I smile at the memory. And the very private one in her office tonight when she came on my hand. “Sorry, but I refuse to hide the doctor.”
His face turns to stone. “You’re going to fuck up everything I’ve worked hard to do for six very long months.”
“I have confidence in you and your skills. It’s why I’m paying for your shoe fetish and new waiting room furniture. You need to trust me.”
He shakes his head. “This better not be a game.”
I bring my hand that I’ve yet to wash to my face. Her scent brings me back to when she fell apart in my arms.
And now I’m hard while sitting across from my friend and attorney.
“You know I don’t play games. I don’t do anything that isn’t completely deliberate and thought out.”
He points to me. “You’d better not. Not only do I want you to remain a free man, but I don’t need your family on my ass if you’re charged.” He takes that finger and stabs his mahogany desk. “I also don’t need this mark on my firm when a jury finds you guilty of murder. I have a reputation and right now you’re fucking with it by not walking the straight and narrow.”
I adjust my hard-on before I stand to set him straight. “You know me, which means you know I’m not going to do anything to fuck up my life. I’ll handle Dr. Dillon in my own way. If anyone asks about her, tell them I’m in need of therapy to deal with my wife’s tragic demise.”
He rolls his eyes.
“Doctor-patient confidentiality. Stick that up the District Attorney’s ass and see how he likes it.”
Art spins his chair around and looks out the floor-to-ceiling windows of his high-rent offices in one of the poshest buildings in Redmond.
I should know. My holdings corporation owns it.
He mutters, “Fuck me.”
“No,” I correct. “I plan on fucking my new psychologist. Eventually, that is.”
He swings his chair around. “Is this someone I can tell Tessa about?”
“Yeah,” I answer immediately.
“Really?”
He’s surprised. He should be. I’ve never said that before about anyone. They know Marcia was a business arrangement and a joke.
And not a funny one either.
I say no more. “Walk me out. I’ve got a shift first thing in the morning and need to get a couple hours of sleep.”
He shuts his MacBook and stalks past me. “You’re the biggest pain in the ass friend I have.”
I follow him out and hit the lights on my way. “I’m your only friend.”
He punches a slew of keys on the security system before swinging the door open. “Which makes it even worse that you’re putting me through this shit.”
I hit the button to the elevator and cross my arms. When he finally joins me, I lift my chin. “As if I haven’t been there for you and Tessa. I promise not to fuck this up. How about next month’s rent is on me for your emotional sacrifice.”
“It’s the least you can do.” The elevator dings. Art steps inside and punches the button for the lobby with too much force.
“Easy on my elevator. This thing is top of the line.”
He stares at the numbers counting down from the top floor, because I don’t fuck around when it comes to my friends. “Tessa’s going to want to meet your doctor.”
“I need a week. Maybe two.”
“You’re the cockiest son of a bitch I know.”
“Don’t talk shit about my mother. She’ll whack you over the head with a wooden spoon.”
Art stuffs his hands in his pockets and mutters, “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
12
Master of All Things
Aria
I put my car in park and grab my phone that just vibrated.
Hero – Good morning, Doctor.
Muppet jumps over the console and lands on my lap, causing my phone to fall into no-man’s land, where french fries go to shrivel up and die.
“Umph.” I try to settle my dog who’s too big to jump around the car when I jerk from a rap on my window.
Briar is standing there, her blue eyes—the only thing we have in common that remotely makes us look like sisters—are as tired as ever. One brow is cocked and she doesn’t stop her slow, rhythmic knocking.
I hit the button to lower my window. “What the hell? You scared me.”
“Boo.” She reaches in and pulls Muppet through the window even though he’s far too big for such things and wraps her arms around him. “There’s my nephew. Are you here to spend the day with Auntie Briar? I bought you sweet potato treats. You’re gonna love them almost as much as you love me.”
“I love you, too, Briar,” I drawl to get her attention while I dig for my phone.
She shifts my dog and holds him like a baby on her hip and he actually wraps his front legs around her neck. “I told you he was going to love me more.”
“I let him sleep with me last night,” I counter.
She leans in and snuggles his neck. “It’s about time you let a man into your bed.”
As if on cue, my phone vibrates again.
Hero – Now you’re going to ignore me?
Yes. Yes, I might.
I’m also going to ignore Briar’s comment about a man in my bed. “Please don’t spoil him too much. Leave some of that for me to do. I really want to bond with him.”
She takes his leash from me and hooks it to his collar. “I’ll try, but there’s really no such thing as spoiling a dog too much. Especially not one as cute and fluffy and smart as my nephew.”
My phone vibrates again.
I sigh.
“You’d better go.” She puts Muppet down, and he yanks on the leash so hard it pulls her petite frame to the side. “Someone is anxious for their doctor.”
If she only knew.
“I’ll be home early tonight.” I did not tell her about my little visit with the police yesterday and don’t plan to. “Well, maybe not early. But I won’t be late again.”
“Whatever time is fine.”
“You’re the best.”
“You know me, nothing but easy-fucking-breezy.” Something in her expression changes before she adds, “Just text when you’re on your way.” I don’t have the time to dig deeper on what that means when she waves me off. “Go fix the world and be perfect.”
“I love you!” I call as she walks away from me. “Love you, too, Muppet!”
I roll up the window. It’s cool and gray and starting to mist. I crank the heat and grab my cell so a certain man won’t send anyone to follow me again. The police are following him, he had someone follow me, and now the police have me pegged as the first woman he’s been seen with since his wife was murdered.
This is not a radar anyone wants to be on.
They can focus on each other and forget about me.
Hero – I’d like to make an appointment.
Me – Sorry, I was driving. I don’t text and drive. It’s dangerous.
Me – And I’m not your doctor.
He responds instantly.