Diamond (Rare Gems Series) (2 page)

“
She can’t quit.” Blair nodded when she looked at him. “There is no reason for her to get all upset over this. I was…I was just worried, that’s all. I usually get pissed off, then I…she didn’t really quit, did she?”

“
I’m pretty sure she just did.” Blair helped him gather up his things as he continued talking to the doctor, who still looked like she’d been pole axed. “She’ll need to make arrangements to gather her last check I would assume. And there had better be no problems with it, or so help me I’ll own you and this hospital at the end of the day.”

Thad had never seen this
side of Blair Henson before. He’d always been so laid back and easy. This man was hard yet quiet in his demands, and Thad had no doubt that they were demands either. And apparently neither did the good doctor.

“
I’ll make sure it’s correct. But I’d like to talk to her. I’d like to tell her how sorry I am and that I’d very much like for her to reconsider her quitting. She’s the best nurse I have.”

“
Then you should have thought before you spoke.” Blair turned to her then and smiled. It wasn’t a friendly smile, Thad realized. It was actually sort of scary. “Don’t fuck with my family, doctor, and I won’t your job. Leave my sister-in-law alone, both of them.”

“
You think that Ruby will quit too?” The panic in her voice made Thad think that Blair was a great deal more of a big deal around here than he’d ever realized. The man simply oozed power and obedience. Thad found he wanted to please the man as well, and he wasn’t even on the receiving end of his anger.

As he was wheeled out
, he began to think of ways to get back at the pretty little nurse. The
unemployed
pretty little nurse. There was something very appealing about her, and he wanted to explore the things that made him want to get to know her better. Smiling, he looked up at Blair.

“
What if your sister-in-law were to take care of me when I’m at your home? You know, see to my wound and help me around? I’d be more than glad to pay her.” He tried to look innocent but was sure he was failing. “I could also see the next set of plans that you and Sapphire have for me while I’m here.”

“
It’ll be up to her, but I got the feeling she didn’t care for you overly much.” Blair looked at him hard, and Thad had to work at not squirming under such scrutiny. “She will more than likely give Talley another try, but I can’t for the life of me see why. The woman would suck her dry if Diamond let her.”

“
I don’t know, Blair. I have a feeling Diamond is a great deal stronger than she looks. I’m betting she could take her on without much in the way of trouble.” He smiled when he thought of the sponge baths he was going to receive from the girl. “You think she’s any good at chess? I would love to find someone to challenge me in a few games while I’m here.”

He
’d been introduced to strip chess when he’d been in college. Back then it had been a way to get a girl naked without having to buy her dinner first. He and his roommates had been really good at it too, and it had gotten him the reputation of being quite the player, in more ways than one. Thad was sliding into the truck when he realized he didn’t even know if Diamond was seeing anyone. Not that it mattered, he supposed. He just wanted a good time, nothing long term was in his future if it involved love and women. Never again.

Chapter 2

“
So help me, if you say that to me again, I’m going to pop you in the face when I get there.” Diamond looked at the man standing in the line at the grocery. He’d been arguing with someone on the other end of his phone since she’d walked up behind him five minutes ago. She looked around to see if anyone would open another lane so she could get out of the way when this guy blew his top. All she wanted to do was pick up some ice cream and go home to eat the entire container while feeling sorry for herself. She’d never been unemployed before, and she was going to enjoy every second of it. This wouldn’t be all that long. At least she hoped not. Just long enough for her to talk Doctor Talley into letting her come back to work.

“
There is no fucking way that I’m going to put up with your shit any longer.” He turned and glared at her as if whatever was going on was somehow her fault. “You had better have your shit out of my house by the time I get there, or so help me, hell will be paid. And all by you.”

She was never sure when someone was finished with a call when they used an ear device and were actually talking to her or still in
conversation with the person on the phone. So when he snapped his fingers in front of her face several times, she was startled enough to take a step back. His laughter did nothing for her horrible mood.

“
You know, you really should be aware of your surroundings when you’re talking on one of those things. Perhaps I didn’t care to hear you arguing with your friend, and I might have found your use of language offensive.” She watched as his face turned a nice shade of purple before she continued. “And for your information, snapping your fingers in front of my face will get the shit knocked out of you someday too.”

“
Fuck off, bitch. If you didn’t like the conversation, perhaps you shouldn’t have been listening. And it’s a free country last I looked, so I can say what the fuck I want, when the fuck I want to. So fuck you.” She smiled at him and thought of all the things she’d like to do to him if he pushed her just a little more. “Women like you, all uptight and coldhearted, shouldn’t be out among others like me. You need to find a man and get fucked. You might feel better.”

Over the limit
, her mind screamed at her, but she took a step back. But when he pressed his finger to her forehead and told her to get a clue, it was not only over the limit, but had raced the fuck over the finish line and into the next realm. Her fist came out and connected with his face so fast she’d not even realized she’d hit him until he started screaming like a little girl. Then someone called the police. And when they arrived fifteen minutes later, her mood did not improve.

“
Miss Erickson, I’m sorry, but Mr. Caldwell said you hit him without any provocation.” She looked at the police officer who was standing between her and the man she’d hit. Several times as it turned out.

“
Who’s Mr. Caldwell?” He nodded toward the man that had pissed her off. “Oh. I didn’t know what his name was. But as for no provocation, I’d say that’s a false statement. He called me names, and when I tried to back away from him, he punched his finger into my forehead and told me to fuck off. And he called me coldhearted and said I needed to get laid so I could feel better. Actually, what he said was I should find a man and get fucked. Then I’d feel better.”

She
heard someone laugh behind her but didn’t turn as they put Caldwell into the other ambulance. Diamond had had enough of people today and wasn’t going to engage in any more verbal disputes. She looked at the officer, who she only just realized was a wolf when he suddenly stiffened. He quickly told her she was free to go. She just knew it was going to be Blair or her sister behind her. When the large hand pressed against her shoulder, she was actually relieved to know it was Blair and not Sapphire. But that was short lived when Thad spoke.

“
Perhaps you need to enroll in anger management classes.” She heard Blair tell Thad to hush, but the stupid man seemed to like egging her on. “Or maybe some yoga. You might benefit from a few classes that show you creative ways to channel your anger.”

“
He told me to get fucked and I’d feel better.” The hand on her shoulder tightened and she had to put her hand over Blair’s before he hurt her more. “He also called me a bitch, which, actually I am, but what really made me take offense was when he said I was coldhearted.” She stood up to leave when she was pressed back into the gurney she was sitting on. Blair handed her the ice pack that had fallen from her cheek. Thad pulled it away when she tried to cover her face with it.

“
Did he hit you?” She nodded at Thad and felt the tears threaten again. “Where is he?”

“
He was taken away when they figured out I’d broken his arm. I told him not to grab me again, but he just wouldn’t listen.” She looked up at Blair, who was still holding onto her arm. “I’d very much like to go home now. The police said it was okay for me to leave as soon as you got here. Can you take me home?”

“
Come on, baby.” She was helped to stand by Blair and felt Thad standing a little too close to her. She wondered what he was doing there when Blair told her. “I was taking him back to the hotel where his things were so he can stay at the house. He was in the truck when Sapphire called me.”

She nodded
. Well, she supposed, he really was staying at the house. He’d better stay the hell away from her or he’d really be hurt. Stretching her neck, she tried to calm her wolf. She’d been pissy with her since she’d left the hospital. When she climbed into the backseat of Blair’s truck, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. It had been one hell of a day, and it was only three in the afternoon.

Diamond must have fallen asleep
, because the next thing she knew, she was being shaken awake. Twice she tried to push the person away, and both times she was told to wake up. When she finally did open her eyes, she was staring at Thad. He was smiling at her like he knew some secret.

“
You snore.” She pushed at him when he spoke. She most certainly did not snore. “You do. It’s sort of a soft purr, but I don’t think you’re much of a cat. I don’t know why, but I see you more of a…I don’t know, something that would tear a man apart if he pissed her off.”

He had no idea. Blair and Sapphire had decided to tell Thad what they were but hadn
’t as yet. It’s not that they didn’t trust the man; he’d paid them when he said he would and had given them the best contract that Blair said he’d ever seen. Everyone was happy with him. Diamond hadn’t met him until today and now she wished she’d been able to postpone that event for a while longer…like forever.

“
Would you mind backing up? I can’t get out with you hovering over me like some sort of stalker.” He laughed but moved out of her way. She looked over at Blair when he chuckled at her too. This was becoming the worst day of her life. She got out of the truck and moved to the house, ignoring the men, and only stopped in the kitchen long enough to give her grandmother a kiss on the cheek and tell Allen, Blair’s father, hello. She needed a bath and a long night’s sleep. She was nearly to her room when she heard her name called. Turning to look at Thad, she wondered what it was about him that made her want to lash out at him every time he said anything.

“
Do you need someone to scrub your back?” She nearly went back down the stairs and showed him a thing or two about what she needed, but turned on her heel and moved the rest of the way up the stairs. She was going to need therapy after this was finished.

She was pulling her hair up into a thick ponytail when she heard the knock at the door.
She groaned and nearly told the person to go away when she realized it was her grandmother.

“
I brought you something light to eat. Blair said you had some ice cream, but it’s all melted. I’ll get you some tomorrow if you want.” She nodded at her grandmother and picked up the slices of cheese and some crackers. “I’ve been fielding calls too. Doctor Jan Talley has called here several times begging to speak to you. What would you like for me to tell her?”

“
Tell her I’ll call her tomorrow. I’ve been thinking I was stupid in quitting like that anyway.” She walked to the tub that was filling and turned off the taps. “I shouldn’t have let myself get exhausted like that. It’s my fault, not hers.”

“
I don’t think so, but then you’re the one that has to work with her.” She stood up and left her the tray. “Sleep until you wake, dear. You’re off for the next few days and you should enjoy it.”

Diamond soaked
in the tub for nearly an hour, refreshing the water occasionally just to keep it warm. By the time she rolled out of it, she was as limp as a rag and had eaten all but one cracker and two slices of cheese. After drying off, she crawled into bed, wondering if she needed to set her alarm, but closed her eyes and let sleep take her before she even picked her phone up to set it. Her last thought was of the arrogant ass Thad and whether or not he was going to be all right in the morning.

~~~

Thad discovered three things his first morning in the big house. First, and probably most importantly, he was not used to women in large groups. The Erickson women, including the grandmother, were not a group he’d want to deal with on a daily basis, especially not in the morning. Secondly, they didn’t drink coffee, and no matter how much he begged them, no one would help him get a cup. Third, and now that he thought of it this should have been first, he was not in as good of shape as he’d thought he was. There were five flights of stairs to any point in this house to get to a bathroom and five more to come back down. He was dying and decided that a treadmill was in order. And where the hell was Diamond?

“
Would you like to go into the office with me now or when Sapphire comes in after she takes care of her clients?” Blair leaned down to him and whispered in his ear. “I’m going to Tim Horton’s on the way into work, and Sapphire won’t.”

“
You. I’m going with you.” He glanced up at the door when it opened and was disappointed not to see Diamond. All the other women were there, but not her. He had some major teasing to do, and she wasn’t there for him to have his fun. He was hobbling toward the door when he heard one of the sisters say her name. Thad tried to look like he wasn’t eavesdropping, but he was, and he was pretty sure Emerald knew it when she winked at him.

“
I took her phone last night after I knew she was asleep. She didn’t even stir. I did cover her up though. I didn’t think sleeping naked without at least a sheet was such a good idea, as tired as she was.” Thad tried not to swallow too loudly, but the thought of Diamond naked was nearly too much for him to imagine. “She’s going to go back to work for that bitch, I just know it.”

Thad knew that Emerald didn
’t care for the doctor. In fact he got the impression that none of them did. Especially Ruby, who was only going to be a nurse as long as it took her to get out of med school and become a doctor.

“
Well,” Jade said as she pulled on her boots, “she’ll do what she feels is right and not what we think. Diamond needs to be a nurse as much as I need to work outside. And today is the big day.”

They both moved off
, and he had a moment to wonder what the big day was about, but Blair had moved to the door to leave, and Thad needed his coffee. They were in the drive-thru lane when Thad finally asked about Diamond.

“
She’s all right, isn’t she? I mean she did almost pass out, then that thing with the guy at the store. She’s not going to get sick, is she?”

Blair ordered before he answered him.
“Nah, we seldom get sick, but exhaustion is pretty serious, and Diamond was beyond that. I think she worked for an entire month recently without a day off before she finally put her foot down. Sapphire thinks that woman that runs the hospital knows that Diamond won’t say no to her, and takes advantage.” He handed him his plain black coffee before he continued. “Diamond was offered a great job at one of the bigger hospitals recently, and we’re actually afraid she’ll take it. We don’t want her to move away.”

Thad had noticed that even though they fought a great deal
, he knew that they were very close. He’d never had any sisters, and only the one brother, but he’d not seen him in so long that Thad sometimes forgot he had one. He and Ward had never been all that close and had drifted even further apart after their mom died a few years ago. He didn’t even know where he’d gone after he’d kicked him out of his house. He glanced over at Blair when they pulled into the parking garage at Flair Marketing. He decided to try and find him; just find, not contact, he thought after a moment.

“
What would I have to do to find someone that I didn’t want to know I was looking for them? I have a brother that I’m curious if he’s still alive, but don’t want him to come near me.” He had no idea why he thought Blair would know, but when he nodded at him, Thad felt better just by asking.

“
I have a few contacts that I can use. Mostly they work for the police department, but I can get something started for you.” They entered the building together, and Thad was given a badge and was told it was his to use every time he came to Ohio. “That’ll get you in and out of here when you need to. If you lose it, I’ll have to murder you in your sleep.”