Thirty Nights with a Dirty Boy: Part 3: A Heroes and Heartbreakers Serial (3 page)

If the group home can be made to seem less than ideal, what are the other options?

Sean made a disgusted noise under his breath.

We can’t force them to keep anybody in the hospital. It could be possible to push the issue that the girl goes to a family and not a home. Does the brother want guardianship?

Well, that was a given.

I fired back a
yes
just as Sean shoved himself up into the doctor’s face. “You think I trust any
arrangements
the state makes? Those clowns at the home gave her the wrong medicine for two weeks runnin’!”

I rested a hand on his arm.

“What about a foster parent?” I asked, fighting to keep my voice level.

Judith’s gaze slid to mine, as did the doctor’s. He spoke first. “Ma’am, it’s unlikely we’d find somebody who’d be able to take on a foster child with the special needs that Darla is going to require, not before it’s time to discharge her.”

“I could.”

Sean stiffened.

I didn’t let myself look at him.

Judith made a sputtering noise but I ignored her. “Perhaps I should introduce myself. My name is Ella Cruise.”

His lids flickered. I wasn’t surprised. Most of the doctors on staff at any given hospital hear about it when endowments are made—and I’d made several to the local area hospitals.

“Ms. Cruise, I understand you’ve taken an interest in Darla, but this isn’t a hobby,” Judith said, finally managing to get past her shock.

“A child is never a hobby.” Annoyed, I looked over at her. “Nor should she be shuttled out of the way simply because it’s convenient.”

“Ella.” Sean’s voice was tight.

I shot him a look. A mask had fallen over his eyes, and I couldn’t see beyond it. “If she goes to a home, she’ll end up getting sick again, won’t she? That’s what you’re worried about.”

“It’s not your worry.” His jaw went tight as he looked over at the two others standing in the office with us.

“I … Sean.”
Let me help
 …

“No.” He shook his head and turned around. But just before he pushed through the door, he looked back at the doctor. “You lot are always scared of lawsuits, yeah? If she ends up sick with something that could have been avoided, you can bet your arse I’ll find a lawyer who’ll take you apart in court—you, this whole fucking hospital. There should be a better choice than sending her to a group home. You know it even if you won’t say it.”

The door shut behind him.

“Is there?” I asked.

The doctor looked at me, confused. “Is there what?”

“Is there a better choice for her than a group home?”

“Her lack of resources are a serious barrier,” he said grimly.

Sean was right. I could see it in the man’s eyes.

“She doesn’t have a lack of resources. Consider her resources … almost limitless.
Now
what are her options?” When he didn’t answer, I looked at Judith. “Should I go over your head?”

“Perhaps you should speak to her brother.”

“As you already pointed out, he’s not her guardian.”

*   *   *

I had a quick, hurried conversation with the lawyer. It turned out I’d been texting back and forth with Wilbur Colfax, the senior lawyer I’d hired to help with Nora’s Door. We’d be needing all sorts of legal help, not to mention social workers and counselors … the list was endless.

Collie, as he preferred to be called, told me he was already making calls. Since he was no longer working in the area, he would not be able to help directly, but he still knew some people. After agreeing to keep things between us, he listened while I gave him the rundown.

When I got to the part about Sean’s … lifestyle, he made a low noise and spoke for the first time. “That’s going to be an obstacle, Ms. Cruise.”

“I know.”

“He needs a job. A legit one.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I … just do what you can. If she goes into a home, who knows how sick she’ll end up.”

“I’ll start making calls.”

“Thank you.” I disconnected the call and put the phone in my pocket before adjusting the straps of the bag and purse I was carrying.

I found Sean in the garage.

He was having a conversation of his own.

“What do you mean, there’s nothing we can do right now … don’t you … yeah, yeah.”

I followed the sound of his voice and found him leaning against the back of my car. His gaze flicked to mine, then away, as he continued talking on the phone. Most of the conversation was monosyllabic now, and his expression got darker and stormier with every passing moment.

When the call ended a couple of minutes later, he turned away from me and braced his hands on the trunk of my car, shoulders bowed.

To me, he looked like the weight of the world had been dropped on him.

“Was that your lawyer?” I asked.

“Yeah. I’m fucked. Darla and me, both of us. She’ll have to go back to the home.”

“Maybe the social worker at the hospital will find another option.” I said nothing about my call to Collie. In case it didn’t work out, I didn’t want to get his hopes up. And if he decided he didn’t want help … well, too bad. He was getting it anyway.

“Yeah, like something
good
could happen for once.” He shoved away from the car and turned to look at me. His eyes softened as he studied my face, and for the first time since I’d brought that ugliness between us, there was no apathy when he looked at me. “It’s lovely, what you tried to do. But Darla’s my responsibility, even if the fucking government won’t acknowledge that.”

“What do you have to do to get custody?”

His mouth twisted. “Stop being a whore.” He shrugged. “I’ve never been charged, but the speculation is there. Combine that with the fact that I don’t really hold a regular job, I have no diploma. I got my GED a few years back, but that doesn’t impress people overmuch. My skill set is terribly limited, what can I say?”

“You’re not giving yourself enough credit.” I shot for a smile and managed one that didn’t feel too out of place. “Just what is it—well, besides the obvious—that you’re good at?”

“Besides the obvious, eh, Your Highness?” He cocked a brow.

The teasing nickname brought a knot to my throat. “Yes. Besides that.”

“I’m the best fucking lay you’ll ever have. Isn’t that good enough?” He sighed and leaned back against the trunk of my car.

I moved to join him. “I’m serious. You want to take care of your sister. You should be able to … but you’re right. As long as you have sex for money…”

“Trying to reform me.” He made a
tsk-
ing sound under his breath. “You females. The lot of you, always trying to do it.”

“Sean…”

“I’m quite serious, y’know. I’m decent with a few things, good at a little less, and absolutely excellent at only two. You already guessed one of them.”

“Well. I didn’t exactly
guess.
” I made a practice of studying the toes of the shoes Paul had brought to replace mine. Solid, sensible boots. My feet were snuggly warm inside them. “But that still doesn’t answer my question.”

“Not really what I want to discuss, pet.” He sighed and tipped his head back, staring up at the parking garage’s stone-gray ceiling.

“Indulge me.”

He huffed out a breath. “I’m decent with cars, but most places want a certification, so that’s out. I’m a good bartender, but if I’m dealing with a kid, working late nights…? Yeah, that won’t impress people much. I’ve been trying to find a place, but not too many people want anything to do with me.” His lip curled in a sardonic smile. “My reputation has preceded me.”

I arched a brow.

“I can say that the bedroom isn’t the only place I’m a genius.”

Curious, I studied him.

A bit of a smile twisted his lips. “Put me in the kitchen, love, and I’ll surprise the hell out of you. I know I did a bit of a fry-up that day we…” His voice trailed off and he looked away.

How strange was it that we couldn’t seem to talk now. Before, everything had been so easy.

“Anyway, I’m a terror in the kitchen. Too bad I couldn’t find a job where they actually paid something decent to do that.”

Chapter 3

“You have a guest.”

It was almost ten o’clock. Looking over my shoulder, I saw Alice standing in the doorway, still dressed, her hair neatly pinned up. The only concession she’d made to the late hour was that she’d taken her shoes off. Alice had been running my household for almost as long as I could remember.

Now, the older woman looked at me with a raised brow and a bit of a smile on her lips.

I looked past her as if that would tell me who my
guest
was.

“I’m not expecting anybody.”

“You never expect anybody, sweetheart.” She waited a moment. “Are you able to receive company?”

There was a bit of a glint in her eyes that had my belly tightening. Sliding off the couch, I glanced down at myself. I’d changed out of the dress I’d worn to the office that day and pulled on yoga pants with a blue shirt. The shirt had a wide neckline that fell off one shoulder. I hadn’t put a bra on.

I probably should do that.

“Ah…”

A shadow fell across the floor behind Alice. Swallowing, I slid my gaze over and looked right into Sean Lachlan’s eyes.

I hadn’t seen him in two days. I hadn’t heard from him. I hadn’t tried to call.

I’d stayed in touch with Collie, though. Collie had reached out, he told me, and gotten in touch with a friend who’d decided to speak with Sean. He was taking Sean’s case pro bono, and the very first thing the lawyer had done was demand the girl be seen by another specialist. As her brother didn’t have custody, and the state was insisting that she didn’t need to stay in the hospital … well, Collie had been pleased with the turn of events.

They were keeping Darla a few more days while another pediatric oncologist took a look at her labs and came in to speak with her. There was also going to be an extensive evaluation of the home they proposed sending her to.

“It bought them some time, and we’re going to push to find someplace where she won’t be surrounded by other kids,
if
that’s the best we can do while we try to get the situation with Mr. Lachlan straightened out.”

That had been the last I’d heard from Collie.

“It’s fine, Alice,” I said, forcing myself to focus. Smiling at her, I gestured to the hall. “You’re off duty, you know. I imagine you’ve got
Bachelor
episodes to catch up on.”

Alice sniffed. Paul and I loved to tease her about her reality-TV obsession. She came forward and gave me a quick hug, pulling away before I could become uncomfortable. “Good night, Ellie. You try to get some rest, you hear? You paced half the night last night.”

“I’ll try.” I waited until she’d turned her back to roll my eyes.

Once she was gone, I looked over at Sean.

His gray eyes slid down from my face to skim along my entire body. It felt like a warm hand had brushed over me. My nipples tightened. Crossing my arms over my chest, I feigned casualness. “Is everything okay? It’s almost ten.”

Sean caught his lower lip between his teeth, rolled it out. It was a habit he had that sometimes drove me out of my mind—like now. I was remembering the times
I
had done that to him. Caught his lip between my teeth, bitten down just so … let it go.

He glanced around the large sitting room. “Nice digs, Your Highness.”

“It will do until I find something larger.”

His gaze came back to mine, narrowed.

The sitting room was larger than his entire apartment, a fact I’m sure he noticed.

A grin cracked his somber features, and he shook his head. “There’s a sense of humor under that icy exterior, Ella. I never quite expect it.”

Skimming my hand up and down my arm, I watched, nervous, as he came closer. He paused by the couch. “May I?”

“Please.”

I had to fight a hysterical giggle. We were being so formal. A few days ago, he’d had me screaming. A week ago, he’d had me crying—my fault, true, but the tears had been because of him. And before that? Screaming and moaning.

And now it was
please
and
may I.
The next thing you know, he’d say
thank you
—

“Thank you.” He blew out a sigh as he sat. “It’s been a … what?”

I pressed my fingers to my lips, that hysterical laugh almost a sob by now. Shaking my head, I turned away and told myself to think of something boring and stupid.

“Ella, if this … fuck me, if you’d rather I’d just left, would you say so?”

The laugh escaped me, and I sank into the chair closest to me. Near the fire and angled toward the rest of the room, it had me facing Sean, who scowled at me.

As another peal of laughter escaped me, his scowl became even surlier.

“You won’t catch a lot of new clients with that look on your face, Sean.”

“What is so fuckin’ funny?” He planted his hands on his hips as he glared at me, mouth twisted in a scowl.

“You. Me.” I hiccuped a little and fought to stop the giggles. It was like trying to be quiet in church, though, after something insanely silly had popped into your head.

Of course, it was possible that none of this was that funny. But I couldn’t stop.

Several moments and a few hiccuping gasps later, I finally had myself mostly under control, and I gave him a sidelong look. “A few days ago, you had your hands on my butt and your tongue down my throat. Last week, you were ignoring me and I was begging you to talk to me. Before that? You had your hands all over me … and your tongue on various parts of me. Now it’s all
please
and
may I
and
thank you.
”

Sean slid his tongue across the inside of his teeth.

I wished he wouldn’t do that. It made me think of other things he’d slid his tongue across. Other things he’d …

Averting my gaze, I said softly, “This just seems … awkward.”

“It’s why I don’t see … women outside the job, Ella.”

“The job. Of course.” Arms wrapped around my middle, I schooled my features and looked back at him. “Why are you here?”