The Boss Project by Vi Keeland

I pressed a button on my phone. “Seven thirty.”

He now had on his dress pants from last night, but still no shirt, and the top button of his slacks was unbuttoned. A thin line of hair led from his belly button down into the waistband of his underwear. It didn’t matter that he was now wide awake and standing only a few feet from me, my eyes had a mind of their own. They took a slow tour up and down his body. It was impossible for Merrick to not see it.

He shrugged. “Sorry. I don’t have any clothes until my luggage gets here.”

I tore my eyes away and lifted my coffee mug to my lips. “It’s only fair that you show a little skin after last night.” I pointed over my shoulder. “There’s coffee made.”

After Merrick poured his caffeine fix, he took the seat across from me.

“How did you sleep?” I asked.

“Pretty good. You?”

“Not bad.” It had taken me forever to fall asleep. Visions of me lying over Merrick’s knee, without a piece of glass in my ass, had played in my head over and over.

“I checked on Kitty just now. She’s still sound asleep.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I checked on her earlier, too. The doctor prescribed a pretty strong pain medication, and it makes her sleepy.”

“Ah... Well, that explains it. She’s usually up early.”

I sipped my coffee. “I was looking at flights on my phone before I got out of bed. There’s a five thirty direct into JFK this afternoon, if you want me to stay today so we can try to talk to her about going to a gynecologist.”

Merrick looked alarmed. “You’re leaving?”

“Well, yeah. I figure you’re here now, so things are under control.”

“I pride myself on having control of most of my life, but Kitty’s always been the exception. I have no control over that woman.”

I laughed. “Do you want me to see if there’s a later flight?”

“If later means tomorrow or sometime after that, the answer is yes.”

My brows pulled together. “Are you staying?”

“Yeah, but you can’t leave me alone with her—not to talk about her woman problems.”

“You actually sound a little afraid.”

Merrick shook his head. “Not a little. A lot. Can you stay? At least until tomorrow. Maybe we can play it by ear.”

“I guess so. I have some patients scheduled, but I suppose I could reschedule them. My boss is kind of a jerk, though. I hope he doesn’t mind me taking a day when I’m so new.”

“Your boss might give you a raise if you stay.”

I smiled. “That’s not necessary, but I’ll stick around a little longer if it makes you feel better. I’d do anything for Kitty.”

“It does.” His shoulders dropped. “Thank you.”

We finished our coffee while sharing stories about our grandmothers. When I got up to pour a second cup, I heard Kitty calling from the bedroom. “Yoohoo! Everly, darling, are you up?”

I smiled. “I almost forgot she doesn’t know you’re here yet.”

He lifted his chin. “You go first. I don’t want to scare her.”

I went down the hall to Kitty’s room. When I opened the door, Merrick stayed behind me, out of view. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, darling. I’m sorry to be a burden. Do you think you can give me a hand getting out of this bed?”

“I’d love to, Kitty, but there’s someone else here who might be a little stronger.” I stepped aside, and Merrick walked in.

Kitty’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Merrick! You’re here!”

“Of course, Grams. I came as soon as I could.” He walked over to the bed, leaned down, and kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry it wasn’t sooner.”

She waved him off. “You’re such a busy man. I hate to bother you.”

“Bother me? What bothers me is that you didn’t call me yourself. And we’re going to talk about that. But I’ll let you get up and have your coffee first.”

He carefully helped her into the wheelchair I’d left by her bedside.

“I need to make a pit stop in the loo.”

Merrick looked at me with panic on his face. I smiled. “Why don’t I help you with that?”

He wheeled Kitty to the bathroom, then scooped her out of the chair and set her down on the toilet, fully dressed, before rushing out the door. “I’ll leave you to…whatever.”

There was something kind of comical about how freaked out he was, but I kept that to myself. After I helped Kitty get settled, I told her I’d wait outside and to yell when she was done so I could get her back into the wheelchair. Of course, she hobbled on one hard-casted foot and one boot to get herself out of the bathroom anyway.

I shook my head as she sat back in the chair. “Kitty, you’re not supposed to put weight on either of those legs.”

“Oh, doctors are such wimps these days.” She put up a hand. “No offense.”

I pushed Kitty down the hall. “None taken. I’m not a medical doctor anyway.”

A few minutes later, the three of us sat in the kitchen drinking coffee. When it felt like it might be the right time to broach the subject of Kitty’s gynecological problems, I motioned with my eyes to Merrick, and he nodded.