The Doctor Is In Read online

  “Well, I was gonna say that what I would like only my boyfriend can give me, but since we called it quits the other day, that’s not likely to happen. So, I guess you can bring me back a salted caramel shake.”

  Kasen stood up and took his jacket off the back of the chair. “I’m sorry to hear about your boyfriend,” he said.

  Voncile shrugged. “No big deal. We weren’t together that long anyway, and I can do better than him,” she said with a flirtatious smile.

  He chuckled. They often teased each other around the office. If he was being honest with himself, there was some sexual tension there, but he had never pursued it.

  Voncile often wondered why he didn’t make a move. She certainly had thrown enough hints his way. She knew that Kasen was involved with Raine, but she always hoped the relationship would run its course so she could step into position by Kasen’s side. Obviously this wasn’t the right time, because he changed the subject like he hadn’t even noticed she was trying to flirt.

  “So, a caramel shake today, huh? You usually order chocolate,” he said.

  “No, not today. I’m in the mood for something a little different. That happens from time to time.”

  Aren’t you ready for something different too, Kasen? Don’t you want to dump that boring chick and sample what I have to offer? she thought, wishing she had the nerve to speak the words out loud.

  Kasen nodded. “I get it. In fact, I’m making some changes in my life too,” he said.

  “What do you mean?” she asked, totally unprepared for what she was about to hear.

  “Well,” he started, slipping into his tailored jacket, “my talk with Mr. Jones really put some things in perspective for me this morning. I’ve been thinking for a while about taking my relationship with Raine to the next level, and, well, today’s the day.”

  She looked at him with a puzzled expression. Something inside her knew where this was going, but she didn’t want to believe it could be true. “Huh?” she said, unable to form a sentence at the moment.

  “I’m going to propose,” he said happily.

  The words were like a punch to Voncile’s gut. Her legs suddenly felt like they were made of jelly, and her heart took off like an out of control racehorse. She struggled to keep her composure.

  “Voncile, are you okay?” he asked when he noticed the odd expression on her face.

  She tried to straighten her face to look more neutral. “Oh, yeah,” she said, trying to sound calm. “My blood sugar is probably a little low or something. I guess I shouldn’t have skipped breakfast.”

  He frowned at her excuse. He had been a therapist long enough to know when someone was avoiding the truth. “Blood sugar, huh? Why don’t you have a seat for a minute,” he suggested.

  She inched backward and slumped into the chair where his patients usually sat. Kasen leaned against his desk.

  “What’s really going on?” he asked.

  “Um, I don’t know,” she answered. “I’m just surprised. I mean, I didn’t think your relationship was that serious. You barely talk about her, and when she comes here to visit, it looks like the two of you barely click. Are you sure you’re ready to tie the knot? As a friend, I think you really need to think this through more carefully.”

  Kasen was a little taken aback by her assessment of his relationship. “We don’t click?” He shook his head. “I disagree. I don’t like to put my personal life on display in the office, so maybe it appears like we don’t click, but trust me, Raine and I have been together for a long time, and this is the logical next step for us.”

  Voncile felt an anxiety attack coming on. It wasn’t supposed to go down like this. Was she really too late to make Kasen her man? She had seen the way he looked at her in the office, and she knew he wanted her. She had always thought it was just a matter of time before they were a couple. This marriage thing sure messed up her plans. She took several deep breaths to calm herself.

  “If you say you’re ready, Kasen, then by all means, go for it. Congrats,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound too phony.

  Kasen could see that something was wrong with Voncile. Trying to get a sense of where the negativity stemmed from, he walked up and stood directly in front of her. Putting a hand under her chin, he lifted her face to look into her eyes.

  Voncile momentarily took in the view before her. Everything about Kasen was perfect—from his muscular frame to his tailored suit that fit him so well. The scent of his masculine cologne set her on fire. Normally she loved to gaze into his tranquilizing light brown eyes. In the moment, though, she avoided them so he wouldn’t see the jealousy that rested in her eyes. In her opinion, no woman, especially one who gave off such cold vibes like Raine, deserved to have a wealthy, established, and handsome man like Kasen all to herself.

  “Listen,” Kasen said, “I don’t know what’s going on here, but is there something you need to talk to me about?” He was thinking that maybe the breakup with her boyfriend was affecting her more deeply than she was ready to admit.

  It was moments like this when Voncile truly believed that Kasen cared deeply for her. He was such a gentleman, taking her feelings into account in a way most men didn’t. No man had ever made her smile and laugh as much as he did. She treasured the time they spent together at work and hoped that someday they’d be spending lots of quality time together outside of the office. If she didn’t get herself together quick, though, she might scare him so much that he would let her go. She certainly wasn’t willing to take that risk, so she stuffed down the tears that were threatening to burst forth from her eyes and tried to put a smile on her face.

  “I am very happy for you, Kasen,” she said as she stood up. “And please know that all I want is the best for you. Your news just took me by surprise. I didn’t mean to come off so negative. Marriage is just so serious. You have a lot to offer Raine. I hope she’s able to give you all that you need in return.”

  Kasen stepped backed to the edge of his desk, sitting against it. He hadn’t expected this kind of a reaction from Voncile. If anything, he would have expected this from his boy Omar, a self-professed lifelong bachelor.

  “Of course I know marriage is serious. But it can also be a beautiful thing. My parents have been together since they were twenty years old, and they’re still happily married. They work hard at it, and I’m ready to do the same thing with Raine.”

  “But why so suddenly?” Voncile asked.

  “It’s not really that fast,” he answered. “We’ve been together for years. But I don’t know, I guess seeing Mr. Jones like that today reminded me just how precious life is. I don’t want to waste my life being indecisive. God forbid I get sick like Mr. Jones. I don’t want to look back and have any regrets. I love her and she loves me, so why not just go ahead and do it, you know?”

  Voncile felt like she was ready to explode. She wanted to break down in tears, or else go crazy and break something, but she blinked away her tears then stood with open arms.

  “Congrats,” she said with a forced smile. “As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters. Now, go get your woman her ring, and do not forget to bring back my salted caramel shake. If you forget, I’ll never forgive you.”

  They both laughed, but this was no laughing matter for Voncile. She regretted not telling Kasen how she felt, but she also knew that one day the opportunity would present itself. She would not give up her dream; she would just put it on hold while she worked out a new plan.

  Kasen looked at his watch, ready to make a move to the jewelry store. “I’m out,” he said. “Wish me luck. I should be back around two, with or without your melted shake.”

  She flashed another fake smile. “Whatever, boss,” she said as he left the office.

  As soon as she heard the elevator doors closing and she knew she was alone, she picked up a chair and threw it against the wall to release some of her pent up anger.

  “Damn!” she shouted out loud. “Please, please, please don’t do this. I hope that bitch
has enough sense to say no.”

  The chair had left a sizable dent in the wall, which she was sure Kasen would question later. She put the chair back where it belonged, hoping she could come up with a reasonable excuse before he returned. In the meantime, she had a phone call to make.

  She shut the door to his office and then snatched up the phone on her desk.

  “Hey, hey, mmm, I need your help,” Voncile said when her friend picked up the phone.

  “Depends on what you need.”

  “I need you to kill somebody. Can you handle that?”

  The woman on the other end laughed. “Of course I can. Tell me when, where, and how you want it done. I’ll take care of it, especially if the price is right.”

  “The price is always right. Meet me later. We’ll talk more about it then.”

  Voncile laid the phone back on the receiver feeling a whole lot better. Maybe that darn proposal wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

  Chapter 2

  Kasen sat uneasily on a sofa in Raine’s spacious office. She had left for lunch over an hour ago but was expected to return shortly. Raine had no idea Kasen was in her office waiting for her, nor would she be prepared for what he was about to do. This was sudden. But the timing, according to Kasen, felt right. He also felt that Raine needed some good news. She was overwhelmed with the many troubled children who attended the school district where she worked. They both had full plates, but Kasen’s plan was for him to propose, for Raine to say yes, and then the two of them could celebrate this evening when they got home.

  Kasen was hyped about his plan, but a little tense because he wasn’t sure how Raine would respond. While he knew she loved him, he also figured that there was a chance, however small, that Raine could say that she wasn’t ready to be a wife, or to give her all to one man. She had been the one to insist on more of a commitment when he moved in with her, but since then, it wasn’t like they really discussed their future beyond that move. What if it he was wrong to assume that she wanted to take that next step?

  This new doubt that had crept in weighed heavily on Kasen’s mind as he paced the floor for a while and then plopped back down on the sofa. A sheen of sweat formed on his forehead, and his once-crisp white shirt was now stuck to his skin. He removed his jacket, hoping to loosen up a bit and feel at ease. This was a very intense moment for Kasen. He couldn’t help but wonder if all men felt this way when they were about to propose.

  “Chill,” he mumbled under his breath. “Relax and calm down.”

  That was what he attempted to do, but before he knew it, he was back on his feet, pacing back and forth again. His thoughts switched to the tiny black box in his pocket. As soon as he had laid eyes on the three-carat diamond ring at the jewelry store, he knew it was the one for Raine. She had superb taste, and he knew she would love it. Just the thought of her opening the box and locking her eyes on the ring made him crack a smile. He felt himself relaxing ever so slightly.

  He took a deep breath and walked over to the window. From the third floor, Kasen watched the children playing kickball on the school playground. Several teachers stood nearby, watching their classes. Two police cars were parked at the end of the street, reminding Kasen that Raine worked in a dangerous neighborhood. It was something that had always bothered him, but he knew there was nothing he could say or do to get her away from this place. She loved helping children, and even though her salary as a grade school counselor wasn’t great, Raine found her job to be very rewarding. Kasen understood, because he loved helping his patients too. He just wished that Raine would look for a better district to work in, so he didn’t have to worry about her driving to and from this rough neighborhood every day.

  Raine didn’t deny that the area was sketchy. She had been robbed before, almost stabbed once while trying to break up a fight, and she caught a substantial amount of flak from parents who felt as if their bad-ass children had done no wrong. Yet in spite of all that, Raine made it clear that she was exactly where she needed to be. He couldn’t argue with that, and just like on many issues between them, he had learned to keep his mouth shut in order to keep Raine happy. She was a bright and accomplished woman, and she was definitely strong willed. He didn’t want to be the kind of guy who squashed that confidence. Kasen always wanted her to feel like an equal in their relationship, so if he knew she felt strongly about something, he often went along with it to keep the peace.

  Kasen spotted Raine’s burgundy Saturn as she attempted to squeeze between two cars parked on the street.

  “Don’t do it,” Kasen warned out loud. “Find somewhere else to park before you hit that—” He paused, shaking his head when he saw Raine’s car bump the one in front of it.

  He watched her exiting her car, and while she examined the vehicles for any damage, he examined her. His eyes were fixed on his beautiful woman, who made his package swell every time he saw her. Her hips swayed from left to right, and as she bent over to examine the cars, dirty thoughts invaded Kasen’s mind.

  He couldn’t help but to think about their lovemaking session from the night before. It was on point, as usual, and Kasen was ready for round two. He hoped that Raine would be in the mood, before or after his proposal. He moistened his thick lips with his tongue and stroked the fine hair on his goatee. Many women considered Dr. Phillips to be one fine motherfucker, and with his smooth chocolate skin, a six foot two chiseled frame and mysterious brown eyes, not many could deny it. Raine was well aware of the prize she’d been gifted, but Kasen was the one who felt real lucky today.

  He watched Raine as she opted for another place to park her car. Once the car was settled in a more sensible spot, she locked it and then sashayed across the street in her peep-toe high heels and a mustard-colored dress that cut right above her knees. Her square silver-framed glasses, her makeup free face, and her loosely pinned-up hair made her look like a sexy librarian. Kasen was so proud of his woman’s good looks.

  As he watched her enter the building, he rushed back over to the sofa with a wide smile on his face. He slipped the ring box in to his pocket so Raine wouldn’t see it when she walked in.

  Showtime, he thought, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

  Minutes later, the door swung open and Raine breezed in. When she spotted Kasen on the sofa, she stopped in her tracks. Her man was always handsome, but this day he had a glow about him. Something was different. He looked overly happy to see her.

  “Surprise, surprise,” Raine said, making her way over to him. He stood and pulled her in for an embrace.

  “Mmmm, you always smell so good,” she said. “What brings you by? If you brought lunch, sorry, I already ate.”

  Kasen gave her a light pat on the ass. “Baby, I can bring you breakfast, lunch, and dinner whenever you want it, but that’s not why I’m here today.” He stepped back slightly to take in all her beauty. She was so damn beautiful.

  Their eyes connected, and then Raine’s face crumpled into a frown. “Are . . . are you okay?” Raine asked with a slight frown on her face. “All of a sudden, you seem a little off.”

  Kasen snapped out of his trance. “No, no, I’m good. Just happy right now. Feeling real good and happy about us, that’s all.”

  His words made Raine smile. She leaned in for a kiss that turned into a wet and juicy one she hadn’t expected. Kasen’s strong arms tightened around her waist. She could feel his package, slowly but surely, rising to the occasion.

  “Wow,” she said, backing away from Kasen. She wiped a finger across her wet lips then cleared her throat. “I think I’d better go lock the door. The temperature in here is starting to rise.”

  “It’s on full blast, baby. I agree that locking the door may be a good idea.”

  Raine walked to the door eagerly. She was always in the mood to make love to Kasen. Since both of their schedules were so busy, they took any opportunity they could to indulge in sex.

  With sexiness in her stride, she approached Kasen as he started to unbutton his shirt. She
placed her hand on his chiseled chest, running her palm along his rock-hard pecs.

  “Let me get that for you,” she said, assisting with the buttons on his shirt. “And while we’re doing this, would you like me on the sofa, at my desk, in the closet . . .? Where exactly would you like to serve me?”

  “Hmmm, let’s see. The last time it was on the sofa. Time before that, on your desk. Let’s shoot for the closet today. It’s roomy and real dark in there. I love looking into your pretty eyes, but I’d hate to see them when I put this hurting on you.”

  Raine giggled then removed her glasses. “Hurt me, baby, please. But make it quick, because I do have a lot of work to do.”

  She reached for his tie, tugging gently on it like a leash as she directed him over to the closet. Inside were several boxes, school supplies on a shelf, and a broken wooden desk that needed the seat to be screwed on tighter. Raine turned off the light, and in a matter of seconds, she was in her bra and panties.

  Kasen stood naked. Curious about the length his steel had grown to, Raine reached out to examine it. She knew he was too well-endowed to fit it all in her mouth, but she was always willing to venture there first. Kasen had other ideas, though, and this time, he took charge. He snatched her into his arms then proceeded to kiss her deeply. During the intense lip-lock, he removed her bra, tossing it over his shoulder. He then fell to his knees, and after easing her panties to the side, he dipped his curled tongue into her honeypot while she was still standing.

  She gasped then released a deep breath. Her legs trembled, and after almost losing her balance, she backed up to the wall for support. Kasen lifted one of her legs, resting it over his broad shoulder. He resumed his intimate conversation with her candyland and painted every single inch of her walls with his tongue.

  Raine moaned loudly, lightly scratching at his back with her long nails. Saliva started to drip from the corner of her wide open mouth, while on the other end, the sweetness of her juices stirred in his.