"Hey. "

Simone smiled. He was a man of very few words, but she 'd seen him with his patients, his compassion and understanding was unrivaled.

Cynthia stood. Next to the man she gazed upon she was dwarfed by his enormous size, but that didn 't seem to bother her. Simone liked men to be eye to eye with her. It kept the playing field even.

"So, you taking me out this weekend? " Cynthia asked as she walked toward the trashcan and tossed in her trash.

"Sure. "

"I want to go dancing. " She turned and looked at Simone. "Want to go dancing? "

"Me? " Simone 's voice shot up. "Oh, I don 't suppose I can dance the way you do. "

"C 'mon, it 'd be fun. " Cynthia shifted her eyes back to Sam. "We 'll get her a date and boot-scoot-boogy. " She nudged him with her elbow, but Simone didn 't miss the glance she 'd taken at his butt. "Gotta get back. See you two around. "

They watched as Cynthia jogged back toward the hospital and then Sam sat down.

It was silent between them, but it wasn 't awkward. Simone appreciated that. She 'd been forced small talk her entire life, but she 'd never taken the time to enjoy silence.

Sam pulled a soda from the front pocket of his scrubs and pulled the top open. He took a long, loud sip and set it back on the table.

"You still looking for a place to live? " he asked.

Simone hadn 't been prepared for him to speak to her and she couldn 't help but answer his question with an unintelligent, "Huh? " Oh, her mother would have choked and her father would have given her an evil look.

"My roommate moved out and I 'm lookin ' for a new one. "

"Me? "

He picked up his soda and took another sip as he nodded.

It hadn 't been something she 'd considered, sharing an apartment with someone else, let alone a man she didn 't know. But the thought wa1s intriguing, and it would help her save money.

Sam seemed safe, kind, and it was sure generous of him to think of her when he 'd told her about the opening. It might be just the right move. Besides, Cynthia was comfortable with him, and she 'd been plenty comfortable with Curtis, so Sam must be a good guy.

"You know, I think that sounds lovely. "

"Lovely? " He hit his chest as he let out a silent burp, which had Simone on the edge of laughter. The people she spent time with now certainly were different than the people she 'd been surrounded by her entire life. Sam nodded again. "You sure talk fancy. "

"I am sorry. "

"Sorry? For something like talking pretty? " He huffed. "That 's silly. "

Simone stared at him dumbfounded by his comment and then she relaxed back and watched him. He was right. It was silly. In fact, everything she 'd ever held dear suddenly seemed silly.

How was it that she 'd been taught every fancy manner there was and yet she thought his silent burp had been almost endearing?

She wanted to laugh, skip, run through the yard and just scream. Things were different and she loved it. Thank goodness Curtis Keller happened into her life and made her face life outside the box in which she 'd been shut into. She felt free.

"Sam, I think I would love to be your roommate. When can I move in? "

"As soon as you want to. "

"Wonderful. " She stood and gathered her trash. "I will plan to move in this weekend. You do not by chance have an extra bed do you? "

He shook his head. "I have a blow up mattress if that 'll help. "

This time she did laugh. How ridiculous was that? Wonderful and ridiculous. "That should be fine. "

As she passed by him she stopped and kissed his unshaven cheek. "Thank you. "

"Sure. "

Everything was wonderful. Life was plentiful, even without money. Time was hers to make of it as she wanted. Could it get any better?

Well, sure it could. If Curtis Keller would sweep her off her feet and ask her to marry him and live happily ever after, that would make it better. However, nothing could stop her from being giddy with happiness.

As she opened the door to the clinic she saw the woman she 'd seen the first day Cynthia had brought her in to meet Marsha. She thought quickly for a name. Regina. This time she had a black eye and her arm was in a sling.

The air of happiness whooshed out of her lungs and she was quickly reminded that life wasn 't just some grand yacht ride in the sun. People were hurt, sad, miserable, and abused. Simone slid her hand over her stomach. What was she thinking bringing a baby into such a cruel world?

Chapter Seven

Simone walked through the clinic and to the restroom. She shut the door to the stall and pressed her fingers to her eyes. Seeing Regina battered and abused, again, had her emotions on a roller coaster ride. No woman deserved that.

She thought about Regan. Zach had been very candid when he told her about her father 's business associate Alexander Hamilton, whom had nearly beaten Regan to death when he 'd tried to rid himself of her and marry another woman. What made men do such things? Certainly, Curtis couldn 't find it in his heart to be so horrible, could he? She rested her hands on her stomach feeling the energy from her child.

Regan had another child, she 'd given that child up for adoption when she 'd been attacked. When Zach had learned of the baby he 'd called Simone and as a best friend would do, he 'd confided in her. She couldn 't help but wonder why Regina didn 't run.

Not all men were so evil. Zachary, of course, would never hurt a woman. And having been around Regan 's brother 's and father, Simone knew she 'd be safe if she could just stay among them. When Curtis learned of the baby he 'd protect them, that part she was sure of.

She thought about Sam. She was about to put her life in his hands as well. They 'd be living in the same place, sharing an address, having access to each other all the time. Could he become violent?

She certainly didn 't want to think he could.

When sh1e 'd composed herself, she washed her hands and wiped her eyes. Working in an environment where people had to care for others was going to be a challenge. Never in her life, no matter how many large checks she 'd seen her father pass to organizations, had she seen the need that was out there. Only humanity could save some of the people who walked through the doors of the clinic.

Regina was near the water cooler when Simone walked toward her office. She had the baby she 'd carried the other day on her hip and tried to juggle the glass of water while her other arm was in a sling.