“Wait…what?” Paul asked, shocked.
“I believe you heard me.”
“Mark, come on, you know how I am.” Paul crossed his arms over his chest.
“Yep, I do, and that’s why you’re doing it.” Mark pretended to be in pain when he got up. He knew Paul couldn’t resist taking care of him. “I guess I’ll go alone.”
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing, Mark. You haven’t fooled me.”
“No, it’s okay, I got it.” Mark walked over to his jacket slowly and grabbed his keys.
“Oh, let’s just go.” Paul took Mark by the hand.
Mark smothered his smile. No matter how hard Paul pretended to be, Mark knew he had a soft side. It was just matter of bringing it out.
~*~
The whole family had descended upon the Youngblood home to see the baby. Isabelle was on the couch with Jacob, and Charlie was holding the baby. She passed her to Heath, who looked down at her and smiled. She was so adorable. Her little hand reached out to Heath’s finger and latched on.
“She’s so beautiful, Izzy,” Heath said softly.
“Did you come up with a name yet?” Stefan passed her a soda.
“We named her after her great-grandmother Lucille, but we call her Lucy.”
“I’m sure Mother and Grandmother are over the moon.” Stefan smiled down at his daughter.
“I have to admit they seemed pretty pleased.” Isabelle returned the smile.
Damon was smitten with Lucy. He cuddled her closed and kissed her soft head. She looked at him myopically, her lips open, moist gums shining. “I think she smiled at me!”
“It’s gas, Damon,” Heath laughed.
Mark and Paul dropped by and took a seat on the couch. Lucy had started crying and Damon quickly passed her to Paul, who looked very uncomfortable at first. He looked down at the crying infant and smiled.
“Hey there, it’s okay.” Paul smoothed back her hair and Lucy quit crying. Her blue eyes looked at Paul and she grabbed his finger.
“I think she likes you, Paul.” Isabelle was smiling.
“Well she doesn’t know me yet,” Paul laughed. He made a face. “I think she left you a present.” Paul handed the baby to Jacob.
“Okay, why is it always me who gets diaper duty?” Jacob took Lucy to the bedroom.
They all laughed and Stefan and Jordan brought out the food. They talked to Charlie about returning to work. She loved her visit, but was excited about heading back.
“Oh yeah, you’re my daughter all right!” Jordan dropped a kiss on her head.
“I can’t help it; I love knowing I change lives.”
“I totally get it, honey,” Jordan replied, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “And the envy of your colleagues is awesome, too.”
Stefan rolled his eyes and changed the subject.
“So if I heard correctly, we now have two engaged kids.” He smiled at Tyler and Damon.
“Wow, Damon! You’re engaged?” Isabelle looked from Damon to Tyler.
“Yep! Tyler asked me last night.” He squeezed Tyler’s hand.
“Congratulations! First Heath and now Damon. We so have to have a party!” Isabelle giggled.
“Let’s wait a bit. Maybe other kids will get engaged, too, and then we can have a massive party.” Heath looked pointedly at Charlie.
“Oh no, not me. Not anytime soon, Heath.”
Isabelle looked at her sister. “You never know.” She waggled her eyebrows.
Jordan looked at his daughters. “Okay, what am I missing?”
“Nothing, Daddy.” Charlie looked at Isabelle. “Isabelle just wants everyone married off like her.”
Damon and Tyler had snuck out, and were now walking hand and hand around the pond.
“Hey, Damon?”
“Yes?”
“You want kids?”
Damon looked at Tyler. “Yeah, someday. Do you?”
“Yeah, I do.” Tyler smiled and palmed Damon’s face.
“Well at least we got that out of the way before we get married.” Damon kissed Tyler softly.
“So you really want to marry me? I didn’t just catch you off guard or anything, right?” Tyler was searching his face.
“Tyler, I love you more than anything. You’re it for me — the only man I’ll ever be with. From the moment we met, I knew you were special.”
“I wanted you the minute I laid eyes on you, Damon.”
Damon pulled him in and kissed him. He brought his hands to Tyler’s hair and pulled him in closer. “I want you right now,” Damon breathed.
“Oh wow.” Tyler tried to catch his breath. “Give me a sec.”
“You okay?” Damon held him up.
“I don’t know if it’s my lungs or if you take my breath away.”
“Yeah, let’s get you inside, babe.”
~*~
Paul was driving Mark back to his house, trying to figure out why Mark had been staring at him the whole trip home.
“Okay, just ask the question.” Paul blurted out.
“What do you mean?” Mark grinned.
“You’ve been staring at me since we left the Youngbloods’, Mark.”
“Fine. Do you want kids someday?”
“Yes, I would like kids someday. Or kid, however that works out.”
Mark almost choked. “What?”
“You look surprised.”
“I just, I guess I didn’t see you as wanting children.”
“How about you?”
“Well, I hadn’t thought about it until today, but seeing Lucy — yeah I want kids.”
Paul smiled to himself. He could easily see himself spending his life with Mark and their kids. He wasn’t, however, going to voice that just yet.
They pulled into Mark’s driveway and Paul hands started to sweat. He was about to meet Mark’s parents. What was he supposed to do? What was he supposed to say? He took a deep breath, got out of the car and he helped Mark to the door.
“You ready?” Mark took his hand.
“As ready as I’m gonna be.”
Chapter 12
Charlie was back at work, and unlike her father, she knew that the key to being successful was having a happy nursing staff. As far as anyone knew, Jordan still held the record for making nurses at West End Memorial cry.
Charlie preferred honey to vinegar. Which was why as soon as she was done with her shift, she was taking them all out to a club. She slipped into the locker room and changed. She had brought the sexiest black dress in her closet. She pulled it on and looked in the mirror. It cut straight across her breasts, leaving her milky white shoulders exposed, and stopped right above her knees. She slipped on sheer black pantyhose and stiletto heels. She let her hair down and spread it out over her shoulders. A little mascara and some lip gloss and she was ready.
She stopped at the nurse’s desk and bent over the counter, reaching for a patient’s chart.
“Dr. Youngblood?”
She straightened and whirled to find Dr. Thomas eyeing her ass appreciatively.
“Did I forget something?” She walked toward him as she double-checked the chart.
“No. Where are you off to?”
“I’m taking the nurses out. You can join us if you want.”
“Where are you going?”
“That club down the street. I think it’s good to let loose now and then.” Charlie made notes on the chart. She looked it over once more and moved to put it back in the slot.
“Well, maybe I’ll see you there then.” Seth smiled.
~*~
When Seth arrived, Charlie was holding court at a table regaling nurses with tales of her father. She had them doubled over with laughter. He caught Charlie’s eye and she excused herself and crossed to him.
“Why don’t you come and sit down?”
“You sure they won’t mind?” He gestured to the nurses.
Charlie looked at the table and called out “Any of you have a problem with Dr. Thomas j
oining us?”
The whole table yelled ‘no’ and laughed. Charlie took his hand and led him over. He watched her talk about her father; he could tell she had a great deal of respect for him. She was smart. He knew that. She had gotten early acceptance into Harvard and was already working the hospital staff.
By one in the morning, they were the only two left and Charlie was tired. She got up and grabbed her jacket. Seth watched her as she signed the check and left a huge tip.
“Some waiter will be happy tonight.” He smiled at her. She was incredibly beautiful and he wondered if she had a boyfriend. Hell. How could she not?
Charlie smiled. “I was always told that everyone has to make a living, and the people who serve you are in control of what they bring you. It’s best not to piss them off.” She laughed.
“Do you need a ride home?” Seth eyed her legs; they seemed to go on forever.
“Um, up here, Dr. Thomas.” Charlie had an eyebrow raised.
“Sorry!” Seth actually blushed.
Charlie knew right then she had him. She smiled. “I live right around the corner. I’ll be okay.”
“No. This is downtown Boston, and it’s one o’clock in the morning. I’ll walk you home.”
He did just that, fighting the urge to hold her hand. He hadn’t had many serious relationships because his career occupied most of his time. During his last relationship, his girlfriend had cheated on him because “he was never there.” Seth had actually laughed in her face, considering he had warned her from the beginning that he worked very long hours. It had hurt, but he had gotten over it.
Right now he was wondering how old Charlie was. He was thirty and guessed she was barely twenty. They got to Charlie’s door and she turned to face him.
“Thank you for walking me home. Did you want to come in? Maybe for a coffee?” Charlie searched his face; she could tell he was nervous.
“I have early rounds in the morning, but I guess one cup of coffee won’t hurt.”
Charlie smiled and unlocked the door. She walked in and kicked her shoes off. “Make yourself comfortable,” she called over her shoulder as she went to the kitchen.
Seth admired the apartment. It was beautifully decorated, but not too girly. It had just the right feel. “Have you lived here long?” He glanced at Charlie in the kitchen, measuring coffee grounds.
“Almost a year now.” When Charlie re-entered the room, she noticed Seth studying a picture of her and Steve. “That’s my ex; he plays football at Harvard.”
“Bad break up?” Okay, now he was pretty sure she was single.
Charlie sat on the couch and pulled her legs beneath her. “No, it was mutual. I work long hours and we didn’t see each other much.”
Seth sat on the other side of the couch. He looked around the apartment, getting a feel for how she lived.
“I don’t bite you know.” Charlie smiled.
“Oh, yeah well.” Seth blushed again and looked anywhere but at her.
“Do I make you nervous, Dr. Thomas?” Charlie teased.
Seth locked eyes with Charlie; she was baiting him. “It’s Seth.”
The coffee pot beeped and Charlie excused herself. She poured two cups and peeked around the corner. “Cream? Sugar?”
“Both.” Seth smiled and admired the way her long hair brushed her shoulders.
Charlie came back out, gave him his cup, and sat back down. She took a sip and put her cup down on the coffee table.
“Thank you for letting me fly solo last week.”
“Well, you’re very talented, Dr. Youngblood.”
“It’s Charlie.”
Seth couldn’t believe how nervous he was. His hands were sweating now, concomitant with the growing urge to kiss her.
“Wow…I should go.” Seth got up and ran his hand through his hair.
Charlie arose gracefully and walked to him. “Do I make you nervous, Seth?”
The dress exposed creamy white skin, and Seth wanted to stroke it just once. Her tongue darted out, moistening her bottom lip, and Seth groaned. He turned away, trying to find his jacket.
“I really think I should go.” Seth crossed to the door.
Charlie tilted her head. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No. Look, Dr. Youngblood…”
“It’s Charlie, remember?”
“Okay, Charlie. I can’t stay here with you.”
“Why not?” She took another step toward him. He was slowly being backed into the door.
“Because I want to kiss you right now.”
“Then kiss me.” She took another step and stood right in front of him.
“We work together.”
“True.”
“It could get complicated.”
“A kiss is just a kiss, Seth.”
The older doctor looked at her helplessly. Heaven help him, he wanted to taste her. He tugged her to him and his hand palmed her cheek. He looked into her eyes and leaned in. Their lips met in a soft kiss. Charlie hummed softly and Seth pulled her in more tightly. He parted her lips, slid in his tongue and explored. He turned them and pinned Charlie to the door.
Her hands went to his hair. It was soft and she threaded her fingers through it. She felt Seth’s hand at her waist. Damn, he knew how to kiss a woman! It was slow and sensual and when he finally pulled away, Charlie was all kinds of turned on.
“Okay, now I really need to go.” Seth was breathing hard. He was so fucking turned on, and his cock was rock hard.
“Yes.” Charlie was trying to right herself. “I think that’s a good idea.”
“Goodnight, Charlie.” Seth opened the door. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Goodnight, Seth.” Charlie shut the door and rested her back against it. “Holy shit!”
On the other side of the door, Seth had his palm on it. “Holy shit!”
~*~
A few weeks later, Mark was driving to the warehouse club to meet everyone. When he pulled up, he noticed he was the first one there. He knew Paul wasn’t far behind, because he had called and said he was on his way. Tyler and Damon were five minutes out.
Mark hopped out of the car and reached in to grab his jacket. He had almost made it to the front door when he noticed a group of guys headed toward him.
“Fuck.” Mark looked around. He wasn’t going to run, he knew that. He could generally hold his own, but then he noticed there were at least six guys. He pushed his arm in, trying to protect his ribs.
“Hey, Andrews!”
One of Sabino’s players was crossing the parking lot headed toward him.
“I’m not in the mood guys. And six against one is really shitty, even for you guys.”
“Make that two.” Greg called out, stepping out of the club.
“Look, Andrews, believe it or not, we aren’t here to fight. You pack a hard right hook. But that’s not the only reason. We really took to heart what Paul said at the game. The last thing we want is to be on his shit list.”
Paul pulled up and immediately noticed the six men surrounding Mark and Greg. His blood boiled and rage rose to the surface.
“Goddammit!”
Paul flew from the car and ran. He grabbed one of the guys and slammed him up against the club’s wall.
“Paul, wait!” Mark hurried and placed a hand on Paul’s shoulder, trying to ease him back. “They weren’t starting a fight.”
Paul eyed the football player against the wall with a narrowed glare. “Is that true?”
“Yes,” he croaked.
Paul let him down. “Well then what the fuck are you all doing out here?”
“Look, we’re tired of this shit. It’s our senior year, and we just want to put all this bullshit behind us.”
“Well you picked a strange way of doing it.” Paul practically growled.
Damon and Tyler arrived and took in the scene. “Jesus Christ, these guys don’t quit!” Damon shouted. He slammed out of the car with Tyler right beside him in a flash.
“
Ohhhh, no you don’t.” Damon stopped Tyler with a palm placed gently on his chest. “You are not getting hurt.”
“What the fuck, Damon?”
“Stay here.” Damon approached the group, hands on hips, a disgusted look on his face. “Problem?”
“No. And we’re sorry, Youngblood — about your boyfriend.”
Damon motioned Tyler over. “Yeah well, that was all kinds of fucked up even for you guys.”
One of them came up to Tyler and put his hand out. “Let’s end this now. What do you say, Dion?”
They shook hands. It was an uneasy alliance, but maybe the fighting was over for good. They headed inside, but Paul stayed out with the Sabino team. He winked at Mark and told him he’d be in shortly.
“You all better be on the up and up. If you go after any of them, especially Mark, I’ll end you. Is that understood?”
“Yeah, Paul. We get it. Look we just want to the rest of the year to go peacefully. I think most us are just done with the bullshit. Besides, the hospital bills are pissing our parents off!”
“Just because we’re gay doesn’t make us weak.” Paul pointed at them.
“Yeah, we kinda got that the last time they came after us.” The whole team laughed quietly.
Paul started to leave and turned back. “I really hope you guys are serious. I would hate for anything to happen to any of you.” He winked and went inside.
Mark was waiting at the bar. He was wearing tight jeans and a dark blue button up shirt that made his eye color even more pronounced. He was beautiful and it made Paul’s heart beat a little faster.
“Hey, sexy.” Paul kissed him.
“Were you a good boy?” Mark smiled and hugged him.
“Well they’re all still breathing…so yeah, I guess.”
“You nearly scared that one kid to death.” Paul’s size was impressive, but it was his dead calm demeanor when he was pissed that really scared them shitless.
“Well I deliberately chose the kid whose brother I got into a fight with my freshman year. Let’s just say I’m pretty sure he remembers how that went.”
“You got into a fight?” Mark’s brows rose.
Paul laughed. “Well, yeah. He was bigger than I was and was picking on me. Let’s just say I put him in the hospital.”
The Harder They Fall Page 14