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was a chauvinist who relished controlling her and her mother. He d
overheard Hope crying to Val after her stepfather had slapped her for
burning dinner. He wasn t the only violent one her mother had given her a
swelled lip once, and a black eye. Add that kind of violence to the constant
belittling of her intelligence and looks, and James didn t know why she ever
went back to that so-called home.
Not that his own home was all sunshine and roses& full of frosty
silence and a growing chasm between him and Val and their mother.
Georgia had chosen her new husband who happened to be ten years her
junior over her children a few too many times for them to pretend to be a
family ever again. Their dad, Parker Murdock, had been out of the picture
since the divorce& no visitation& just child support payments. They hadn t
felt the loss as much as their mother. Especially, after Parker made his first
million running a small chain of fitness centers. The support checks got
larger, but so did Georgia s resentment. She d flown completely off the
handle when their father had shown up to his high school graduation and
informed her that he would be making all the financial moves to put James
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and Val through college. Security had to escort her from the reception.
Parker may not have been a fishing on Saturday mornings kind of father,
but his children would have the best education he could afford.
Anyway, thanks for the ride, said Hope as her cheeks blushed.
It was his turn to shrug. Better than the bus, I guess.
Much better, Hope muttered.
James pretended he didn t hear her. I was on the way out anyway,
I ve got to stop by and see my girl.
Hope didn t speak again for the rest of the drive, until she muttered
goodbye, got out of the car, and jogged up the bush-lined driveway.
James downed the water and put the empty glass on the table.
He smiled as the remnants of the memory of eighteen-year-old Hope
vaporized. He d been distracted by her then, but now& now she was even
more beautiful. Her hips were fuller, as were her breasts. She wore flattering
clothes& not that she needed to wear clothes ever.
His mind wandered to Hope lying upstairs, still naked. He adjusted
his erection as he walked to the sink to deposit the glass. He took the stairs
two at a time. The girl he d been afraid to touch was now the woman he
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never wanted to stop touching. He wasn t going to waste another minute
away from her.
73
Chapter Seven
The next morning, Hope was on the phone with Val while James
returned a call from his answering service.
Doctor Murdock? the woman on the line said when she picked up.
Yes, Ms. Wilkes.
I m so glad you returned my call. I apologize for interrupting your
vacation.
Get to the point, Ms. Wilkes.
The Rogoff child, she started, is in serious condition. The police are
requesting our files on the family and you never sent us a written report on
Marianne s broken arm.
His jaw transformed into a vice. I faxed that write-up the same day I
made the report on your hotline.
Okay, well& it s not on file in our office so&
James had run out of patience. When you and I last spoke, you were
assuring me that my suspicions were unfounded. Those people convinced
you that four bone fractures were the result of an overly rambunctious
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three-year-old. So don t you dare question whether or not I went about
making my report correctly! I m not the one who dropped the ball here!
Look, doctor, my case load is more than you could ever imagine. I
deal with serious cases of physical, sexual abuse, and gross neglect. I m
monitoring foster families and clueless teenage mothers! Don t you dare
accuse me of dropping the ball when I have so many to juggle! You can sit on
your high horse and say whatever you like as long as that paperwork gets
faxed!
James sighed. There was no sense in pointing fingers. What was done
was done. Now, he had to do his part in making sure the person or people
responsible didn t get away with it.
I ll fax it again next Monday when I get back.
This can t wait that long! she snapped. Can t someone from your
office fax it?
I can t do that! Have you ever heard of doctor-patient confidentiality?
If I have someone else handle that document and the couple sweet talks
their way out of this too, I m looking at a Privacy Act Violation law suit. I
can t afford that.
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There was a tense silence before she responded. This is a police
matter, whatever grudge you have against me aside, the authorities need
that document.
Then you have them call me. Until then, why don t you keep looking
for the one I sent last year?
James held the phone away from his ear when she clicked off.
Maybe you shouldn t have been so hard on her, said Hope. Social
work is a low-paying, high-stress, thankless job.
I know that and I hate to be so cold, but this isn t just some case
number. I was there for every checkup since birth for these kids and to
imagine that the entire time someone was hurting them, makes me sick.
She put her hand on his forearm and smiled up at him. Tell me how I
can make you feel better. More chicken and dumplings?
He smiled. Why don t we go upstairs and see if you can find a way to
kiss it and make it better?
Are you saying you want to play doctor with me? Hope teased.
Only if you bend over and say
Doctor Murdock! Hope squealed. I am appalled at your
behavior& what happened to the serious caretaker I used to know?
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You didn t know him well enough before; now tell me how you want
your temperature taken.
I have to go to my office to get out some paperwork, James said
brushing her hair from her eyes.
You re driving back to fax the report, huh?
He sighed. Yeah.
Hope smiled. I think that s a good idea.
I don t want to leave you here alone.
It s okay; Val and P.J. will arrive in a few hours. I won t be alone for
long.
She was running her fingertips through the sparse hairs on his chest,
driving him to distraction. Maybe I should take you with me.
Don t be silly, Hope giggled. I ll be here when you get back
tomorrow.
I m not coming back tomorrow.
He felt her hand still and explained himself before she could ask.
I ll be back tonight.
That s over six hours of driving. That s crazy.
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No, what s crazy is leaving you here to get second thoughts about
getting involved with me and changing our friendship.
You mean upgrading our relationship?
Upgrading?
Yeah, any time great sex is added to an equation, I consider it
upgraded.
His laugh rumbled through his chest. She could feel it under her palm.
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