Healing the Doctor (BWWM Interracial Romance) (5 page)

Hailey emerged from the bathroom only minutes later, her face washed, her teeth brushed. “All better now,” she said.

“Are you pretending that I didn’t just see you all swollen and groggy?” he said seriously, earning a smack on his arm from Hailey.

They had breakfast of slightly cold bacon and eggs and quite stale coffee, and laughed over the horrible place where they had been forced to stay the night. Hailey took a shower and dressed in a blue t-shirt with a green paw printed at the front, over her chest.

When it was his turn for the bathroom, he had to take his first cold shower in decades, to somehow get rid of the erection that wouldn’t calm down. He stared at the mirror, angry and disgusted at himself. He didn’t deserve to be near Hailey. She was intelligent, and smart, and he was a pervert.

They were on their way half an hour later. It was already late afternoon and they still had a long way to go before they reached Seattle. Hailey had gotten comfortable, more than she had been earlier when they had first started driving. She switched on the radio, and sang along with all the cheesy pop songs, forcing Greg to join in.

“I don’t even know the lyrics!” Greg tried desperately to get out of the predicament. All he wanted was to hear Hailey sing.

“Come on!” she said, her face hopeful and optimistic, and Greg complied because he didn’t want to spoil her fun.

Soon, they were both singing along and Hailey was falling onto his shoulder with laughter. Some passengers in another car stared at them like they were insane or drunk.

For Greg, this was a whole new world. Hailey had managed to turn a long, boring drive on the highway into a delight, and he never wanted the road trip to end.

***

As Seattle drew closer, Greg’s nervousness grew to massive proportions. Hailey was exhausted from the drive, and she had closed her eyes, resting her head on the window.

“Are you asleep?” Greg asked softly, and Hailey lifted her head.

“Nope.”

“We’re almost there. Could you give me directions to your place?” he asked, dread pouring through his veins.

“Uh, yeah,” she said and told him where she lived.

Finally, they were parked outside the small yet exclusive apartment complex. Silently, Greg slipped out of the car and removed her suitcases from the trunk. As he attempted to take them inside, the security guard stepped in and took them from Greg, taking them inside the lobby.

Hailey was feeling so awkward, she couldn’t breathe. She knew manners dictated that she invited him in after all that they had shared, but he was married.

She didn’t want to come across as rude, but she didn’t want to be the source of breaking up his marriage. “Uh,” she began, and watched tall, sexy Greg slide his hands into his jeans pockets. “Thank you for the wonderful trip. I had a lot of fun,” she said sincerely. “I’ll call you,” she promised, not knowing what else to say, before turning around to walk inside.

“Hailey?” Greg called from behind and she turned while biting her lip. He sighed harshly as if he was about to do something really difficult, and then smiled, making Hailey’s heart melt. “If you aren’t busy, can I take you out to dinner tomorrow night?” he asked.

Hailey stilled, and dropped her gaze to the ground, making Greg’s brow furrow. Surely she must feel something for him, yet she was acting as if she wanted to bolt for her apartment.

She looked at him again, unsure of what to say. Her mind was full of a thousand questions and words, yet none seemed to be willing to pass through her lips.

“Are you okay?” Greg asked, suddenly nervous.

“Yeah, yeah,” Hailey said, looking up at the sky. “Okay, Greg, the thing is...” she began then looked at his handsome face, which was clueless.

Why is he pretending as if he doesn’t know that this is wrong! Does he have no conscience?

Suddenly, Hailey was actually angry with him. He was the one who was married and he was the one who should’ve been embarrassed. It shouldn’t have been her. She was ashamed and embarrassed from her toes to the roots of her hair.

“Seriously, Greg. Are you going to make me say it?” she demanded forcefully, gesturing with her small hands.

“What are you talking about?” he said.

Hailey sighed. “Look, Greg. I know you’re married, alright? I came with you because my friend Kate practically forced me. She kind of got the hint that I liked you, and she sent me here on the condition that I would just have a good time, and not get all serious with you or whatever,” she trailed off, watching his face harden.

He looked almost ominous. His eyes had lost their warmth, and his jaw was clenched, a muscle moving spasmodically in his cheek.

“Are you pissed? You’re pissed at me?” Hailey exclaimed, her eyes wide in surprise. “I didn’t ask you out, you did, and well…you shouldn’t have, but I’m glad you did because I had a good time,” she stammered, stumbling over her words in anger and haste. “But seriously…how do you get to be the injured party here? You’re mad at me?”

Greg glanced at the ground, stuffing his hands deeper in his pockets. “I’m not mad at you,” he said abruptly.

“But...” Hailey was about to say something, but changed her mind. There was clearly no point trying to reason with him.

“Okay. You take care then,” she said and was about to turn away when his stupid question stopped her in her tracks.

“How do you know I’m married?” he asked forcefully and Hailey felt anger simmering inside her core.

“How does that even matter? You didn’t tell me, obviously! You were too busy trying to do whatever you were trying to do,” she said, flustered. “Surely you understand why I’m not going out with you?”

“How? How do you know?” he enunciated, as if she was a child who couldn’t understand simple questions.

Hailey gritted her teeth. “I saw a picture in your suitcase, of your family!” she cried.

Greg covered his face with his palms and rubbed his forehead ferociously. Without another glance at her, he strode swiftly towards his car.

“What? You’re just going to leave without even answering? How am I possibly the bad guy here?” Hailey asked.

Greg looked at the beautiful woman standing a few feet away from his car, and the pain he felt was too great. He couldn’t trust himself to explain. Not then. Hailey mesmerized him, but he couldn’t answer her questions, at least not immediately.

He started the car engine and sped off, leaving Hailey furious and steaming.

She unlocked her spacious, two-bedroom apartment and tipped the security guard for helping her with her luggage. All she wanted to do was throw herself on her bed and pull her hair out.

She had no idea why Greg had behaved the way he had. He was a sensible, intelligent man, and she hadn’t expected that kind of an outburst from him. Why did he have to ask her out? She had lost respect for him, completely.

Her cellphone beeped and vibrated, and she saw the name flashing on the screen.

Greg Walt.

Greg had sent her a message.
Of all the nerve,
she thought and opened the message.

Her heart stopped and the color drained from her face as her eyes scanned the message. She covered her mouth with her free hand.

When I told you about my mother, I left out one vital piece of information because it was too painful to mention. My wife Deb and son Hunter were also killed in the accident five years ago. Hope that answers your question. Greg.

Hailey clenched her eyes shut, urging the tears and guilt to subside. It was spreading through her limbs – the remorse, the pain. The picture of the gorgeous blond woman and a child who looked just like Greg flashed through her mind and she felt nauseous.

She threw her phone onto the table, and sat down on the carpet, her legs curled beneath her. Hailey felt like she was hyperventilating. She was shaking and sweaty, and unshed tears had clogged her throat. The painful lump refused to die down, and instead just grew larger and larger in her neck until she knew she couldn’t suppress it any longer.

Her tears spilled freely from her eyes, falling down her cheeks in torrents. “Oh, my God!” she repeated over and over again, before her sobs made it impossible to say anything.

She wanted to call Greg, but she was so ashamed that she didn’t have the courage. She couldn’t blame him for not mentioning his family’s death. He was a kind, sweet man who had been gentlemanly and perfect when she had been alone with him. In return for all his kindness, she had judged him like an idiot.

She had just met him a few days ago, but could never have guessed in a million years that he had been through such painful events. His mother died in a car accident, and his wife and child also perished. How could he still be sane?

His strength and his courage were evident in every feature of his face, stamped into his personality. Hailey knew he was angry with her, and she didn’t have guts to call him immediately to apologize. She couldn’t do it. Her guilt was too great.

Chapter Nine

Two days later, Kate and the whole entourage returned from the bachelorette party and surprised Hailey at her apartment. Try as she might, Hailey was not happy to see them; she just wasn’t happy, period.

It had been two long days, and she hadn’t heard from Greg. Every time her cellphone rang, her heart slammed onto her ribs, but he didn’t call.

Kate noticed her sullen mood, and as soon as the others left, she sat her down. “Please tell me you didn’t sleep with the doctor!” she said, clutching Hailey’s hand fiercely in her own.

Hailey absentmindedly watched Kate’s small, pale hand, the large solitaire shining on her ring finger. All she could remember was Greg’s wife, Deb, and her hand that she had seen in the photo, with a wedding band. She hated the fact that she had almost resented the woman when she had come across the picture.

Deb had been Greg’s wife. He had loved her, and she had died. He had loved his child, and he had died as well. His mother had also suffered the same fate.

He must be so broken inside,
Hailey thought.

Kate shook Hailey with a worried expression. “Are you okay, Hailey? You looked like you’re going to be sick.”

“Huh?” Hailey looked up at her friend’s face, disoriented. “I, uh…what?”

“Did something happen with Greg?”

“No, no. He was wonderful. He…uh…isn’t married after all.”

“What? Surely you’re smarter than that, Hailey. The man is lying to you just to get in your pants.”

Hailey clenched her eyes shut. “No, his wife and son died five years ago. I’m sure no one as sensitive as him can lie about that.”

“Oh my god!” Kate breathed shakily. “Is that why you’re so upset?”

Hailey bit her lip, tears returning to her eyes. “I told him I knew he was married. I was so rude to him. And then I found out they were gone, dead. I feel like a bitch of the worst sort.”

Kate bit back a sympathetic smile. “That’s not true, Hailey. You know that."

Hailey smiled between her sobs. “Thanks Kate,” she said.

Kate watched her friend’s face, her eyes swollen with all the tears she had shed for Greg over the past two days. “Surely you’re not falling for him already?”

Hailey shook her head. “I just met him like…a week ago. And I spent twenty-four hours with the man. You can’t fall that quickly.”

“It’s good that you realize that,” Kate said and rubbed Hailey’s shoulders.

“He hasn’t called me in two days. I don’t know what to do. I’m sure he hates me.”

“Come on. Why should he call you? You should call him, you idiot.”

Hailey’s eyes widened. “But…what am I going to say? I was so mean to him. I can’t face him.”

“So why should he call you? You were mean to him!”

“I don’t know Kate. Help me, tell me what to do.”

“Just, calm down. Take a shower, because you kind of stink a little,” she joked and Hailey chuckled despite her tears. “And then call him. Apologize! And then ask him if he wants to meet. It’s going to be okay.”

“I wish it were that easy, Kate,” Hailey mumbled.

“It will be fine. Trust me. I always know what’s right, you know, that don’t you?” she said cockily and Hailey smiled.

“Yes, you do,” Hailey replied.

“Okay. Now get up and in the shower, pronto. I’m going to make you some coffee,” Kate said and Hailey hugged Kate suddenly, tightly.

“Thank you, Kate. You always know what to do.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m wonderful. Now go, you really do stink!”

Hailey laughed and went off to the bathroom.

An hour later, she wasn’t smiling anymore, and was even more depressed than before.

She had called Greg twice, and both times he hadn’t taken her call. She felt foolish and stupid and wished she had never called him. She knew she deserved a good telling off, but how could she have possibly known that Greg had seen so much hell in his life? She couldn’t assume; she didn’t have extra sensory powers to gauge if someone was hiding something painful.