“I didn’t tell him.” Winter confessed. “I will do fine though, I have a staff at school. When I get tired, my vice-principal can handle things.
“I would think about it seriously, Winter. I think the next school year would be a more realistic option.”
“I need to get back to work. I don’t want them to replace me permanently. There is just the one high school in Treepoint. If I lose my job, I would have to find another school district.
Donna stopped arguing, knowing good jobs in Treepoint were hard to come by. “Let’s get you in the hot tub.”
Winter changed into her swimsuit and met Donna in the hot tub room. Sinking into the warm water, she was beginning to relax when Donna’s phone rang. Listening unashamedly and seeing Donna’s concerned look, she came to the conclusion one of her patients had an accident.
“I’m afraid we need to get you out of the tub,” she said after disconnecting her call. “One of my patients has had a bad fall and they need me to help get her back in the bed.” Winter got out of the hot tub with her help. Donna normally would have stayed while Winter got dressed, but she urged her to leave.
“I can handle it from here by myself. You go on, I’ll be fine. I can get dressed then call someone to help me up the stairs. While Winter refused to let herself be packed around any longer, for safety someone always stood close by as she went up and down the steps.
“Are you sure?” Donna asked, her mind on the other patient.
“Go.” Finally convincing the woman to leave, Winter went inside the restroom to get changed. When she was almost dressed she heard voices enter the hot tub area then splashing as they obviously entered the water.
Winter hurried, not wanting to remain there without anyone’s knowledge. Quickly opening the door, she went out and started towards the hot tub room. The door was half closed blocking her from view. She was about to make her presence known when she heard voices and stopped.
“Leave that alone.” Winter recognized Bliss’s voice and Rider’s when he replied.
“Take it off.”
“No, I don’t know where Winter is.”
“We saw her therapist leave so she obviously isn’t down here. She has to be in her room. Lose the top.” Rider demanded with a voice full of frustration.
Winter frowned. Why would Bliss be concerned about her whereabouts before she took off her top. The other women in the club had no problem baring their breasts, regardless of who was around. But thinking back, Winter realized Bliss had never exposed more than the bare minimum of her upper body, although she had no shame when it came to walking around in skimpy underwear.
“Damn shame to hide such a pretty tattoo.” Rider murmured. Through the crack of the door, Winter could see him playing with the woman’s breast. Feeling uncomfortable with the situation she had found herself in, Winter was determined to leave as unnoticed as possible.
“Be glad when everything gets back to normal, when she goes home. Viper said it won’t be much longer.”
“I think he’s starting to care for her, Rider.”
“Same way he always has, as a piece to a puzzle, not a piece of ass.”
“What does that mean? Vincent Bedford is in prison, what information does Viper need Winter for?”
“He won’t cut ties with her completely until he finds that kid. Once he does then she won’t matter to him anymore.”
“I think you’re wrong.” Bliss argued.
“Yeah? Hell Bliss, you have been around long enough to know how Viper likes to fuck, you fucked him yourself. Think her body, as broken as it is, can take a pounding the way Viper likes to give it?”
This time Winter noticed Bliss didn’t interrupt Rider. She couldn’t, the man had his tongue down her throat and wasn’t giving her time to talk about anything anymore.
Unobtrusively, Winter edged quietly by the door, making her way into the gym before going upstairs. Thankfully nobody saw her come up from downstairs. She got herself a drink, sat at the table and waited. It wasn’t long before Evie came in and Winter asked her to watch her up the steps.
Once in her room, she thanked her.
“No problem. I was coming up anyway to get dressed. You coming down tonight or staying in the room.”
“I think I will come down for dinner.” Winter said coming to a decision.