Dirty as Hell (Studs in Scrubs Book 2) Read online

  “Dr. Cove. I’ll take you back now.”

  Jenn dropped her cell into her purse, grabbed her briefcase, and followed the nurse who was wearing amusing cartoon scrubs.

  An exam and thirty minutes later, she was sitting on the table wearing the flowered gown when Dr. Lethian stepped back in. “I still can’t believe you haven’t been in for an exam in almost two years.”

  “Sorry, Venessa. Time just passed.” Although she knew she’d steered clear of any medical setting.

  Dr. Lethian sat down on the stool and opened the file she held, her gaze narrowing behind plastic frames. “Have you been having normal periods?”

  “Uh…yes…I think.” She thought back, realizing she wasn’t sure when she had a period last.

  Vanessa brought her chin up and pulled off her glasses. One corner of her mouth lifted. “Are you sexually active? Is that why you’re asking for a prescription for birth control?”

  She shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it active, but I haven’t been practicing celibacy either. We did use a condom. Why?” She’d always been proactive in protecting herself, although she trusted her husband, but one could never be so sure. “Did I catch something?”

  Vanessa’s smile grew. “No, Jenn, unless you want to call a baby catching something.”

  “Thank Go—wait…what did you say?”

  “I said, you’re pregnant. The routine test came back positive.”

  Several seconds passed as she grappled with the doctors’ words. “How is this possible?”

  “Condoms aren’t one-hundred percent effective and you weren’t using a secondary method as a precaution. It happens on occasion.”

  “You should take another test. Maybe it’s faulty?”

  Vanessa’s expression softened. “Less faulty than a condom, I assure you.”

  Tears blurred Jenn’s vision as she attempted to piece together the current event that shattered her world. “I-I’m shocked.”

  “Even when a woman plans a pregnancy, she can be stunned to learn the news. It takes time to process.” The doctor rolled closer, placing her hand on Jenn’s knee. “I’ve been your doctor for a while, and a friend, so I’m going to give you my thoughts, both professional and personal. You’re thirty-eight and, although that’s far from being old, a woman’s body is less likely to conceive the closer to forty she gets. Although some women have babies all the way up into their forties, it can be more difficult. I remember when having a baby was at the top of your priority list.”

  Jenn brought her gaze up to meet Vanessa’s sincere expression. “There’s a slight problem. Bridge and I slept together.” The doctor was also one of Bridge’s friends. “I’m pregnant by my soon-to-be ex.”

  “I’m sure this will be an interesting hurdle since you two are planning a divorce, but on the other hand, sometimes we aren’t in control of fate. Sometimes she gives us what we need when we need it the most.”

  “Are you suggesting that maybe this is the glue that can bring us together again?”

  Vanessa shrugged and pushed the stool back. “I’m only saying that you two have something between you now outside of the past.”

  “But what if…?” She couldn’t even form the words.

  Vanessa frowned. “Jenn, I understand your fear. Losing a baby can be one of the most difficult tragedies a woman can go through, but don’t allow the past to keep you imprisoned from following a life of happiness. You’re healthy, in good condition, and fairly young. We’ll keep a close eye on the pregnancy, but there’s nothing medically that leads me to believe that you won’t carry this baby to full term. Of course, I understand this wasn’t planned and we can talk about other choices, but I think it’s best you allow this news to sink in and then start debating where you go from here. Maybe even speak to Bridge and work this out together.”

  “Speak to Bridge?”

  “He is the father, right?”

  “He’s the only one that can be the father.”

  “He should be involved in this, but that’s completely up to you.” She made a note in the file. “In the meantime, I want to start you on vitamins and prenatal care. Get plenty of rest.”

  3

  To what do I owe this pleasure?” Bridge let his gaze wander over Jenn. Her hair was pulled up into a bun that was almost too severe for her features—and he got the feeling it was a silent message. The fact that she had curves like a backroad were hidden in the tailored jacket and loose-fitting slacks. However, she was pretty…no, she was dangerously beautiful. And the match that lit his flame. That’s why he’d been unsuccessful to completely rid her of his life no matter how hard he tried.

  Remembering how they’d made love in his bed only to wake up with her side of the bed cold stuck in his craw. They were married for God’s sake, but dealing with her hot-icy attitude warned him that he needed to build up an immunity against her and fast. He was tired of being jerked around like a dog’s toy. He wasn’t sure why he’d agreed to meet her today, but he’d heard the tremble in her voice and he couldn’t say no. As always.

  “I’m glad you decided to see me.”

  “Don’t get too excited because I’m certainly not.” He stepped back to allow her to walk past him and her arm brushed his chest, triggering a familiar ache in his gut. Slamming the door, he turned to watch her. Her hand trembled as she swept an escaped tendril of hair back into the mass. He led the way and motioned for her to step into the great room, keeping his gaze on her. The tap-tapping of her heels on the floor was like the pounding of a hammer in his temples. With only a few hours of sleep over the last two days, he was exhausted. Even watching the hypnotic sway of his wife’s hips didn’t give him the usual dose of energy, although his cock certainly didn’t have a problem stretching the zipper of his jeans.

  The sound of her heels continued to echo off the tall ceilings until she stopped close to the sofa. It was difficult to believe that not too long ago they’d bought the place together because the location was suitable, decorated the space together, and he was now in a hurry to sell it. He had no reason to keep the condo. Four walls, a roof, and a cot was all he needed at this point. He spent most of his time at his office that had quickly become his second home. Hell, his only home. Everything here reeked of the past.

  She nailed him with an unreadable expression. The inky smudges under her eyes along with the thin seam of her lips told him she had something grave on her mind. He made his way to the mini bar and poured himself a whiskey, getting a feeling he was going to need it. “Want anything?”

  “Water is fine.”

  He poured a small amount of bottled water into a tumbler and handed it to her. “Sorry. There’s no ice. I wasn’t expecting company.” He sipped his aged whiskey, feeling the burn all the way into his stomach. “Let’s just put this out in the open. I didn’t sign the divorce papers because there were a few details that needed ironed out. Your attorney should have contacted you about the change.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s not why I’m here.”

  He chuckled. “I know you and I have been fucking, but—”

  One corner of her mouth lowered and she groaned. “Please, stop. I’m not here for that either.” She skimmed her gaze down him, pausing several long seconds at his crotch before meeting his gaze again. “Although it appears you’re very hopeful.”

  His chest tightened. She was right. Damn. He hated that his body had a mind of its own. He didn’t want to give her the pleasure of knowing he found her irresistible, especially when she had a cold heart. The Jenn he fell in love with had been sweet, caring, and compassionate before…he blew out a long breath, not wanting to revisit the gut-wrenching memories.

  She reached down, grabbed the remote and switched off the TV. He groaned. “Sure, it’s not like I was watching the game.”

  “Trust me, after I say what I need to, you will have forgotten who made a touchdown.”

  “A phone call wouldn’t have worked?”

  “No. Only a face-to
-face will suffice.”

  “I think you’re forgetting we gave up having conversations long ago.” He couldn’t remember the last time they’d had a discussion.

  Her tongue came out to moisten her lips and damn if his cock didn’t take it as an invitation.

  “Do you have to be so—”

  “Deadpan?”

  Her nose wrinkled. “Bitter?”

  His laughter sounded cold to even his own ears.

  How had they been so happy once upon a time and sunk so low? She’d been the first woman he’d become attached to and, as much as he wanted to deny that he’d severed the tie, he knew denying the truth didn’t do him any justice. In the first months of their relationship he’d learned her beautiful soul, and their connection had grown so deep that he’d known, without a doubt, what his next move would be. He’d asked her to marry him and she’d said yes. Two weeks later they were man and wife and life was good.

  When she’d had the accident and miscarried, things had gone downhill fast. Now he had a big gaping wound inside his chest with her name tattooed on it. Every day he tried his hardest to forget her, to move on, but each time he was bounced back to the love they once shared. He didn’t like having emotions for her because they knocked him off his axis, especially when she lacked the same emotion.

  Remembering how she’d thrown her ring at him, telling him it was over, and stormed out after a countless argument made his balls tighten.

  For months after he’d tried calling her, even stopped by her office several times, only to be met with silence. He didn’t understand how it had been so easy for her to pick up and move on.

  Fuck. His body ached again.

  He needed to keep his protective wall airtight, even if he had to be bitter. Speaking with his attorney two days ago, Bridge was ready to take care of the last few details to end their marriage. No matter how hard it was, he had no choice but to give her what she wanted. A man couldn’t force a woman to respond to him with the love she once had.

  “Anything we need to say to one another should go through our attorneys,” he grumbled.

  “I told you, this isn’t about the divorce.”

  “Yeah, but what else is there?” He dropped down on the couch and placed the still full whiskey glass on the table. Stretching his legs out, he laid his bare feet on the glass coffee table. “Did you come to say goodbye to the ice castle before the realtor shows up next week?” Some husbands might be happy that they were left the house, but it felt more like a death sentence to him.

  The area between her brows scrunched. “You wasted no time in contacting an agent.”

  He gave a tight shrug. “This was your idea of a home, not mine.”

  “Seriously? We chose this place together, remember?”

  “Actually, you said you’ve always wanted to live here and I wanted to make you happy.” Yeah, even he knew he was being unfair.

  She waved a hand through the air and it sliced through him to see that she no longer wore the three-carat diamond ring that symbolized their commitment. Hell, he still had it back in his top drawer. Why? Damn. He was a fool.

  “I’m not going to argue with you.”

  “Great. There’s a first for everything.” He almost felt guilty for his words, but not quite.

  *****

  He looked good. His dark hair had recently been trimmed. His eyes were such a penetrating green that were made more intense by the stark contrast of a few days’ worth of stubble covering his jaw. The black T-shirt accommodated his broad shoulders, but the seams were stretched to the maximum. Although he didn’t spend a lot of time in the gym, he ran five miles each morning and played basketball every chance he got. At six-foot one, he was quite a bit taller than her, even when she wore heels.

  Truth was, she had missed him. Dearly. Why couldn’t things be simple between them? Either find a place together or apart, not a trap in between.

  His anger wasn’t a surprise. When she’d snuck out of his bed after a night of passionate lovemaking, she’d known exactly what she was doing. Getting the hell away from him before she found herself confused and at his will. Nothing was ever simple with a man like Bridge.

  Opposite to the last time she saw him, he now looked through her like they were strangers. Maybe she should have thought twice before coming, but he deserved to know that in that one night of lust filled passion, they had created a child together.

  He lifted his glass to his lips and she took the opportunity to follow the plump line of his lips and his thick, wide fingers. Her inner thighs trembled unexpectedly.

  A part of her wished he would grab her into his arms, kiss her breathless, but then she wouldn’t pop the news. That was unrealistic. They couldn’t go back to the early days when the first thing he did when she walked into the door was whisk her against him and ravage her mouth. She’d always surrendered to him, fully and completely, needing him as much as she valued her next breath. In jest, she’d often referred to him as the puppet master to her pleasure and she’d never complained. He’d been the only man who’d inflamed her in such a way. The only man who’d been confident in bringing her every fantasy alive. Their sexual appetites were on level playing fields—and playing was exactly what they enjoyed. What had attracted her to him when they met still attracted her today. His brilliance, power, and ability to command everything—everyone—around him. His compassion for helping his patients. A man so strong contributed to bringing babies into the world. He was excellent at what he did and why his practice had grown and was busting at the seams.

  Because they both had few friends and family in their lives, they’d become each other’s family and best support. He had been her best friend who she could divulge everything to. So, when he’d asked her to marry him, she’d not thought twice about saying yes. If only they would have known the obstacles they would face.

  Now seeing the distance and withdrawal in his expression, she wasn’t sure how her news would go over. Possibly he would deny the child was his and she guessed most men would respond with distrust. After all, she hadn’t been performing the duties of a wife in a long time. One lapse of reasoning didn’t change that fact.

  Looking back, she wondered if things would have been different between them today if they hadn’t lost their son?

  Sadly, no matter how much she wished for a different past, a different history between them, not all the prayers in the world could rewrite the tragedy. And no matter how much she loved him, she had no clue how to forget.

  “You should get whatever you have to say out of the way.” Anger made his tone sharp.

  “I understand your angry—”

  “No, you couldn’t possibly understand what I’m feeling. Why? Because you never cared to ask. You’ve believed, all this time, that you were the only one who lost something we both loved.”

  “Maybe if you’d been around long enough to ask I would have. Oh, but that’s right. There was always someone else that needed you more.”

  His cold laughter stung her ears. “I would have been there for you every step of the way if you wouldn’t have built a wall so thick that not even a nuclear bomb could penetrate.” He shook his head. “No, I couldn’t help you because you refused to allow me in. Selfish, really.”

  “I guess I am selfish. How in the world should I have expected you to tear yourself away from Eliza’s issues long enough to face your own?”

  All traces of warmth were erased in his expression, and there wasn’t much to begin with. “Fuck this, Jenn. We’ve been through this. If you came here to break my balls over the past…” He stood and placed the glass down with a crack.

  She wouldn’t falter under his stare. “You’re right. Why are we doing this? What good does it do for us to hash out the pain and issues now?”

  “Oh hell, I don’t know. Maybe because we want to end things with a fucking bang.”

  The stress was thick in the air between them, making goosebumps scatter her skin and a tugging at the invisible strings in her c
hest. She wanted to point out that she wasn’t the only one who’d made mistakes in their marriage. They’d both put the important things on the backburner.

  “I can’t handle going through this now,” she practically pleaded.

  “Then get to the point and you can go.”

  “Right. I’m stalling.” She braced herself. “I don’t know how to tell you this, except to just to blurt it out. I’m pregnant.”

  He dropped back into the cushion, his expression narrowing and his jaw tight. “Pregnant? Who’s the lucky father?” His scowl made her shiver.

  She wouldn’t have been more hurt if he’d slapped her, and yet she’d expected this. “Do you really need to ask that question?”

  “Yeah, I do. When we are on the brink of divorce and the last time you were in my bed I used a condom.”

  “Then I’ll explain.” She forced the words from trembling lips. “I haven’t been with another man since you, whether you believe it or not. Why the condom was defective is a question that we’ll never have answers for, but it doesn’t change the fact that you and I conceived a child.”

  “How is this possible?”

  “That’s a question that speaks for itself.” She blew out a long breath. “Bridge, I didn’t come here because I have any expectations that you’ll help me change diapers and warm bottles at two A.M.. This puts a damper on things, but it doesn’t lock you into a cage and throw away the key.”

  His expression turned from chilly to downright frostbite. “Thank you for the vote of confidence.”

  “Come on. I won’t fool myself into believing that you haven’t earned the playboy image over the last year. I’m sure a child would only weigh your love life down.”

  His mouth tightened. “You’re assuming you know my personal life, sweetheart. This is just how you are. You look for reasons to label me as a deadbeat daddy. I’m not your father. The bastard walked away from you, but I didn’t and I wouldn’t do it to our child” he growled. He stood and forced a hand though his hair. “You should know me better. I’m your husband and the baby is our issue to handle. When will you stop believing that every problem that comes along is yours alone to bear?”