Bad Habits Part 34

"The problem is me." She lifted from the wall. He stepped away and she started to the stairs but stopped just before climbing. "The problem is I don't think I want our marriage anymore. I don't think I want you anymore. I'm so sorry." She hurried up, leaving him stunned down below. She raced into the first door she saw, closing it hard behind her. Hugging herself tight, she shook all over. Cain's kiss lingered on her lips. She could feel his fingers between her legs. She tried to force it out, but her body was still charged from the encounter, no matter what her brain screamed. Simone went to the bed and dropped on it. Lying on her back, she put her arm over her eyes and waited for it to pa.s.s and for her senses to stabilize. Then she'd deal with it, but not until then.

Simone knew it was a naughty dream but she couldn't let it go. Her breath wheezed through clenched teeth as his hand stroked her breast. She nearly said his name in her sleep: Cain. She didn't. But she smiled and relaxed once his thick member pressed against her backside. She drifted then on a sea of sensations and unearthly pleasure, wondering if she should feel some guilt over this sin.

But it was her dream. Private and tucked away in her psyche, she should be allowed this one freebie. Her heart was beating so wildly now. Her pulse, a sensual drumbeat that turned to a throb deep down inside, drowned out her plaguing thoughts. Like if she was dreaming why didn't she know it? Why did it feel so real?

His face nuzzled the back of her neck as his hands stroked from her breast, down her stomach to the apex between her thighs. It felt so real. She closed her eyes and s.h.i.+vered when he eased one finger between the folds of her s.e.x and rubbed her c.l.i.t. It was just like before in the bathroom through her panty before he eased the seat of it aside and pierced her with his finger, thick and long, promising her pleasure. In a flurry of movements she couldn't process, her upper leg was pushed forward by the strength of his knee and thigh. Simone was maneuvered into a position for penetration.

She opened her eyes. Keith grunted, thrusting into her from behind. She tried to move to object, but he slipped all the way in. Simone tensed as he thrust in and out of her, violating the rule that he stay away, violating her.

"Stop," she gasped into her pillow, biting down on the fluff and stiffening all over as he kept thrusting. Harder and harder he worked her from the back, opening her up to him. Gripping her by the waist and holding her to him, she bucked beneath him. He thought it no more than her response to his pa.s.sion, as he pressed her down into the mattress, his weight pinning her there. Then suddenly without warning he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed a release.

She lay there frozen. Unable to speak, her eyes stung with guarded tears.

"We aren't getting a divorce," Came a deep husky voice so sinister she was actually afraid. "You aren't leaving me, because I won't let you go," he said and then eased out from behind her. Simone turned and blinked awake panting, pulling the sheet to cover herself. She had forgotten to lock the door and didn't think she had to.

How could he do that to her? He walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. She closed her eyes to the warning in his tone. Shaking with rage and disgust at what just happened between them, she had an epiphany. She was leaving his a.s.s. For good.

Chapter Seventeen.

Cruisin Kim Life moves fast, especially when spinning beyond your own control. No one was more aware of that fact than Kimberly Jensen. It amazed her at how much lower hope could sink after all she'd been through. Call it desperation, call it fear, call it shame. She could give it many names-the reasons why she set it all in motion. One lie connected to another then another until she was anch.o.r.ed in a sea of untruths, but this time she wasn't alone.

Take for instance her new hero and his campaign to rescue her and every nurse from the dubious clutches of the heathen Dr. Anshu Patel. One word and the man that's caused her so much anxiety and stress for nearly two years was nearing a destructive end. And what was Dr. Donnelly's weapon of choice? None other than the truth carefully packaged with well thought out lies. Justice moved at warp speed and there was no turning back.

Her lids slowly lifted and her gaze hooded under a furrowed, worried brow as it fastened on Murphy. The doctor sat stiffly upright in her chair, her eyes darting between Kim and Andrea. Dr. Murphy was speechless and ill prepared for the accusations put before her. Kim could almost hear her thoughts: Not on my watch! What would a lawsuit do to Mercy Hospital?

The Human Resources Director, Janice Levi, was on the other side of Andrea, observing, scribbling every detail in a black leather ledger. Mrs. Levi hadn't made a move or spoken since the meeting started. Her silence was worse than Murphy's glare.

Mathew sat on the edge of Murphy's desk. He encouraged the young nurse with his gentle, understanding nature to share what she confessed just minutes earlier to them both.

"How long has it been going on?" Murphy asked through clenched teeth.

"Almost immediately after I started working here," Andrea admitted. She looked to her lap, twisting a silver band that she wore on her thumb. "I didn't want any trouble. It was just comments at first, then he-" Andrea looked over to Kim, for approval. Kim nodded for her to continue. It didn't take much to get Andrea to share the meaning behind the scene she'd interrupted with her and Patel. It was as if Andrea walked the same tightrope Kim balanced on. It was evident she needed someone to throw her a safety net. So Kim brought her to Mathew, who immediately summoned a meeting with Murphy. Now here they were.

"Go on Andrea. Tell us what happened," Mathew said.

"I thought he'd stop. I asked him to. But he wouldn't. He's been physical, touches and stuff."

"I've heard enough," Murphy snapped. Her jaw tense and her nostrils flared.

"No, you haven't." Mathew rose.

"Dr. Donnelly, we are clear on the accusations." Murphy a.s.sured him.

"You haven't heard all of the accusations." Mathew walked around the seated women to the office door and pulled it open. Kim turned in her chair. Maggie and Gwen entered. What were they doing there? Both nurses reported to her, but neither ever said a thing against Patel. They called him creepy and a jerk, but nothing about hara.s.sment.

"It's okay, ladies. Come in."

"Dr. Donnelly, wait," Murphy said, trying to rise from her seat.

"No." Mathew cut Murphy down stopping her objections. "This has gone on far too long. These women have suffered in silence because they didn't think they had a choice. I'm sure you want the intimidation to stop here and now."

Murphy lowered to her seat. Silent. Mathew closed the door. "Maggie...Gwen, you know why I asked you in?"

"Yes," said Gwen "Yes," answered Maggie.

Kim didn't. She was confused and curious. Could Patel really be the same menace to others he was to her? Maggie clarified first, "It happened six months ago. He cornered me in a patient's room and exposed himself." Maggie's eyes cast downward. She kept scratching at her chest. "I told him I was married and I would file a complaint. He said, he said he'd report me."

"Report you for what?" Murphy asked.

Maggie hesitated. She looked to Dr. Donnelly then to the HR Director. "I want to know if what I share will bring about disciplinary actions against me? You said it was okay, Dr. Donnelly. That I won't get in any trouble."

Kim frowned and Murphy's eyes narrowed. "Dr. Donnelly can't make that promise."

"Murphy," Mathew snapped. "Her infractions don't matter, considering the level threat Patel has been. Wouldn't you agree?"

"I can't say that. These accusations are not only against our chief physician but a member of the board. I need all the facts."

Maggie looked to Kim for help. But she wasn't sure what help she needed. She just nodded her support, hoping it was enough. "I misreported some time on my timecard once when my rotation was under him. He found out about the absence and said he'd report me to Nurse Jensen for the infraction if I mentioned the incident. I only did it because I had a sick kid and I was out of PTO. I made up for it since then. This was-"

"I've heard enough," Murphy said. "You lied and cheated hours that you didn't work."

"Not nearly enough," Mathew cut in. "Go on, Gwen."

"Dr. Patel, he always tells these jokes. Inappropriate jokes around the nurses, but we ignore it mostly. Then he propositioned me once. When I turned him down, he got angry-belligerent. It got so bad that I asked Nurse Jensen to rea.s.sign me. It was creepy."

The floodgates opened. If Kim hadn't been so consumed with her own issues, she would have known her nurses were being victimized on her watch. She should have caught this before it got too far out of hand. Sitting there stunned, she looked up to Mathew who had become their champion. He winked at her. She wanted to sink through the floor.

"Whoa, check you out!"

Kim's eyes flipped up to her reflection. They met with Anne's, who now appeared behind her. "It's too much, huh?"

Anne adjusted Denny on her hip. The little boy sucked hard on the pacifier that Kim was struggling to wrestle from him. He blinked at his mother curiously in his Spiderman pajamas. Anne eyed the bikini, and the curves Kim had on display. It was hard to stand there under another's scrutiny. It had been so long since Kim actually cared what anybody thought. She winked in the mirror at her baby boy, then sucked in her diaphragm and smoothed out her tummy pouch thanks to baring twins. What a joke. How was she going to pull this off in front of Mathew? Shaking her head, she turned sideways and caught a glimpse of her bottom. Her child birthing hips had her lower half rounder than she remembered, but at least she wasn't cursed with stretch marks. "Yep, it's definitely too much, and you're not saying anything," she sighed, releasing a long suppressed breath and letting her lower belly drop.

"Cause you look good. I'm just a little surprised. You really like him, huh?"

"Who? Mathew? No, we're friends. It's just we're going on his boat so, I mean, I was going to wear it under my clothes."

Anne waved off her explanation. "You pushed out two boys and still kept your figure. Kim, you really are a beautiful woman, you shouldn't hide that. Go you! He gets a look at you in that bikini and it's on."

Kim blushed. "Well I definitely should change. Not trying to entice him. I just thought-"

"Yeah right," Anne chuckled.

"Besides I don't know if we will get in the water, especially with the boys. Probably not. Maybe I shouldn't wear it. What do you do out on the sea with toddlers? Certainly not swim."

"Mommy!" Denny reached for her. His chubby fingers wiggled and stretched. Kim pulled him from Anne's arms as Danny pushed in the bathroom past Anne's legs to look up at her. Her boys. The only thing that kept her halfway sane was the love she had for them. Both of them were definitely in need of haircuts. Something Dennis always said he'd look forward to if he had a son. The first hair cut. It was something she avoided.

"You're over thinking this. A day out at sea, the boys will probably sleep halfway into the trip. You can sunbathe with the s.e.xy doctor."

"Now you're over thinking it," Kim chuckled.

"I'm serious. Wear it and have fun. I think you look fierce. Really pretty. Oh and wear your hair down."

"Anything else?" Kim frowned.

Anne chewed on her bottom lip. "A little make-up would work."

"Oh good grief," Kim laughed. She s.h.i.+fted Danny on her hip. The thought of wearing her hair down never occurred to her. She was going to twist it back in her normal bun. At the moment, it was a thick auburn cloud resting on her shoulders. She could imagine the frizz in the sea air. "It'll get crazy out there on the ocean. I don't know."

"Wear it down. Trust me. It makes you look, I don't know, it just makes you look different. Healthy and happy."

Kim flinched at the word 'healthy'. Anne didn't mean it as a slight, but the truth hurt. Over the past months she'd lost the vibrancy in her skin color. The dark circles under her eyes had deepened. She was in need of a true full body make over to get back to the woman she once was. Denny started whining in her ear. Danny s.n.a.t.c.hed open the cabinet beneath the sink pulling out her aerosol spray cans. Then there was a knock at the door. "s.h.i.+t!" she mumbled.

"s.h.i.+t!" Danny echoed.

Kim panicked. "Can you take them out front and entertain Mathew while I get dressed? Tell him to give me ten minutes. Please."

"Sure, come here potty mouth!" Anne took Denny by the waist. The boy screamed, wrapping his arms around his mother's neck. She felt another pang of guilt over his tantrum. He had no idea that mommy wasn't going to work. "It's okay sweetie. Mommy isn't going anywhere. Go with Anne and be a good boy."

Anne struggled, but won the battle. Meanwhile, Danny was busy at their feet. She reached down to catch hold of the elastic band of his shorts. Danny tried to climb into the cabinets and remove more forbidden bottles of shampoo. Kim helped her, ushering them both out of the bathroom and closing the door.

Checking the time, she realized Mathew was a little early. He called and insisted on them riding together instead of her meeting him at the marina. She needed to decide on her hair and makeup. The bikini was a must. It made her feel good. A black bikini with gold clamps to the hip and a gold ring holding the cups of the bra together was quite stylish for her. It was a gift from Simone. Her sister bought it for her at her baby shower and told her it was for Dennis, not her-a goal to reach for shedding her extra poundage.

She picked up her brush and groomed her mane. Reaching for her barrette she stopped herself. She could wear it lose, natural and maybe behind a band to keep it out of her eyes. Kim shook her shoulders and tried to loosen up. G.o.d help her. She was so nervous.

"Get dressed, girl. Just get dressed."

She grabbed her jeans from the back of the door and worked them up her hips. Then she found the loose fitted linen white s.h.i.+rt. She put it on, tying the front and revealing her bra top. She untied it then b.u.t.toned it, then unb.u.t.toned it and tied it again. She couldn't decide. "d.a.m.n it!" she moaned. She didn't want to overdo it. Who said she needed a bikini anyway? Putting on her earrings, she heard a scream. A blood curdling scream and it wasn't her babies. It was a woman.

Kim raced out of the bathroom through her bedroom and out into the hall. When she arrived in the living room she stopped.

"THESE ARE MY GRANDBABIES YOU BLACK HEIFER!!"

"Diane?" Kim gasped.

Her mother looked to her. She had s.n.a.t.c.hed Danny from Anne's arms. Denny was holding on to his grandmother's legs crying. "What is wrong with you? Scaring my kids! Have you lost your mind?"

"I'm sorry, Kim. She forced her way in. I tried to talk reasonable to her. To tell her you were busy."

"You don't tell me 'nuthin! s.k.a.n.k!" Diane seethed.

"Stop it!" Kim ordered. Denny hurried over to his mother. She picked him up. She kissed his face and stroked his back in an attempt to soothe him. She could feel his little heart beating fast in his chest. Kim could smell the alcohol off her mother from across the room. She approached. She didn't like the way she held tightly to Danny. He hugged his grandmother's neck, sucking his pacifier. "Give him to Anne."

"Ain't giving that b.i.t.c.h 'nuthin!"

"Diane, give my son to his sitter. Now."

Diane cut Anne a look, then rolled her eyes. She s...o...b..red all over Danny's cheek, hugging him tight. "I'm your gran. Gran luvs ya!" Anne approached cautiously, reaching. Diane cut her a murderous glare then reluctantly pa.s.sed the toddler over. Danny dropped his head on Anne's shoulder. Diane walked over to the sofa chair and plopped down with a pout. "Anne, take them in the room and get their shoes on. I'll deal with my mother. Mathew will be there any minute."

"Okay," Anne said a little shaken. She was always shaken when Diane attacked her. Kim still didn't understand why her mother hated the young girl so much. But she never understood anything Diane did. Especially when drunk. Lowering Denny, Kim waited until her son took Anne's hand and they walked out.

"You deny me what's mine! Treat me like tras.h.!.+" Diane tossed out.

"You come here drunk? Have you lost what's left of your diseased mind?"

"You made me drink! Taking Kitt from me! Not giving me her phone number! You did it. My little girl needs me! That's why I'm drinking 'cause I feel it!" she slurred. "Kitt's with that a.s.shole motherf.u.c.ker, s.h.i.+thead."

Diane always referred to Simone as Kitt when she was on edge or drunk. It was her pet name for her daughter since she was four.

"You are on a binge. Ever think of calling her cell number? It's still the same you know. Oh, and if you would pay your phone bill and not spend the money on booze, she would be able to call you."

"I want Kitt!" Diane shouted.

"Shut up!" Kim shouted over her. "Say another word and I'll muzzle you. Do you hear me?" She stepped to Diane who glared but quieted. "My sons are in the other room. Do you think I want them exposed to you and this?"

"Kitt needs me."

"Diane, I swear to G.o.d."

"Give me her address! I need to see her. She needs her mama!" Diane wailed.

"No! You're the one that needs her. I spoke to Simone and she's fine. You can't keep doing this to her. She's not here to keep you sober."

"Just because you don't need n.o.body don't mean we don't. I know you hate me. I knows it! But Kitt is my baby and she ain't like you. She ain't got that b.i.t.c.h gene you get from yo sorry a.s.s daddy. She sensitive, trusting, and you should have never sent her away with that tight a.s.s motherf.u.c.ker!"

"He's her husband, Diane. Oh G.o.d, what am I saying? You can't be reasoned with. I'm calling you a cab," Kim said.

"Go to h.e.l.l!"

Kim took a step toward her mother but stopped when there was a knocking at the door. Her eyes rolled in defeat. The last thing she wanted or needed was Mathew walking in and meeting Diane drunk. h.e.l.l, meeting her sober would be bad enough. "Go in my room. I-I have company."

"I ain't going nowhere." Diane plopped back down on the sofa. "I ain't going nowhere until you give me my baby cell phone number. I forgot it again."

The knocking persisted. Kim looked down at herself. She fixed her s.h.i.+rt, tying it tighter to the front and b.u.t.toning it to cover her bikini top. "Behave, Diane! I mean it," she warned. Diane smirked. Kim went for the door and opened it. Mathew gave her a smile that made her melt. "Hi," she said.

"Hi yourself, beautiful" He leaned in to give her a kiss. Kim stepped back. Mathew frowned at the dodge. She understood why. She had no problem with kissing him when he said his goodbye to her in the parking lot of the hospital yesterday.

"Come in."