Page 5 of Kimbra
I can’t help but ask her, “What happened to your face? Who did that to you?” I watch her hand come up and touch her cheek.
“Same person who caused everything else today. It was his parting shot.” I reach up and brush my fingers along her cheek. I need to know. “He hurt you anywhere else?”
Kimbra shakes her head. “No, I wasn’t the one who he was focused on.”
Mike clears his throat to get our attention. “I know we’ve met, but it’s always been when a baby is being born. I’m Mike. Do you remember anything about the man? What he looked like, or what he said?”
Kimbra gestures away from the nurse’s station to the coffee maker. As she gets herself a cup, she answers Mike. “I remember everything he said. He didn’t give us a name, but he was wearing one of those vest-like things like you guys wear when you're doing charity events for the community.” I look over at Mike, and he looks at me.What club could it be? I ask Kimbra, “You mean a cut?” She nods.
“Yeah, if that’s what they’re called. His didn’t look like yours, though. His looked kind of dirty, and on the front, it read ‘president.’” Please don’t let it be who I think it might be. “Didyou get a look at the back of it?” She stirs her coffee and looks at both of us. “Yeah, but I only saw the first letter of the first word. It read something that started with an S, and the word on the bottom read ‘Devils.’” Holy fucking shit. Itisthat fucking piece of shit.
Mike finds his voice. “Could the first word have been Sangre? As in Sangre Devils?” I watch her as she thinks. She nods. “I think so. I know it had a skull with like devil ears and blood dripping from its mouth.”
I’ll fucking kill them all. Those fuckers. I need to know it all. I look into the eyes of the woman I want to claim as mine. “Tell me everything that fucker said.”
She replays everything the soon-to-be-dead man said. When she finishes, Mike thanks her and walks off to go update the brothers.
I move in closer to Kimbra and look her in the eyes. “You get that our club and that fucker’s club are nothing alike, right?” She looks at me and surprises me with her answer. “I know that. It’s like all oranges are orange, but not all orange things are oranges.” She gets it. “We’d really like it for the cops tonotknow the name of the club that was on the back of the guy’s cut. You okay with keeping that from them? You understand why?”
I watch her contemplate my question, and I see the moment she decides her answer. “I understand. You guys do your thing and find him. Find him and make him pay.” I nod. I want tocontinue our conversation, but Jackson calls my name. I look at Kimbra and decide at that moment she needs to know how I’m feeling. “You and me. This ain’t over, Kimbra. We’ll talk soon.” I turn and head back to the brothers, the need to hunt down the fucktard, Taz, and his minions coursing through my body.
I spend the next few hours chasing down leads and searching the area for the fuckers. Seems he dropped into town, did his damage, and hightailed it out of there. Mike, Tripp, and I give Juan, Samson, Logan, and Ry descriptions of the guys that we think are still with the club. They’re gonna do some digging online.
Mike and Tripp are gonna go over and babysit so people can head to the hospital to see Madison and the baby. I head back to speak to a certain doctor. I make a stop first and pick up some food because I have a feeling she hasn’t stopped today. For some reason, I want to be the one who makes sure she eats and takes care of herself because I get the impression that she’s the last person she thinks of. I understand that she’s a mom and from what I know, she’s an amazing one. However, I want to be there to make sure she stays healthy and gives herself some credit. I don’t even know if I felt this way about Sarah—definitely not before actually dating her. Hell, we were young and didn’t really date. We just got together and went from friends to more. It wasn’t something we ever really talked about. I’d like to think that she would’ve liked Kimbra.
When I return to the hospital, I make my way back up to the labor and delivery floor. When the elevator opens, I see the waiting room still has quite a few brothers and other family members. This is what a brotherhood is supposed to be.This is what a real family is.
I walk up to the nurses’ station and wait for one of them to acknowledge me. Just a minute or so later, the woman sitting at the desk looks up and gives me a smile. “How can I help you, sir?” I lean against the desk and hold up the bag I’m carrying. “I’m looking for Doctor Hargrave. I brought her some food since I’m pretty sure she hasn’t eaten in a good while.” The nurse’s smile gets even bigger. “I can page her… wait, she just walked through the door behind you, sir.” I turn around and am greeted by a smiling Kimbra. “What are you doin’ back here?” I hold up the bag. “I brought you some food because I had a feeling you probably haven’t eaten. Got time for a break?” I watch her think about it for a minute while she looks around. “You know, I do have some time. All three of my patients have delivered and are in good hands for a bit before I need to do my last checks for the night. How about we go to the cafeteria since I can’t let you back into the breakroom?” I gesture toward the elevators. “Lead the way, Doc.”
We make the quick elevator trip and walk into the cafeteria in just a couple of minutes since this county hospital is small. We walk over to a table, and I pull out her chair for her. I put the bagdown in front of her and sit down across from her. “Open it up. I got you that chicken salad you mentioned you liked and some breadsticks to go with it. I hope that’s okay.”
She opens the bag and sniffs it. “Oh, that is so much more than okay.” I watch her unpack everything with a grin on her face. She opens up the salad and takes a bite. The moan she makes has me getting hard just sitting here. Makes me wonder how she sounds…nope, can’t go down that train of thought right now. “This was really thoughtful of you. Thank you. I hadn’t had time to stop and think about eating something. Today’s been…it’s been a day.” She goes back to eating, and I can tell she must have been hungry. “I know how eventful part of your day was. Did it continue like that, or did things calm down a little?” She takes another bite and nods. When she finishes chewing, she answers me. “Yeah, I ended up having two more deliveries, though they were routine compared to the first. Being here in such a small county hospital, I rarely have two deliveries in a day, and I can’t remember ever having three before. I want to do one more round and check on the new moms before I go home.” I let her eat before I suggest what I’ve been thinking. “I was thinking you’ve had a day, and I would really like to give you a ride home tonight so you don’t have to drive. What do you say?” I watch a slight blush color her cheeks, and I’d really love to know what just crossed her mind. She bites her lip and looks up to look me in the eye. “I have to come back here in the morning tocheck on my patients and possibly release one or two of them.” I lean forward in my seat. I want her complete attention when I tell her my intentions. “Kimbra. I don’t have plans tomorrow. I would love nothing more than to take you home tonight, kiss you goodnight, and let you get some sleep. Tomorrow, I want to pick you up, bring you a cup of your coffee of choice, bring you back here, so you can do whatever it is you need to do. Afterward, I’d like to take you on a ride and out to eat. After we eat, I would love to have a kiss for dessert. Hell, if I’m being completely honest, I would love to have all of you for dessert. I’ve always had a sweet tooth. What do you say, Doc?”
Kimbra
Holy hell. How did his simple words send tingles to places I haven’t felt inwaytoo long? I know I’m still nervous about starting anything with him, but I was also smacked in the face today with the reminder that life is short and we need to seize it while we can. Fuck it. If this doesn’t work out, it just doesn’t, but I’d be a complete fool if I didn’t at least take him out for a spin and see if there could be something there. I’ll never know if I say no.
His eyes give off that whole alpha vibe I’ve read about. I honestly have never seen that look directed at me before. It has me tingling all over, like twinkling lights at Christmas. “Yeah, Iwould like that, though maybe when I’m done here tomorrow, we can make a detour back to my place so I can drop my car off to have it at home? That okay?” I’m gifted with the sexiest grin. “Darlin’, that’s more than okay.” He leans back in his chair. “I honestly thought you would put me off again like you’ve been doing. I’m beyond happy you agreed to my idea.”
I take the last couple of bites of my salad, trying to get my thoughts together to share my concerns. When I finish, I look back up and realize he’s been paying attention to me the whole time. My cheeks flush, and I’m slightly embarrassed for being in my head. Put your big girl pants on, Kimbra, and do what you’re always telling Bailey to do and use your fucking words. I take a deep breath as if that will give me the courage I need. “I haven’t been hesitant because of my desire. If I’m honest, I’ve been very interested in you, and our talking a bit over text has only deepened my interest. It’s that it’s not just me and you involved in this. I’ve got three kids who are my world. They’ve got a…a strained relationship with their father. I worry—”
Ben interrupts me. “I know you’re a mom. Just from the few conversations we’ve had, I know you’re an amazing one. I also know that a good chunk of time will involve your kids, and I’m more than okay with that. I wouldn’t start something with you if I wasn’t. I hope, at some point, you feel comfortable enough to introduce me to them. If things progress with us, I don’t expect to replace their dad at all, but be someone they can count on.I’m mature enough to know that your kids are the center of your world, as they should be at their age. I also know your career is important to you. I’m just hoping to get to know you more and maybe eventually be a partner to go through life with you.” I must not hide the surprise on my face because he chuckles and continues, “Yeah, Doc, I’m that serious. I wouldn’t spend time getting to know you if I was just looking for something physical. I want something more, and I think you and I could be good together. Don’t worry, I’m not in a rush. I’ll let ya catch up to me in your own time.” I must channel my kids because I’m pretty sure I just rolled my eyes at him. “I’m not that far behind you there, biker man.” He grins and says a single word. “Mathis.” Huh? “What?”
He shakes his head slightly. “Mathis is my name, and I want you to call me it.”
Wait, what? “What do you mean? Ben’s not your name? Your whole family calls you Ben.”
“Ben is my middle name. I’ve gone by it since I was barely out of high school. It’s a long story, but it has to do with my lovely witch of a sister. She wouldn’t have let Jane see her dad if she had known he was in the same club as me, so I started going by my middle name. I like my middle name fine and have no problem with people calling me it. But for some reason, I want you to call me Mathis, if you don’t mind.” I feel like he just gave me a special gift. “I’d be happy to. I like that name. It’s a little unusualbut has a strength to it.” That earns me one of those sexy-as-sin smiles. “Why thank you, Doc. Do you still have a lot to do here?” I stand up and gather the trash back into the bag. “No, I’ve already done the charting I need to do. I just want to peek in and check on the new moms. I probably can be done in about twenty minutes. Is that okay with you?” Ben-er, Mathis stands up. “Whatever time you need, Doc. I’ll go back upstairs with you and touch base with whoever’s up there in the waiting room. I know at least a couple of people should be up there.”
We head back up to labor and delivery, parting at the elevator with Mathis telling me he’ll wait for me in the waiting room. I head back to get what I wanted to done. I always like to check on my patients a few hours after birth. The hormones and pain can be intense.
Forty-five minutes later, I’ve finished everything and checked on everyone. I can’t wait to pour myself into bed. This day has been more emotionally draining than I’ve had at work in a very long time, if ever. I grab my stuff, which Darius brought up from my office for me, and walk out to the waiting room. I see Ben is sitting next to a couple of the guys in his club, though I don’t think they’re ones I’ve met before, or at least not more than once. It’s been a long day, so my recollection is crap. I’m almost over to their group when they all look up in my direction, Mathis giving me a smile. “You get everything taken care of, Doc?”
I nod. “Yeah, I did. Are you okay to leave?” He stands up. “I was just waitin’ for you, darlin’. I don’t know if you’ve met these two, but this is Tripp and Wyatt. Tripp is Shane’s dad, and Wyatt is married to Anna.” They both stand and shake my hand. “I’m sure I know the people he just mentioned, but it’s been a hell of a day, and all my brain cells are half asleep already.” That earns me a chuckle from all three men. Ben comes up next to me and places his hand on my back. “Well, brothers, that’s my cue to get the good doctor home and to bed.” I wave goodbye, and we walk over to the elevator. I’m very aware of Ben putting his hand on my back again. His slight touch has me wanting his hands on more places…all the places.
Within a couple of minutes, we are walking up to what must be his truck. It looks pretty new, and it’s definitely higher than normal. My mouth works without me even thinking. “I hope a step or something pops out because I’m not sure I’m graceful enough to get up there otherwise.” I hear chuckling behind me. The door is opened, and a step bar does pop out. Thank the gods. I really don’t think I have it in me to try and climb tonight. I start to lift my foot, but all of a sudden I’m lifted up and set in the passenger seat. Holy hell. Did he just… He did. I look out the open door to see him smile and shut the door. Just a few seconds later, he opens the driver’s side door and hops in. “You…you lifted me up…just like that.” He shrugs his shoulders at me. “But I’m too heavy and you could hurt yourself.” A scowlinstantly comes over Ben’s face. I don’t have any idea why. “Kimbra. I want you to pay attention to what I’m about to say. You. Are. Not. Too. Heavy. If I thought I would hurt myself because I couldn’t lift you, I wouldn’t have done it. You are a woman. A woman who’s had three kids and lived life. I think all of your curves are amazing, and I can’t wait to explore them all. Every single one of them. So I’d appreciate it if you’d trust me that I can lift ya. Can you do that, darlin’?” I'm not sure I can trust my voice at the moment, so I just nod as I reach back for my seatbelt. He wants to discover all my curves…with his hands, or did he mean…oh, I’m so in over my head. Early on, sex with Brian was...fine. I mean, he usually made sure I came once at least and that I enjoyed it, but I have a feelinganythingwith Mathis...it’s gonna be a ride…and I’m for it. Look at me being all down for whatever happens. I know I’m tired when not only am I talking to myself, but I’m not questioning things. It’s a sure sign I needed sleep like an hour ago.
Ben starts up the truck and backs out of the parking spot. “You gonna give me the address, or just tell me which way to go?”Oh shit, focus, Kimbra. “Okay, yeah, sorry. Head out the exit toward Fifteenth Avenue.” Ben drives through the parking lot and gets to the exit I instructed. I point out the window. “Turn that way and go till you hit Dupont Avenue.” Ben follows my instructions till we’re almost to Dupont Avenue. “Which way do I turn?” I point again. “Go this way and go till you hit Second Street.”
