Zenith Rising (25 page)

“Why? Roy didn’t have a roommate, huh?”

“I’ve dated a lot more men than Nick and Roy.
You’re going to have to accept that I’m not as virginal as you
might like me to be. Or as you assumed I was.”

“Well, whatever, I’m sure he enjoyed the
view.” Did his mouth just tighten in disapproval? Was he jealous?
Annoyed that Rob saw her wearing his t-shirt? Who knew Spencer
would be so jealous? Even prudish, about her sexuality?

“It’s not like I’m in leather and a thong,”
she said with a look. Obviously, she was reminding him of the
eyeful she got of Tamira in this very house. He smirked at her
reference. She continued, “It’s a t-shirt. So what? Besides, you
were gone. How was I supposed to know who was down here?”

“I guess you weren’t. Silly me just assumed
you’d probably get dressed before coming down.”

“It’s not even seven o’clock. I was
lounging.”

“Lounging? Here?”

“Well, yeah. I thought…”

His gaze narrowed in on her and she fidgeted
under his scrutiny. “What? What did you think?”

She sighed, setting her coffee down as she
slid the bar stool back. He had that snarky, rude, insolent tone
again. She walked around the kitchen island to where he stood,
leaning against the counter, with his legs spread. She stopped
before him, and parked her bare feet next to his sneakers, looking
up at his dark, unreadable, still cold eyes. “I thought… I’d like
to see you this morning. That’s all. I thought I heard you, and all
I could think about was that I wanted to see you. That’s it.
Nothing more. Nothing sinister. Nothing slutty.”

She reached her arms up around his neck,
standing on her tiptoes, her body brushing against the front of
his. He jerked his neck back, but she felt his heart rate
increasing and his breath hitched. No matter how much he pretended,
he couldn’t conceal his physical reactions to her. He finally let
go of the counter, and settled his hands on her.

Then he swore. “God, Erica, you don’t have
anything on under here.”

“I told you…”

“I know. I know you were just looking for me.
Running nearly naked around Rob.”

“I don’t think he noticed.”

“I’m sure he noticed. What do you think he
meant when he said how nice it was to
see
you this
morning?”

She bit her lip to keep the smile at bay. He
was really bothered by this. “He meant he couldn’t believe I was
here. Apparently, someone doesn’t do sleepovers.”

He stiffened at her tone and she shrugged and
added, “He’s very nice. Rob, that is. I’m surprised by how
different he is than I previously thought.”

“Want me to arrange a date?”

She looked up at his face. “Don’t be obtuse
with me. I was merely commenting that the man who one time hurt my
best friend, seems to have changed a lot. I was only saying I see
why you care so much about Rob now.”

“Rob changed when he was using. Now he’s back
to being himself.”

“And you? Are you back to being yourself?
Spike and all that? That was you using, too, wasn’t it?”

His lips smirked. “Testing me? Making sure
I’m not going to show up looking like that again?”

“Of course, I don’t want you to look like
that again. Sue me. I like you like this.”

“I won’t be Spike again. But you know what?
You’re probably not going to like me all that much better now, than
you did as Spike.”

“Don’t start this again. I mean it. Try. Try
not to treat me like I’m in your way. Like I’m a body to you. I’m
not. I’m more. And you know it.”

He was quiet; then finally, he said, “I
know.”

She nodded, and smiled. “Good. Now I’m going
to take a shower. I’ve got to be in by eight.”

“Here? You’re showering here?”

She already loosened her arms, and turned to
walk out of the kitchen, but stopped at the tone of his voice.
“Well, yeah. Is that a problem? Where did you think I’d
shower?”

“At home.”

“I have a bag in my car. Never know when I’m
going to be at the hospital all night. I always keep clothes, as
well as my cosmetics packed.”

“Handy for one-night-stands, isn’t it?”

She sighed. “Yeah, it is. If that’s what this
was. But it wasn’t. It’s more. Anyway, could you grab the bag from
my trunk?”

He set his coffee down, and nodded as he
grabbed her keys and headed past her without another word, another
comment, or another glance. She sighed. This was going to be like
cracking open a rock with a pencil. The thing was, she wanted to.
And badly.

****

Erica was in his bathroom, humming.
Apparently, she hummed while she got herself beautiful. She
showered, blew her hair dry, and now, through the partially opened
door, he could see her applying makeup. No woman had ever gotten
ready in his bathroom before. Ever. He watched, feeling slightly
fascinated. She was so open and at ease with this. She came out of
the bathroom with only a towel on, picked through her bag for what
she wanted, while chatting to him about her patients that day.
Chatting. To. Him. No one chatted to him. He wasn’t a listener. He
wasn’t someone people wanted to tell things too. Or even BS with.
But Erica seemed to think so. She seemed to
like
being here,
with him.

He got dressed and showered early, long
before she was even awake. And now he’d already thrown on his jeans
and shirt for work. Not like he had to be all pretty and
professional like Dr. Erica. So he sat in the chair in his room.
Listening. Watching. Confused why he stayed sitting there,
listening and watching. She was so pretty to watch though. The way
she brushed through her hair, and how her long arms worked to twist
it around a comb. Lifting her white blouse over her chest… The
breasts, oh God! Her beautiful breasts that she seemed to think
were what? Too big? Too full? They were just that: big and full,
looking so sumptuous in the blouse she wore. His eyes were fastened
on her, watching her shirt move, and wanting to do nothing more
then fill his hands with their warm softness.

Her glasses always on, she seemed to have
mastered the trick of applying eye shadow while still wearing them.
It was fascinating. After using lotion, and spraying stuff in her
hair, she finished it all by clipping on jewelry: earrings, and
necklaces.

He felt almost paralyzed with her there. In
his house. In the morning. Waiting for him when he got back. Her
smile so easy, so bright, and
for him
. Why was she so easy
now and bright with him? He wasn’t particularly open or bright with
her. He wasn’t even particularly nice. He never had been. He was
closed. Cold. Intense. Accused of being emotionless. Callous.
Uncaring. Usually, whoever said that was absolutely right. But not
now. Not with Erica. With her, he didn’t know how to act. He didn’t
know what to do with her there. Not in the bright light of day. Not
the morning after. Only it wasn’t like a morning after with her.
She was too comfortable with him.

Why did she, out of nowhere, just get up and
throw her arms around him? Kiss him? Smile at him? What did she
want from him? For them?

She came out of his bathroom finally,
clicking the light off behind her. He looked her up and down.
Wearing gray slacks, with a white blouse with a chunky, dark blue
necklace, matching earrings, and her hair twisted up behind her
ears, she looked ravishing. Her clothes rustled softly as she
moved. Professional. Feminine. Soft. Stylish. Rich. Classy. She
looked like Erica Heathersby. Everything Spencer wasn’t. Everything
Spencer knew nothing about. What the hell was she doing there? With
him? And why wasn’t she more upset with herself for being here?
With him?

She stopped when she noticed him staring at
her. “What?”

“Nothing,” he said, covering his confusion
with a cold look. “What? Are we carpooling together?”

“Yes. Aren’t we?”

“I think I should quit.”

“Why? Because of last night? You don’t have
to quit.”

“How is this going to work? I don’t usually
take orders from women I’m…” he trailed off. Women he was banging,
screwing, fucking, that was how usually talked. But now he
couldn’t. He couldn’t talk to Erica like that.

She raised her eyebrows, waiting. He
swallowed.

“Women you’re…”

“Involved with.”

She smiled happily. “Nick and Joelle did it.
Still do.”

“Joelle’s not Nick’s handyman.”

“I didn’t mean that, Spencer. I was
over-the-top pissed off at you. Which you did deserve. You’re not
my handyman.”

“I am just that. Job’s not exactly going
anywhere. So…”

“So?”

So? She didn’t get that he might have a shred
of pride? He hated she was ten years more educated than he. As many
years more successful. He was her handyman. Yeah, why have any
pride? Or want to feel like a man?

“Spencer, this is new. Not like we had a lot
of notice. You can change that. But maybe not right now.
Today.”

He sighed. Standing up. Being an unemployed
loser was worse than a loser with a low-paying job, he supposed.
Still. God, how long before Erica returned to her grownup life? Her
grownup men with their own prestigious careers that rivaled her
own? Men who could stand tall next to her?

What the hell could he do for Erica
Heathersby? Give her a good time? As far as he saw, that’s all he
had to offer. If she needed a good time, that he could give her. A
good lay. A place to unwind. To not be professional. Or important.
To be different.
That’s
about all he had to offer her.

They were starting for the door of the
bedroom when she grabbed his hand, stopping him. “Are you still
sleeping with Tamira? I don’t think I can go into work facing that.
The rest I can deal with. That you did, or you were. I can deal
with the awkwardness of us working together, but a third wheel to
her? That I can’t.”

He looked down at her green eyes, so big and
gold-rimmed, they seemed to glow. God, she was beautiful. What was
she doing there in this grubby, old house with him? “I’m not
sleeping with her.”

“Or anyone else?”

He shook his head. “No. I don’t date any of
them, Erica.” Which was true. He didn’t often sleep with the same
woman twice. So it wasn’t like he was ever really seeing anyone.
Dating. Or boyfriend of.

“Okay, good.”

He followed her this time. What did it mean?
That he was dating Erica? That he was what? Being faithful to one
person? Could he? Did he want to? He didn’t know. He never thought
beyond the fantasy of sleeping with her. He never dreamed he’d get
that far. Twice. And now, following her to work.

Chapter Sixteen

“So what do you want done first, Doc?”

Spencer was standing in Erica’s office and
his tone became insolent. Apparently, he wasn’t happy to be there,
and his attitude was worse than usual. He resumed his impertinent
“Doc” tone. The one that had her so convinced he didn’t like her.
She leaned back in her chair as she regarded him. She supposed that
in this situation, with her having most of the power, by filling
the “boss” role, it probably conflicted with Spencer’s macho role
as a man. Perhaps it made him feel like less than a man. Was she
responsible for that though? She’d run across it before; and was
well aware that her success, strong sense of self, and
predetermined goals, not to mention all of her accomplishments,
intimidated most men.

Marge, Nadine, Sherri and Tamira, were all
seated in Erica’s office for a quick meeting. Spencer interrupted
them and all four women’s eyes darted around as they looked between
themselves. Even though Erica felt sure no one knew of the most
recent developments in their relationship, they were outright
staring at him.

Erica wondered what to do. Should she treat
him like usual? Or fire him? Or get up and kiss him, thereby
putting it all out there? Somehow, she realized that her handling
of this situation was some kind of test with Spencer. Perhaps he
wondered if she would admit to being with him to the outside world?
He seemed pretty convinced that she wouldn’t want to be observed
dating him.

She tapped her pen on her desk, and waited a
few heart beats, as her eyes locked onto Spencer’s. His dark eyes
were nearly glaring at her. Erica licked her lips before finally
standing up, and straightening her white lab jacket as she walked
around her desk. All eyes in the room followed her.

“So I gathered all of you here today because
I thought the staff deserved to know: Spencer and I have begun
dating; so from now on, he’ll be reporting to you, Sherri, for
work. Seems a lot easier this way, and less awkward.”

Startled eyes, and side glances, along with
much shuffling followed. Spencer stood stock-still, his eyes now
fastened on her face. She smiled a half smile, thinking that he
never believed she’d do it. He also didn’t believe she was actually
serious about him, when she truly was; and she suddenly knew it was
deathly serious.

Tamira gasped and got up, dropping the
clipboard she held. She had a horrified expression as she looked
from Erica to Spencer before letting out a cry and running from the
room. Erica didn’t feel any sense of satisfaction, but actually,
felt bad. Tamira was so young; and so troubled. She saw the
unfulfilled potential in Spencer just as Erica did. How could Erica
blame the girl for being mad about what Erica wanted too? She was
just lucky Spencer desired her in a way he was incapable of finding
with anyone else.

Erica cleared her throat. “So. That’s that.
There’s nothing wrong with it. No secrets. Anyway…”

Spencer’s jaw finally worked. He didn’t
smile; however, he looked very different to her when he said, “You
could have warned me.”

“You seemed so ready to judge me, you kind of
deserved it.”