The Perfect Husband (11 page)

Dear Diary,

I have forgotten the pleasure of my
husband’s touch. There was a time when I was the center of his
universe, his moon and stars. He put me on a pedestal so high it
was only a matter of time before I toppled off. When I couldn’t
give him what he needed, without a second thought he knocked me to
the ground and trampled me into the dust.

This isn’t how love is supposed to be…. Love
is patient and kind, not hurtful or controlling. He’s taken
everything I have—my sense of identity, my self-esteem, my ability
to trust and to love. I am nothing more than an empty shell, like a
conch that has washed up on the beach.

I hope and pray one day someone will see
that shell and look close enough to find the beauty that used to be
me. I yearn for someone to hold me close so that they can hear my
whispered plea…

* * *

Mason glanced at his watch and swallowed a
sigh of irritation. The day was going way too slowly. No matter how
he tried to concentrate on his duties, his mind remained focused on
Isobel and her planned escape. She’d come to him for help.

The weight of responsibility to protect her
and ensure her safety was enormous and it didn’t matter how many
times he told himself she wasn’t his wife or his sister or even
someone to whom he owed a debt. There was no reason for him to feel
so much pressure to keep her safe, but he did. She wasn’t his and
she probably never would be, but the simple fact was, that despite
all her trials, she was the same person he knew as a teenager, and
he loved her still and he’d do anything he could to help her and
her children escape.

Knowing the extent of the abuse she’d
suffered ignited a fury inside him such as he’d never known and his
anger scared the hell out of him. He was normally a peaceful,
fun-loving kind of guy who’d rather join people in a laugh than an
argument, but hearing first-hand the treatment Nigel Donnelly
regularly inflicted upon his wife simply enraged him.

He wanted to make Nigel suffer like Isobel
had suffered. First and foremost, he wanted an all-out brawl where
he intended to punch the prick as hard and as often as he could.
Smash the asshole’s perfectly aligned teeth—the best that money
could buy.

They hadn’t been friends in high school, but
they’d both played on the same football team. Nigel had been the
star and had always gotten the girl—even Isobel West, the only girl
Mason ever really cared about.

It had started in junior high when the
contents of Mason’s locker had spilled out all over the floor. It
had been a joke played on him by some of the boys in the football
team, but he’d still been as embarrassed as hell. Especially when
some of the stuff that had fallen out included a handful of dirty
magazines. He didn’t know where they’d come from; they sure as hell
hadn’t been his, but he nearly died from humiliation when Isobel
West happened by.

He knew who she was, of course. She was the
prettiest girl in his year. But not only that: She was smart and
sweet and seemed to have a nice word for everyone. She was the head
of the junior high debating team and volunteered at an animal
shelter on the weekends. He could still remember Nigel complaining
that she barely had enough time to come to his games.

While he’d been scrambling to pick up
everything, she’d come to a halt outside his locker. Mason had
wished the floor would open up and swallow him whole. Crouching on
the floor, surrounded by books and pencils and the scattered
magazines, he’d stared at her feet, too embarrassed to do anything
more. Silently begging her to walk on by, he’d flushed from head to
toe when she knelt down beside him and helped him gather his
things.

She chatted the whole time she did it about
the upcoming game and the players. She even made a comment about
the weather. If she noticed the magazines in her hands, she didn’t
once make mention of them and it was at that point, he knew he
would love her forever.

It still hurt when he remembered how she’d
smiled in surprise and thanked him politely after he’d declared his
undying love the night of their graduation. Later, when he saw her
leave with Nigel, the asshole’s arm draped possessively over her
shoulders, the pain had been too much to bear. He’d spent the night
sad and alone, convinced he’d never feel happiness again.

Of course, as the years went by, he threw
himself into his studies and did his best to get on with his life.
He finished med school and secured a good job. He met and married
Sue Ann. But the truth was, he hadn’t moved forward at all. His
heart was still firmly caught up in everything that was and always
would be Isobel West and there wasn’t a damned thing he could do
about it.

The child on the bed in front of him
whimpered in pain and he forced himself to refocus. The
four-year-old had stepped on a pile of hot coals that had been used
as a campfire the night before and had badly burned the soles of
his feet. The accident had happened that morning when the fire had
barely smoldered. Covered in white ashes, the dangers had been
invisible to the young child. Mason was only glad he could help him
and that the boy’s feet would heal with time.

As he finished replacing the final dressing,
he checked his watch. It was nearly eight-thirty. If Nigel had left
for work at his usual time, Isobel should be on the road by now.
She might even be at Mason’s apartment, settling in. The thought
sent a warm rush of happiness surging through him, but he quickly
put an end to his optimistic thoughts that one day they could be
one big happy family.

She’d turned to him as a friend and he was
more than willing to help her out. There was nothing else between
them other than his desire to protect her—it wouldn’t be fair to
expect anything more.

The day stretched out before him. It would
be hours before he could clock off and welcome her properly to his
home. His only hope was that his shift was busy. It always helped
to make the time speed by. He’d sent her a text a few minutes
earlier, but hadn’t received a response. He only hoped it was
because she was driving and unable to answer her phone.

After giving the nurse a few final
instructions about the patient’s care, he gave the boy a cheery
wave and left the ward. Stopping by the cafeteria, he bought a cup
of coffee and then headed down the corridor toward the elevators,
his mind still on Isobel and her kids. He wondered if either of
them looked like her. It would be interesting to see her in
miniature form.

“Mason Alexander? Is that you?”

The booming voice snagged his attention. He
turned, taking care not to spill his coffee. A tall man with dark
hair, broad shoulders and a wide smile strode toward him. Mason’s
gut somersaulted with shock. Nigel Donnelly stretched out his hand
in greeting.

“Nigel, what a surprise,” he managed and
returned the man’s handshake.

“I wasn’t sure if it was you. I haven’t seen
you since high school,” Nigel replied, shaking his head in
bemusement and looking him up and down. “And you’re a doctor. Who’d
have guessed? Don’t tell me you’re working here?”

Mason nodded. “Yep. I started here a little
over a week ago.”

Nigel grinned. “Well, I’ll be damned! What’s
your speciality?”

“Pediatrics.” Mason watched Nigel closely
for a reaction, but apart from a slight frown, Nigel didn’t
comment.

“How about you?” Mason asked, knowing it was
expected.

“I went into orthopedic surgery. You know
how much I used to like playing with those chisels and saws. Apart
from playing football, for me getting into the woodworking room was
one of the highlights of school. Now I get paid to do it.”

Mason grinned, along with Nigel and prayed
the man wouldn’t sense the strain.

“So, are you married? Got a family?” Nigel
asked.

“No, mate. I was married, but we went our
separate ways. No kids. How about you?” he forced himself to
ask.

A wide smile creased Nigel’s face. “I’m
still with Isobel West. You remember her from high school, don’t
you? She was the hottest piece of ass in our year. I still remember
the first time I fucked her. It was behind the school bleachers,
after the grand final. She was worried the whole time that we’d be
caught,” he scoffed. “She’s still a worrier. That hasn’t changed,
but she’s still a good fuck, too, so I guess that makes up for
it.”

Mason found it hard to contain his anger. To
hear the casual and disrespectful way Nigel referred to his wife
sent fury surging through Mason’s veins. He clenched his fists to
prevent himself from plowing them into the asshole’s smug face.

His breath came fast and he did all he could
to slow it down. He couldn’t allow the prick to see his anger. It
would blow everything and might even put Isobel and her kids in
jeopardy. He forced a smile and extended his hand once again to
Nigel.

“I’d love to stay and chat, mate, but I’m
needed on the ward.”

“Yeah, I have to get going, too. Listen,
when do you have your next day off? We must get together for a
beer.”

Mason thought frantically for a suitable
response. He couldn’t imagine a single circumstance that would
force him to drink with the man. “Um…I’m not sure. I’ll check my
roster. I’ll let you know when I’m free.”

Nigel threw him a jaunty wave good-bye and
turned away. Mason unclenched his fists and forced deep breaths all
the way down to the bottom of his lungs. He pulled out his phone
and sent another text to Isobel.

* * *

Isobel heard the beep of her new phone, but
she was in the middle of a busy intersection and the phone was
buried in her handbag. A moment later, her old phone rang. It was
lying on the passenger seat. She glanced across at the screen and
her nerves went into overdrive.

Nigel. Shit, she was going to have to answer
it.

With panic increasing her pulse rate, she
accelerated away from the traffic and pulled over a short distance
away. She scrambled for the phone and forced a lightness to her
tone that she was a long way from feeling. “Nigel, how are you
doing? How’s your day been so far?”

“Where are you? Why aren’t you at home? I
tried to call you. There was no answer.”

Fear tightened her vocal chords, but she
forced herself to reply. “I told you. I’m at the park.”

“
Hm
.”

He sounded far from convinced. Isobel
hurried to alleviate his suspicions. “It’s such a lovely day
outside. I’m sorry that you’re missing it.”

“How long will you be there?”

“I’m not sure, maybe an hour or two. The
kids are having a great time on the swings.”

“Well, don’t stay out too long. I might even
get home early today. A couple of patients have been scratched from
the list because they’re suffering from the flu.” His voice dropped
lower and was full of innuendo. “We could put the kids to bed early
and get up close and personal. Make sure you shave your legs and
get ready for me. You could wear that new outfit I bought you. The
one with all that leather. Fuck, I’m getting a hard-on just
thinking about it.”

Bile climbed up Isobel’s throat and she
gulped hard to keep it down. Panicked, she looked around for
something to throw up in, but there was nothing. Terror iced her
veins. She didn’t even want to imagine the scene when he arrived
home and discovered she was gone.

“Did you hear me?” he asked, his tone now
petulant.

“Y-yes, I heard you.”

“I’ve got a fat cock and it’s all your
fault. I’m about to head back to the theater. What the hell am I
going to do with this hard-on? Too bad you’re not working today.
I’d come up to your ward and fuck you in the bathroom.”

Isobel’s breath came fast. She did her best
to slow it down. Nigel chuckled in her ear.

“That got you panting, didn’t it? You like
the idea of me fucking you at work, don’t you? You like the idea of
being fucked, where any moment, someone might walk in. You’re a
dirty little slut, just like I always said.”

She hurried to set him straight. “No, Nigel.
That’s not it at all.”

“You can’t lie to me, Isobel Donnelly. I
know you inside out and right now I’ve got a big hard cock. What do
you want me to do about it? Do you want me to ask that young nurse
I was talking about to get down on her knees? I’m sure she’d be
more than happy to put her lips around me and do what needs to be
done. I might even tape it for you. I could play it back for you
when I get home. You could watch her suck me ’til I come. We could
have a threesome via video link.” He sniggered.

Isobel held her hand tightly against her
mouth, horrified by his disgusting words. All she wanted was for
him to find someone else, to leave her alone. But she couldn’t tell
him that. She fished around for something to say, but right then
and there, saying anything was beyond her.

“Are you still there, slut?”

She gasped. “Nigel, please, the children are
nearby. Can’t we finish this at home?”

“Oh, we’ll finish it at home, all right. The
end of the day can’t come fast enough. You make sure you have the
kids in bed early.” His voice held a less than subtle warning.

“O-okay. Sounds good. I’ll…talk to you
soon.” She nearly choked on the words, but managed to get them out.
But before she could end the call, Nigel spoke again.

“You wouldn’t believe who I ran into a
little while ago.”

She had a sudden terrible premonition. Icy
tendrils of fear clawed at her insides. She swallowed and forced
herself to reply.

“Who?”

“Mason Alexander. Do you remember him from
high school? We were in the same year and played football together.
Of course, he was just a—”

The rest of Nigel’s words were drowned out
by the roar of panic in her head. She sucked in a breath in a
desperate bid to regain control.
Nigel knew about Mason.
He’d found out about
them.
It was all over before it had
started. She was sure of it.