by Ann Charles
“So you already lied about us?”
“Officially, you having birthed my children makes me a father, otherwise known as a family man.” He slid his wallet back into his pants. “Now I need to borrow them, along with you, in order to get the promotion.”
“No.”
“I’d be willing to compensate you financially for your time.” His gaze lowered to my chest. “Or reward you physically if your boyfriend isn’t satisfying your needs. I was very good at bringing you to orgasm if you’ll remember.”
I hated him to death with my eyes. “You selfish bastard.”
“Baring our teeth now, I see. Good.” He sauntered toward me. “Are you getting excited?”
“What in the hell is wrong with you?” I gaped at him. “Did you hit your head somewhere in between the time you signed away your rights to those kids and today?”
“We were good together, Violet, and you know it.”
“No, I was good, you were just average. But I was foolishly star struck, and you took advantage of my naivety and left me in one heck of a predicament.” I glared at him. “I can assure you that I have absolutely no desire to take up where we left off physically, nor will I act the part of your wife or allow my children anywhere near you.”
His face tightened, pinching into a cruel expression. “Do the children know my name?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
His vile sneer made my heart pitter-patter in my throat. “Yes,” I whispered.
“We made beautiful children, you and me.” He reached out to touch my cheek, but I stepped back, bumping into the wall.
Goosebumps crawled up my arms at the creepiness in his gaze as he closed the distance between us.
“Our daughter has your eyes.” His voice had lowered to a foreboding level. “Even the little flecks of gold amidst the hazel.”
How did he know that? “Stay away from my children.”
“Our son has my love of science. Based on some of his recent choices from the library, I bet he’d love to see what I do in the neutrino lab.”
The son of a bitch had been playing ant farm again, this time with a magnifying glass. I jabbed him in the chest. “Do not come near my family again.”
“Help me get that promotion and I’ll be transferred out of your life for good.”
“Go get Susan, she’d love to pretend to be your wife.”
“I don’t want Susan.” He shoved me back into the wall, my boot heel hitting the wood baseboard with a loud thud. “It took me too long to remove her from my life last time. I have children, so why not use them as they were intended.”
A red fury hazed my vision. “Go fuck yourself, Rex.” I shoved him back.
He stumbled over Ray’s trashcan, using the desk chair to keep himself from falling. “You like it rough now, Violet?” He rushed me, grabbing me by my blazer lapels and yanking me against him. “I can play rough.”
“Get your hands off of me, you arrogant asshole.” I stomped down on his toe with my boot heel.
He yowled in pain, pushing me back into the wall again. This time both heels hit the baseboard with a loud clunk-clunk, along with my elbow.
“It’s time for you to leave, Rex,” I rubbed my throbbing elbow, stepping away from the wall. “Or I’ll call the cops.”
“If you don’t help me get that promotion, I’ll go public about being the father of your children.”
I hesitated. I needed to shield Addy and Layne. If they found out about Rex, they’d want to know more, and then he’d really have me squeezed in a vise. “You signed a paper giving up the right to that title,” I reminded him.
“Oops.” He covered his lips like he’d done something wrong. “Oh no, I accidentally let the truth slip out. My mistake. I’m so sorry.”
My fists itched to connect with his face.
“Violet, the solution is simple.” He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. “Dump your boyfriend, tell your kids I’m your latest lover, and act out a few scenes in front of the right people. Then I’m on my way and all of this frustration will disappear.”
“First of all,” I held up a finger, “if you come back in this office again, I’ll slap a restraining order on your ass. Second,” I held up another finger, “I don’t know much about these family-loving higher ups, but I wonder how they’ll feel when they learn that you left me pregnant and alone ten years ago. Or what they’ll think when I mention that I spent the last ten years raising my children without a single penny of support from you.” I walked over and stood by the front door. “Do you think they’ll want to give you that promotion then, Rex? Or will it go to some other employee who’s actually invested time, money, and love in a family?”
“You stupid bitch!” His calm demeanor crinkled, replaced by a snarl. His hand snaked out, latching onto my arm, squeezing my wrist hard enough to make me yell out. He tugged me, cussing and struggling, away from the door and dragged me toward the back hallway. “I’m going to teach you a lesson about obedience, Violet.”
I tried to twist free, digging in my boot heels, but his grip clamped on tighter, shooting pain up my arm. “Let go of me!” I swiped the stapler off Ray’s desk as we passed. “If you don’t take your hands off—”
The front door slammed open, banging into the wall behind me. I registered footfalls on the wood floor right before Doc flew past me, smashing into Rex. Suddenly, my wrist was free. I stumbled backwards, bumping into Ray’s desk.
On the other side of the desk, Doc had a handful of Rex’s shirt, pinning the jerk against the wall.
“Don’t touch her again,” Doc said in a quiet but menacing voice.
Rex’s face was blood red, his eyes wide with surprise or shock, I couldn’t tell. He tried to peek around Doc. “Violet, call off your guard dog.”
“He’s not my guard dog.” I crossed my arms.
Rex hit Doc with a sneer. “And if I touch her?”
I bristled at his veiled threat and beat Doc to the punch. “You’ll wake up in a bathtub full of ice water with your kidneys gone.”
Rex looked at me, his mouth catching flies.
Doc lowered his head. His shoulders shook in silent laughter.
“What?” I said to Doc’s back. “That sounded badass, didn’t it?”
Rex struggled in Doc’s hold, but Doc had more upper body strength. Finally he stilled again. “Is that a threat, Violet?” Rex asked. “Because if it is, I bet the cops would like to hear about it.”
Shit. I didn’t want Cooper learning about this, or Detective Hawke. I jutted my chin. “If you want to take this to the police, Doc will be playing poker this week with Deadwood’s only detective along with the Sheriff of Lawrence County.” I wasn’t sure if the sheriff part was true, but Doc had played with him in the past, so what the hell. “He’ll be sure to let them know how you were assaulting and battering a single mother while she was alone at her job. I’m sure it’ll help even more in that promotion pursuit.”
I heard the back door creak open. My pulse fluttered in panic. “Doc,” I whispered. “It’s Mona.”
He let Rex back down on his heels, stepping away from Rex as Mona sailed into the front office.
She stopped so fast when she saw Rex and Doc that Ben ran into her back. Her gaze shifted to me. “What’s going on?”
I considered using the ol’ Jedi mind trick on Mona, but instead fibbed with a big bright smile. “I was introducing Doc to Mr. Conner.”
Rex straightened his wrinkled collar, his face blotchy with red spots. He avoided her scrutiny. “It was interesting conversing with you both.” He headed for the door. “Violet, I’ll be in touch.”
“I wouldn’t advise it,” Doc told him.
“We’ll see what she decides.” With a sniff, Rex walked out under the gray sky and exited stage left.
“Doc? Vi?” Mona said, her forehead arched. “What just happened here?”
“Rex and I had a misunderstanding,” I came clean, sort of. “Doc paid us a visit t
o help straighten everything out.”
Ben chuckled. “I’ve seen misunderstandings like that before out behind the Blue Moon bar down in Rapid.”
Mona placed her hands on her hips, drilling me. “You knew Mr. Conner before he became your client, didn’t you?”
I nodded.
“One of these days, you and I are going to go to lunch and you’re going to explain to me exactly how you know him.”
“Okay.” I owed her that as my friend. “But only if you promise me that you won’t mention anything about this to Jerry.” I turned to Ben. “Or to Ray.”
“Mention what?” Ben asked, winking. He dropped into his chair and picked up the report he’d printed off earlier.
“My lips are sealed,” Mona said.
“Thank you,” I smiled at both of them.
Doc grabbed my purse from the back of my chair, handing it to me. “I’m taking Violet to lunch. We’ll be back in an hour.”
“Make it two.” Mona waved us goodbye and sat down. “She looks like she could use a long lunch.”
Doc led the way out the back door and across the parking lot to his car. He held open the door for me. While he walked around the back and slid behind the wheel, I sent Aunt Zoe a text message to make sure Addy was still doing okay.
“Where to?” he asked, his attention straight ahead.
“Your place.” My phone dinged. I looked at it. Addy was fine and sleeping. Good.
The Camaro rumbled to life. He backed out and headed toward his house, his focus locked on the road.
I got the feeling he was silent for a reason, contemplating something, probably why he’d ever taken up with a woman who had so many problems. I swallowed a bubble of nervous jabbering and watched the houses go by out the window, trying not to think about what had just happened with Rex.
Doc pulled up in front of his detached garage and hit the automatic door opener. After we rolled into the bay, he closed the door behind us, killing the engine. It ticked as we sat there. I wasn’t sure if I should reach for the door handle or apologize to Doc for messing up his world.
“Violet,” he said, his hand still gripping the wheel. “I owe you an apology.”
Huh? He did? I was the one with the apology, not him. I looked at his stony profile. This better not be the opening line for our breakup scene. “For what?”
“I lost control back there.”
Ohhhh, this was about his control issues again. Whew! “Dear me, Doc,” I said, tongue in cheek. “Your control slipped. It appears you might actually be human after all.”
He turned to me. “You jest.”
“Of course I jest. I lose control every morning when I’m trying to get my kids ready for school. Do you have any idea how many times I have to tell them to get their dang shoes on before they do it?” I captured his hand, squeezing it. “I don’t mean to poke fun, but if you’re going to be involved with me and my kids, you’re periodically going to experience a total loss of control. But try to take comfort in the fact that you’ll always be more self-disciplined than me.”
“Okay.” A hint of a smile played on his lips. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“Not really.” I pulled up my sleeve. There were no red marks or signs of bruising on my wrist. “He made me want to jump on his back and go ape-shit on his head, though.”
“That would make a great circus act.” He pushed open his door. “Come on, you probably need some food.”
I always needed food. I stepped out of the car, coming around the front to where he was waiting for me at his workbench. “How did you know Rex was in there with me? Did you see him walk by your office window?”
“I heard noises through the wall.” He hung a wrench on the pegboard over the bench. “Some yelling, a few thuds. It was enough commotion that I thought you and Ray were finally duking it out.” He tucked a pair of pliers into a tall tool chest. “I came over to make sure you were okay. When I saw Rex manhandling you, I sort of snapped.”
I leaned my hip against the workbench. “You moved so damned fast. I bet Rex didn’t even know what hit him.”
He rested his palms on the bench. “I remember looking in the door and seeing his hands on you. Next thing I knew I had him against the wall.” He turned to me. “I can’t remember anything in between except this roaring sound in my head.”
I could tell by his taut expression that he wasn’t thrilled about the whole thing. “I’m sorry, Doc.”
“For what?”
“This mess with Rex is my fault.”
“You aren’t responsible for his actions, Violet.” He reached over and cupped my jaw, rubbing his thumb down my cheek. “Or for my reaction when someone threatens you.”
I sighed, feeling guilty for his conflict even though he'd let me off the hook. “I probably could’ve handled things better today, done less yelling maybe, but he pissed me off.”
He lowered his hand, catching mine and lacing our fingers together. “What happened?”
“I wouldn’t give him want he wanted so he played dirty, using the kids against me.”
“What did he want this time?”
“A family.”
“What?”
I explained what Rex was after and why, nodding in agreement when Doc let out a drum roll of expletives. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“It’s no wonder you want to remove his kidneys.”
I chuckled. “It sure sounded good at the time.”
“You certainly surprised me with that one, and your ex, too, going by his slack-jawed expression.” Doc slipped his hand around the nape of my neck, pulling me toward him. “Have I told you lately how crazy you make me, woman?”
“You mean like Patsy Cline’s version of crazy?”
His mouth tasted mine, tender with my lips. “I’m still working that out.” He swooped in for seconds, this time seeking a response.
I closed my eyes, trying to block out the madness of the last twenty-four hours and just enjoy being kissed.
Doc’s lips left mine too soon. “I need to make you lunch.”
I’d rather have him for lunch. I glanced over his shoulder and noticed a familiar picture hanging on the wall next to the light switch. I leaned to the side. “What’s that?”
Doc walked over and stroked his fingers down the poster of me in my Interstate 90 billboard stance with my blood red lips, teased hair, and kohl-circled eyes. “It’s my babe calendar for the garage, minus the calendar.”
“How did you get that?” I joined him in front of it.
“I pulled off the side of the road and took a picture, cropped it, and blew it up.”
I pointed at my tousled hair. “I look ridiculous.”
“Not ridiculous.” He stared at the poster, his head cocked to the side. “A little wild maybe with the way they have your hair, but ‘wild’ on you is sexy. That silk dress really shows off my favorite curves, and those red lips remind me of how you taste when you’re wearing that cherry flavored lip gloss.” Doc stepped back, leaning against the front fender of his car. “I thought about hanging it on the ceiling over my bed, but then I’d never get any sleep.”
I took off my blazer and hung it from a nail over the poster, covering half of it. “There, that’s better.”
Doc captured my hand and tugged me toward him. “Don’t cover up my favorite poster.”
“Can’t we get you another one?” I placed my hands on his chest. “Maybe one of those motivational posters with a kitten or puppy on it?”
“I like my hot babe. She motivates me in all sorts of ways.”
“Oh, yeah?” I pressed my hips into his. “Like how?”
“Let’s go inside and I’ll show you.”
“No.”
“No?”
I pressed again, feeling a response. “Show me here.”
He palmed my hips, arranging me against him more to his liking. “In the garage?”
I nodded, reaching for the button on his khakis. I didn’t want Harv
ey barging in on us. In Doc’s garage, we were safe, hidden from the world for a moment. “Unless you’re worried about getting your car a little messy.”
He raised one eyebrow as I pulled down his zipper. “You know I have a perfectly soft bed?”
“Yes, I’m familiar with your bed.” I slipped my hand inside the front of his pants. “And your shower. They’re both nice,” I squeezed him through his briefs, “and big.”
He sucked a breath in between his teeth. “I’m glad you’re happy with them.”
“I’m over the moon with the whole package.” My fingers found the waistband of his briefs. “Would you like me to show you how happy I am?”
He remained silent, his gaze locked onto mine as I slid my hand inside his waistband and felt my way south. His eyes darkened as I stroked. Watching the passion flare in his eyes and feeling the evidence of his lust for me had me licking my lips in anticipation.
“You do understand what’s going to happen next, don’t you?” His voice sounded taut.
“We’re going to play doctor, Doc?” I ran the heel of my palm down him, chuckling under my breath. “Is this a thermometer in your pants or are you just happy to see me?”
“I’m always happy to see you, Boots.” He pulled my hand out of his pants and spun me around so my butt was against the fender. Then he lifted me onto the hood, his lips taking mine in a hungry rush. I gave back as good as I got, wrapping my legs around him and locking my ankles behind his back. I hauled him closer, wanting him to make me forget about everything but his body possessing mine.
He caressed my breasts through my knit shirt, hefting the weight of them, teasing around the peaks until I couldn’t stand it and stripped off my shirt for him.
“Nice necklace,” he whispered as he lowered his mouth, arousing me through my pink satin bra. I gasped his name, holding him against me. He stepped back way too soon, his face flushed as he ogled me. His desire gave me a new confidence. I unclasped my bra, slipped it off, and tossed it on the hood behind me.
“Now what are you going to do?” I taunted, trailing my fingers over my skin, the flesh damp from his tantalizing tongue, cool to the touch.
