Sophie Oak - Found in Bliss

He was pretty much always alone. Even in a crowd of people. “Yep. So don’t think that turning the town against me will hurt too much.”

Nell’s brown hair shook. “Oh, I would never do that. Bad, bad karma. It does strike me, though, that a man of your persuasion needs a friend. You know, someone who would just be around you all the time, talking to you, keeping you company. Yes, someone who talks as little as you do probably wants to listen to someone like me talk a lot. I can talk for hours, Caleb. I never let up. I can talk about everything. Ask Henry.”

It put a chill through him. She would do it, too. Nell Flanders, twenty-four-seven. “Well played, Nell. I’ll consider it.”

Her chin came up, and she nodded shortly. “See that you do. I’ll make a list of the topics of our conversations so you’ll have a better idea of just how terrible this could be. In the meantime, I brought you a plant. Your office needs a softer touch. Even if no one ever sits in this waiting room, it would be better for you if you had something lovely and lively to call your own. I don’t even want to see your apartment, do I?”

His apartment had a leather recliner, a television, and a card table. It had a bed, but only because it came with the building. He’d never slept on it. There was nothing on the walls. No pictures of his family or knickknacks. Nothing at all that celebrated a life. Everything was utilitarian. And a little messy.

“I’ll find some more plants. You’ll see. The oxygen the plant gives off will make you feel better. You just have to water it once a day.” She stopped and stared at him. “I’ll take care of that. And maybe I’ll upgrade the waiting room a bit. You won’t mind. I know you won’t.”

He got the feeling that if he did mind, she would start talking. “Nope. Feel free to decorate to your heart’s content.”

She turned on her Birkenstocks just as the door opened again. “Hello, Alexei.”

And, of course, Alexei smiled and reached for her hand. Charm seeped from the asshole’s pores. “Ms. Nell, it is so good to see you. You look very lovely this morning.”

Nell blushed. “Thank you, Alexei. That is very kind of you to say.”

“I only to speak the truths.” The bastard smiled widely, taking both of Nell’s hands in his. “I am going to be dating Holly. I would love to do the double with you and Henry.”

Nell’s eyes went wide. “Oh, no. Despite his very open mind, Henry isn’t into sharing or swapping or any of that stuff.”

Alexei’s confused face turned toward him. It was blatantly obvious to Caleb that he had no idea what Nell thought he’d said. He thought briefly about letting the fucker hang, but the words came out before he could stop them. “Nell, he was talking about a double date, not a foursome. But I find it interesting that your mind goes there.”

He was deeply satisfied by her flushed face and completely silent mouth. Oh, it opened, but nothing came out for a moment. He’d finally found a way to silence Nell Flanders. Maybe this little war she’d started wasn’t over yet.

Alexei, ever the gentleman, stepped in. “So sorry. Many, many apologies. I am not interested in the swappings of wives, merely in sharing a meal.”

“Of course. Henry and I would love that. Thank you, Alexei.” Nell hurried out.

Unfortunately, Caleb had the feeling she’d be back.

Alexei turned to him, bowing slightly. “Thank you for the translation, my friend. My words are still very muddled. I do not always understand English sayings. And they change so quickly. Now that I am back here, I think I will watch more of the MTVs so I can speak more like an American.”

Dear god, he would sound like he was straight off the Jersey shore. “All I know is that if you’re reliant on me as a translator, you’re in serious trouble. I almost let Nell believe you wanted an orgy.”

“No orgies. Just a very happy relationship. One where Holly gets everything she needs. If that comes from me, then good, but I think she is so much womans, she might require more.” He said it with a deeply serious expression on his face.

Caleb wasn’t sure how to take that. Yep. If Alexei needed him to translate, they were all in trouble. He didn’t understand the guy at all.

Good thing he understood his job and his duty to his patients. A deep sense of joy lodged in Caleb’s heart. Alexei might waltz away with the girl, but not until he’d been thoroughly examined. Thoroughly. After all, that was a doctor’s job.

He felt a little smile cross his face. He was pretty sure it wasn’t reassuring. He pulled on his latex gloves. “So, do you want to start with the blood work or the prostate exam?”

Alexei went a little white. “I am being sure I do not know what this prostate is. Well, I have suspicion.”

Now Caleb grinned widely and held up a tube of lube. “Don’t worry about it, buddy. It’s all a part of the service. You need a prostate check every year.”

“But I promise not to use prostate in making the love with Holly. I will keep her far away from prostate.” Alexei backed up a little, his eyes going to the lube.

Nope. He wasn’t getting out of this so easily. “Sorry, buddy, it’s this or a full colonoscopy. Welcome to America. Now please bend over.”

Holly pulled her car into the parking lot in front of Caleb’s office. It was located at the end of Main Street, but she’d never made it past the front door. In the year Caleb had been in town, she’d never been sick enough to come into the tiny clinic. The one cold she’d come down with had been dealt with in Caleb’s ruthlessly precise fashion. She’d sniffled at the café one morning and found herself at home in bed with a neti pot, chicken soup, and a ton of orange juice. She hadn’t even felt that bad.

And yet it was a sweet memory.

She got out and closed the door to her tiny piece-of-crap vehicle. She was lucky she’d been able to afford the sucker, but sometimes it made her depressed. The same way Caleb did.

What was she doing? She was about to walk into Caleb’s office and take a blood test to prove she was a healthy sex partner to a twenty-eight-year-old god of a man.

She opened the door to his small clinic. It didn’t even have a nameplate, just a simple red cross and stenciled black letters proclaiming it to be Bliss County Clinic.

Caleb had done a lot for her. She hadn’t even thought to get him a nameplate. He wouldn’t think of that. He never thought about things like that, but he did think to make sure she was safe. He just didn’t want her the way she wanted him. Did that mean she didn’t owe him? He’d been a good, if odd, friend to her. She hadn’t been the same to him.

Holly stood in the small, Spartan waiting room. She could hear Caleb talking.

“I’ll have the blood tests back in a few weeks.”

“Weeks?”

Holly’s whole body went on alert. Alexei’s voice sounded slightly strangled.

“These things take time.”

No, they didn’t. Caleb often drove into Alamosa and had results the same day.

“I understanding. I, uhm, I do not, uhm, well, thanks to you.” Yep, Alexei sounded distressed. “Please to let me know when it is safe to be close to Holly. I care for her. I would not be harming her, not for anything.”

There was a long pause. “Okay. Like I said, I’ll let you know.”

The door to the exam room opened, and Alexei walked out. She stared, studying him for a moment before he realized he wasn’t alone. He looked older, more weary than he had the night before. Worry creased his brow and turned that sensual mouth down. His shoulders slumped as he shut the door behind him.

And then it all changed when he saw her. A vibrant smile crossed his face. His body straightened to his impressive six and a half feet, and his entire air took on a sexy, sultry tone. “Holly. It is very good to see you. You look heated today.”

Hot. She looked hot. She was really starting to hope his English didn’t get better. He was so adorable when he was screwing it up. “Thanks.”

She stood there, not quite knowing what to do. She hadn’t dated in forever. Were they dating? Or just waiting to have sex?

“I have to go to talk to man about job, but would you like to have dinner tonight?”

Holly actually felt her heart flutter. He was so gorgeous, and he was looking at her like he could eat her up. If they had been alone, she just might have suggested that dinner started early and wouldn’t he like a piece of Holly pie? Damn it. He had her hormones turned up so high she could barely think when he was around.

But then Caleb walked into the room, his green eyes solemn as he took in the scene in front of him. He stared for the briefest moment before his eyes found the floor. “Uhm, Holly, I’m ready whenever you are.”

She nodded, and he backed into the exam room again.

She needed to figure out a way to be right with Caleb. Her heart ached when she looked at him, but Alexei made her feel young and vital. And Alexei wanted her.

“Caleb is very stubborn man, dushka. If he did not save both lives, I seriously consider coming out of retirement to murder him.” Alexei frowned, staring back at the door.

“Oh, god, what did he do?”

“All I know is Russian doctors are not so thorough. A man’s backside is sacred in Russia. I tell you, if he tries in bedroom, I will deal with him.”

“Huh?” Yeah, maybe she should rethink how adorable his English was.

He reached out and took her hand. “Nothing. Nothing to worry about. I am very patient man. Very patient. And tolerant. And no longer violent. So, dinner?”

At least she understood that. “Yes. I would love to have dinner with you. I get off at six. We could have dinner at Stella’s if you like.”

He shook his head. “No. Not where you work. Let’s go to Trio and have nice drink and dance. After I get job, I take you to someplace very nice.”

She loved how his hand squeezed hers. “I’m fine going anywhere, Alexei. There aren’t a lot of choices in Bliss.”

“When I get job and make the monies, I take you wherever you like to go. But, for tonight, it must be Trio.” He brought her hand to his lips, the sensation making her tingle all over. “Now, I must find this place called Roger’s Garage. How long will it take me to get there?”

“Long-Haired Roger’s place? He’s about two miles north of the Feed Store Church, right next to Polly’s Cut and Curl. You can’t miss it. Polly has a huge pink neon sign with kissing lips on it. It’ll take you ten minutes or so by car.”

“Car is one of things I must get.”

She reached for her keys. “Take mine. I’m going to work straight after this. I don’t need it again until I get off. Do what you need to do and then drop it off at Stella’s. I have to warn you, it’s kind of small.”

His smile brightened everything around him. He took the keys and leaned over, kissing her lips. “So many thanks to you, dushka. It makes up for the doctor. Be careful. His hand is much bigger than it look. If I could spare you, I would.” He brought her fingers to his lips again. “Tonight.”

The word held such promise. Holly was pretty sure the room lost some temperature as Alexei walked out the door.

And now she had to find a way to deal with Caleb.

She decided on a friendly but no-nonsense approach. He was behaving like a protective older brother. She marched right into his exam room. “Why is it going to take weeks to get the blood work back, Caleb? I happen to know that the hospital in Alamosa will process your samples in a few hours.”

His gold and red head didn’t move from the chart he was studying. “They do that as a favor to me. I’m not going to call in a favor so Alexei can get some.”

She gritted her teeth. “What do you have against Alexei, Caleb?”

“Well, he’s a mobster for one thing.” The words came out in a disgruntled huff. Caleb marked the chart, his pen moving across the pages in tense lines.

She thought that was part of the problem. Caleb didn’t deal well with violence. “Ex-mobster. And he was only in the mob because he was seeking revenge on the man who killed his brother. I’ve read all the stories about him. He didn’t kill anyone who was innocent. He only ever killed other mobsters. You don’t have a problem with Nate and Zane. They basically did the same thing when they were undercover with the DEA.”

“Nate and Zane were in law enforcement. They had badges.” His tone had gone to a sullen, dark place. His green eyes had deepened as though he was talking about something sacred. “Alexei’s a violent man. He’s a brutal man, Holly.”