It's Always Been You

by Elle Wright

  “Oh my,” Gloria said, clasping her hand over her heart. “I’m sorry. I interrupted something.”

  Love glanced back at the couch and her eyes widened. “Mom—”

  “It’s cool, Lovely. You are newlyweds. I guess I should have booked a hotel room. It’s just that usually I stay with you, and I was looking forward to bonding time.”

  “Mom, you know I don’t have a problem with you staying here. It’s just—”

  “Oh good,” Gloria said. “I’ll just use the downstairs bedroom. You won’t even know I’m here. I promise.”

  She pulled her cell phone out and placed a call. Drake and Love stood speechless as she connected with an old friend, made plans for dinner and gushed about her now married daughter. When Gloria clicked off, she yawned and announced she was going to take a nap because she hadn’t been able to sleep on the red-eye.

  It wasn’t until they heard the slam of the downstairs bedroom door that Love said, “We’re screwed.”

  Nodding, Drake said, “I know.”

  Chapter 10

  The hospital elevator door opened and Love zoomed out and down the hall toward the lounge. She had to think. She was still married to Drake, and they hadn’t even hired an attorney yet, hadn’t talked about getting an annulment or divorce since they’d returned from Las Vegas. And her mother was there, staying with her—and Drake.

  It had been a week since Gloria had shown up on her doorstep. Drake had moved in temporarily, to keep up appearances. Every night they’d retreated to bed together. Every morning Drake woke up, showered and dressed, leaving before the crack of dawn. Yes, they slept in the same room, but Drake had insisted on sleeping on the floor. She suspected he hadn’t done much sleeping, but she hadn’t called him on it. Things had gone quiet between them. A week before, he’d made her climax so many times the memories made her quiver with yearning. Yet they still hadn’t resolved anything.

  Love had kept busy carting her mother around during her off time. They’d already seen several specialists, and the diagnosis had been confirmed. It was peripheral artery disease, or PAD. Oftentimes, patients with PAD confuse their symptoms with neuropathy or something else entirely. As a result, it’s often undiagnosed. In her mother’s case, Gloria thought she was just “getting old” and failed to tell her doctors all of her symptoms.

  They’d worked with a nutritionist on a diet plan that Love hoped would help control Gloria’s diabetes. Next, they were set to see a surgeon to discuss the amputation recommendation that Gloria’s Nevada doctor had given. The thought of her mother losing a foot and a leg made Love sick to her stomach, and she was willing to do anything possible to prevent it.

  “Love?”

  She froze, turning slowly. Derrick stood there smiling at her, with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. “What are you doing here?” she asked him.

  He held the flowers out to her. “Peace offering?”

  Love scanned the area, noting the interested glances from the nurses and other staff on the floor. The news of her marriage to Drake hadn’t hit the hospital ticker yet, but she’d made it a practice of not bringing her personal life into the job. Every second of the day, a staff member was involved in some mess at their workplace. The hospital really was a den of scandal, fodder for the next television medical drama.

  Derrick was dressed in a slim-fit blue suit with a mini check pattern. He wore his clothes well, spending thousands on tailoring and ties. His slate watch and his bald head gleamed under the hospital lights. As he approached her, she instinctively backed up a step, needing to keep some distance between them.

  He stopped in his tracks, lowering his extended hand and letting out a heavy sigh. “Can we go somewhere?” he asked under his breath.

  Clutching the strap of her bag, she considered him for a moment. There was a time when she’d have done anything for Derrick. He was everything she’d thought she’d wanted in a man. They had the same goal of settling down in a suburban area and starting a family. While Drake dreamed of nightlife in the big city, Derrick was satisfied spending evenings at home, each of them working on their laptops next to each other on the couch. They’d been happy together. Well, she was happy. So happy that she’d never batted an eye when he’d announced he had taken an assignment in California for a year. She’d actually encouraged him to go follow his dream. The Harper family owned and operated a medical supply company. He’d spent years proving that he could take over the reins from his father, and it had paid off nicely when he’d stepped into the vice president of supply chain and logistics role, in their Michigan office.

  As hurt as she’d been, she could look at him now and still see the amazing man he was. He’d made mistakes—a lot of them—but he wasn’t a bad guy. Never had been. And she wasn’t totally blameless in the downfall of their relationship. She’d promised monthly visits, but had canceled all of them due to some work thing or another. In reality, she’d been content in the long-distance relationship, and not inclined to make visiting him a priority. She’d been distracted with work and her patients. And he’d begged her for time. Eventually, he’d found someone who’d given him the time Love wouldn’t.

  It still didn’t make it right that he’d cheated. Or the tactless way he’d ended it with her. The breakup had devastated her, knocked the wind out of her. He’d hurt her beyond words, and forgiveness was a long way off.

  “Derrick, I think we’ve said all we have to say at this point. You made your choice. It’s been a year, and you can’t come waltzing back in here with a ring and flowers like you didn’t break my heart.”

  The flowers were beautiful, though. The large, colorful arrangement featured a variety of blooms in magenta and orange, including several snapdragons, her favorite. Since they weren’t in season, she figured he’d paid a pretty penny for the bouquet. The fragrance wafted to her nose, and she took the bouquet from him, inhaling the sweet scent. It reminded her of bubble gum. Memories of nights in her mother’s greenhouse assaulted her. She’d spend hours inside, immersing herself in the different smells as she’d studied. It was her peaceful hiding place when her parents were divorcing. Drake had often met her there, held her as she’d cried.

  The thought of Drake made her spine stiffen. He’d been so distant lately, and she felt helpless. So much had happened between them, it was hard to figure a way around everything.

  “Love, please. Ten minutes. That’s all I’m asking for,” Derrick said.

  “I know you want to talk, but it’s not possible,” she told him. No matter what happened with Drake, she had to find a way to send Derrick away.

  Sighing, she continued, “You worked with my father to manipulate me. Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused?”

  Love hadn’t seen her father since that day in his office. The day she’d defended Drake and their relationship before storming out. She had attempted to mend fences with her dad, but his secretary had informed her that he’d left town for a conference.

  “That’s why I wanted to talk to you,” Derrick said. “I was wrong to go to your father. I was upset and jealous. During our relationship, you’d always told me you and Drake were only friends. I never believed that was all it was, but I dealt with it because I loved you and wanted a life with you. Then you married him, Love.”

  She glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot. The last thing she needed was to be the subject of the hospital rumor mill. Derrick had seemed skeptical when she’d described her friendship with Drake to him before. The two men had never really gotten along, which made it difficult in the beginning of their relationship. Derrick had told her several times that he thought Drake was in love with her, and she’d refuted his claims fervently.

  “It made me rethink so many moments in our relationship,” Derrick continued, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I want to believe that what we had was real, but seeing you wi
th him, watching the closeness between you two, pissed me off. There is a level of understanding and acceptance between you that we never had. Part of me knew that’s why you never really cared enough to visit me in California. You didn’t need my companionship because you already had his. He fulfills that for you. Yes, I handled it all wrong. I hurt you, which was the last thing I ever wanted to do because I care for you so much. But you hurt me, too, Love.”

  His words hit her in her gut. Swallowing roughly, she nodded. “I know. But we can’t go back and undo that now. Too much has happened.”

  Derrick bowed his head. “I still love you.”

  Before Love could respond, a voice came from behind her. “Unfortunately for you, that doesn’t matter now.”

  Love whirled around. Drake was standing behind her, a chart in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. “Drake? Where did you come from?”

  He shot her a wary glance, before turning his attention to Derrick. “I know Love has told you to leave her alone. Yet you’re still here. And with flowers this time. Where’s the ring? Ready for a repeat of Vegas? Instead of a door slamming in your face, how about my fist?”

  “Drake,” Love croaked. “Stop.”

  But Drake wasn’t paying her any attention. He was focused squarely on Derrick, his jaw set in determination and his eyes full of ire.

  “I would comment, but I don’t think you want to hear what I have to say,” Derrick said.

  “You’re right, I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”

  Derrick stepped forward, his nostrils flared. “You don’t want none, Drake. So I suggest you walk away.”

  Love gasped. Did Derrick just take it there? She wedged herself between them. “Hey, please stop this. I’m at work.”

  “You heard her, Harper,” Drake taunted. “We’re at work. Go somewhere else, and take those damn flowers and that sorry-ass apology with you.”

  Derrick let out a humorless chuckle. “Feeling threatened?”

  Drake shrugged. “Nah, man. I know the history between you two. All of it.”

  “You know nothing about me. I’m even going to venture to say you don’t really know anything about my relationship with Love. Maybe a few things, but not everything. You forget, I know Love, too. She’s not the type to share everything.”

  Drake frowned, caught her gaze for a minute. His eyes softened a bit before he turned a hard glare back toward Derrick. “I know all I need to know, and let me tell you something you may not know. I don’t care about the relationship you and Love had. I just care that you know it’s over.”

  “Maybe,” Derrick said simply.

  “Definitely,” Drake countered. “At the end of the day, you’re standing here proposing a reconciliation with my wife. And you don’t see the problem with this?”

  Love vaguely registered the whispers around her. She met the eyes of several of the staff around her, as they registered the “tea” that Drake just poured. Her days of flying under the radar at work were over.

  “Drake,” she muttered under her breath. “We have an audience.”

  He peered down at her, a small smile on his lips. “I know,” he said. “I don’t care.”

  “I care,” she snapped. “We have to work here.”

  His jaw tightened. “Fine. Handle this, then.” He motioned toward Derrick. “Because if you don’t, I will.”

  Drake turned to leave, but she gripped his wrist, halting his retreat. “Don’t go. We need to talk.”

  “Not here, and not in front of him.”

  Sighing, Love glanced at Derrick. “You have to go.”

  “Can we meet for coffee later?” he asked.

  “No, she can’t.” Drake’s voice was louder this time. “You don’t want this kind of problem with me, man. If you don’t get the hell away from her—”

  Love whirled around, her eyes darting about the floor. She knew what that meant. Although Drake was from a wealthy family, he’d been in several fights in high school due to his hot temper. The boys had tended to try him because they’d thought he was a soft rich boy who would take it. “Drake, go in the lounge. I’ll handle this, and we’ll talk.” When he didn’t move, she added, searching his eyes, “Please.”

  The kiss that followed caught her off guard. It wasn’t sweet; rather, it was hard and possessive. His tongue pushed past her lips, and his hands were in her hair, holding her to him. She moaned as he devoured her mouth with passion in front of the entire floor. She felt that kiss from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Electricity sizzled around them and she had no choice but to give in to his demanding mouth. Then it was over and he was walking away from her.

  On shaky legs, she looked up at Derrick, handing him the flowers. “I’m sorry, Derrick. You have to go. Drake is my husband, and you need to respect that.”

  Pivoting on her heels, she took a steadying breath, and left Derrick standing there.

  * * *

  Drake paced the lounge area, after kicking everybody out. The last person, one of his colleagues, had just scurried off when Love walked in, locking the door behind her.

  “Drake, what the hell was that?”

  He didn’t have an answer for his behavior. The only thing he knew was the blinding jealousy, the burning sensation in his chest, when he’d encountered the two of them standing so close together. The flowers in her hands, and the way she’d looked at the other man. Despite what Love had said, it was obvious to him that she still felt something for Derrick. Just thinking about it made his stomach clench.

  He’d been reckless, confronting Derrick the way he had in front of the staff, his colleagues. It would be fodder for the gossips for weeks, but he didn’t care at that moment. The only thing he’d cared about was putting his fist through Derrick’s face.

  “Drake?” Love’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts. “Talk to me.”

  He shook his head, resuming his rapid pacing back and forth. “I can’t right now.”

  “Why are you so angry?”

  “Why aren’t you angry? He doesn’t even deserve your time, but you gave him plenty of it today.”

  She recoiled as if he’d slapped her, her hand flying to her mouth. “How long... What do you think you saw, Drake?”

  “It doesn’t matter. You were falling for it, even though you didn’t want to.”

  “I wasn’t. I told him to leave, that too much had happened.”

  He’d heard her words, but he could read her better than she knew. He knew when Love was wavering, when she was doubting herself and her decision, and when she was attracted to someone. He’d seen the way she eyed Derrick as he approached, the appreciation in her eyes. It had taken every ounce of restraint in him not to kick the retractable banner about cardiac health that he’d cowered behind in order to eavesdrop. Eventually, he hadn’t been able to take it anymore and had stepped forward, if only to let the other man know that Love was off-limits.

  “Listen, Love. Whether you believe it or not, he won’t give up. And you know why? Because you gave him an ear, you accepted his peace offering and engaged in a trip down memory lane.”

  Realization dawned in her pretty brown eyes. They were eyes that had haunted his dreams in the past week, made him retreat inward to deal with the gamut of emotions he’d experienced since he’d made love to her a second time.

  “I told you,” she said. “Everything is different between us. And you promised it wouldn’t be.”

  Averting his gaze, he studied the scratch on the tile, the one he and Love had put there months ago when they were moving the heavy table to the other side of the room.

  “We have to talk about this, Drake.”

  His heartbeat quickened when she grabbed his hand and squeezed. When he looked into her eyes, he knew he was lost. She was right; everything had changed. He
couldn’t pretend anymore that he didn’t want her. “I can’t do this right now, Love. Seriously.”

  He glanced at his watch. His worst fears had been realized when he’d been relegated to scrubbing in on appendectomies. Before Dr. Leon knew he’d married his daughter, Drake had been on track to scrub in with Dr. Benjamin Porter on an off pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Instead, Love’s father had assigned another less skilled resident to the coveted spot.

  Love’s chin trembled and she stared down at her hands.

  Guilt slammed into Drake like a Mack truck. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “We’ll talk. Just not here. We can have dinner tonight, and discuss it.”

  She bit her lip. “I can cook, if you’d like.”

  Drake had managed to avoid being in the kitchen alone with her over the past week. He didn’t think he wanted to take the chance of showing his ass again this soon. “Maybe we can go out to our spot.”

  The Mexican restaurant by the mall was their favorite place to eat out. Love was enamored with the gooey queso dip, and he appreciated the strong drinks. He definitely needed a stiff one if they were actually going to have this conversation.

  She smiled, and he found himself responding with one of his own. He leaned in, as if he didn’t have any control of himself.

  “Drake.” The way she said his name, a mixture of a soft whisper and a groan, made him want to pin her on that table and make love to her right then and there.

  “Love,” he said, his voice low and unrecognizable even to his own ears. He swallowed past a lump that had wedged itself in his throat.

  “Your phone is ringing.”

  He jerked back, pulling his phone off its clip. He’d been so entranced that he hadn’t even felt the vibration. The 911 on the screen was his cue to exit. “I have to go.” Good thing, too. There was no telling what would have happened if they hadn’t been interrupted by the page. “Meet me at the spot at five o’clock?”