Time for Change(27)

“I take it you got my letter.”

“Yeah.”

She glanced at him then. “You’re not going to get angry? Shout and curse at how I should have talked to you? Well, before you jump at me and start getting angry, I tried to talk to you. You wouldn’t listen, or you were too busy to listen.”

“You can’t work for me or won’t?” Chris accepted the coffee and blanked David.

“Both. I don’t know a thing about medicine, and you need someone who does. Also, working around the women you fucked is not my idea of a good working environment. I mean, they’re looking at me clearly wondering what you’re doing with your life.”

He tried to interrupt, but she pressed a finger to his lips, finally turning those brown eyes onto him. Chris looked ahead of him, seeing the mirror reflecting them. The image reminded him of the many times he’d watched her fucking him. There was a whole new side to Rachel, one that had him begging for him to be inside her.

“No, I’m the one talking. You can order me around all you want, but I can’t be in every part of your life. I thought I could.”

“Here is not the place to have this conversation.” He gripped her hand tightly, staring into her eyes.

“It’s the best place to have this conversation. At home you’ll get me naked, and I can’t think when you’re doing things to my body.”

“That’s the idea.” She glared at him. “Okay, bad idea.”

“David offered me a job, and I accepted.”

Looking toward the barman, Chris bit his lip trying to keep his thoughts to himself. He couldn’t guarantee David’s feelings for his woman.

Great, now I’m a jealous boyfriend.

Rachel giggled. “You look like you’re going to explode. Are you jealous of a man I’ve just met?”

“You’re a beautiful woman.”

“So, you’re a sexy man, and I’ve just had to work with women who know what you’re like in bed.” Her smile disappeared, and she sobered before his eyes. “You know what? I don’t want to be here any longer. Can we go home?”

“Sure.”

He pulled out some notes and caught sight of the glass of tequila. Claire always drank tequila. He and Rachel needed to have a new life together, or he needed to change some part of their life.





Chapter Ten



Rachel was silent on the walk back to the hospital parking lot. Chris tried to touch her, but she couldn’t remain strong with his arms wrapped around her or touching her any way. She wasn’t strong enough to give him what he wanted.

They passed several people on the way to the car. She kept her gaze on the ground, wishing it would open her up and eat her.

Real mature, Rachel. Going and getting drunk for him to come pick you up like a father rather than a boyfriend.

There was nothing daughterly about her feelings for him. The last thing she thought about when it came to Chris was as a brother or father. He’d always been Chris or her friend. Even when Claire had been alive, he’d been her friend, not brother-in-law.

He opened the passenger door, and she slid inside. When he sat behind the wheel, she wanted to say something to him. Nothing came out. Sitting back, she stared out of the window, wishing for the time to pass and for her to be home.

Pulling into the parking lot where he lived, Rachel felt sick to her stomach. The distance was so short. All she could think about was the women he’d brought back from the hospital. She’d witnessed several of them.

Her biggest mistake was agreeing to move in with him.

They travelled up to the top floor together. She stared at him in the reflection of the metal. Why couldn’t she hate him?

Closing her eyes, she took several deep breaths. When the elevator stopped, she was more than ready to get off.

Going to the door, she waited for Chris to let them inside. Once inside, she stared at all the furniture thinking about Tammy. Spinning on her heel, she raised her hand and slapped him around the face, hard.

He didn’t fight or defend himself. She knew he could. Instead of hitting him again, she shoved him in the chest, hard.

When he made no move to defend himself, she stormed away, kicking off her heels.

Before she made it too far away, Chris caught her hand, tugging her close. She wrapped her arms around him, trying to support him.

“I hate you,” she said. Her words were childish and immature. The last thing she felt for Chris was hatred.

“No, you don’t.” He sank fingers into her hair. “Let it all out, baby.”

Sinking her fingers into his hair, she pulled with the intent to hurt. His eyes darkened. Chris wasn’t in pain. He was finding pleasure in her response.