“That’s what we’re here for.” I press my hands on the arms of the chair. “Let’s get you settled into a room and do the paperwork.”
As they follow behind me, pride swells deep in my chest. This is my favorite part–when they see where they’re staying. Well, that and knowing they’re safe from whoever is harming them. I’ve seen too many women stop at the door and turn around. And others took that first call from the guy while standing at the front desk.
After ten years of volunteering, I know which ones will stay and which will go. Even though I have that gut feeling, I do my best to convince the others to stay. Ruth is one of the ones whose situation feels a little different. My instincts are telling me that she and her husband may be able to work things out, but better judge of those that will never make it in the door than those who will eventually go back home.
I open the door and step out of the way. Ruth’s eyes widen, and her mouth opens until her chin almost hits her chest. “Holy hell. This place is amazing.” Her eyes dart around the room. It’s not large, but it’s private and fully furnished.
The kids still as if they’re afraid to touch anything. I squeeze Emery’s shoulder. “Go on. This is where you’re living now.”
They run to the play area and pick up item after item. The joy on their faces brings tears to my eyes.
“This is too much.” Ruth brushes her hands on her pants. “I don’t know what to say. I expected a prison cell type of thing with bunk beds for the kids and a cot for me. What do I have to pay to live here?’ Her shoulders stiffen. “Kids, get back. We can’t afford this place.” Emery and Sam drop the toys in their hands and run to their mom.
“Ruth.” I grasp her upper arm to hold her in place. Okay. She’s a bolter. “You don’t have to pay until after 60 days. and then it’s $150 a month. The owner is a wealthy man who uses the shelters as a tax write-off. But more importantly, this is his passion project. He had a family member who was in an abusive relationship and blames himself for not getting her out of it before she was hurt. His mission is to provide a safe home for women and children.”
“I don’t know what to say.” She swallows hard.
“Say you’re going to let the kids get settled in while I grab the paperwork for the application.”
Twenty minutes later, I shut the door to their room and let the euphoric feeling of helping someone roll through me. It’s like drinking a bottle of champagne while rolling around in chocolate and getting eaten out.
Don’t think about Alexander. That was a one-and-done. Something I won’t ever experience again. And it’s a good thing. I have enough on my plate without thinking about phenomenal sex with my calculus professor. I bite my bottom lip. Until I get home, and break out the champagne and chocolate, and grab my favorite rose vibrator. Then, I can fantasize about him all I want.
Is this how my father feels when he helps a patient? Unlikely. As a plastic surgeon, he caters to the elite on cosmetic issues and does not fix serious issues that harm people’s health or result in bullying.
Chapter Fifteen
Alexander
As always with my father, it’s one step forward and two steps back. He’s finally ready to talk about expansion but with a caveat. A caveat that leaves me miserable. A wife? I’ve got one year to find a wife? One he approves of?
I slam the door shut to my Cadillac and gun the engine. The interior still holds its leather scent mixed with my cologne and aftershave. If I wanted to get married, it wouldn’t be an issue, but I don’t. I jam the shifter into gear and speed through the circular driveway, away from my problems.
Do I refuse and walk away from the company? Get married and be miserable? Or…. What? Find someone to agree to a marriage on paper only? I hate all those solutions. I’ve worked my entire life to take my rightful place at the helm of my father’s company. He and my grandfather brought it up daily since I was old enough to understand what work was.
The streetlights flash by as I zoom out of their neighborhood and onto a busier street. Marriage for love is out. I won’t subject myself to another betrayal.
Daisy’s face drifts into my brain yet again. I can’t get her beautiful curves and sweet smile out of my head. Would it be so bad to feast on her sweet nectar every day? To wake up early to bury deep inside her.
Yeah, that holds plenty of appeal. But for how long? Until I grow bored? Until she gets bored? Even if it were possible, it would end in disaster.
I slow at the stoplight and rake a hand through my hair. It’s impossible. The scandal of marrying one of my students would make my father jerk the company away from me faster than anything else.
Who could I find that would agree to a marriage only–no sex, no feelings, no anything? Maybe Sean knows someone. Or I could marry Daisy, stick my middle finger up to my dad, and walk away. Please, that sounds too dumb to even say aloud. She’s got her life mapped out for her, and it doesn’t include getting blocked from medical school because she screwed and married her professor.
Forget it. The light turns green. You’ve got a year. You can convince him to drop the stipulation.
When I pull up to the next intersection, a man waves his arms dramatically as he speeds walks behind a woman. The parking lot outside of the adjacent building is empty except for his exaggerated movements.
There’s no one else around, and the police station is ten blocks away. My heart skips a beat. The man grabs the woman’s purse and spins her around. Son of a bitch. I slam on the brakes and race onto the deserted parking lot.
My lights pin the couple in my makeshift spotlight. It’s Daisy. I jam the Cadillac into park and jump out of the car. “Stop.”
The man holds steady to the strap of her purse as she grabs it and yanks. “I’m not telling you where she moved to.”
“But she’s my wife. I have a right to know.” His eyes are wild as his gaze switches from me to the vehicle, to the street, and then back to Daisy.
“She’s legally asked for a separation, and she doesn’t want you to know where she is. It’s that simple.” She retrieves her purse from him as I step between them and push her back behind me.