Chapter 9
Dillon
Jake smirked at me. “Well that was interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever been accused of being your boyfriend before.”
“Shut up. Zane asked me to have brunch with him this morning, but he got called back in to the hospital for surgery before I could actually explain about our weekly brunch.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Sounds like you’re making excuses for him.”
“Sounds like you’re a dick,” I deadpanned. “He looked exhausted.”
I glanced over in the direction he said his table was, but Jake pulled my attention back.
“Do you actually have a heart in that tin chest of yours? I don’t think I’ve heard you be concerned about another guy since—”
“I don’t care.” I lowered my voice. “He’s just the guy I’m investigating.”
“Cut the crap. He’s obviously more than that,” Jake said shaking his head.
I shrugged. “Can you stop using your cop brain for once? He was good in bed, well technically on a few different places in his office, and he uses his tongue—” Jake reached up and covered his ears. I grinned and tugged away his hands. “I’ll stop if you will.”
“Fine. As long as I never have to hear about your sex life again, I’ll stop.” His expression turned serious. “Tell me what you know so far.”
I leaned in closer, keeping my voice low enough that no one passing by could hear me. “Last night he said his stepdad got him the job at ESEC. He didn’t know any of the doctors here in Parkview except for his friend Kade. He’s a plastic surgeon of some kind, but he’s not a part of that practice. Get this though—the stepdad is the chief of surgery at Parkview.”
“That’s a little suspect. Zane shows up and all this stuff starts coming to light. Is stepdad a standup guy or someone who would get sloppy if given the chance?”
I shrugged. “I just can’t see Zane is doing anything wrong, not like that anyway. He’s cocky as hell, but his reputation gives him a reason for it. The guy is one of the best in the world—graduated top in his class, performs these huge high risk, high profile cases like they’re nothing, then he comes back here to Parkview. None of it adds up. I couldn’t figure out why until last night—his mom is sick.” I bit my lip. “I’m not sure if Zane knows or not.”
“Wow.” Jake rubbed his jaw. “Could it be a set up?”
“I don’t know yet. If I find out I’ll make sure I have the information you need to make it stick. I don’t want Zane to do jail time for something he didn’t do.”
Jake lowered his voice. “Don’t get pissed at me.”
I scowled. It was never a good thing when my brother said that. “What? Get everything off your chest now because I’ll only listen to it once.”
“D, you care, or you wouldn’t be digging this deep. You have your story already, but you want to clear his name before you write it.”
I shook my head. He was wrong. Zane didn’t mean anything to me, but I needed to make sure I was right. The prescriptions had to be coming from somewhere; I just needed to find out where.
“I don’t have everything I need. I’m close, but I still haven’t figured it all out. There’s too many pieces of the story missing.”
He studied me for a few seconds. “Just be careful. I don’t want you getting hurt. You’re messing with people who already think they’re above the law.”
“I promise. Everyone still thinks it’s a fluff piece to talk up the hospital and the doctors.”
“Keep it that way,” Jake said pointedly.
I nodded. “If I need any help or get in over my head I’ll let you know.”
He gave me a stern look, one like our dad would normally use. “Look, I’m not planning to break any laws, but I’ll do what I need to so I can find out where the prescriptions are coming from. I have my doubts that everything points back to Dr. Turner. It’s all just a little too easy. Something’s missing.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Zane walk back over to his group of friends. Jake noticed and grinned. “He got jealous that you were with another guy.”
“No, he didn’t. He was pissed because he thought I blew him off for another guy. There’s a difference.”
Jake raised his eyebrow and leaned back in his chair. “Not much of one from where I’m sitting.”
I took a sip of my coffee. My brother wasn’t going to change his mind, but it didn’t mean I had to fight with him about it. Zane was a story and someone I’d fucked—once, and maybe wouldn’t mind fucking again—but nothing more than that. Jake was reading into things, letting his cop brain takeover like normal. I needed to finish up this assignment and get Zane Turner out of my head.
* * *
Will stood at my office door and knocked twice. I glanced up and waved for him to come in. He was smiling, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“That was quite the showing on Friday night, Hart.”
“What?” I asked innocently. “Are you talking about me bringing Dr. Turner?”
He walked in and shut the door behind him. “Exactly that Hart. What the fuck were you thinking?”
“I’m getting closer to him so I can get him to trust me. I have a feeling that Zane is the scapegoat on this. I don’t think he’s the mastermind. When he said—”
“When I told you to do whatever it took I didn’t expect you to start dating the guy. I meant take him for a few drinks, flirt, tease, all that fun stuff. Not completely screw up your story by getting too attached. That’s the exact opposite of what I said.” Will banged his hand down on my desk. “I’m ready to take you off of this.”
“Fuck you, this was my story to begin with, Will. I’ll work on other articles if I need to, but I’m not giving this one up.”
He ran a hand down his face. “Hart, you’re too close to this.”
I stood up and stared him down. “If you take me off this story I’ll quit.”
He took a step back. “You would really quit because of one article?”
“Absolutely.” I stared him down for a few seconds. “Take a seat and I’ll tell you everything I know. And why it’s so freaking important to me.”
I wasn’t sure if he was going to sit, or fire my ass, but to my relief he took the chair across from me. It’s not like I needed this job. My name meant enough that I could write freelance anywhere, but I sure as hell wanted this article. I took in a deep breath and started talking—explaining about the forged prescriptions, how the signatures didn’t match and where I thought they were actually coming from. Luckily I was able to find a receipt with his signature on it to compare. Will and I sat there for over an hour and a half as I explained everything that I’d found at Parkview and how the chief of surgery seemed just a little too cozy in his position. When I was done, he let out a breath through his teeth.
“I get it now. Your determination to hold onto this article, I understand it.” He stood up and walked to the door, lingering with his hand over the knob. “It doesn’t mean I like it though. Keep doing what you’re doing.”
“Thanks.” I shut the lid of my laptop and grabbed for my bag.
“And Dillon?” I glanced back up. “Figure this one out and there’s no way they won’t give you a Pulitzer.”
* * *
Piper stared at me from over her wine goblet in shock. It seemed like every time we talked about Zane the conversation took a weird turn. I picked at my caponata, attempting to ignore the look Piper was giving me.
“He confronted you while you were at brunch, acted like a jealous idiot, and then tucked tail and ran once he found out it was your brother you were with?”
I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth before answering. “Pretty much.”
“I think he’s catching feelings, Dilly.”
I rolled my eyes. “Aren’t we a little old to be saying things like catching feelings?”
“We’re thirty-two, not fifty.” She stuck her tongue out at me and laughed. “Quit changing the subject. He likes you.”
“No, he wants to fuck me again, there’s a difference.”
“He’s asked you out three times.” I started to interrupt, but she held up her hand to stop me. “Yes, the last time was a group thing, but he did say that he wanted you to meet his friends. That’s kind of a big step for people who aren’t even dating.”
She raised an eyebrow and took a drink of wine.
“No.” I glanced away. “Just…no. It was a brunch thing with a group of people. He can’t,” I trailed off.
Piper gave me a pointed look. “We’re you always this dense?”
I frowned. “Don’t be a bitch. It’s just sex, or maybe he just wants a regular fuck buddy.”
“Now who’s old saying fuck buddy?” She grinned. “Seriously, what’s so wrong with him having feelings for you?”
I sat there quietly, pushing around the amazing food on my plate. “If it was just sex it would be fine, but I don’t know what he’s thinking. God, I’m such an idiot. Not to mention all those ladies from the hospital benefit want me to lead him on.”
“Um, Dillon?” Piper bit her bottom lip and hesitated for a second.
“What?” I asked miserably.
“The good doctor is at eight o’clock.”
I looked over my shoulder discreetly. The son of a bitch was sitting there with a model thin, brunette.
“You have got to be kidding me. After all that shit that he pulled at brunch, he’s here on a date? What the hell?”
Piper gave me a weak smile. “You did say that you just wanted sex. Maybe it’s for the best.”
I pulled the cloth napkin from my lap and tossed it on the table. “I’ll be right back.”
“Oh lord,” I heard her mutter under her breath.
Zane looked sexy as hell. I was a sucker for a man in a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a watch on his wrist. Suit porn. That’s exactly what it was, except the opposite because it was dressed down and rumpled. And fuck, now I was turning myself on.
At least I had changed into a pencil skirt and emerald green blouse that matched my eyes before Piper had dragged me out tonight. I’d even put on my newest heels to try to cheer myself up, a pair of leopard print pumps. Zane’s eyes darted up to mine as I approached his table.
“Dillon.”
The girl cocked her head at him. “That’s not my name.”
“No, it’s mine,” I said from behind her. She turned in her chair to look at me, but I ignored her. “I take it this isn’t your sister,” I said dryly.
He raised an eyebrow. “Is that a problem?”
I smirked. “Not at all, but now I know where we stand. It makes my job much, much easier. Enjoy your evening, Zane.”
I walked off without letting him respond. At least I didn’t need to worry about him getting hurt when I wrote the article now. I could probably finish the stupid thing without even talking to him again. The bathroom was empty when I walked inside, thank goodness because I needed to be alone for a few seconds. Seeing Zane with the woman had shaken me more than I wanted to admit, even to myself. I leaned over the sink to gather myself when the door pushed open and Zane stepped in.
“What the hell did you mean back there?” he demanded.
I glared at him in the mirror. “This is the ladies room.”
“I don’t give a fuck. Tell me what you meant.”
I whipped around and crossed my arms over my chest. “I don’t take orders from you. You know, most people ask nicely if they want to know something.”
He clenched his jaw. “So help me God, Dillon, I’ll bend you over my knee and spank the shit out of you if you don’t start talking.”
I threw my hands up in exasperation. “What does it even matter, Zane?”
He took two steps forward and I crossed my arms over my chest again, trying to ward him off. I stepped around him and walked towards the bathroom door.
His voice softened. “Please tell me what you were talking about.”
“I can write my article objectively now.” He still looked confused. I sighed. “If you’re dating other people then I don’t have to worry about us having sex again.”
He shook his head, attempting to understand what I was saying. “What are you talking about? And why wouldn’t we have sex again? I thought it was pretty damn good the first time, well worth a repeat performance.”
The cocky bastard.
Never mind the fact that I thought there should be a repeat performance too. He didn’t need to know that.
“I told you I don’t do relationships, right?” He nodded and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the sink. His fucking biceps bulged against the sleeves of his shirt and I felt myself getting warmer. “I don’t, have relationships that is, but I’m monogamous with my…er…fuck buddies, too.”
His throaty laugh filled the small bathroom.
“Why are you laughing?” I asked.
“You. You’re fucking adorable.”
“Adorable?” I glared at him.
No one had used that word to describe me in a hell of a long time. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I liked it.
He tried to compose himself. “Sexy as hell. Fucking gorgeous. Are those any better?”
I gave him a funny look. “Are you drunk?”
He laughed again. “Not even close, baby.”
He pushed off the sink and took two steps closer. My palms felt sweaty and the closer he got, the warmer my entire body felt. I was having a fucking heat flash in the middle of the bathroom at Vaccaro’s. Zane leaned in closer, running his nose along the column of my neck, making me shiver at the touch.
“This is going to be quick and dirty.” His voice sounded like gravel; rough and sexy.
Fuck me.
I made an undecipherable sound in the back of my throat as he smiled at me like I was dessert. It wasn’t fair that his gorgeous smile could bring weaker women to their knees, not somewhere I planned to be in this bathroom.
I shivered as he pushed my skirt up with one hand and gripped my lace panties. His other hand held me in place. The sound of ripping fabric filled the bathroom.
Son of a bitch.
“That was a pair of La Perla underwear that you just tore off me.”
He grinned lazily at me. “I’ll buy you a new pair.”
His hands wrapped around my waist and he lifted me onto the counter. I gripped his forearms tightly as he bent down to his knees and ran his tongue over my clit lightly. As I gasped, he grinned at me and reached over to flick the lock on the door.
“Awfully presumptuous aren’t you?” I asked, trying to keep my composure.
He licked his way up my thigh and bit down into the fleshy part. My lips parted and I turned my face away. The sight of him between my legs was too much. I dug my fingers into the edge of the cabinet and held on for dear life as he brought me closer to the edge with his teasing tongue.
I cried out in frustration when he pulled away seconds before I was about to come. He smirked at me and as I glanced down at him, I caught sight of his hand slowly stroking his cock.
Zane stood up, a predatory look in his eye. His pants slid down to his ankles. Sometime during the past two minutes he’d grabbed a condom and slid it down his length. My fingers dug into his shoulders as he pushed inside. He threaded his fingers into my hair and made me look into his eyes.
“I need you to come quick, baby. Someone is going to come looking for us if we take much longer.”
He pounded into me, making my head hit back against the mirror. I bit down on my wrist to keep from crying out as his fingers circled my clit. Zane was on a mission to make me come.
“Oh god,” I moaned as he shifted his hips. I tried to stay quiet, I really did, but I couldn’t. His thrusts were hitting exactly where I needed them and I came faster than I ever had before. Zane’s groans followed closely behind mine. He muffled the sounds in my neck, sucking on the sensitive skin, probably causing red welts to appear.
As I came back down to earth, I realized I’d just fucked a man on a date. Zane was here with another woman. Not that you could tell it now with his cock still inside me. I pushed him off and straightened my clothes without meeting his eyes.
“Dillon?”
I unlocked the door and he rushed to right himself. “Go back to your date, Zane.”