I had a banana this morning.”
“That’s all.”
She nodded. “I guess I am hungry.”
“And you need to eat. Let’s go.”
Holding her hand, he led her out of the clinic. The June air was warm and the sun hung above their heads in a cloudless blue sky.
Paris was very upset, more than usual, about Dustin’s outburst. Mick knew he was walking a thin line with her and Dustin. He wanted to say the right thing to Paris that would make her feel better about his brother.
They headed down West Street, passing the Black Dragon statue, which sat on the northwest corner of Destiny’s Central Park. He looked into the beast’s eyes and silently implored him to share his wisdom, which Destonians believed the dragon possessed and could share.
As they passed the Green Dragon statue, they both glanced at it. It sat on the southwest corner of the park, and had a shamrock on its chest. Everyone believed in the Green Dragon’s luck. All four of the statues, including the other two, the Blue Dragon and Red Dragon, were treasured by all of Destiny.
He and Paris crossed the street, arriving at Phong’s Wok. He held the door for Paris, and they walked inside. The restaurant’s delicious aroma’s filled his nostrils and made his stomach growl.
Melissa Phong greeted them. “Doc not joining you for lunch today?”
“Nope,” he answered. “Just the two of us.”
Melissa seated them in a booth by the window facing each other.
Jacob Phong
came out from the kitchen. “Hey, Aunt Melissa, Uncle Hiro is on the phone and has a question for you.”
Jacob had dark hair and was Caucasian, like Melissa, though he had legally changed his last name to hers and his uncle Hiro’s Asian surname. Getting that done for the guy was one of the last acts as an attorney Mick had accomplished, and one that he was actually proud of. The twenty-six-year-old’s story was a sad one, but now Jacob seemed genuinely settled.
“Excuse me.” Melissa turned to Jacob. “Get them water and take their order for me, please.”
“Sure thing.”
Melissa went back into the kitchen to take Hiro’s call.
Jacob handed them menus. “What would you like to drink?”
“Just water for me,” Paris said.
“I’ll take a Coke. How’s the arm, buddy?”
Jacob held it up. “Good as new thanks to your brother.”
“How’s your cousin?” Paris asked, referring to Josh Phong, Hiro and Melissa’s son.
“He can’t stop talking about the scar on his face, which he likes to call his war wound.” Jacob laughed. “He wears it like a badge of honor.”
“I don’t blame him,” she said. “After all you two did for our town, you deserve to be praised. You played a part in bringing down Kip Lunceford. You should be proud.”
“We only played a small part, Paris. The whole town came together to defeat that asshole. That’s why we won the war.”
More customers came through the door.
“Let me get them seated and I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time, Jacob.” Mick looked at Paris. “We’re in no rush today.”
She sighed. “True.”
Jacob smiled and went to take care of the other customers.
He reached across the table and placed his hand over hers. “Sweetheart, don’t worry. Everything is going to work out between you and Dustin.”
“Not just between me and Dustin. Issues abound between you and him, too.”
“Yes, they do, but I believe there are better days ahead for all of us.”
“I wish you were right, but I don’t think so.”
“You’ve got to trust me on this, Paris.”
Her face darkened with gloom. “I want to. I really do. But some things never change, like your brother.”
Melissa returned, interrupting their discussion, which he didn’t mind. He needed to take a step back to collect his thoughts.
“Word on the street is Amber may have her baby today.” Melissa grinned.
Paris nodded. “Katy is how you know that, right?”
“She called Gretchen and Gretchen called me.”
Paris smiled, which made him feel better.
He thought his best plan of action was to avoid talking about what had happened with Dustin at the clinic. I’ll keep her mind on something else until she’s in a better state. “I’m sure all the phones in town are burning hot with the news.”
“Is that why Doc isn’t with you two?” Melissa asked.
Damn, trying to change the subject is harder than I thought. “He went to see our folks.”
“Did Jacob already take your order?”
“Not yet,” Mick answered. “Honey, what would you like?”
She looked up at Melissa. “I’ll have the Sesame Chicken with brown rice, please.”
“Same for me.”
“Perfect. It’ll be out shortly.” Melissa went back into the kitchen.
Paris stared out the window. “He will never change, Mick.”
“Maybe we should talk about this another time.” Defense, Mick. Keep her mind on something else. “Why don’t we just enjoy our lunch, sweetheart? Besides, a new baby is coming to town very soon. This should be a happy day.”
“For Amber, yes. For me, no. I wish I could have you and your brother’s children, but that will never be. I know that now.”
Fuck. So much for defense, Mick. Time to dive into this. No more avoiding it.
He reached across the table and grabbed Paris’s hands. “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart.”
She never stopped looking out the window. “Is it, Mick? Is it really? Dustin is still Dustin.”
He glanced in the direction she was staring. The Green Dragon. “Honey, our luck will turn. Trust me.”
She leaned back in the booth and turned to him, her violet eyes appearing sadder than he’d ever seen them. “You can’t imagine how many times I touched the toe of that statue.”
“How many times, sweetheart?”
“Every single day since I moved back to Destiny and went to work for Dustin in my father’s old practice.”
That had happened a little over a year ago, and back then Mick had believed fate had finally turned his and Dustin’s direction. He’d dreamed that everything was going to get worked out between the three of them. But it hadn’t. The past continued to scratch its way into the present as Dustin continued pressuring her about medical school. As brilliant as his brother was he could also be so dense about Paris and her needs.
And what about Paris?
Until recently, every time Mick gazed into her gorgeous violet eyes, he detected a little glimmer of hope. Now, all he saw in her eyes was sadness. Had she given up on the three of them, on being a family, of having a future life together?
She sighed. “I can’t take this any longer. I won’t.”
He didn’t like the sound of that. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve been offered a job in the hospital in Wilde, Nevada.”
The blood drained out of him. “Sweetheart, please don’t.”
“It’s a great opportunity. They have a brand new hospital there. I’ve spoken a couple of times with Dr. Champion, who is the chief of staff. He seems like a wonderful man.”
Mick realized he was about to lose the woman of his dreams forever if he didn’t do something drastic. Had Dustin been right all along that Paris had been in a relationship while living in Nevada? Was Champion that man? What could he do? He’d played it safe for so long, praying for his brother to change and for Paris to open up about what occurred while she was gone from Destiny. Neither had happened. Instead, things had only gotten worse. “You know how much I love you.”
“Of course I do. And I love you, but it’s not enough. We’ve been through this a thousand times, Mick. I want a home and family. You’ve been hanging on just like me, waiting for Dustin to change. He’s not going to. I’m not the woman for you and him obviously.”
“You are the woman for me, baby.”
“Don’t, Mick.” She closed her eyes and folded her hands together. “This is hard enough as it is.”
Though it would certainly kill him, he had to choose a life with Paris, even if that meant he wouldn’t be sharing her with Dustin. He’d never dreamed it would come to this, but clearly it had.
Time to make the most difficult choice of my life. I’ve got to talk to Dustin first.
“Look at me, baby.”
She opened her eyes and he saw they were welling up with tears.
“I love my brother, but you’re right. It’s been too long. Far too long. I’m done waiting.”
“Mick, you can’t mean what I think you mean.”
“Yes, I do, but I won’t say it aloud until I talk to Dustin first.” God, how did it come to this? “He’s my brother. I owe him that much.”
“That’s imposs—”
He placed his finger on her lush lips. “Just think about it. I don’t want to lose you. I know this wasn’t our dream, but we should not have to suffer because of Dustin. I want a home and children, too, Paris.”
“Don’t say it, Mick. Don’t.”
“I’m not going to say anything until I discuss this with Dustin first. He deserves to know my intentions before I ask you officially, before I get down on my knee and say the words out loud.”
“Mick, I love you so much, but you just can’t ask me.”
“I can and I will, sweetheart—after I talk to Dustin. I’v
e made up my mind.”
“How can we do that to him?”
“Neither of us wanted it to be like this, but he’s given us no choice. I won’t lose you. I won’t. You want commitment. So do I. It’s time we both had a chance at happiness.”
Chapter Five
Paris closed her front door and looked out the window as Mick returned to his car. Their quick lunch had turned into a full afternoon of talking. One thing for certain about Mick was that whenever he made up his mind to do something, nothing or no one could ever stop him. It was one of the many things she loved about him.
Taking deep breaths, she walked over to her kitchen table and sat down. By the time they’d finally made it back to the clinic, her shift had been over, so Mick had brought her home. At least now she didn’t have to be there when he confronted Dustin.
God, what a mess we’re all in. All because of me.
Ten years ago, she would’ve been on the ceiling with excitement to get his proposal. But not just his. His and Dustin’s. That was her dream. To marry them both.
She needed a way out of this catastrophe. It had been a mistake to tell Mick about the job offer in Nevada, though she hadn’t told him it was to join the surgical staff. That would’ve opened up another can of worms.
Him giving up on Dustin and bent on marrying her alone was because she’d opened her mouth when she should’ve kept it shut. She’d seen the turmoil of his decision on his face. This wasn’t what he really wanted. This was what he thought he must do. A consolation prize at best.
He was wrong about everything. She didn’t deserve such a wonderful man like Mick.
The entire afternoon, she’d tried to talk Mick out of going to Dustin, but he would hear none of it. Even during the drive to her house, she’d given him a slew of reasons why he shouldn’t. She’d wasted her breath on him and was afraid what he meant to do would make things even worse. Both her guys were so stubborn.
My guys? They aren’t mine. They never really have been.
As Mick drove away, she felt her tummy tighten into a knot. She knew he was headed straight to Dustin.