Read Online Essential Master (Doms of Napa Valley) by Dakota Trace - Free Book Online

pointed look. Gently untangling their hands, he rose. “I’ll just step outside
and see how Steph and Davis are doing.” As he walked out of the room, it was
all he could do to not argue with the doctor. Damn H.I.P.A. laws.
    * * * *
    Steph
was deep in discussion with Davis about what might hopefully happen to Allison
when Nicky strode back into the room, heading for the vending machines. Her
eyebrows rose. Between the frustrated look on his face and his pursuit of
caffeine she knew he ’ d reached the end of his tether. The only
time he drank soda or coffee was when something hadn ’t gone his way. Obviously some doctor had kicked him out of
Zeb’s room. She interrupted Davis when her Master stopped in front of the
coffee machine.
    “Just a second, Davis. Gotta check on
Nicky. A ‘strung out on coffee author’ is never a good thing.” Rising, she
joined her Master. “Nicky?”
    He was shoving coins into the machine.
“Yeah?”
    “Are you sure you want the coffee?” She
kept her voice low and non-threatening. Sometimes it worked. He looked over his
shoulder at her.
    “Relax, cara
mia, I’m only going to have one cup. My nerves are shot.” He pulled her to
him after he made his selection. She sighed in relief as she noticed he’d
selected decaf. As the machine hissed and spit, she stood in his embrace,
allowing him to hold her. Sometimes a good hug helped.
    Once the coffee was done, he released her to
grab the small cardboard cup. Then they rejoined Davis, who was now on his cell
phone. If the look on his face and tone of voice he was using were any
indication, he obviously wasn’t happy with the person on the other end of the
call.
    “I can’t believe you’re doing this. I can
sue your ass off for breach of contract and violating Zebadiah’s civil rights.
The F.M.L.A. act covers this type of thing, Harmond.” He paused as she and
Nicky settled onto one of the uncomfortable hospital couches. “I understand his
absence has left you short-handed, but he has no control over the actions of
others…” A scowl crossed Davis’s face before he snapped the phone shut with a
growl. “That son of a bitch hung up on me.”
    “I take it that was Sexy’s boss?”
    Davis gave her a strange look. “If Zeb is
Sexy, then yes, that was his boss…or rather his former boss. Dolly, Ethan’s
secretary just called me to let me know he called the house and terminated
Zeb’s employment. I want to take the bastard to court, but Zeb has been
reluctant, considering he just returned to work a couple of weeks ago on a
limited basis. Missing today’s shift because of the incident evidently was the
last straw, and he fired him.”
    “Dammit. When it rains it pours. Steph and
I were planning to stop by his place of employment to sample some of his
deserts. From what Ethan was telling me, Zebadiah makes a killer Black Forest
Cake.” Nicky shifted next to her. “We won’t be able to do that now, but perhaps
now he’ll start his own bakery.”
    “What bakery?” Her curiosity was pricked.
“Zebadiah didn’t mention he wanted to do that when we were talking to him
earlier today.”
    “Ethan told me. Wonder why he didn’t
mention it to us?”
    Davis shrugged. “Having his own bakery
would be a perfect solution to this mess, but he’s been reluctant to accept
help from anyone. Allison’s a control freak from hell. What little confidence
he had, she destroyed with her constant criticisms. I think he’s afraid he’ll
fail, even though both Ethan and I can see his passion for cooking.”
    Her brow furrowed. “Then why did he stay
with her?”
    “His need to serve would be my guess. From
what he’s said, she was his first and only Mistress since moving back here
after culinary school in Chicago.” Davis sighed. “There was a rumor I heard
that when he first returned, he didn’t immediately accept her collar. He tried
to find another Master or Mistress, and Allison ran them all off. Whether it’s
true or not, I have