Tough Love (Hidden Secrets) Read Free

me.
    Punching the steering wheel, I took off. Bring on another fucking ticket! I don’t think I looked at my speedometer once the whole drive to my office and I may have ran a stop sign or light or two.  Seriously, I needed to get my shit together before I lose everything I have now… including my family.
    Walking into my office, Rachael greeted me warmly. Rachael has worked for me for a while and on occasion she’s filled in for ‘dates’ as needed for functions and what not. We’ve never had sex, I can’t bring myself to mix business with pleasure. Sometimes she’d get touchy, but I always made sure I never gave her any mixed signals. Even our ‘dates’ were planned out so she knew nothing more was happening.
    “Morning Jackson,” she coos.
    “Ms. Clark,” I warned her.
    She rolls her eyes. “Good Morning, Dr. Williams.”
    I smile at her. Sometimes she can be such a princess, not in a good way, and I didn’t like it. Which was another reason I never took things any further. If nothing else had happened and she didn’t work for me, I still wouldn’t date her because of that.
    “Your messages are in your office and Ms. Mitchell called again. She really needs to talk to you about-”
    “Yeah, I’m aware of the case. I’ll try and get to her later today,” I say over my shoulder walking to my office, shutting the door.
    No more than being able to touch my butt to the chair behind my desk and there’s a knock at my door. Groaning, I barked for Rachael to enter. I knew it was her, didn’t even need to ask. Sauntering over to my desk, she sits on the edge. I lean back in my chair and look at her.
    “What Rachael? I have a lot to do so spit out what you need to so I can get back to work.”
    She reached out and ran her hand down my arm. “You came in so fast that I didn’t get a chance to ask how your weekend was.”
    Removing her hand from my arm, I pushed out of my chair and walked to my door holding it open. “Baby will be here any day. My family is doing great. Spent some time with my sister. There summed it up for you. Now leave. I have a lot of work today.”
    My phone rings. Pulling it from my pocket, I smile at the caller ID before answering it.
    “Hey Gorgeous! I missed you today.”
    Hearing a huff, I look up to find Rachael glaring at me as she stormed out of my office.
    “You just saw me yesterday.”
    “I know I did, but still doesn’t mean I don’t miss you.”
    “Love you Jacky!” Mary sighs. “Can you get them to let me go? Tobey keeps hovering over me and the nurses freak any time I moan. Please.”
    I laugh. “How am I supposed to do that?”
    “I don’t know. You’re a doctor, tell them to release me.”
    “I’m a plastic surgeon and not your attending physician. Tobey only fusses over you because he cares. He feels guilty that you were alone. Hell, we all do.”
    “I’m not a damn child!” She roars.
    I start laughing. It was moments like this that had me forgetting my inner turmoil. Though I do feel a little bad that I’m laughing at her misery. It helps.
    “So aside from you wanting out of the hospital, how are you doing?”
    Mary sighs into the phone. “I’m fine, Jacks. I promise.”
    We talk for a few minutes more before she’s ready to hang up. I’m saying ‘I love you’ as Rachael walks back into my office. She huffs again throwing a folder on my desk and leaving.
    “What the fuck?” I say out loud.
    “What? What’s going on?” Mary gets a bit of an excited tone in her voice.
    “ Rachael. She just threw a folder at me. She’s been huffing about since you called.”
    She starts laughing, then groans in pain. I can hear Tobey fussing in the background. She snaps at him, then turns her attention back to me.
    “I told you it wasn’t just friends on both ends Jacky. She’s jealous and no doubt pissed.” She laugh/groans again. “No doubt pissed at how you answered the phone.” She’s laughing more.
    “Sure hope you’re enjoying the laugh at