Doctor's Orders [The Martinis and Chocolate Book Club 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic)

by Lara Valentine

  “Really? It didn’t feel like a gigantic tree trunk up her ass? And it felt so good she was speechless? I mean, slap me on the ass and call me Sally! That impressive cock probably was ripping her in two!” Noelle rolled her eyes at the passage they had been reading.

  Lisa coughed as she laughed. “Dear Sally, anal sex with the right man can be an erotic, wonderful thing. It can feel really good.”

  Noelle shuddered at the thought. “No one is inserting a redwood in my ass, thank you very much. God gave my body an entrance and an exit, and I won’t go confusing the two.”

  Tori was the logical one and pointed out a flaw in her logic. “What about oral sex? Technically, that is an entrance and an exit. Although it is a hell of a lot more fun as an entrance.”

  Noelle’s mouth twisted with impatience. “I give head, if that’s what you’re asking. Although, if the guy doesn’t reciprocate, then no deal. But you know what I mean by an entrance and exit. You know—down there.”

  Sara laughed. “Down there? What are we, twelve? You mean your pussy and asshole.”

  All the women groaned and covered their faces, shaking heads.

  “Christ, Sara. Just because we read these books doesn’t mean we have to use the words.” Lisa laughed so hard she could barely get the words out.

  Sara pulled a face and turned her attention to Brianne. “Going back a few sentences, and speaking of erotic and wonderful, how are things going with Nate?”

  Brianne blushed a little at the turn the conversation had taken. No one really needed to know that she had taken down her entrance-and-exit signs for Nate. Her body was his unrestricted playground.

  “Just fine, thank you. Taking a survey?” Brianne answered primly.

  “Oooo, defensive. Good sign. You must be getting laid good these days. I remember those days.” Sara’s new baby boy was just a few months old and keeping her up almost 24/7.

  “You could say I have sex on a fairly regular basis.” Brianne tried to act nonchalant.

  “Get real, Brianne. Nate gives you the high hard one pretty much every day, doesn’t he? I assume that is why he never answers Conor’s calls anymore.” Lisa’s eyebrows arched in question.

  Okay, now she was really blushing. Nate was giving it to her at least once a day during the week and more on the weekends. He had turned her into a bona fide sex maniac. When she wasn’t doing it, she was thinking about doing it or planning when they could next do it. Nate had taken to using a gag on her so Kade wouldn’t be woken by the screaming when she came.

  “How much Nate gives it to me is no one’s business but my own. But the management thanks you for your interest.”

  Tori tucked her feet under her and threw down her e-reader on the table.

  “Seriously, Bri, sex life aside, how are things going with Nate? It would appear that you two are getting serious.”

  Brianne thought about the question carefully before answering.

  “Well, yes, we are serious. Nate spends a lot of nights at my house, and Kade and I spend time with Nate and his kids, too. Nate tries to spend time with Kade playing games or shooting hoops. He has been great since Rick left. Nate is wonderful, but I don’t want to rush him or make him feel pressured. I distinctly remember Nate saying it would be a cold day in hell if he ever got married again.”

  Nate’s divorce from his high school sweetheart had started amicably enough. They had simply grown apart as the years had passed. But the proceedings had turned nasty when Jennifer didn’t get everything she wanted in the divorce—namely the house, both cars, a boat, a vacation home, their investment portfolio, and lifelong alimony.

  “Yeah, I remember that, too,” said Lisa, “but you need to remember that Nate said that in the heat of the moment during a nasty divorce. From what I can see, you two sure act married. All that’s left is someone saying some magical words over you guys and you can fight about in-laws and mortgage payments.”

  “We would never fight about in-laws. I love Conor and Nate’s parents. You do, too, Lisa.”

  “Yes, but it has never stopped us from fighting about them.”

  Brianne chuckled as she pictured Lisa yelling about her in-laws and Conor threatening to spank her.

  “Well, I am working on the assumption that Nate doesn’t want to get married again. It’s fine. I don’t need to be a wife to be happy. I am happy with Nate right now. I don’t want to spend my time wishing for things that I don’t have.”

  She still felt badly for not telling him about Rick, that he had heard it from Lisa. She needed him to know she loved and trusted him more than anyone else. As long as he believed that, marriage was not a priority.

  “Have you heard anything about Rick? Have they found him?” Sara asked.

  “No. Sam says it looks like he picked up a pile of money from his Cayman accounts, and he and his boyfriend disappeared after that. He probably is traveling under an assumed name now. I don’t think he’s coming back. I know that Kade is hopeful. I walk a fine line between dashing all his hopes and allowing him to have some hope. Nate has been invaluable helping me with him.”

  In truth, Brianne loved having Nate around. It felt wonderful to feel like she wasn’t on her own all the time. She didn’t have to handle everything all by herself. They were a team. She had never felt that way with Rick. Rick had paid lots of attention to her until they got married. After that, it was his job to become a successful restaurateur. Everything else had been her job.

  Lisa’s eyes narrowed, and her mouth thinned in anger. She had never liked Rick in the first place.

  “There’s a special place in hell for Rick, and if there is any justice, it won’t include lubricant.”

  Tori laughed, and it completely transformed her usually sad features.

  “You want Rick to be rended anally? Is that even a word—rended? Isn’t this where the conversation started? What happened to erotic and wonderful with the right man?”

  Lisa’s mouth twisted. “Let’s just say I hope his new boyfriend is hung like a horse and only tops. Can I get an ‘Amen’?”

  All the women in unison shouted, “Amen!”

  Brianne glanced at the clock. It was time to pick up Kade from day camp. This was his last week. Thankfully, school would be starting next week.

  “As much fun as talking about asshole rending has been, I need to pick up Kade.”

  The others nodded in agreement, gathering their belongings and making plans for next week. Brianne had awesome friends.

  * * * *

  Brianne looked around the crowded playground for her son’s familiar face. Kids were running around in the August heat, swinging on swings, hanging on monkey bars, and tossing basketballs. Brianne wiped at the sweat on her neck and frowned as she scanned their faces for her son.

  “Brianne, what are you doing here?”

  Brianne turned at the familiar voice of one of the day camp counselors.

  “Hi, Nancy. I’m here to pick up Kade. Is he inside? I don’t see him out here.”

  Nancy looked puzzled.

  “Well, he already left. He left with his dad.”

  Brianne’s mouth hung open in shock.

  “Rick was here! Nancy, Rick is wanted by the police. If he was here, I need to let them know.”

  “No! I meant that Rick’s wife picked Kade up. I didn’t actually see Rick. It was his wife.”

  Brianne fought to keep her anger in check.

  “Why was Tami allowed to pick up Kade? She’s not on the list of authorized people. Only Rick and I are authorized.”

  Nancy’s smile faltered.

  “Well, Tami is Rick’s wife. I just assumed she was helping him out today. I didn’t think it was a big issue. Is this a problem?”

  Brianne gritted her teeth to hold her anger in check.

  “Yes, Nancy. This is a problem. There is absolutely no reason for Tami to be picking up Kade. For all I know, Rick called her and she is winging her way out of the country with my son in tow. There was a reason I never auth
orized her to pick up Kade. I need to call the police, and then I need to speak to your director.”

  Nancy’s face was ashen with the full import of Brianne’s words. Brianne had always liked Nancy but couldn’t feel any sympathy at that moment. If Tami was taking Kade to Rick, there would be hell to pay. Brianne pulled out her cell phone and started dialing Sam.

  * * * *

  Brianne sat in rush-hour traffic on McMullen-Booth Road, trying to control her anger and panic. Sam had assured her they would put out an Amber Alert for Kade immediately. He was going to go to Rick and Tami’s home personally to search as soon as they had hung up. The police were searching the area airports in case Tami was trying to take Kade out of the Tampa Bay area. They had also dispatched officers to question the staff at the day camp.

  After her call to the police, she ripped the director of Kade’s day camp a new asshole. If they hadn’t allowed Tami to leave with Kade, this wouldn’t be happening. The director had obviously been worried about a lawsuit and had frantically tried to find paperwork that authorized Tami to pick up Kade. Brianne knew they would find none. Brianne had been adamant that Tami not have Kade on her own. She didn’t feel that Tami was responsible enough. At the time, Rick had given her a token resistance but eventually gave in. She had always secretly suspected he felt the same way.

  Brianne had also called Nate and left a message. She didn’t want him to think she didn’t trust him to help her through this. The fact was she needed him right now. She was trying to be strong, but it was getting harder by the minute.

  Traffic inched northward, and Brianne was relieved to finally get to the Tampa Road exit, head toward her neighborhood, and pull into her garage. Sam had said the best place for her would be at home in case Tami brought Kade there. He would send a police officer to stay with her. If Tami did show up there with Kade, it was going to be all she could do not to kick Tami’s ass from here to Orlando for putting everyone through this.

  Brianne walked into the house and checked the answering machine. No messages. Her cell phone was eerily silent, too. She walked into Kade’s bedroom. It looked as it always did. LEGOs and action figures everywhere. The bed was barely made and shoes were scattered on the floor. Brianne lay down on the Star Wars bedspread and breathed in her son’s familiar scent. She finally allowed her tears to fall. This was a fucking nightmare. The thought that she might never see her son again was too horrible for her mind to process. She choked back sobs and clutched at Kade’s pillow.

  She didn’t know how long she lay there crying until she heard her cell phone ringing. Nate’s ring. She ran to answer it.

  “Nate!”

  “Oh my God, Bri. I just got your message. Tami took Kade? What the fuck was she thinking? I’m leaving the hospital now, sweetheart. Are you at the police station?”

  Brianne felt numbed as she shook her head then realized that Nate couldn’t see her.

  “No, I’m at home. The police said I should be here in case Tami brings Kade here.”

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can, honey. Just hang in there. I’m going to call Lisa and see if she can come sit with you until I get there.”

  Brianne knew that at this time of the day it would take Nate at least an hour to get from the hospital in the southern part of the county all the way to Palm Harbor. Tampa Bay was famous for its traffic jams and terrible drivers.

  “Okay, please drive carefully. I’m okay.”

  But she really wasn’t, and she could hear it in her own voice.

  “No, you’re not, Bri. And you don’t have to do this alone. We’re all here for you. I need to hang up now, honey. I’m in some nasty traffic. I’ll be there soon.”

  “Bye, Nate. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, baby. Hang in there for me.”

  Brianne sank back down on the bed and tried to calm her breathing. Was it only a few weeks ago that Kade had come home happy from his time with Rick and Tami? She remembered Kade’s excited face as he had described fishing off the boat and catching the biggest fish of all.

  The boat! Brianne sat straight up on the bed. Her heart went into overdrive, almost pounding its way out of her chest. The fucking boat! Tami could have taken Kade to that damn boat and sailed away by now. Brianne knew that was where they spent almost every weekend as long as the weather was good.

  She would call the police and Nate from the car. She grabbed her purse and keys and headed toward Clearwater Marina.

  Chapter 10

  “Brianne, you need to wait for us. We are almost there. Do not search the boat by yourself.”

  Brianne pulled into the Clearwater Marina and put her car in park.

  “They could be leaving now, Sam. I can’t wait for you or Nate. I have to get my son back.”

  Brianne hurried along the grayed and weathered docks toward Rick’s beloved boat The Impetuous.

  “Shit, Brianne. This could be dangerous. What if Tami is armed?”

  “I’m not going to just hop onto the boat, Sam. I will check things out. But I need to make sure the boat is here first then see if Kade is there. Oh, hell, the boat is there!”

  Brianne felt some relief seeing the boat in its familiar slip. At the very least, Tami hadn’t spirited Kade away via the Intracoastal.

  “Okay, good, Brianne. Just sit tight. We’re almost there. Traffic is a bitch, but we’re just down the street.”

  Brianne barely heard Sam’s voice as she caught sight of Kade fishing off the side of the boat. Relief swept through her body, and she sagged against a wooden pole as she drank in the sight of her beloved son.

  “He’s here, Sam. Kade is on the boat, fishing. He’s okay!”

  “Stay there, Brianne. We’ll get—”

  Brianne pressed the “end” button on her phone and dropped it in her purse. When she had spied Kade she had also seen Tami. Tami in a tiny pink bikini, drinking a Corona while lying on a chaise lounge. Just that quickly, relief was replaced by burning anger. Anger at Tami for putting her through the last few hours. Her spine stiffened, and her mouth thinned. One ass kicking coming up.

  * * * *

  Brianne climbed up the narrow gangplank and stepped over the railing of the boat. Kade heard her and turned from his fishing, dropping his pole with a clatter.

  “Mom! I’m hungry!”

  Kade flew to Brianne, and she hugged him tightly. Oh God, she had thought she might never see him again. She hugged him again as he began to squirm.

  “Hey, Mom, you’re squishing me! Are we going to get some dinner? I’m hungry.”

  Brianne kissed the top of Kade’s head and pulled a granola bar out of her purse. She was always prepared for Kade’s ravenous appetite. Tami sat up from the chaise lounge and peered at her through oversized white sunglasses. Brianne couldn’t tell Tami’s mood, but she didn’t give a shit anyway. She was pissed off as only a mother could be.

  “Eat this to tide you over until dinner, baby. Now go down the gangplank and wait on the dock for me. Some friends are going to meet you.”

  Brianne knew that the police and Nate were right behind her.

  “He has to stay here, Brianne. He can’t leave.” Tami’s girlish voice grated on Brianne’s already-raw nerves.

  Brianne gently pushed Kade toward the gangplank. She needed him off this boat. Now.

  “He has to stay here!” Tami’s voice held panic, and she started to rise from the lounge chair. Brianne placed herself between Kade and Tami.

  “What in the hell are you doing, Tami? You kidnap Kade from day camp and bring him here? For what? He is so fucking not staying!”

  Tami halted at the anger and command in Brianne’s voice. If Brianne had learned anything these last months with Nate, it was that a certain tone of voice could get into someone’s head. She needed that advantage right now. She needed Tami to listen to her.

  “He is not staying here, Tami. He never should have been here with you. Why did you kidnap him?” Brianne put as much dominance and command into her voice as she coul
d. It seemed to work, as Tami’s shoulders slumped.

  “He has to stay here,” Tami whined. “He is the only thing that will make Rick come back.”

  “Rick is coming back? Has Rick called you, Tami?” Brianne kept the steel in her voice.

  “No! I haven’t heard from him, and he needs to come back! I need him here to take care of things.”

  “You cannot go around kidnapping people, Tami. I didn’t know where Kade was. I was worried.”

  Tami frowned behind the owlish sunglasses.

  “I didn’t kidnap him. I just picked him up and brought him here. If Rick comes back, it will be to Kade and the boat. So I brought him here.”

  Brianne reined in her anger and kept her voice strong.

  “If you take someone without permission, that is kidnapping. Did you even feed him?”

  Tami pulled the sunglasses off, and Brianne could see tears in the other woman’s eyes.

  “There was no food here. Rick always took care of that. Rick needs to come home and take care of things again.”

  Brianne pressed her fingertips to her temples. This time it was Tami giving her a headache.

  “I’m going to lose the house if Rick doesn’t come back. Rick took all the money.”

  “Then get a fucking job, Tami. Rick isn’t coming back, for God’s sake. He’s gone. He was an asshole to me and an asshole to you. You are well rid of him, if you ask me. Move on with your life. Sell the house, the car, and your wedding ring. That should give you a new start on your life.”

  Tami looked at her as if she was insane.

  “Rick promised me I would never have to worry about anything ever again. He promised. When he comes back, he will look for Kade, and Kade will be here with me. Kade has to stay here with me. Rick loves Kade and the boat. He said so all the time.”