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19. He Protected His Wife

He Protected His Wife

Toby

“Fuck off!” Judy barked. “I’m busy!”

I cracked open the door anyway. Instead of conning my way inside with a pleading smile and puppy dog eyes, I stuck a white paper bag through the gap.

A groan floated into the corridor. “I’m definitely too busy to see you, Donnie.”

I jiggled the bag. Even if Judy couldn’t read the golden swirls that spelled out Le Patisserie , the smell of the freshly baked pain au chocolat would have her welcoming me with open arms. That woman had a certified chocolate addiction. She couldn’t resist. It was only a matter of time.

One … Two … Thr—

There was a long sigh. “Come in.”

I took two steps inside the office and flashed Judy a pleading smile. It couldn’t hurt. “And because I like you so much.” I held out the world’s most obscenely large coffee.

The takeaway cup disappeared from my hand, but Judy squinted at me over her glasses, full of suspicion. “You must want something big if you stood in the line for Le Patisserie this morning.”

Forty minutes for a coffee and a pastry—worth it. “Maybe.”

The weathered lines of her face deepened when she frowned. “You better not be planning to skip out on your patients again.”

“Sorry, you’re stuck with me today, but… I want to talk to you about Gwen going back to work next week.”

“That’s sooner than planned.”

A lot sooner than planned— months sooner.

I had no doubt Gwen would be happier smashing goals again, but I still wasn’t convinced the timing was right. Everything in our lives seemed complicated enough without juggling more stress. But that elusive new boss of hers might surprise me. Maybe I was worrying for nothing.

I said none of that to Judy. She’d only want the cold, hard facts. “Gwen has a set office day, so I need to reorganize my patient load—”

“Nope. You hired me to run your clinic for a reason. I’ll be frank. You’re a difficult man to replace, and I’ve been doing it a lot lately. Fill-ins don’t come cheap, you know.”

I folded my arms across my chest. Ian got someone in to cover his hangover once, and she hadn’t complained. “I need Tuesdays off for Noah. It’s non-negotiable.”

“Non-negotiable?” Judy snorted. “Says the man who rocked up to my office with coffee and breakfast.”

“That’s not negotiating.” A smile broke across my face. “That’s very clearly bribery. Please, Judy. I want to do this.”

And not just for Gwen. Too much time had already slipped past me. My little dude was growing like a weed, and he’d turn one before I could blink. I wanted to be a part of his life more than I had been—like I should have been all along.

Judy sensed she could drag more out of me than a coffee. “You want it that bad?” She lifted her chin. “What else are you offering?”

I didn’t even hesitate to answer. “Every Sunday on call.”

Judy’s eyebrows shot up. “You must be desperate.”

I lifted a shoulder. Judy would be doing me a favor.

Usually, we referred patients to other clinics to avoid working ourselves into the ground every weekend, but I couldn’t stand Sundays on my own.

That used to be the day I’d kick back with Gwen and Noah.

Now, it was me climbing the walls of an apartment that was too small and too quiet.

“We could generate a lot of extra revenue to cover some of our costs if you pick up the Sunday work.” She stuck out her hand. “Deal.”

I shook on it but didn’t let go of her hand immediately. “Can I juggle some extra times, too? Maybe coming in late an extra morning—”

“Don’t push your luck, Donnie. I wasn’t kidding about the cost of the fill-ins. We’re on a knife’s edge as it is.”

“It can’t be that bad, can it?”

“It’s that bad.”

“How? I’ve been working my ass off pulling double shifts for weeks. So has Ian.” My brow furrowed as I tried to make sense of the mess. “I thought we’d sorted out the cash flow problems?”

“Me too. Every time we solve one issue, another one pops up. Patients stop paying their accounts. We’re burning through supplies, and prices are hiking up. You know the drill. We were back in the black and had a good week or two, but new invoices keep rolling in.”

Unease churned my gut. “Let me look into it.” Something wasn’t right.

Judy’s eyebrow flicked up again. “You?”

“Yes. Me . I poured a lot of money into this place. Still do. There must be something I can do. Maybe I can scope out the suppliers for better deals. Find new options.” I raked my hand through my hair.

I’d need more than a few coffee bribes to get us back in the black.

“Failing that, maybe we can get in a professional to look over everything with fresh eyes.”

“You thinking of an accountant?”

I shrugged. “Yeah, or an auditor, maybe? You’re doing a great job keeping us afloat, but maybe they can spot something we’re missing.”

“Good plan.” The thin line of her lips curled up. “You’re a decent sort when you put your mind to it, Toby.”

Earning a sliver of respect from the woman I paid to run my clinic shouldn’t have made my heart swell, but it did. No teasing. No awful nickname. Just a couple of nice words. Even that tiny bit of praise was a drug. I ate it up. My cheeks burned because I was grinning like a damn fool.

“Bloody hell,” she muttered. “That face of yours. I should learn to keep my mouth shut.”

“Too late! I heard it. I’m a decent sort. No backsies.” I headed for the door. “And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get the hell out of here before I screw up again.”

I gave Judy a bow and escaped.

The spring in my step had disappeared by the time I thumped my locker open. I unbuttoned my shirt, slipped it off, and then slung it over the hanger, but my hand faltered before I could snag a white undershirt off the shelf.

The idea of starting work suddenly felt too overwhelming.

I sank to the bench and pressed the heels of my palms against my eyes.

With some effort, a few deep breaths filled my lungs.

Life was one step forward and two steps back every damn day.

Sort out a problem, and another was always waiting.

Tuesdays were mine to spend with Noah, but there was still daycare to chase up on my lunch break, and money problems always loomed over my head.

I sighed. Screw this merry-go-round. I wanted off.

“Hey.” Fingertips stroked down my spine. “It’s going to be okay.”

My chin jerked up. My eyes rounded.

Kayleigh.

I almost launched out of my skin. “Get out!” What the hell was she doing in the men’s changing room? This was another problem I didn’t need.

The rough edge to my voice made Kayleigh stumble back, but her eyes fell to my bare chest. “Oh.” She sighed as her gaze slid slowly down to my belt, lingering there for far too long. “Wow.” Her tongue darted out over her lips.

I scrambled for my locker. She was quicker. She sidestepped the boxes stacked next to the bench. Gridlock. There was no getting around her.

My pulse exploded. “Get the hell out!”

“It’s okay.” She bit back a smile as she tugged her scrub top out of the waistband of her pants. “I locked the door.”

“You what ?”

Her fingers curled around the hem of her top.

Was she…?

Oh hell no.

I grabbed her hands, stopping her before she stripped, and through gritted teeth, I demanded, “Quit that!”

Kayleigh’s smirk was a challenge. “You want to do it for me?” She giggled. “Okay.”

“This isn’t a game.”

“Are you sure?” Her fingers slithered toward my chest, but I twisted out of reach.

She only giggled more. “I went along with Judy’s plan.

I even sat through all those stupid meetings when the lawyer gave me a speech about professional conduct.

I know Gwen sees my photos. She knows I’m winning your game. ”

My chest heaved from almost panicked breaths, and my eyes darted around the cramped room.

What could I do? Kayleigh blocked my locker, wearing a smile that made my gut turn over.

Not an option. But if I walked out half undressed and she followed, I didn’t need to be as smart as Gwen to guess everyone’s reaction.

My stunned silence only fueled Kayleigh’s bravery, and she edged closer to me. “I want what you do, Toby.”

“You have no idea what I want.”

“You want to feel seen…be taken care of—”

“I want my wife ! Christ, Kayleigh! I want you to stop posting lies about me all over the internet! I want you to stay the hell away from me!”

A strangled hiccup escaped her, but she blinked away the devastation, coming for me, even more determined to get her greedy hands on my skin. Her fingertips grazed my bare chest before I dodged the unwanted touch, slamming into the lockers, my heart thumping.

“Stop!” I shouted. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Kayleigh wasn’t listening. She’d concocted a fantasy in her head that we were in a relationship.

And why? Because we’d shared too many lunches?

Because I’d made the disgusting choice to kiss her?

It was time to take my chances with the corridor and everyone’s overactive imaginations. I was out of there.

But I hadn’t gotten more than two steps closer to the door before Kayleigh called after me.

“I know why you’re fighting this,” she said. “You’re a good person. You want to make sure Gwen’s taken care of.”

I froze mid-step. The skin on the back of my neck prickled ice cold. “What?”

“She’s not like us. Her brother couldn’t wait to be rid of her, and her mother…” Kayleigh’s high-pitched laugh was condescending. “Well, that drunk wasn’t much of a mother, was she?”

“What the hell are you playing at?” The tightly controlled anger in my voice was unmistakable. “I’ve never talked to you about Gwen’s family.” I’d run my mouth and shared far too much about my marriage, but that was one vow I’d never broken. Gwen’s secrets were as precious to me as my own.

“You…you…did.” Kayleigh’s eyes darted to her feet.

My shadow fell over her, taller, stronger, my temper on the edge. “Who told you those things?”

She twisted the hem of her scrubs in her hands. “You’re scaring me.” Her chin trembled as she fought back tears.

“Do you still think this is a game?”

She barely whispered, “No.”

“Now, you listen to me carefully, okay?”

Her nod was slight, but a flicker of hope lit up her eyes. “Okay.” I could hear the anticipation in her voice. She thought she’d won.

“You’re going to turn around, walk out that door, and then you’re going to keep walking until you get to your car. You’re never stepping one foot inside this clinic again. Do you understand?”

Kayleigh’s head shook furiously.

“You don’t understand?”

Her voice pitched up with desperation. “Toby—”

“You’re fired.”

Her eyes rounded. “The lawyer said you can’t fire me.”

“Watch me.” I dodged past without laying a finger on her, grabbed an undershirt off the shelf, and tugged it over my head.

“I didn’t do the right thing by my wife when I should have, but I am now.

Send your lawyers after me. Waste your time trying to bleed me dry.

I’ll defend Gwen until I’ve spent my last dollar.

I’ll protect her and my son with my last breath. ”

I snatched the white dental coat off the hanger. I didn’t bother putting it on. No time. I strode straight for the door.

“Toby!” Kayleigh scurried after me through the changing room. “Gwen forgot about you. She never supported you. I did!”

The slamming door blocked the words from my ears. I stormed down the hallway but couldn’t escape the wail that followed me. Heads dropped as I passed. Murmured voices floated from the reception desk. I didn’t care. I wasn’t looking back.

All my attention needed to be focused on the only woman who mattered to me—and that sure as hell wasn’t Kayleigh Roberts.