Marie Harte - Raising the Bar

He reacted as she’d no doubt known he would. Instead of waiting, he lifted her to the counter and unbuttoned his jeans. Then he worked her pants and panties off and got down to business.

After he had her crying out his name, then cursing it for screwing in the kitchen right before dinner, he heard his phone chime.

“Hell. Be right back. It might be Natalie.” He darted after the phone in the closet, where he’d hung his coat. Except they both knew he couldn’t care less about Natalie’s call. They were waiting to hear from Dylan.

He checked his messages and found one from Brian. He returned to the kitchen with a smile he didn’t have to force. Much. “My invite to your brother’s party on Friday.”

Freddy’s smile was just as fake. “Oh good. We’ll go and have a good time.”

“Yeah.”

He wondered how long it would take her to stop waiting on Dylan and go after the man. Apparently, at least another few days. Brian had invited Dylan to the party as well. They’d have to wait and see.

“Waiting sucks,” he said.

“Sucks ass,” she replied. By the look in her eye, she remembered the last time they’d had a similar conversation, because she added, “So fuck it. I’m done waiting. Grab your coat and let’s go.”

Dylan sighed. He never saw patients in his own home, but Faith was different. A good friend of both Sydney and Hailey—his future sisters-in-law—Faith had been dragged, almost kicking and screaming, to see him the first time. She absolutely refused to step foot in a “shrink’s office” ever again, especially after her breakup with Dr. Jeremy Pichter. The fact that Pichter was an orthopedic surgeon and not a psychiatrist meant little to Faith. She saw “doctor” and had a miniseizure.

But after their fifth session together, he saw real progress.

“I absolutely refuse to be used again.”

“Good.” He nodded. “And why did you allow yourself to feel that way, do you think?”

“I didn’t realize he’d been using me. It was more like I was using him.” She sounded guilty.

“No, Faith. Own it. Why did you allow him to take control of you like that?”

“Because I’m a poor, white-trash girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Literally.” She laughed, but not with the bitterness she’d used the first few times she’d come in. “I thought he was better than me because he had money. I let him talk down to me and cheat on me because I wasn’t any good.”

Wasn’t—past tense. Progress. Dylan nodded. “But…?”

“But he’s a piece of shit. I’m a strong, successful woman in a leadership position. I make my own money. I don’t need it from anyone else. And I don’t need a man in my life.”

“Very good. But do you want a man in your life? Just because you’re strong and successful in one part of your life doesn’t mean you have to be in every aspect of it. You can want a man but not need a man. That doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human.”

“Oh? What about you, Dr. Warren?”

He smiled. “If I wasn’t your doctor, and I wasn’t already in love, I’d ask you out myself.”

“Oh, uh, that wasn’t what I meant.” Faith turned the loveliest shade of pink when embarrassed. She had long light-brown hair pulled back behind her ears. Deep-green eyes flashed with emotion, and her lips had a natural fullness and shape to them that invited naughty thoughts. To say nothing of her frame. Slender yet curved in all the right places. He might be a doctor, but he was a man as well. He had no doubt that Faith remained single because she wanted to be. Any man in his right mind would snap her up in a heartbeat.

“What I meant was, are you human, Dylan? I don’t see you dating. But you said you’re in love. Interesting.” She wiggled her brows at him.

“I’m the doctor.” He sighed. “Just whom have you been talking with about my love life? My bet—Sydney. She has a big mouth.”

“Actually, it was Hailey.” Faith grinned. “But I don’t deny it. Sydney’s a loudmouth for sure.” She took a moment before continuing. “You know, at first I thought you were full of crap. But Hailey and Sydney convinced me you were good. And you’re nice to look at, so I figured, if it doesn’t work, I at least get an hour of eye candy.”

“Thanks, Faith,” he said dryly.

She smiled. “But you know what the hell you’re talking about. I feel better about myself and my choices.”

“We all make mistakes. That’s how we learn.”

“Yes. And I’ve learned that I have a bad habit of making the same mistakes, over and over. I’m going to take a break from men.”

“You’ve been doing that for several months. Don’t feel that you have to become a hermit to overcome your bad choices. You have to at least allow yourself to encounter the problem, so you’ll know how to avoid it. How else will you know if you’ve grown?”

“I get that. But for now, I’m happier being alone, living with myself.”

“That’s a healthy attitude.” He smiled. “You’re really coming along, Faith.”

“Yes, I am. Did I tell you about my promotion?”

Faith talked about work and a few colleagues she’d had issues with. They discussed ways to handle tricky feelings. But she avoided talking about her family. He’d delve into that the next time they met.

“Oh hell. I’m over again, aren’t I?”

“Time is up, I’m afraid. Next time?”

“After the New Year. I’ll call you to set up an appointment. I really appreciate you seeing me here, Dylan. I know this is unusual.”

“For a friend of Hailey and Sydney, nothing is too unusual.” He grinned.

She laughed and walked with him to the door. She’d opened it but needed help with her coat. So he was holding it for her while she laughed at a joke he’d made at Gage’s expense.

“Oh, I’m sorry. You’re busy?” an icy voice asked.

He paused, his hands on Faith’s shoulders as she settled into her coat. “Freddy? Harper?”

Freddy had been overly polite, and he had a bad feeling.

“See you, Dylan. Thanks again.” Faith waved, smiled at Freddy and Harper, and walked down the hallway.

Harper and Freddy just stood there, staring after her. No doubt suspecting the worst.

Dylan’s palms felt clammy. God, he’d missed these two. So much. His mother’s words had stayed with him long after he’d left last Saturday’s breakfast. Things with Harper and Freddy had gone too fast for him, so he’d used work as an excuse to get some space.

But with each minute apart from them—forcing himself time after time not to call or text, to let them be—misery filled his waking hours. He missed Freddy’s laugh, Harper’s stern looks. The pair teasing him, warming him.

He’d expected that he’d see them at Brian’s party on Friday, but he hadn’t intended to wait that long. He’d planned to pick up some flowers and beer, and court his lovers slowly. Tomorrow night at the club. He’d already arranged with Tony’s help to reserve the dungeon, unbeknownst to them.

But the pair looked less than pleased with him.

“Oh hell. Come on in and yell at me.” He turned and entered, curious to see how they’d deal with this discussion. Freddy looked spitting mad. Harper had no expression, which couldn’t bode well. Hadn’t Dylan said three personalities would be hard to handle in a complicated relationship like theirs? Yet now he wanted desperately to be wrong.

“Who was she?” Freddy burst out, rounding on him like a terrier going for his throat. Which she might have lunged for if she’d been any taller. Instead, she poked him in the chest.

“Déjà vu,” he murmured, recalling the night she’d torn into him about Sydney.

Harper, on the other hand, stood against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Even in jeans and a sweatshirt, the man stole Dylan’s breath away. Harper’s uncompromising solidity, combined with Freddy’s passionate, affectionate nature, brought joy and verve to Dylan’s previously unfulfilling social life.

“Long story or short story?”

“Keep it short, Doc. I’m feeling the need to discipline you again,” Harper said softly.

Oh man. Dylan’s already rising erection turned rock-hard stiff. Trying to hold on to the upper hand, he sat on the couch and crossed a leg over his knee to hide his response. “Faith Sumner is a client of mine.”

“Yeah right. In your house?” Freddy clearly had little give in her. The spitfire. But instead of being annoyed with her for not trusting him, Dylan liked her jealousy, that she cared that much to show it.

“You’re right. I don’t normally entertain clients in my house.”

“Entertain?” Harper rumbled.

“Poor choice of words,” Dylan said quickly. “I meant, I don’t see clients at home. But she’s a special case.”

“I’ll bet.” Freddy fumed. “Those breasts and long brown hair were sure special, weren’t they, Harper?”

He just stared at Dylan, looking mean.

“Are you guys really jealous?” Dylan didn’t mean to grin, but he couldn’t help it. They were acting very possessive, more than just lovers wronged, but people who hurt, who felt betrayed.

“It’s not funny, dickhead.” Harper stepped closer, Freddy at his side. “We said we’re a unit. We’ve been giving you space. Letting you… But maybe it doesn’t matter now.”

“It sure the hell does.” Dylan remained seated, pleased to be in control of the situation. They had feelings for him that went deeper than sex. He could see it, all but taste it. “Faith is good friends with Hailey and Sydney, my brothers’ girlfriends. She’s all messed up about… Well, she’s a patient of mine who refused to see a doctor. Any kind of doctor. Because she’s practically Hailey’s best friend, I agreed to see her here.”

Harper frowned.

“Go ahead. Feel free to ask my brothers about it. They know.” Dylan shrugged and smiled. “Yes, Faith is attractive. But she’s not either of you. Even if she were, I’d never date a patient of mine. That’s unethical.”

Freddy glared at him, mollified more than a little, but not wanting to show it. He sounded way too happy about being caught. “Well, that’s one problem nailed down. The other would be why you’ve been avoiding us.”

His smile didn’t disappear. If anything, it deepened.

She didn’t know what to make of the gooey look he was giving her, but Harper seemed much more relaxed than he’d been.

“Come here, Freddy,” Dylan ordered.

She remained standing, though Harper stepped a fraction closer.

“Or not.” Dylan sighed. “Okay. I confess I used work as an excuse to get some distance. I’m told I’m not good with change. I had a long-overdue conversation with my mother and worked things out. I’ve had a hard time understanding she needed to move on. And maybe I do too.”

“Move on?” From them? Freddy panicked but did her best not to show it. She knew she shouldn’t have risked her heart on the prissy, handsome, sexy-as-sin doctor.

“Yeah. I was too wrapped up in protecting my mother. I had to do some real soul-searching to see why I’ve had so much trouble connecting to partners all my life.” He shook his head. “I was so hurt when my dad died. Seeing my mom so wounded, it made me want to close down. To never know that kind of pain.”

Freddy felt for him. She really did, but that didn’t mean she wanted him to just move on with his life.

“But I realized I hadn’t allowed myself to really love anyone else either. Until Harper and his big, brutish body cornered me in a parking lot. Then the lunk blackmailed me into dinner and took sinful advantage of my body.”

Harper started to smile. Freddy’s heart raced.

“And he did me the biggest favor ever by pushing me past my boundaries and forcing me to take a risk. Freddy, you are by far the sexiest woman I’ve ever made love to in my life. You’re the only one I want, baby. I’m sorry I avoided you guys. I had to think.”

“That’s okay, Doc.” Harper sounded hoarse. “We had to think too.”

Dylan seemed to tense, and she realized Harper had been right. They’d been thick as thieves planning on ways to keep Dylan that they’d never considered just asking him to stay, telling him how much he meant to them.

“Freddy?” Harper asked.

“No, you tell him.”

“Tell me what?” Dylan asked, too quiet.

“We’re keeping you,” Harper blurted.

Dylan blinked. “Say that again?”

Harper scowled, and he looked mean enough to make her cringe. But the worry in his deep-brown eyes touched her.

“What the big man means is that, impossible as it seems, we love you. You’re ours. Even if you don’t know it yet. For some bigwig doctor, you’re not that bright.”