Page 20 of What the Doctor Ordered

S imon

I landed hard on my ass before glaring up at Theo.

“Get your head out of your ass,” he snapped at me, his hands curling into fists at his sides.

I had stormed off from the two people I had cared most about and had been about to call a taxi to take me home, when Theo appeared out of nowhere.

He grabbed my shoulder, spun me around, and slugged me in the jaw.

Through my stun, I could hear him yelling at me for leaving Kiley behind without giving her a chance to explain.

I had heard enough though. I had hopes that Kiley was different, but it seemed like she was just like all the other girls who just wanted me for my money.

“Back off, Theo,” I yelled, struggling to get to my feet. I might not have been drunk but the bit of alcohol I did have was still messing with me.

Though Theo and I were about the same height he seemed to tower over me just at this moment. Maybe that was because he was currently furious, his eyes glinting dangerously beneath the dim lighting of the nearby streetlamp.

“I told you back in college that I wouldn’t hesitate to beat you up if I thought you needed it,” he growled, his voice rough with anger. He glowered at me. “And you desperately need an ass-whooping now, buddy.”

“I don’t know why you’re defending her,” I said. “She betrayed me, just like all the others.”

Theo got right in my face, snarling, before shoving me hard in the chest. I cursed as I once again fell on my ass, my buzz making me off balance. Staying down here seemed like a good idea at the moment, with Theo seething over me.

“I am the one who asked her to get coffee with me,” Theo stated, coldly.

“I saw her walking down the sidewalk and recognized her. She looked scared to death when I approached her and thought I was coming on to her. She wasn’t going to even get coffee with me because she didn’t want to be disloyal to you!

I had to explain that I was curious about her because you are clearly happy now that she is in your life.

I am not going to let you throw that away because of your fucking insecurities. Stop being a dumbass.”

I froze, staring up at him in horror as the gravity of the situation settled.

Theo smirked as he watched the war raging across my face. “Go get her, you idiot. She’s waiting for you back at the cafe.”

This time, it was much easier to rise to my feet. I clapped Theo on the shoulder in thanks before taking off at a sprint down the road.

I was nearly breathless as I neared the cafe. I had been so focused on getting there, on getting back to Kiley, that I almost missed the scuffle that was happening down a quiet side street.

I wasn’t sure what made me turn my head at just the right moment. There were so many versions where I didn’t or where the angle was just wrong and I missed it entirely.

I was so thankful I did notice, and I did turn to look.

I just caught a meager glimpse of the two grappling people before they entered an alley, and even though I knew that Kiley was waiting for me in the cafe, something in my gut was screaming at me to turn down that small, empty street.

When I caught up to them, I felt my blood boil with rage.

Fucking Kramer had my woman.

That bastard had Kiley in a death grip, one of his big hands clamped over her mouth, the other holding both her wrists together behind her back as he dragged her down that dark alley. Kiley’s wide, terrified eyes found mine and my anger multiplied tenfold.

It was suddenly as if the alcohol evaporated from my system. I was more alert and focused than I had ever been as I dashed forward and slammed my fist right into the side of Kramer’s face.

Unfortunately, I didn’t hear a crunch, so I didn’t break any bones. Too bad. I had the momentary satisfaction of the sight of his head snapping to the side as he yelled out before stumbling back, letting go of Kiley’s arms.

Kramer fell to the ground, and I quickly stepped between him and Kiley. “Get up, asshole, so I can knock you down again.”

“You’ll regret that, Vale,” Kramer cried out, spitting some blood out onto the ground.

“I doubt that,” I seethed, straightening my spine but keeping my fists clenched. “Not as much as you’re going to regret touching her. It will only take a couple of phone calls to ruin your no-good life. That will come after I beat you to a bloody pulp.”

I could feel the rage rolling off me in fierce waves.

I had been itching to beat Kramer up since we were in high school together, but I was going to enjoy it so much more now.

Just recalling his hands on Kiley and the way she had stared at me with such utter terror in her eyes when I found them made me want to kill him right here in this fucking alley.

I felt my hands flex and curl into a fist as I stalked forward, reeling my arm back to pound him again. I whirled back when I felt two tiny hands on my arm, stopping me.

“Simon, don’t,” Kiley begged, tears in her voice and her eyes. “Please.”

I stared down at her in amazement. “He hurt you,” I seethed. “I am not going to let that go unpunished.”

“He didn’t hurt me,” she said, seriously, holding my gaze captive with her kind green eyes. “And you’ve already punched him. Please, let’s call the police. And then I just want to go home.”

I had wanted nothing more than to make Kramer pay for daring to lay a hand on Kiley, but as I looked into her eyes now, what I wanted suddenly didn’t matter. Kiley needed me at that moment, and that was the only thing that mattered.

That bastard would get what he deserved in prison.

I felt my body relaxing slightly. I took her chin in my hand, tilting her face, studying her carefully to ensure she really wasn’t hurt. “Okay,” I said finally. “Wait right here. I’ll only be a moment.”

Kiley was reluctant to let me go, probably hearing how dark my voice had gotten but she stepped away from me obediently.

I turned slowly to Kramer still sitting on the ground where I’d dropped him. I felt some small satisfaction when I saw that he had blood dripping from his nose and looked more than a little disheveled. It still wasn’t enough for me though.

Kramer glowered up at me and I rewarded the look by grabbing him by the collar and pulling him up so that we were eye-to-eye.

“This is your final warning,” my voice was a dark storm of threat.

“Not that you’ll have another chance where you’re going, but if your sorry ass gets released from prison, you’d better believe I’ll be watching.

You ever touch her again—hell, you even look at her again—and I will ensure that you lose everything you care about. Got me?”

Kramer might have been a prick but he wasn’t an idiot. He knew that while he was powerful, I was even more so. He might have been on the board, but I had access to any number of my father’s resources, including his lawyer friends, cops, and judges.

I could ruin Kramer if he chose to cross me again.

Kramer’s blue eyes were filled with hatred, but he nodded once.

“Good,” I said. I shoved him away from me roughly, causing him to fall on his ass once again.

Without taking my eyes off the bastard, I made the call.

I kept Kiley close to my side the whole time, watching grimly as Kramer was taken away in handcuffs. I wanted to feel satisfaction as he was dragged away but I found that I was just concerned for the shivering girl in my arms.

Once the police cruiser disappeared around the corner, I held out my hand to Kiley, who took it quickly. I put a protective arm around her and led her away.

I was feeling mostly better but decided to get a taxi anyway. I wasn’t willing to put Kiley’s safety at risk by having either of us attempt to drive in the state we were in, but also it just felt nice to sit in the back seat with her and hold her against my chest.

I was relieved when Kiley didn’t resist me at all, placing her head against my heart and cuddling up to me.

She would have had every reason to reject me after the way I behaved.

She could still reject me, I realized. It could just be her reaction to the fear of nearly being raped by Kramer.

I shuddered at what could have happened if I hadn’t shown up when I had.

If I’d been seconds later, he would have had her down that alley and I wouldn’t have seen them.

My arms tightened around Kiley at the thought.

Once we pulled up to my house and I had paid the taxi driver, I kicked the door open and stood up with Kiley in my arms.

“Simon!” she cried out, her cheeks coloring deliciously. “I can walk!”

I ignored her, holding her close and striding up to the house, shifting her slightly in my arms so I could open the front door. I didn’t speak as I kicked the door shut and then approached the leather couch, gently setting Kiley down.

“Simon,” she said once I let her go. She kneeled up on the cushions, looking up at me with wide, panicked eyes. “We should talk about earlier, with me and Theo. I promise you, there is nothing going on-”

I silenced her by placing a finger over her lips. I knelt in front of her so that we were eye to eye.

“Theo already explained,” I told her. “Well, first he knocked me on my ass—twice!—and then he explained. And so, I owe you an apology for jumping to such rash and unfair conclusions. Can you forgive me?”

Kiley blinked several times, her eyebrows furrowing. “You don’t have to apologize,” she said. “I know how it must have looked when you found us.”

“That’s no excuse,” I said fiercely. “I should have let you explain but I let my emotions get the better of me. I’ve had issues trusting people in recent years because of my past relationships.”

Kiley was quiet as she digested this. “What happened?” she asked, her voice small.

I sucked in a breath. “Each time I thought a relationship was getting serious, I found out that they were only with me because of my reputation and money. One of them cheated on me, and the other was secretly stealing money from my account without my knowledge.”

Kiley let out a tiny gasp, her eyes rounding. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured, looking down.

I put a finger beneath her chin, lifting those gorgeous green eyes back up to mine.

“It doesn’t matter now,” I said. “I know that you would never do that to me. You have been nothing but kind and sweet since we met. I was just dealing with my own issues, and I dragged you into them. I’m sorry, Kiley. I really am.”

“I forgive you, Simon. Of course I do,” she exclaimed.

Her eyes brightened, but then she frowned.

“To be fair, I dragged my baggage in as well. The guys I’ve been with haven’t been kind, so I think I subconsciously decided to close up my heart to protect myself.

But then when I met you…” she trailed off, pink suffusing her pretty face.

I found myself grinning and I stroked her heated skin. “What?” I asked.

“I found myself falling so hard for you. I…I have fallen for you,” she was almost whispering, and she squeezed her eyes shut, as if preparing to be disappointed.

My chest constricted at the sight of her, so petite and vulnerable, and so deserving of everything good.

I cupped her face in my big hands, pulling her to mine, and I kissed her.

Kiley’s eyes flew open and she inhaled sharply in surprise, giving me access to her mouth.

I took advantage and deepened the kiss, pressing my mouth over hers, taking my time as I tasted her and teased her tongue with mine.

When we finally pulled away, we were both slightly out of breath. Kiley was staring up at me with absolute adoration. “I love you, Simon.”

Shock coursed through me and all I could do was kiss her again, pulling her tightly to me, pressing her small body to mine. I vowed right there to never let go.

“I doubt you have a clear understanding of what you’ve done to me in the short time we’ve known each other, Kiley,” I murmured against her mouth, speaking fervently between kisses.

“You’ve tilted my world completely off its axis from the moment you arrived.

I fought so hard not to trust you, not to fall for you but, I just couldn’t fight it. I don’t want to fight it anymore.”

Kiley made a helpless whimpering sound as she pressed herself against me, seeming to be getting just as lost in me as I was in her. She pulled away suddenly and looked up at me. “Does that mean you love me too?” she asked breathlessly.

I laughed, cupping her cheeks in my hands again, marveling at how good it felt to hold her, to look at her.

“Yes,” I said. “I love you, Kiley.” I kissed her forehead.

“I love you,” I whispered before pressing my lips to the tip of her nose.

“I love you so much,” I said again before taking her mouth once more.