Breaking the Rules Page 8

  Were we going to spend every night together or was that too risky?

  Quit. Shit.

  As much as I wanted to walk into Mark's office and put in my resignation, something stopped me. I loved teaching with every fiber of my being. The thought of working in a big high rise in downtown and having to put on a front for a bunch of stiff pricks left my blood running cold.

  Surely Damon's company was different, right?

  No way. Business was business.

  I took the elevator up, squeezing in with a bunch of students and trying to be polite when I really wanted to remind them that the elevator was for professors and handicapped students. No need to look like the dick that was running around in my skull.

  Something about having to be the good guy and tell Lance, the University President about not only Heather's bullshit, but Daisy and Mark's had me on edge. That and a million other things.

  "Dr. Tarrington." Mark was outside my office door when I walked up.

  "Hey, Mark." I extended my hand. "What can I do for you?"

  "If you could come up to my office for a few minutes. Just need to talk through something with you." He gave me a stern look, and I knew something was off. Had he found out about Eliza talking to Daisy? Had Daisy told him? It wouldn't have surprised me. Someone sick in love usually was willing to use any means necessary to get back with their lover.

  "Yeah. No problem. Let me put my stuff down and I'll be right up."

  "Good. Make it fast, please. I have a meeting with the University President in twenty minutes." He turned and walked toward the end of the hall, his demeanor stiff.

  "What now?" I walked into my office and set everything down. After I pulled off my coat, I made a sharp right out of my door in search of Eliza. Maybe she knew what the hell was going on.

  No luck. Her door was closed and she had a little sign that said she was changing the future. I smiled in spite of myself. Eliza was a good woman and a damn good professor. She took her job seriously in molding the minds of the people who would one day take over as the next line of teachers, preachers and professionals.

  I used to think that way too.

  I couldn't help but try and pinpoint when my warm and fuzzy feelings toward my career stopped. Ana. They stopped when the University went from being a place where I could share myself to make a difference, to a dominating master in my life. They set the rules, and I followed them.

  Like the good boy I never was.

  Jogging up to Mark's office on the third floor was good for me. My heart was racing a little by the time I walked in, but I had some clarity. Whatever he threw at me, I would nod, walk out and go visit Lance myself. I didn't have to be pushed around or made to feel like a charity case anymore. They could all rot in hell.

  "Mark?" I stuck my head in his office, not finding his secretary sitting at her desk. "Now good?"

  "Yeah, buddy. Come in and shut that door behind you." He nodded toward the door.

  I closed it and walked over to drop down into the empty chair in front of his over-sized desk. The image of him taking Daisy ran through my head, and I grimaced. Gross. Damn.

  "What's going on? You need my help with something?"

  "No." He leaned back in his chair, crossed his big ass hands over his chest and watched me. "You know I stood by you when all that shit with Ana happened, and again with the situation we had two years ago."

  I nodded as my stomach soured. What the hell was happening? Surely there wasn't some other woman coming forward to give false testimony that I'd raped or seduced them. I hadn't been with anyone since Ana. No one on campus at least.

  "I know that. I appreciate you."

  "Well, you're on your own for this next one."

  "Next one?" I sat up and pressed my hands against my knees. I was going to throw up.

  "Heather Turner is claiming that you took advantage of her three times over the last month. There are camera's showing the two of you together in the various places, but of course there's nothing but your word against hers on what actually happened."

  I exploded out of my chair. "Are you fucking kidding me? I wouldn't touch Heather with a ten-foot pole. We were college friends and," I leaned over, pressing my knuckles to his desktop and I leveled up and stared him in the face, "and she's been trying to get in my pants since she got here, Mark. She's a whore."

  "Is she?" He didn't seem moved at all. "She's got a pretty clean record."

  "No. She doesn't." I stood and walked to the window, running my fingers through my hair. "Why does this shit keep happening."

  "Cause you can't keep your dick in your pants?"

  "You're one to talk." I turned to face him. "And for the fucking record, I didn't touch Heather. Not since college when she was a cum-sucking whore."

  He lifted his hands and gave me a warning look. "Hey. Watch what you say. Whether you fuck her or not, she's making the claim. If you want this thing to go away, you gotta work with me to make that happen, and don't you fuck this up. No dating anyone or seeing anyone that even has association with UT. You got me?"

  "You know what," I walked back over to stand in front of his desk and crossed my arms over my chest, "Fuck UT. I quit. I'm done with all of this madness."

  "Kendal." He stood and slipped his hands into his pockets. "She's pressing charges. You working here only helps you right now. You quit and it's going to look like a confession of sorts. Don't be an idiot. I'll help you where I can, but you gotta keep your nose clean."

  I glanced down, feeling completely defeated. Keeping my nose clean meant that I needed to steer clear of Dana. I didn't think I could do that. But as per usual... what choice did I really have?

  "Is the school getting involved?"

  "Yes. I'm going to try and get an investigation started and will support your character, but you're on leave until it's cleared up. Understood? I'll get your classes covered and take care of everything here. Go find some charity to give back to, or a company to consult. This will remain under wraps as it's in Heather's contract to let us investigate anything that happens while she's on campus. Just like it's in yours."

  "Fine." I turned and walked toward the door. "When this is cleared, I'm done. I'm not staying here and working my ass off, giving my entire life to a place that allows this kind of shit to happen all the time."

  "Kendal. We didn't create this problem. You did by dating students." He sat down as I glanced back at him.

  "Six fucking years ago!"

  "A record is a record, brother. Take a vacation and I'll be in touch." He glanced up from his paperwork and narrowed his eyes a little. "You fuck this up by doing something stupid and it's not going to be your job you have to worry about. It's your freedom."

  I didn't look up as I walked down the stairs to the bottom floor, across campus and got into my car. Fury mixed with regret tore at the inside of my chest. I couldn't catch a break. No matter what.

  Of course Heather claimed that I raped her or took advantage of her three times. She wanted to be owned so badly that she was going to force her way into my life in a positive or negative light. No matter what the bitch had to do, she was going to get the spotlight in my world for a while.

  She was jealous of Dana, and she should be. They all should be.

  I drove to McKenzie and Bryant, breaking every law possible in my rage. I pulled up to the front and got out, ignoring the valet as he welcomed me to the building. There had to be justice somewhere. Damon was the only one I could think to go to in order to help me find it.

  He loved me like a brother, and he was richer than God himself. It was time to cash in on our friendship. I was obviously doing a horrible job of making my life work alone.

  "Dr. Tarrington," Linda glanced up from her desk. "He's in a-"

  I ignored her and walked into Damon's office. He was seated at his desk on the phone, his voice loud, his brow pinched. He gave me a 'what the fuck' look as I closed the door behind me and dropped down in the chair in front of him.

  "Yes,"
he barked into the phone and studied me, "and get it right this time. You make me look anything less than brilliant and your whole family will be on food stamps before the end of the day. I will ruin you."

  He slammed the phone down and leaned back in his chair.

  "Matt?" I asked.

  "How did you know?" He cracked a smile. "What the hell, man? You can't wait five minutes for me to get done chewing someone out?"

  "No. Heather filed a sexual assault suit against me. I swear I'm never going to get pass the past, am I? I've never forced myself on a woman - ever."

  "It's about the fact that they all wish you would force yourself on them." He got up and walked to his floor-to-ceiling windows. "I don't know what the fuss is all about. You're a total nice guy now."

  I laughed and stood up. "Help me. I don't ever ask for help, but I need you here. I just got back with Dana, and of course Mark is telling me that I'm on voluntary suspension and I can't see anyone or do anything if I want to keep my freedom."

  "Your job?" He turned to face me, his expression softening.

  "My freedom, Damon. I could go to jail if this bitch figures out a way to make it look like I raped her." I ran my hand down my face as he walked over and gripped my shoulders.

  "We'll figure it out. I'll get someone on it today. I have resources."

  "You should be in the mafia." I let my chin touch my chest. "I just keep thinking I'm finally going to catch a break."

  "Naw... rule followers are always bumping up against walls and shit." He squeezed my shoulders. "We'll figure this out, and when it's all said and done, you're quitting UT and coming to work with me. I'll pay you twice as much as you're making. You can be our lead trainer or coach or anything you fucking wanna be. I'll just put you as an executive vice president and you can stare out the window all damn day. You're my only friend." He patted my chest. "You're like a brother to me. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

  "Thanks man." I let out a long exhale. "I don't know what to tell Dana."

  He patted the side of my neck, forcing me to look up. "Tell her the truth."

  "Right." I slipped my hands in my pockets, feeling a little better.

  His phone buzzed and he walked back over to his desk. "Seriously. Women get pissed more about lies than anything else. And... don't forget we're having a family dinner tomorrow night at Dad's house. He'll be fifty-eight. Bring the candles and Dana. It'll be good for all of us."

  Bring Dana? I wasn't supposed to even go within a hundred feet of her until all this shit with Heather got cleared up. She was never in a million years going to understand me stepping back, even for a couple of weeks. I knew I wouldn't.

  Chapter 12

  Dana

  Everything seemed right again. Was I really willing to get over Kendal being with Ana in the past? It would seem so. Having him wrapped around me Saturday night left my heart full, my eyes focused on the future. He didn't know me back then. It was just a messed up coincidence that all of us would have to ignore, reject, forget.

  As long as he didn't still have feelings for my sister, I was good. He knew that I was struggling with self-image issues because of having to grow up as her ugly-duckling sister. Where I wasn't sure I could get past that drama on my own, something told me that he would be right next to me, helping me push through it.

  "Morning, Dana." Dr. Lewis walked by me as I made my way to the elevators.

  "Morning, Dr. Lewis. I spoke with Kendal. I'm sure he'll be calling you soon. He seemed very interested in having dinner with you and your wife." I slipped my hands into my pockets and smiled warmly.

  "Good. And will you be joining him?" The older man paused and put his hands on his hips. The knowing look on his face left me feeling like I belonged there. It was a first for me, but something I could quickly get used to.

  "I think so." I waved and moved into the open elevator, wishing I would have found it empty.

  Tensely glanced up from reading a chart. "Oh. You."

  I laughed. "Morning to you too, Tensely."

  "I'm actually glad you're here. Mrs. Delmaz has been acting like a wild-ass all morning. She found out a friend of hers died and wants to go to the funeral, but her dementia is getting worse. Once we stabilize her blood pressure and make sure her new medicine is working better than this last one, her ass is outta here."

  "Does she not have any family we can call?" I hadn't seen anyone come to visit her and there was no mention of anyone in the charts as a next of kin.

  "Just her crazy bird, Larry. Weirdo." She moved up as the door opened.

  I grabbed the back of her arm, forcing her to look over her shoulder. "You know. One day it's going to be you laying in a bed. You better damn well hope you get someone like me to care for you and not someone like you."

  She jerked her arm away from me. "You know nothing about me. Don't touch me again."

  I moved back and let the door close, riding the elevator all the way to the top. I wasn't going to let Tensely of all people get me down. I had Kendal back and I was hoping to meet up with Ana for coffee later that day. After I cleared everything up with her, there was nothing else that could mess things up for my future.

  I was in love with a handsome bad boy professor who was willing to break the rules for me. It was hot and made me feel like I was flying.

  My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out as I reached up and pressed the button to be taken back down to my floor. Talon.

  I growled and waited until the door opened to call my brother, Brandon. He answered just before I hung up, the phone ringing five times.

  "Hello?" He sounded sleepy.

  "Hey. Can you do me a big favor? It's Dana."

  "I have caller I.D., silly girl." He snorted and I smiled.

  "Is that a yes?"

  "You drunk and stuck at a bar without a license again?" He huffed. "You're always getting in trouble. Jeez!"

  "That was you, and no, I'm at work." I let a smirk lift my lips as I walked toward the nurse’s station. "Can you tell Talon that I'm back with my ex-boyfriend?" I rounded the corner to find Jackie standing there.

  She turned, her eyebrows lifted and mouthed, 'back with your ex-boyfriend?' The grimace on her pretty face let me know quickly that she thought I was talking about Cameron.

  "What? Awww, man. I was hoping things would work out with you and my main man."

  "If he's your main man, then you need to put a ring on it." I snorted. "He's a great guy, Brandon, but Kendal and I are working through things. I'm in love with him."

  "The guy that dated Ana?" His laugh hurt my feelings a little. "You sure that's a good thing? Keeping it in the family and shit."

  "Ouch," I barked into the phone and leaned against the counter beside Jackie.

  "I'm sorry. That was shitty of me." He huffed. "I'll let Talon know. Be careful though, Sis. He hurt Ana really bad back then. I remember listening to her cry in her damn room for a year. Now granted, Mom’s walls are fucking paper thin, but still."

  "I understand. I'm good. Thanks for the help with Talon. I'll check you later." I dropped the call and slipped my phone into my scrub's pocket. "Brothers."

  "Are you and Kendal back together? That's great news." Jackie reached out and squeezed my shoulder. The woman was hot and then cold and then hot again where Kendal was concerned. It was a little unnerving not knowing what she was thinking, and yet if I were being honest with myself, I really didn't care.

  He meant the world to me and things were looking bright. I refused to be the type of person who was waiting for the other shoe to fall.

  "Yeah. We stayed together some over the weekend." I turned and reached up to grab a few towels from the cabinet above my head. "It felt like coming home. He loves me. I know he does."

  "And the shit with Ana?"

  "They talked through it." I shrugged and turned back to face her. "I'm going to text her and see if she can meet with me for a few minutes later today."

  "You think she will? I never can really get
a read on you and your sister's relationship. Seems like it's on and then off again." She pressed her hand against the counter and leaned toward it, looking innocent in her question. I almost laughed. She was the wildest woman I knew.

  "What's your point? Everyone's relationship is on and off again. That's the nature of family in general." I pulled down my list and thumbed through it. "Mrs. Delmaz is acting up again?"

  "Yes, but you're diverting." She reached up and pushed the clipboard down. "Your sister says she's not in love with Kendal, but what if she is? A lot of times when people care about each other, they'll say one thing, and mean the total opposite. You know this."

  I nodded. "I know, but Kendal doesn't have feelings for her."

  "So you say." She put her hands on her hips and cocked an eyebrow.

  "Jackie." I turned to face her. "Are you for Kendal or against him? I'm confused."

  "I'm for you. No one else." She reached out and tugged at a strand of my hair. "I'm just worried. This is a really weird situation, and I thought you told me that he couldn't date students."

  "We've been over this." I turned and walked toward the door. "We're going to wait until I graduate, sneak around or one of us is going to make a change that allows us to see each other."

  "Right. You going to Baylor." I didn't like the tone of her voice.

  I glanced over my shoulder before turning to face her. "I love him. I don't want to lose him. Doing something as simple as changing schools is easy."

  "I get it." She shrugged, not seeming at all like herself. "But if you're the one willing to make a massive change and he's not, then what do you have to change next? You're thinking about being a doctor instead of a nurse and your best shot for that is in New York, right?"

  I could see where she was headed with her questioning. "Yes." I held back a loud sigh of aggravation.

  "I'm just saying that you better be careful. This relationship isn't just about the here and now. It's about what he expects you to be willing to do in the future for him. What's he willing to do for you now?"

  "He said he would leave the University, but I don't want to ask that of him."