Free Uncensored Passion (Men of Passion) by Bobbi Cole Meyer Page A

we insist on it. And since he will be out of a cushy place to live, he will return to San Antonio with us,” Mrs. Romero stated.
    “Sorry, but I won’t do that. J.J. has been a perfect employee, and there is no reason to fire him. I’ve been more than pleased with his work and he knows that. Besides that, are you forgetting that he has that job with a large pool maintenance company, so my firing him would not necessarily force him to return with you. Like you said, J.J. is nineteen. He is considered a grown man, capable of making his own decisions.”
    “But he isn’t really. He’s hardly more than a boy,” Rosanna said, wringing her hands. “He’s very headstrong and acting stupid and, as my husband said, preferring to be lazy, just throwing his life away. Will you at least talk with him, try to persuade him to reconsider?”
    “I will definitely talk with him. But what he decides to do is entirely up to him. Are you staying in town long?”
    “We’re staying at the Embassy Suites Nashville. I’ll write down the number and our room number so you can phone us after speaking with J.J.,” Dr. Romero said scathingly.
    “Have you ever been married, Dr. Saradon?” Mrs. Romero suddenly asked.
    “No.”
    “That explains a lot. Obviously, you do not have children and cannot possibly understand the anguish J.J. is causing us by his rebelliousness. Dropping out of university and deliberately flaunting his lack of concern over his future by becoming a mere pool boy is a slap in our faces. We cannot allow this kind of behavior,” Dr. Romero said angrily.
    “Again, I will talk with J.J. You say you won’t allow his behavior, but frankly, what he does or does not decide to do is up to him. At some point, parents have to relinquish control. Perhaps this is that time for both of you.”
    The intercom buzzing stopped the furious retort Kayla could see was forthcoming from Dr. Romero. She pushed the button to inquire, “Yes, Amelia?”
    “Your next appointment is here, Dr. Saradon.”
    “Thank you. Tell him I will be just another moment.”
    Turning to the Romeros she said dismissively, “You’ll have to excuse me now. As I said, I’ll talk to J.J. and have him call you with his decision.”
    “Do not participate in our son’s ruining his life,” Dr. Romero said, his tone suggesting dire consequences to her if she refused to cooperate.
    Kayla didn’t trust herself to respond to that. Instead she walked toward the door and they followed. She ushered them out and her patient in with a forced smile and clenched teeth.
    The rest of Kayla’s day was mentally lost to her. She listened, pretending to care about the concerns of her three afternoon patients, although she couldn’t have repeated anything said to her if her life had depended on it. Her thoughts were completely consumed by what she should say to J.J. and how she should approach the obvious problem of his parents.
    When the last patient and Amelia were finally gone, Kayla sat quietly at her desk, welcoming the silence as she tried to formulize some kind of plan.
    Hopefully the Romeros believed my story. God, should I tell J.J. to leave? No! I won’t lose him. He doesn’t want to go, so he shouldn’t have to. Maybe I can persuade him to re-enroll in college. If not Vanderbilt, at least some junior college. Maybe that would satisfy them.
    She left the office and drove home automatically, her mind in a quandary. When she entered the house, she could tell the men were all just as subdued as she was, no doubt thinking of the possible consequences of the Romeros’ visit.
    She went into the den and once they were all seated, related the details of her own meeting with J.J.’s parents. When she finished, J.J. exclaimed, “Son-of-a-bitch! I told them what I’d decided. I can’t believe they went to your office. I’m sorry, Kayla. Now that you’ve met them, you understand why I couldn’t wait to get away. They never take no for an answer, never have. In