Page 34

CHAPTER 34

KEVIN

It’s been a full month since Miriam’s ultrasound, so she’s close to twenty-five weeks, but today, her appointment went significantly different from the last few. Now, I’ve got a furious woman sitting in my passenger seat, glaring out the window, contemplating the death and destruction of every living thing she sees as we speed by.

What she doesn’t realize is she’s also emoting sadness that her next few months are about to be some of the hardest she’s faced. Maybe a bit of that with be physical struggles, but the mental toll it will take on someone who’s used to doing everything themselves will be a struggle.

Miriam Delgado is now, officially, on bed rest.

I took the opportunity to offer her a ride home when the other guys were busy asking the doctor questions, and thankfully, she accepted. Before we left, they all expressed some version of, “We need to move her out by us.” I just need to figure out how to address it when she provides me with the perfect opportunity.

A quiet sniff is my last straw, so I pull the car over to the side of the road.

“What are you doing?” she asks, looking around and seeing nothing but grass and trees. I put the car in park and reach over to unhook her seatbelt. “What the hell, Kevin? Why?—”

Tugging her into my lap, I know it was the right move when she immediately curls into me. I place my hand between her hip and the steering wheel so it doesn’t dig into her skin and make her uncomfortable.

Pressing my lips to her head, I turn my head to rest my cheek in the same place and sigh. “I’m sorry about the change in plans.”

She’s quiet for a moment, picking at the fabric of my shirt and staring off into nothing, then her face crumples. Miriam breaks in my arms and all I can do is hold her, running a hand up and down her arm to let her know I’m here.

“I’m fucking pissed.” Her teary confession is muffled against my chest. I can only nod, fully understanding how this must feel.

Keeping my voice calm, I ask, “Would you like me to offer some suggestions, or give you time to process?”

“ No! ” she cries out. What surprises me is when she immediately tilts her head back to look up at me. “Yes. How the hell am I supposed to function? I have a job! People who rely on me. Not just my coworkers, but my patients, and Darlene! Then there’s my family who still need help. It feels impossible to do while lying in a bed for God knows how long!”

“Since you’ve given me permission, I’m going to clear a few things off your plate right now. First, your family is self-sufficient. It may not seem like that because of everything you do for them, but they are capable of functioning. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t survive the weeks you aren’t able to travel to them and visit. Agreed?”

She frowns, but nods. “It still doesn’t feel good.”

“It doesn’t, but you can call or get on a computer for face to face calls. Whatever works, but that you can do from bed rest.”

Her misplaced sense of duty for her family is something I’ve been wanting to crush for quite a bit, particularly after Richard filled me in on the dynamics there and from what she’s told me in the past. It’s okay to want to help, but she bears no responsibility for fulfilling a role her father should be taking on. He’s become lazy, and that’s unacceptable.

“But—”

I place a palm over her mouth and hold back a laugh when it immediately distracts her from her sadness, which turns into annoyance. Slipping it away, I let my fingers trail over her soft lips, distracting me for only a moment, but it keeps her quiet.

“Second issue, Darlene. This is the woman you help on Sundays, correct?”

Another wordless nod, but she’s tracking my hand as I keep touching her in places meant to relax her.

Tilting my head in thought, I say, “That should be an easy enough obstacle as well. I assume you provide companionship as well as assistive care for her?”

“ Sí ,” she murmurs.

“So, we’ll talk to her family. It’s only one day a week. There’s no reason they shouldn’t be understanding that your current situation is out of your hands at the moment. Let them know that, for now, you need a leave of absence. You can still keep in touch with her, probably more often now if you’re stuck with your feet up.”

Eventually, she stops watching as I touch her and focuses on my face. Pointing at me and without any heat, she scolds, “Stop being reasonable.”

“Never.” Leaning down, I hover my mouth over hers, but don’t initiate contact. Her eyes drop to my lips, then she studies me more closely.

“I’m still angry with you.”

The corner of my mouth tugs up in a small smile. “I know. We’ll talk more about that later. For now, let’s move on to your job.” I brush my nose against her and pull away. She must have been holding her breath because it rushes out quickly after that.

“Continue on, papí. ”

I swear, my cock grows harder each time she says that to me, and I suspect she knows it. Shifting her so her ass is pressing more firmly in my lap, I let her feel what she’s doing to me, but don’t comment on it.

“Legally, your job can’t fault you for medically being unable to work. It doesn’t mean that everything will work out the way you want, but Miriam, if you push yourself and don’t abide by the instructions your doctor has given you, it could cause serious issues down the road which would make you unable to work either way.”

Totally relaxing into me, she looks up at the roof of my car. “I know all that, but it doesn’t ease the guilt that I’m leaving all of my coworkers hanging. Plus, I love my job. I love taking care of people and feeling as if my help is making a difference in their lives.” Her eyes begin to water when she adds, “I’ll go mad just lying around. I have to do something.”

“It’s not forever, Miriam. Three months at the most. Besides, Dr. Jolee said that it’s only for now. If things change, she could give you more leeway in your day-to-day activities. Your blood pressure…”

I trail off because she knows. Pushing herself up, she not so easily tries to shift away from me, but I stop her before she’s fully dislodged from me. Cupping her face, I encourage her to look at me.

“We have one more thing to discuss.”

“I know what you’re going to say, and I’m hoping to avoid it.”

With a sigh, I tilt her face down and press a kiss on her forehead, then help her back into her seat. She refastens her seat belt, then I shift the car back to drive after ensuring the road is clear. Continuing our way to her apartment, I address the biggest elephant in the room.

“You can’t stay alone at your place.”

I swear to God, she snarls at me. “Yes, I can. Just because I have to lie around my apartment doesn’t mean I’m an invalid.”

Shooting her an incredulous look, I lay out the facts. “You’re on strict bedrest. That means no lifting, no strenuous activities, no cooking, no housework, little to no travel, quick showers, and trips to the bathroom only. You get the idea. Dr. Jolee said that if your blood pressure comes down, she’ll shift you to modified bed rest, but for the time being, you need people to help.”

Her arms go around her stomach, and she leans forward. “I’ll just go home, or…” My heart hurts for her when she doesn’t offer any other suggestions. I know this has to feel like her worst nightmare, but I’m convinced we can get her through it and help keep her mind from devolving into despair.

“Come stay with me. I have a large guest suite on the first floor, so there aren’t stairs to climb. Tons of windows, gorgeous scenery.” I hold a hand up to stop her when she opens her mouth to argue. “Plus, if you’re comfortable with it, there are four of us ready and willing to help out. Between our schedules, we can work it out so there’s always someone there for you.”

Scrubbing her hands over her face, she sighs. “I’m going to drive you all insane.”

“Quite the contrary. I’m sure we’ll do our best to encourage you to follow the rules so you’ll be anxious to get out. But also, and consider this as well, you’ll need help after the baby is born. Not just with him, but for your own recovery as well.”

“Fine,” she whispers, not looking at me.

My eyes widen, surprised I didn’t have to argue more. I glance at her and see her scrub a tear away from her cheek. I’m not offended by her melancholy. It’s not truly directed at the unwanted closeness she’d experience being in my home, but more for her independence being intruded upon. I wouldn’t like it either.

Reaching over, I grip her thigh and give it a squeeze. I refuse to give her more reassurances right now; they won’t help how she’s feeling until she processes. “Let’s get to your place, throw a few bags together, then get you to my place now. That way it’ll be done and we can keep you from second guessing it. Sound like a plan?”

“Fine,” she murmurs again, adding in a soft, “Thank you.”

As soon as we make it to her apartment, I follow her up while sending a quick text to the guys only to tell them she’s agreed. I tell them where the spare key is hidden at my place and Tatum and Ezra are quick to offer to go there now and spruce up the suite I’ll have her stay in. Richard, surprisingly, offers to get an order for food delivered and put away before we arrive, stating he’ll cover food items on the list provided by her doctor.

After an hour of packing, then the two-hour drive back to my city, I ask, “Do you mind if we stop by the station so I can grab my things and arrange for my tasks to be covered? This way, I’ll be able to work from home while you get settled.”

“That’s fine.” She’s tired, but follows me inside after I park near the front.

Leading her to my office, I unlock the door and guide her in. “Wait in here for a few minutes. I’m going to take care of a few things, then I’ll be back. Shouldn’t take more than fifteen minutes, tops.”

Nodding, she wordlessly heads in and I leave the door cracked, then hurry to the other side of the station to speak to a few officers who can handle shit for me while I’m not here.

As I’m walking back to where Miriam is waiting, I notice a few people looking in the direction I’m headed, then a commotion hits my ears. My concern quickly turns into anger as I see the back of Sandra filling the doorway to my office and I catch the tail end of the absolute shit she’s spewing.

“—no chance in hell! You need to get the fuck out of here and wait with the rest of the trash. In the waiting room! ”

Storming over, Sandra keeps spewing shit, shoving a knife deep, killing every bit of what was left of her job security.

“The captain doesn’t need some bitch stalking him day and night for a few bucks to feed her five kids. I thought I made that pretty clear over the phone.”

My hand settles on the door and I shove it open further, making Sandra jump. Running my eyes quickly over Miriam, I note that she doesn’t seem bothered by the confrontation since she’s still relaxed with her head laying on her arm on the edge of my desk.

“You good?” I ask, ignoring Sandra’s sputtering and explanation.

I’m relieved when Miriam just shrugs. “ I’m fine. Though your receptionist might need to lay off the coffee and stop inhaling so much hairspray.”

Sandra scoffs, but I shift my body to place it between them. Glaring down at her, all I can get out is, “Follow me to HR.” I step toward her, which has her scrambling backwards until I’m fully out of my office and I shut the door behind me. To everyone standing around, I bite out, “No one goes in there.”

Taking a wide berth around Sandra, I hear her heels clicking on the floor as she runs to catch up, but I don’t slow as I take the stairs two at a time to avoid being alone with her in the small space of the elevator.

“Sir! Captain Cooper. Please, let me explain. I went in there to drop off some files and she was lying around your office like she owned the place!”

I say nothing and keep walking, but she persists.

“Please, Sir. I know it’s not appropriate because you’re my boss, but I know if you just took some time and really thought about it, I’d be perfect for you. You can do so much better than someone trying to baby trap you and?—”

Whipping around, I backtrack and tower over her. “Enough with the damn files and bullshit excuses. There was nothing in your hand, Miss Burns . I’ve told you already, I’m. Not. Interested. Not now, and never before. That woman you just insulted has more to offer in her little pinky than… It doesn’t matter. Now, not another word until we get up there.”

She stays silent, except for the random sobs she’s mustering up for a pathetic pity party. Marching into HR, I head right to the main office and bark out, “I don’t care who the hell handles it, but she’s done. I want her fired now. As soon as I get home, I’ll email over my statement of what just transpired. You’ll also receive reports from half a dozen other staff members to collaborate as well as a non-member of our personnel. Questions?”

I only hear crickets, so I turn and leave without another word or a backwards glance at Sandra. Fuck her for pushing me to my limit, and fuck her for insulting my girl in the process.