Chapter Seventeen

Reed

“I’m kinda busy right now, so can we just discuss this later in your office? I gotta go,” I said, disconnecting the call before she could utter another grating word.

Irene Sutton was becoming a first-rate pain in my ass. Checking up on me at every turn like I was some clumsy intern. Calling me into her office for ‘debriefing’ at any old time she decided. But nothing could make me want to jam her up against her office wall at three o’clock and give her what she’d obviously been gagging for—my cock up her well-oiled vagina—just to shut her moldy ass up. Enough shit already came out of my mouth for abject pacification. I’d told her what I thought she needed to hear until I had her money firmly in my hot hands.

Jess. How could I forget my sweet baby girl for even one second? But the answer to that question was easy. I had my other sweet baby girl in my bed. And I needed to get back there right now and fuck her silly. Shit, I planned on keeping her in bed naked until the time came to get ready for my date with the devil.

I didn’t appreciate Satan on heels interrupting my free time, and especially now, with a beautiful woman in my bed. Not just any woman. Harper. I still couldn’t believe it.

My motivations, aside from the financial, were none of Irene’s business. So what if I wanted to get personally involved? It wasn’t any of her fucking business. Harper’s an old friend. Enough said.

Did Irene even know Harper’s true identity? In any case, with the contract duly fulfilled, I was free to pursue a genuine relationship with her… if that was what she wanted. I knew I wanted it. The casting off of the Laurie Arnold cloak could be liberating for everyone concerned. I again marveled at the transformation of my childhood friend—from girl next door, to annoying sidekick, to stunning socialite, to lover.

My lover.

Last night was incredible. I couldn’t remember any hotter sex. I knew I must have inducted more than a few unriddens into the annals of Reed Matheson’s hall of sexual conquest fame, but none were as sweet and surprising as Harper Payne. Though shocked at her revelation of being a virgin at her age, I enjoyed every second of her indoctrination, because of the undisguised pleasure she displayed at what I was able to give her. Her timid admission and her absolute trust in offering me the ultimate prize of her untried body nearly ripped my heart out.

The knowledge that she still lingered in my bed in the next room made my cock roar to life. I’d make certain round two was off the chain. After a trip to the bathroom, I entered my dingy bedroom in eager anticipation of seeing Harper’s orgasm face in the bright light of day when I could really savor it. ‘Fucking’ was a word that just didn’t apply in this situation…it seemed too base and vulgar. What Harper and I had going—or at least I hoped we had going—seemed like more. A crucible in which to burn away the past, heal old wounds and move forward together. Yikes. Sentimentality wasn’t my strong suit. When did I get so corny over a woman?

It’s the first time you’ve ever had a reason to.

My warm fantasies turned colder than the ice I’d lived on most of my life when my eyes fell on the empty bed. Oh, hell no. She wouldn’t leave, would she? Running away like a frightened rabbit? I scoured the perimeter of the room as though I’d missed something or was hallucinating. A foolish sigh escaped me. Of course, she’d gone into the other bathroom off the hall. A two bathroom was a must-have feature I’d insisted on when searching the rental listings. A pre-teen girl would need her own bathroom, and I had clung adamantly to the belief she’d see those years and a lifetime more.

But as I passed the bed on my way to the hall, I noted the absence of a red dress on the floor. I stemmed my rising anxiety until I found the second bathroom door wide open and devoid of an occupant, and the living area and kitchen also gaping in silent emptiness. My stomach clenched.

She’d left. Without a word, without an explanation.

Without giving a shit.

Not about our night together, our past or our future.

Not about me.

Was that it? Was ridding herself of her little problem her only concern and use for me? A high-priced dick on legs? I couldn’t believe it. I wouldn’t believe it. I refused to accept that she still did this to get even. Not after everything that happened between us last night. Those tears, that irrational emotion. It was real.

My heart started to shudder like an alarm clock, urging me to get up, get some damn clothes on and go after her. She couldn’t have gone far in the scant minutes I’d spent in the bathroom.

Fuck. The bathroom.

Every room in this shit-hole of an apartment echoed like a gymnasium. Could she have overheard my one-sided conversation? Every word of it had been a lie to placate Irene, but Harper wouldn’t know that. What I said wasn’t meant for her ears. It was strictly for Irene’s benefit, to get the demanding woman off my fucking back. My God, of all the hardware I’d earned in my career, the trophy for the most personal screw-ups with the same woman wasn’t a piece that I coveted. I had to find Harper, fast. To explain. I had to.

I rushed back to the bedroom for a pair of jeans, or shorts, anything—and heard my phone buzzing again from where I’d left it in the bathroom. I cursed at the realization that I hadn’t even gotten Harper’s phone number. I couldn’t even call her. I grabbed for it out of frustration, thinking it was Irene again and planning to hit the ignore button, but froze with only one leg in my jeans as I saw the face on the screen.

Meathead.

Then I noticed the time. Ten minutes to eight. A phone call this early on a Saturday was never good news, and the fact that it came from Milo scared the living shit out of me. My pants forgotten, I swiped the screen to answer.

“Milo?”

“Reed, we’re on our way to the Mayo. Get your ass over there to meet us.”

Milo never called me Reed. My heart sank. Jess.

“What happened? Is she alright?”

Milo drew a long breath in before saying, “She’s calm, quiet. But she woke up vomiting. And not from too much fudge brownie, either. Didn’t have much of an appetite at all, to be honest, despite Tania’s cooking. I’m not taking any chances, Grunt. I’ve sent her to the hospital in an ambulance, and I’m following in my SUV. And don’t worry about how you’re going to fucking pay the deductible. I’ve already given them my credit card.”

“I’ll be right behind you,” I said, my voice sounding like coffee beans in a grinder. I leaned on the sink for support as I nearly blacked out in terror for my little angel. How dare I have left her with someone else while I screwed around like a paid predator? I ought to be horse-whipped for even starting in on this hair-brained scheme to begin with.

I forced the terrifying thought away while I rammed on my jeans and found a clean shirt. I was in my beat-up Toyota and halfway to the hospital with no memory of having left my apartment and gone down to the street. My world winked in and out in flashes of blinding light, like some horror version of Back To The Future. I gripped the wheel with white knuckles, to hang on to my sanity just a few minutes more.

After I squealed into the parking garage and ran inside, I found Milo pacing in the waiting room of the children’s oncology ward, his giant hands in the pockets of his coat. He looked up as I barreled into the room.

“Holy shit. You must have tripped every speed cam on your way here. When the tickets come in the mail, give them to me, too.”

“Where is she?” I rasped, my voice harsher than intended.

“Calm down,” he said, putting a hand on my shoulder. Milo had never been the touchy-feely kind of dude, and my heart about jumped out of my chest at the abnormal gesture. “She’s stable, and in good hands. But I don’t think she’s leaving this facility again without that new drug treatment. You’re out of time, Grunt. It has to be done now. Take my fucking money, you egotistical, stubborn, arrogant—”

I swallowed hard and held up a hand. He couldn’t berate me with anything I hadn’t already leveled at myself. I’d been a shit husband, and I was now turning into a shit father. It was my right, my privilege, and my honor to protect and provide for my only child… and I couldn’t get that done without help. I’d never felt so low in my life than at this moment. Not even after my wife betrayed me, taking every fucking thing I owned. But she’d left me with the only thing I cared about. And I’d never take that gift for granted again.

“I’ll have the money by the end of the month, like I said.” I clamped my eyes shut and waited for the tirade.

Milo drew a huge breath in, staring me down with an expression of both frustration and pity. Neither of which I wanted even though I might deserve both. He stepped toward me and laid his other meaty hand on my shoulder. I felt like I’d collapse under the weight of it. He kept his voice quiet and controlled, but I could still feel the emotion boiling just underneath the surface, threatening to explode into a tornado of blame directed at me.

“It can’t wait. You can’t do this by yourself, Reed. For God’s sake, for Jess’s sake, let me help you.”

My chest swelled with so many emotions I thought it would explode, spraying the bloody mush of my tortured insides all across the sterile, featureless room. Anger, helplessness, pride—and yes, gratitude lurked in there somewhere—all converged in a perfect storm, battering at what rational brain cells remained. My shoulders slumped in defeat. It couldn’t wait. I didn’t want to depend on others, but there came a time to admit that I needed help. That point in the game where you knew—just knew—it wasn’t gonna go your way. No lucky bounces, no breakaways.

It killed me to think of all the money I’d wasted when I actually had money. On expensive scotch and cheap whores. Then the indulgences of the materialistic Robin who’d never loved me nor the child we’d brought into the world. But damn, did she love money. I’d never imagined in a thousand years I would need it to save our daughter’s life. But time marched forward, the true enemy here, not Milo. I could pay him back. I would pay him back.

“We have to talk to Dr. Neilson,” I said. Maybe she’d order the treatment now, and still honor the payment agreement. Without involving Milo.

“I already have,” Milo said. “They paged her as soon as we arrived. She’s on her way here now.” He drew me in with a confident smile, apparently assuring me we were doing the right thing, then nudged me down the hall leading to the patient rooms. “Let’s go and be with Jess until then.”

I nodded and followed his lead, summoning every ounce of strength before we entered the room.

She lay asleep, her ashen face turned to one side as the machines hissed and beeped all around her. In spite of my self-bolstering efforts, I wanted to double over in pain at the sight, my inner voice begging prayers of forgiveness.

I’m so sorry, Jess. Sorry I wasn’t there for you when you needed me. I’ll make this right, I promise.