Raising the Bar (16 page)

“Come on in, Harper,” she called through the door.

Dylan’s reputation as an exceptional doctor, sought-after bachelor and all-around stud anyone would be lucky to have came as no surprise. But the guy wasn’t available anymore, and it bugged the shit out of Harper that he couldn’t say anything about it.

“Long day?” Freddy asked from the kitchen.

He went straight to her, lifted her off her feet and kissed her until neither of them could breathe.

“Oh wow. Long day.” She laughed and shoved a hank of blond hair from her eyes. She had such a powerful personality, it always amused him to tower over her. He ran a light finger over her brow piercing, thinking her so damn sexy.

“I nearly strangled a guy. But he’s finishing the work he should have had done three days ago, so it’s all good.”

“Ah, okay.” She stirred something that smelled amazing. “Well, I hired a new guy to run the cleaning staff. I had to let Manny go. He was
doing
the maids instead of making them do their work.”

“Bummer.”

“Yeah.” She sighed. “So you’re really okay with me owning the place, right?”

“I’m fine with it as long as you’re not personally servicing the clientele. I like having a rich girlfriend.”

She elbowed him in the belly. “Yeah right. From what I hear, you’re Richie Rich. I’m just a poor perverted tramp trying to earn a living.”

“I don’t know that I’d say poor. Perverted and trampy, sure, but those tats cost money.”

“Jerk.” She laughed, and then her expression sobered. “Heard from Dylan?”

“No.” He hated her crestfallen look. “Honey, maybe we should tell him how we feel. He might not think it’s anything serious. And, hell, it hasn’t been that long that we’ve been lovers.” A week and a half maybe? Yet long enough for Harper to know he’d found true love.

“But it feels like forever.”

“Yeah.” He kissed her. “I know the doc. He has to think everything through to the nth degree. He’s probably unsure about us, and he’s new to three people in a relationship. You still love him, right?”

“Yeah. Though I couldn’t tell you why.”

“I can. He’s thoughtful, usually. Gentle and rough, has a big fucking cock and he makes you laugh with that dry sense of humor.”

“He’s really handsome,” she added. “He likes us, and for a fussy guy, he never judges. Man, I hate that I love him. You, I get. Him, I have to ask myself, why?”

“He’ll be worth it. You’ll see.” Harper kept saying that. He just hoped they wouldn’t be disappointed in the long run. “I talked to my mom today.”

“Oh?”

“She wants to meet you. I’m just warning you. She really wants grandkids. I think she’s already impregnated you. And with my brother and sister taking their time, it’s up to me to perpetuate the line. Just sayin’.”

“No pressure or anything.” She glared at him.

And that pixie anger made him laugh.

“If you tell me I’m cute when I’m mad, I swear I’ll spit in your soup.”

He bit his lip, but he didn’t fool her.

“Oh shut up and eat. Then you can take me in the back room and make me see stars.”

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.”

Chapter Nine

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.”