Sweet Surrender Read online

  “And that’s why we can’t continue to go out. I can’t add us to one of her adjustments.”

  “To argue with you would make me sound as if I’m not considerate of your daughter’s feelings. That’s not true. But I’m also considerate of yours.”

  “You don’t know what I’m feeling, Doctor.”

  “Why is my being a doctor bothering you? I didn’t lie. It didn’t come up. I would’ve loved to share that with you, but you didn’t give me a chance. Shouldn’t the fact that I’m gainfully employed sway you to my side?” he questioned, his eyebrows raised in question.

  “I’m not answering any of your questions. Where’s Beth?”

  “She’s out back. I’m sure she’s appreciating my attempts to delay you. Would you let me appear to have success?”

  Pierce watched Haley’s mouth open, then snap shut. She turned from him toward the door, then stopped. Her eyes narrowed. She approached him. “You’re giving me a heart attack,” she said, but a small smile tugged at her mouth.

  He put his stethoscope in his ears and closed the gap between them to mere inches. “May I?”

  She responded with a smile.

  He placed the device on her chest and listened to her heart. He closed his eyes, noting the heartbeats increasing. He heard the whisper of her breath, feeling it brush his neck.

  “What do you hear, Doctor? Have I passed the physical?”

  “I’d like to check one more thing before handing you a prescription.” He pulled open his desk drawer and retrieved a pad of blank prescription forms. He quickly wrote the remedy and folded the paper.

  She reached for it.

  “I need to complete the exam.”

  “Pierce.” She placed a hand on his chest.

  He waited for Haley to look at him. He wanted to see in her eyes the same desire that he couldn’t contain, but had spread through his body like a wildfire out of control. Regardless of what she said, she couldn’t continue to deny that they shared emotions that ran intense and deep.

  She tiptoed and kissed him softly. He needed no further encouragement before covering her lips.

  His tongue stroked her mouth, playing with its fullness, before slipping between her lips. Her hands slid up his back, grabbing and releasing his doctor’s gown. He tightened his embrace, afraid that she’d simply vanish in his arms. Everything about her was magical. He desperately didn’t want their first kiss to be his last, which is why he had to stop before it was too late.

  He kissed her softly before pulling away. His mouth continued to tingle, seeking the sensual warmth of her mouth.

  “I can’t believe that I did that.” She touched her mouth, shifting away eye contact with him.

  “I can believe it. Our attraction is beautiful and natural.”

  “I don’t think that I can give you what you want from me. My emotions, any feelings that I would have for another man, any desires are on empty. Have you ever been married?”

  He shook his head.

  “In the final year, my marriage used me and spit me out. I have nothing to give.”

  “Don’t judge and condemn me for being a man. I’ll take whatever you share. And I know that I’ll have to open myself to you. You see, you’re not the only one whose knees are knocking.”

  “What’s my prescription?”

  He handed her the paper and watched her read it. She didn’t react, simply refolding it before putting it in her pocketbook.

  “I think that I can give you one official date. But with every prescriptive drug, there are side effects. What are the side effects?”

  “Strong addiction to continue dating. An increasing desire for more kisses. Spending lazy afternoons with a charming doctor at your side—for medical purposes, of course.”

  Haley grinned. “Let’s go check on Beth.”

  Chapter 4

  Haley couldn’t catch her breath. Locking lips with Pierce was like sampling a sugary treat that wakened the senses, but did nothing for calming them down. She replayed the mind-scrambling experience in her mind over and over to feed a burgeoning addiction.

  She’d have to put all of that on the back burner. Now was the time to be the stern parent and deal with her child.

  The cell phone hanging at her waistband rang. She pulled it off to glance at the telephone number on the small screen. “Crap!” It was her job. She didn’t want to answer, knowing it wasn’t a call to show concern. The culture in the office didn’t lend itself to warm and fuzzy relations among the employees.

  She hadn’t had her six-month review yet. This wasn’t the time to mess around with her job. Frustrated, she rapped the phone against her temple. “Darn it, not now.” She brought the phone to her ear.

  Vera, her assistant, told her to hold while she connected her with Mr. Strayer, the boss. Haley squeezed her eyes shut, gritting her teeth against what she was sure would be bad news. So far, most of her meetings with Mr. Strayer weren’t compliments on a job well done. He took delight in reiterating their goal to attract businesses to the city and its amenities.

  “Haley,” Strayer’s voice boomed over the cell phone. “I need you back in the office right away. Thadeus Bedford called looking for you. He’s made his decision and will be over in an hour to discuss the fine points.”

  “No kidding?” Haley pumped her fist in victory. “That’s great.” Haley did a two-step for landing the big deal. The former housewife with all her insecurities could stay in the closet a little while longer. “I thought that he was going to do more research before making a decision?”

  “Nope. He called and asked if you were back from your emergency. I told him yes, but you were tied up in a meeting. Then he said that he’d arrived at his decision and would be over.”

  “I’ll be right there, Mr. Strayer.” She closed the phone and turned to address Beth, only to see Pierce and Beth staring at her.

  “What?”

  “I thought you’d be taking Beth home.”

  “Of course I will. Beth understands that I have to go back to work. This is important.” She looked from Pierce to Beth and saw her daughter’s disappointment that quickly got tucked away behind a mask of indifference.

  “Beth.” She approached the young girl, who sidestepped her. “I’m asking for your understanding.”

  “And I’m asking for yours.” Beth glared at her and then went back to digging her toe in the dirt.

  The back door to the building opened. A woman stuck out her head, her eyes lighting on Pierce. “Dr. Masterson, your schedule is falling behind. We need you in here.”

  “Looks like I’ll have to leave you ladies. I’ll be in touch, Haley. Beth, I’m looking forward to seeing what you can do with my reception area.”

  “Thanks, Doc.” Beth offered him a bright, cheery smile. Haley knew that display was for her benefit.

  She escorted Beth to her car. She had mounds of guilt that were self-created, requiring her to wade through. Beth’s antics didn’t help. For the first time, she wondered if Beth would be better off with her father. Her daughter didn’t seem to hold him with the contempt that she regularly flashed at her.

  No one said it would be easy, either.

  A familiar blue car puttered up the street. The brakes screeched, metal grinding against metal, until the car came to a complete stop. The college freshman Haley had hired through a day-care-provider service jumped out of the car and ran toward them. Her small braids framed her head, stopping below the chin. This week the micro plaits were a deep burgundy.

  “Miss Haley, I just heard. I waited at the bus stop, but Beth wasn’t there. Then I saw some of the other kids walking home in the neighborhood and they told me.” She flung a wayward braid away from her eye.

  “Everything is fine, Lezlie. Beth got herself into a bit of a mess, though. I’ll fill you in later, but I have to run. Can you take her home, please?”

  “You’re not coming? You said that you would take me home and then leave.” Haley cringed from Beth’s disappointment. />
  “Sorry, hon, I won’t be coming right now. The sooner that I can get to the meeting, the sooner I can come home.”

  “You haven’t been home until late all this week.”

  “I’ll make it up to you over the weekend.” Haley bit her lip. “This is my boss. This is what brings food on the table. Please, let’s not fight.” In her heart, her daughter always came first. But she needed this job, more precisely this project, to show that she could do the job. Haley put her arm around Beth and walked with her to Lezlie’s car. She seemed so thin. Haley uneasily studied her daughter.

  “Come on, Beth. I know you’ve got lots of homework.” Lezlie opened her car door while the very reluctant teen scooted in. “Finish up early and I’ll make that banana split that you’re always bugging me about.”

  Haley leaned against the passenger side looking at Beth’s profile. “I promise. I’ll be home before your favorite TV show is over at eight.”

  “My favorite show plays on Monday. There’s nothing good on television on Tuesdays. And Wednesdays I’m working on my English composition weekly assignment.” She spoke to the windshield, not turning to address Haley.

  Clearly Beth was letting her know that she didn’t have a clue what her evening schedule was like.

  “Besides, I might be asleep by the time you come in.”

  Lezlie pulled off. Neither girl returned Haley’s wave.

  “Not if I can help it, baby.” Haley walked to her car, got in and drove away in the opposite direction. As she drove back to work, Haley reflected on how she had come to this part in her life.

  One day she had been the corporate wife hosting lavish parties, dressed in her favorite designer ensemble and facilitating tours of her expertly decorated, mansion-size family home. Without preamble and after fourteen years of marriage, her husband’s indiscretions had graduated into an openly adulterous lifestyle, with younger, slimmer and ever perkier partners. The humiliating experience seemed like a clichéd ending to her marriage that could rival television’s latest dramas, but it was her nightmarish reality.

  Once Vernon got wind of her divorce intentions, he’d cut her off financially. In his screwed-up mind, he expected her to deal with his infidelity since he still took care of their financial needs. Considering that her in-laws shared a similar marital arrangement, she knew better than to take her problems to them.

  She’d learned to cope and plan. She’d started banking her shopping allowances from Vernon by making purchases, then bringing them home for him to see. A few days later, she’d returned the merchandise for the cash. She’d saved in this way until she could afford a divorce lawyer.

  The only bright spot in her wretched divorce had come when the judge awarded her full custody of Beth.

  After the divorce, their mutual friends had treated Haley as an outcast, especially once she moved out of their exclusive neighborhood. She’d never been close to her in-laws, who thought she was common and lacking in the social graces. And she had quickly tired of Vernon’s sudden appearances to see Beth, despite the set visitation schedule. She’d wanted to start fresh and rebuild her life on her own terms.

  Hampton Mews hadn’t been an urban mecca, but it offered a sense of normalcy in her chaotic life. The city had been featured in the newspaper in the top five emerging cities with low crime rate, good schools and low housing costs. The community’s only downside was the local job situation. Most people commuted an hour by car to Frederick or Baltimore to work. She’d been lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time when she’d landed her job.

  The spirit of this city spoke to her soul. Even its location nestled between two mountain ranges had a natural shield against the elements. It was a place of new beginnings and putting down roots.

  Pierce tried hard to fit in all his remaining patients that afternoon. Luckily his receptionist had had the foresight and nerve to force him into reality and to call him back into the office. She’d rescheduled three patients with his sincerest regrets.

  Now that it was summer, he’d have to show up at barbeques, family dinners, grandchildren’s baptisms and flea-market bazaars for redemption. He couldn’t complain. Working as a doctor in the field of geriatrics had always been his dream. When his father had left, he’d tried, but couldn’t always handle all the responsibilities as the man in charge. Senior members of the neighborhood had watched over him and helped him. Other families’ fathers and grandfathers had taught him to be a man and how to take care of his family.

  Long hours and constant training had now earned him the distinction of being a leading doctor in senior care. It still took years to earn his patients’ trust. He didn’t ever want to take their faith in him for granted.

  Breaking out of his reverie, Pierce looked at his watch.

  “Damn!”

  “What’s the matter, Doctor?”

  “Sorry, Jean, I didn’t realize the time.” He finished writing his notes in a patient’s file before snapping the folder closed. “Leave that stuff. Go home. It’s late.” He waved away her protests.

  Jean nodded and hurried with her remaining tasks.

  Pierce continued tidying the numerous piles of work on his desk. The work wasn’t urgent, but involved nagging, administrative details. Twice a week, not including the weekends, he brought work to his house to complete. Sometimes he could get more done sitting in a comfortable chair with his feet up than in his tight office.

  “Have a good night, Doctor.”

  “See you tomorrow.” He finished locking up the office and got into his car.

  Once the flow of patients had diminished, his brain had time to reevaluate earlier events with Beth and Haley. His conscience also had the time to make him aware that he was a hypocrite. Earlier he’d cast judgment on Haley when she had made the difficult decision to go back to work instead of staying with Beth. He should have backed her up. He would’ve alleviated some of her guilt and some of her daughter’s anger. Instead he’d remained silent, lining up for his turn to condemn her. He didn’t have to get involved, but standing by, doing nothing wasn’t in his nature.

  With guilt twisting his gut, he took the right on Houston Road toward Haley’s, rather than a left toward his house. He dialed her number on his cell phone. She probably wasn’t home yet. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t there. Actually, it gave him more time to put his plan in motion. According to his watch, he had about half an hour to set up all the details.

  He wanted to assuage his guilty feelings about the afternoon and make things up to her. There was no way that he could go home and fix himself dinner knowing that Beth was sitting home alone. Beth had told him that Lezlie left at seven.

  One more detour proved necessary. A few minutes later, he ended at Laura’s condo. “I need your help, sis.”

  “Good evening to you, too. This is a first. Go on.”

  “Would you come with me to Mom’s house? This is pretty important.” Thank goodness she was dressed, so that he wouldn’t lose time.

  “Why?” She crossed her arms, not budging.

  “I’ll explain in the car. Oh, and bring some food to make a meal for dinner.”

  She was almost out the door with him before she pulled away from his hand. “What are you up to? Is this a plan to get back into Sheena’s good graces?”

  “I’m not thinking about Sheena nor everyone’s hang-ups.” He was tired of wearing the bad-guy label. Haley and Beth had touched him in a very personal way. He had no regrets, despite the family’s strong disapproval.

  “Looks like you got your fight back. Well, now you’ve got my interest. How can I help?”

  “I have to take dinner to a girl.”

  “You know I woke up today thinking that it would be another boring day. But you are constantly surprising me tonight. You’ve got a girlfriend?”

  “She’s thirteen.”

  “Hmm. What about the mother?” She leaned over and pulled his earlobe, a reminder of how she’d nagged him as a little girl.

 
; “I’ll fill you in to keep you from harassing me.” He briefed her on the day’s events. “I know that Beth’s mother will be home shortly, but she’ll be tired. I didn’t want to go over to the house with only Beth there. Not quite appropriate, you know.”

  “I’d say not. I don’t understand why you’re getting into the private lives of these people. I thought all you were doing was collecting the check from the property-management company and occasionally fixing an appliance. Listening to you, makes me think that you’ve taken things to a more personal level. Are these your new buddies? I can’t wait to call Sheena.”

  “Touch that phone and you die.”

  She poked him in the chest. “My big brother is playing big daddy.”

  “Coming, no or yes?” He waited a second before turning and heading to his car. Maybe he’d buy fast food and simply drop it off with Beth.

  “Relax. I’m coming. I’ve never seen you so worked up over another family. Or is this all about the mother? Haley, is it? Glad to see that we’re not the only ones that you’ve sunk your teeth into.” His sister wore a smug smile as she winked at him.

  “I swear, I think you’ve been taking pain-in-the-butt lessons from Sheena.”

  “You’re making me feel sorry for you. It’s your lucky day. I baked a large pan of lasagna at the beginning of the week. I have cornbread and a three-bean salad. They’re all in containers in the refrigerator. You’re welcome to all of it.”

  “Really?” He hugged his sister. “I take back all my recent insults.”

  The moment Pierce stood in front of Haley’s door poised to knock, he grew a bit nervous. Would she think of his help with Beth as an intrusion or would she thank him for being thoughtful? He’d already called Beth to let her know that he was coming over with his sister.

  Once they were inside and introductions were out of the way, Laura took over the logistics, distributing the various tasks. Beth had to set the table. Pierce gathered the ingredients for a garden salad and Laura reheated the food. With only fifteen minutes to spare before Haley arrived, the table was laden with a full-course meal.