Time for Change Read online

  “Where are you going?” Tammy asked. She was a nurse and had been working in the hospital for a couple of years. From the look in her eye, Rachel knew Tammy had slept with Chris at some point.

  Not that she blamed any of the women. Chris was a big catch and knowing he had money, it made him more of a catch. Part of her wished she could just see the money aspect of his attraction rather than the whole package.

  “I’m leaving for the day. I’m sure you’ll find someone to take my place.” She brushed past the other woman, trying to get away without another word said between them.

  “You’re not right for him, you know?” Tammy said, drawing her back into the conversation.

  Turning around she looked at the women. “And you are?”

  “Your age doesn’t help you, honey. Chris needs a real woman to keep him satisfied.” Tammy’s hand rested on her hip, and the tilt of her lips made her look every inch the seductress even in the nurse scrubs she was wearing.

  “Huh? You see, I thought men went for younger women because we’ve got stamina.” Rachel was tired of feeling less than these women. She took a step closer until she was staring down at Tammy. The other woman was thinner and shorter than she was. “And let me tell you, honey. He didn’t have any complaints last night or the night before that. In fact, he’s been using you guys because he couldn’t have me. Think about the fact he wanted me when he was inside you. No matter what you say, Tammy, you don’t win.”

  Turning on her heel she stormed out of the office. How dare that woman even try to make her feel less than she was?

  She was so angry at the way those women made her feel. Only when she got as far away from the office as she could, did Rachel start to relax.

  Rachel had never been mean to anyone in her whole life, and yet she’d just been mean to a woman she didn’t even know.

  Feeling angry with herself, she entered the first bar she came to. She didn’t see the sign or care where she was drinking. Going to the bar, she removed her coat and draped it along the back of the stool at the bar. There were several businessmen drinking, eating and going about their own business. The music in the background was quiet but loud enough not to make anyone feel alone.

  The barman stood in front of her as she took her seat.

  “What can I get a pretty lady like you?” he asked.

  “Tequila. I need tequila and maybe a glass of your finest brandy.” She rarely drank, and what she’d ordered would last her a couple of hours.

  He poured her drinks and kept staring at her.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I’m just wondering what a pretty woman like yourself is doing all alone drinking after lunch?”

  She saw he was named David, from the tag on his shirt.

  “Hi, David, well, let’s see. I just walked out of my job with the man who I believe is my boyfriend.”

  “You only believe he’s your boyfriend?”

  “I live with him, and we’re a new couple.”

  “Wow, and you’re already living together. He must be the most patient guy I know or most committed guy in the history of dating,” David said, interrupting.

  He put her drinks down in front of her. She picked up the brandy and took a sip. The dark liquid burned her throat making her gasp.

  “Yeah, he’s my sister’s ex. She’s dead, and it has been three years.”

  David kept looking at her and added more brandy to her glass. “You’re going to need it.”

  She spilled everything to the stranger. Not all the gory details and not names either. Rachel just talked. Every few minutes he left to handle a customer or to fill a glass. She was surprised when he came back for more of her story.

  “Don’t you have anything else to do?” she asked, sipping at her brandy. The tequila still sat at the bar, untouched.

  “No, you’re pretty interesting.”

  “You don’t think I’m a first class bitch?” she asked.

  “Not at all. I know most of the story, and if anything, it’s a pretty sad story. At least you tried working with him instead of cutting your losses.”

  “Yeah, I know. On my way out one of the women he fucked stopped me to tell me how I’m not good enough for him or something. I don’t know. Maybe she’s right. I’m not a great catch.”

  “You’re not a dog either.”

  Rachel burst out laughing. “Thank you. I needed that.”

  They were silent for several minutes. He topped up her brandy, and she thanked him for it. “What are you doing for work?” David asked.

  “I don’t know. I’m out of a job.”

  “How about you work here?”

  She looked at him. There was no laughter to his face, and he appeared serious. “You’re offering me a job?”

  “Why not? You need a job, and I need a new waitress.”

  Rachel nodded. “I’d like that.”

  “Good, you can start tomorrow.” He made to move away and glanced down. “Why aren’t you drinking your tequila?”

  Licking her lips, Rachel felt the tears were close. “It’s not for me. Tequila is what my sister always drank.”

  “Okay then. I’ll be back to check on you soon.” David left her to do some work. Staring at the filled glass of tequila, Rachel took a breath.

  “Miss you, big sis.”

  ****

  Chris entered his office and was surprised to see it bare. He’d moved another desk into his space for Rachel to work. When he got to his office he loved to watch her work. Her scent covered the small area making him hard and wishing she was there. Heading for his desk, he saw his sandwich left on top of the desk. Next to his sandwich was a letter. He recognized Rachel’s handwriting. Taking a bite of his sandwich, he opened up the letter and started to read.

  With each word he read he felt himself getting angry. Rachel was quitting on him. He was reading her letter of resignation.

  The sandwich held little appeal to him. Throwing the food away, he tore up her letter. At the same time, Tammy walked into his office. The nurse was smiling, and he saw her hair was down. He’d fucked her a couple of times a year ago. Chris only touched her because Rachel was on another date that he couldn’t stop.

  “Hey, Chris.” He didn’t like her tone at all.

  “What?” he asked.

  “I, erm, wanted to see how you were doing. It has been a long time, and I guess I’ve been worried about you.” Tammy walked farther into the room.

  He didn’t like the sway of her hips or the provocative way she was looking at him. Fucking her had been a big mistake. Claire always warned him that he would mess up by not thinking. For a doctor, he certainly knew how to stop thinking.

  “Why do you even care, Tammy? There’s nothing for you to worry about.” He hoped Rachel hadn’t figured out who he slept with. Chris wasn’t going to apologize for the life he led prior to being with Rachel. He was a man and did whatever he wanted to do.

  “We meant something to each other, Chris. Don’t pretend we’re not important.”

  Standing up, he glared at her. “What did you say to Rachel?” he asked.

  There was a time when he thought Tammy was a kind woman. The glint in her eye said different. Rachel didn’t deserve scorn from her or the other women he’d slept with.

  “I didn’t say anything to Rachel. She was leaving, and I simply told her that you needed a real woman. She’s a girl compared to what we had.” Tammy circled the desk, standing in front of him. “Come on, Chris. You know I can make you feel good.”

  Before he could stop her, Tammy had her arms around his neck and was kissing him passionately.

  Grabbing her arms he shoved her away. “What the fuck did you do?” he asked, growling.

  He couldn’t handle her. Sex was sex. Tammy was the one to agree with him when he’d slept with her.

  Tammy glared at him. “So I really was just a fuck?”

  “I’m in love with Rachel. I’ve always been in love with her.”

  In one swift move,
Tammy shoved the items off his desk. The computer crashed to the floor. “You’re a fucking pig falling for that fat bitch. She’s better off without you.” Tammy slapped him around the face.

  Staring around the room, Chris knew this wasn’t good. What if the women had been picking at Rachel behind his back? Crap. He’d never even thought about what continuing a life with her would mean.

  He took his coat and walked out of his office. The women he’d fucked stared at him. He was embarrassed by how many he’d used. The walk he took was one he needed to live through.

  This is what you did trying to heal.

  Chris kept his head held high. They wouldn’t make him feel anything for the way he treated them. They wanted sex with him, and he’d supplied it.

  Never had he given them any kind of promises.

  Letting out a breath, he walked, trying his best to think of where Rachel would go. It was raining, and he was drenched in a matter of seconds. Pushing the cold and the wet from his mind, he focused on Rachel. She didn’t deserve the treatment the women at the hospital clearly gave her.

  So fucking stupid.

  If he could kick his own ass he would. The only thing he could do was curse his stupidity.

  She’d try to get as far away from the hospital as possible. Picking a direction, he headed in it. When he was far enough away, he stumbled onto a bar. Going through the door, he shook the rain from his hair. Rachel was the first woman to make him walk in the rain to get to.

  He saw her immediately. She was wearing the tight pencil skirt and white buttoned blouse he’d pulled out for her that morning.

  Every now and again the barman would approach her. The smile on the man’s face made Chris angry. Without thinking he walked to her side.

  Rachel turned to look at him. When she saw him, her smile disappeared.

  “David, this is my man, Chris. Chris, this is my new boss, David.”

  She made the introductions slowly.

  “How much has she had to drink?” he asked.

  “Not enough.” Rachel spoke up before David could get a word in.

  “I haven’t given her a lot. She’s nursing her second brandy if that. The tequila is looking a little lost.”

  “I’ll take a black coffee,” Chris said. He’d be the one driving them home.

  David nodded and left them alone. Sitting beside Rachel, he gave her all of his attention. She looked ahead, not giving him even a glance.

  “You’re not going to say anything?” he asked.

  “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.

  “You’re a first class bastard. You made me work in a place where you’re the known fucking gigolo, and then you come to the bar where I was having a drink and go all jealous on me?” She stared into his eyes, loving and hating him at the same time.

  She pulled out of his arms, releasing his hair. Rachel felt the heat between her thighs. She hated her response to him.

  Spinning around she headed into the bedroom seeing the bed. Stopping, she turned to see Chris removing his shirt.

  “What are you doing?” Rachel asked.

  “I’m getting naked. We’re about to fight, and then we’re going to make up.”

  “You brought women here and you expect me to fuck you?”

  “You’ve not had a problem before.”

  His words hit her hard. Folding her arms over her
chest, she sat down on the edge of the bed. Chris cursed, sitting next to her. He reached out to put his arms around her. She moved away.

  “I don’t want you to touch me.”

  She removed the clips binding up her hair.

  “Why are you so worried about the women I’ve been with, Rachel?”

  Rachel leaned her head forward, closing her eyes to try to find her own peace. Her emotions were all over the place.

  “I don’t care about the women you’ve been with. What I care about is being reminded of it every day. You’re not dealing with my exes or them talking about how good or bad I was in bed.”

  She wrapped her arms around her chest, needing to talk to him about everything that happened. “I know you want me close to you at work. It’s not going to happen. I’m not putting myself through the pain of knowing they’ve been with you again.”

  “Okay,” he said.

  “I’m sorry, Chris, but I can’t be with you in the apartment.” She stared around at the impersonal space. The afternoon she’d spent without him had given her some perspective of the life she’d been living. “I didn’t want to cause problems. I understand if you want to kick me out. I’ll find some place to stay.”

  There was movement beside her, and suddenly the curtain her hair made disappeared as Chris pushed the hair off her face. She stared down into his dark gaze. Rachel never knew someone could have eyes that dark. His body was hard muscles and smooth skin. She wanted to reach out and touch him desperately. Instead, she stared down at him.

  “We’ll find a new place. This apartment means nothing to me, Rachel. It never did.” He cupped her cheek. “We’ll move to a new city, and I’ll find a new job. People are always looking for a doctor to work in the ER. I don’t need the money. It will be perfect for both of us. I promise.”

  She felt her heart beating rapidly.

  “What about me working for you?”

  “We won’t work together. Those women, Rachel, they meant nothing. I didn’t know they were capable of being bitches.” He chuckled. “I’m so fucking stupid at times.”

  She shrugged. “Forgive me if I don’t find humor in the situation.”