Chapter 13 #2
“You should be that and more at all times. Wake me up like that any time you want.”
She kissed my chest, her hand resting over my heart. “I do admit I like having you here. Waking up with you is nice.”
“Understatement of the year, Harper.”
I stroked her back, fingers exploring all of the skin I could reach. Outside, the city was starting to wake up—distant traffic, a siren somewhere far off. But in here, it was just us.
“I don’t want to go to work today,” Harper said quietly.
“Then don’t. We could both call in, play hooky, fuck all day.”
She sucked her teeth. “Right. Don’t play with me, Cole.”
I tucked a curl behind her ear. “When’s the last time you took a day off?”
“My sister asked me that last week. I almost cussed her out.”
“Sounds like you’re overdue, then. Come on,” I cajoled, jiggling my shoulder. “Call out.”
She bit her lip, considering. “I could use a day that’s not about the hospital and the Greene case.”
“Sounds nice, huh?”
“You don’t have to go in?” she asked, tipping her head up to see my face.
“I mean, yeah. But considering they’re trying to trash my reputation, I don’t really give a shit if they’re mad about me taking another day. I have vacation out the ass I need to use. So…”
I shrugged, then pushed out a sigh. “I’m calling in. You’re calling in too.”
“Deal. I’m going to make coffee and text Rowan.”
Harper rolled out of bed and padded out of the bedroom, hips swaying, not shy about it at all.
I watched her go, unable to help myself.
Harper wasn’t the kind of woman who faded into the background.
She was tall with curves that pulled your attention to the generous line of her hips, the thickness of her thighs, the way her breasts looked in a good bra.
She was lush and sensual, the kind of woman you could never get enough of.
A while later, she came back with two mugs of coffee, steam rising from both. She’d thrown on a short silk robe that hung open, revealing everything underneath. I pushed myself up, pulling the sheets around my waist.
“Here we go.” She handed me a mug and climbed back into bed, settling cross-legged beside me. “Let me know if you need cream or sugar.”
I took a sip. It was quite strong. “I’m not much of a coffee drinker, but…”
“Oh.” She glanced at me with a shy smile, eyes wide. “I assumed. Do you want tea? Water?”
“Nah. My baby made me some coffee, I’m going to drink it.”
“Rowan picks on me about my coffee habit. I like this brand that’s way too expensive, but it’s all I drink at home. The blend is nice; bold but doesn’t taste burnt.”
“It’s good. Can’t say I’m a coffee drinker now, but I like that.” I set my mug on the nightstand and dropped an arm around her as she tucked into me.
We sat like that for a while, drinking our coffee, talking about nothing important. It felt good. Normal. Like being a couple.
I hadn’t been part of a couple in a long time, and the last time I’d been part of a couple, things didn’t end up the way I’d thought they would. There was so much disappointment on both sides. I thought she understood my life. She thought I’d cut back on something I’d committed myself to for her.
Truth be told, I was scared as hell to start something with Harper. But I was even more scared to enter a future without even a possibility of a life with her.
“So,” Harper said, reaching around me to set her mug down. “What are we actually going to do with this day off? Besides the obvious.”
“The obvious being more sex?”
She grinned. “We should refuel. Maybe rinse off.”
“Conserve water, shower with a friend?”
She rolled her eyes. “Down, boy.”
“You started it at five thirty this morning.” I pulled her closer. “I’m just trying to keep up.”
Her laughter faded into something softer. “Last night was so good.”
“Which part? The wine? Multiple plates of your mother’s cooking? Drinks and after-dinner activities?”
“All of it.” She looked up at me. “You being here. Talking through everything. Feeling like I’m not letting you deal with this alone.”
“You’re not. You’re here and I know it. I feel it.” I kissed the top of her head. “And those documents you put together? That’s some next-level shit, Harper. You covered everything.”
“Thanks. You need to send them to your attorney once you get him retained.” She sat up, shivering a little and pulling her robe closed. “Your dad said he’d connect you with someone, right?”
“Yeah. Guy out of Atlanta. Dad said he’s supposed to be good.” I poked a finger into the opening of her robe and pried it back open.
“Cole,” she chided, but she was smiling. “I’m trying to have a serious conversation about your legal situation.”
“And I’m trying to see you naked.” I tugged at the silk. “We can multitask.”
She sighed, pretending to be exasperated, and lay back. I leaned over her, pulling both sides of the robe open just to look at her.
“The sooner he has everything, the sooner we can figure out your strategy.”
“Mmmhmmm. Strategy,” I repeated, tracing a finger between her breasts, then around each nipple.
“I’m in this thing, whether Rice likes it or not.”
“She’s going to lose her mind when she finds out I lawyered up.”
Harper’s laugh was cut short by the buzzing of my phone. I reached over to grab it from her nightstand, squinting at the screen. The number had an Atlanta area code.
“I think this is my dad’s lawyer.”
Harper sat up, pulling her robe closed. I made a face as the view of her breasts disappeared. “Answer it,” she said, nodding at my phone. “Put it on speaker.”
I pressed accept, switching to speaker. “Cole Vaughn here.”
“Dr. Vaughn, Vincent Cross from Cross & Associates.” A rich voice tinged with a Southern accent boomed through the speaker.
“Walter gave me the rundown on your situation with Ridgeway Medical, said you might need a hand. I’ve got a gap in my trial calendar and I’m glad to help.
Especially for the son of an old friend. ”
“Mr. Cross, hey. Thanks for calling me back.” I watched Harper slide into work mode, her eyes flicking up to mine. “Just so you know, you’re on speaker, and Harper Sutton is here with me. She’s in Risk Management at Ridgeway.”
“Ms. Sutton. Walter mentioned you’d been helpful. Good to know Dr. Vaughn has someone on the inside who understands both sides of this.”
Harper leaned closer to the phone. “Thank you. I’ve been trying to make sure Cole—Dr. Vaughn—has everything he needs to go into this meeting next week.”
“That’s smart. Being prepared is going to be key here. So…” Papers rustled on his end. “Dr. Vaughn, I want to start by saying what Walter already told you. From what I understand about this case, you made the right call. My job is to make sure everyone else understands that.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Here’s what I need from you. First, you need to officially retain my services—I’ll email an engagement letter today. Once you sign it, everything we discuss is protected, so the hospital can’t compel you to share our conversations.”
“Got it.”
“Second, I need all relevant documentation. Medical records, your surgical notes, ER intake reports, any internal communications about the case. Ms. Sutton, I understand you have a good grasp on the material?”
“Yes. I’ve already assembled a brief—timeline of events, protocol analysis, everything that shows Dr. Vaughn followed proper procedures.”
“Excellent. Send that to my office as soon as you can. I’ll review everything and we’ll schedule a prep session before your meeting with the Hart family’s attorney. You’ve met her, Ms. Sutton?”
Harper rolled her eyes. “Rachel Gaines, yes. She’s based here in Ridgeway. High-profile, aggressive. She’s positioning this as a grieving family looking for answers, but she’s building leverage, either for a settlement or a lawsuit.”
My gut clenched like a fist. Harper’s fingers found my shoulder, tracing a path down my arm that seemed to say without words I’m here, I’ve got you.
I clutched her hand and offered her a smile. “So what happens next?”
“I’ll fly up on Monday. We’ll spend time making sure you’re comfortable with your responses. No surprises, no defensive reactions. We present the facts calmly and let them speak for themselves. The fact that you’re showing up with an attorney is going to send them for a loop.”
“Sounds good.”
“Last thing—and this is critical. No more conversations with hospital administration about this case. That includes Dr. Webb, hospital counsel, anyone except Ms. Sutton. If they try to engage you about it, decline that conversation.”
“I told Cole to keep the fact that he’s retained an attorney under wraps. I don’t want RMC to start building a defense against Cole. They haven’t come out and said they’re trying to tank him, but all arrows point there. I don’t want to give them any leverage.”
“Good thinking, and I agree. And both of you—don’t discuss this case with colleagues. If any press contact you, decline to comment. Then call me.”
The word press hit me like a punch. “You think this case would get that kind of attention?”
“It’s possible. The Hart family has money and connections. Gaines knows how to use media pressure. We’re not going to let this play out in the press.”
Harper nodded. “The hospital would rather keep this quiet too. Bad press hurts donations.”
“Dr. Vaughn, your father tells me you’re one of the best trauma surgeons in the area.
I don’t doubt it. You saved lives before this case, and you’ll save lives after.
We’re going to make sure the Hart family understands that Earl Greene’s death, while tragic, was not the result of negligence or a policy violation. ”
“Thank you, Vincent.”
“You’re doing the right thing by getting ahead of this. A lot of physicians wait until it’s too late. Smart move. Talk soon.”
“Well,” Harper said after the line went silent, drawing the word out with a wry twist of her lips, “that was good, actually. He sounds like he’s done this a time or two.”