by Terry Spear
“Well, I guess you’ll have to prove that, now won’t you? So how old is this child of Scott’s?”
Immediately, Scott stilled his hands on Nicole’s shoulders. His skin prickled with anger. He grabbed the phone from Nicole. “What the hell do you think you’re trying to pull, Bernadette?”
“I’m pregnant. It’s your child. I guess we’re in kind of a quandary. I didn’t want one, but now, well, I’ve got one. I’d planned on making the service a career, but now, looks like you’ll be supporting me, darlin’.”
She was the only one he knew who could make an endearing term sound like a hate word.
“Sorry, I’m not buying it. Prove it in court.”
“Your new bimbo won’t like it you’ll have to be sending support money to me, but you wanted the fun, now you have to pay the price.”
He hung up the phone, totally exasperated. Nicole’s agreeing to marry him made him happier than he’d ever been, and Bernadette’s scheming really put a damper on things.
He hated to look at Nicole, despised seeing what she thought of him. If the child was his, he’d have to make it right, pay support, share visitation. Having children out of wedlock sure made a mess of things. Yet, the notion he was going to be a father made him proud, despite how complicated it would make his life.
When he got the courage to see what Nicole was doing, he was surprised to find her standing on the balcony, staring at the creek.
He took a deep breath and strode to the patio. “Nicole?”
She turned and smiled at him. Her composure was distant, troubled. She reached out her hand finally. “I’m ready for dinner. Are you?”
He took her hand and led her from the room, locking the door behind them. Fighting the urge to run his hand through his hair, he shoved it into his pocket instead. Bernadette was truly going to be a thorn in his side.
When they reached the landing at the bottom of the stairs, Eagle Eye smiled at them. “Evening, folks.”
“Out for a bite of dinner.”
“Enjoy.”
He pulled Nicole close and wrapped his arm around her. Her flowery scent distracted him every time he drew her close. But he had to consider the new dilemma he had with Bernadette. He hated to bring up the subject, but he figured Nicole was patiently waiting for an explanation.
“The restaurant is just down the road. Do you want to walk or ride?”
“Walk. I love taking leisurely strolls in Salado.”
He slipped his fingers between hers and sauntered with her to the restaurant. “Hey, about Bernadette—”
“You don’t have to explain anything to me. That business is between you and her and isn’t any of my concern.”
Why wouldn’t it be? When Nicole married him, she would be the child’s stepmother. It certainly would affect her.
Her voice was too soft when she spoke. Had she changed her mind about him? About them?
He released her hand and draped his arm around her shoulder. She was stiff and didn’t melt to his touch as she had on other occasions. He was certain she was rethinking their relationship. The notion infuriated him that Bernadette had inserted a new wrinkle in his dealing with Nicole. Yet, if the child was his, he was responsible for its well-being too. He had every intention of being a devoted father.
He’d never considered being a father like this, however. When he walked Nicole into the restaurant, the hostess quickly escorted them to an empty booth.
Decorated in antiques, the old Victorian-style house had been converted into a quaint restaurant. Nicole lifted her menu from the table and considered the fare while he studied her.
She tucked a golden curl behind her ear, but he wondered if she was really reading the menu or thinking about backing out of their marriage plans. When he’d asked her to consider her to marry him while she was in the shower, he figured her silence meant she didn’t have an answer for him yet. But when she told Bernadette they were already married; he knew then her answer was yes.
She laid the menu on the table. “Did you already choose?”
“Rib-eye, medium rare.”
The waitress brought them water. “What would you like to eat?”
Nicole handed her the menu. “Just a salad, thank you.”
She was upset with him, he was certain. She’d lost her appetite.
“Are you sure?” He reached over and caressed her hand. “They serve some of the best steaks in Texas.”
“I’m sure.”
He ordered his dinner, then leaned forward on the table. “Okay, I’m really sorry about this situation with Bernadette.”
She glanced at two men who took a booth across from them. Her eyes revealed her concern again.
“Nicole.” He took her hand in his. “Everything will work out if you love me like I love you.”
Nicole just about fell from her seat. What? She couldn’t get her mind off what a terrific guy he was. When she wasn’t worried about bad men, the feelings she had for him ran deep and overwhelmed her, but she hadn’t told him she loved him or was going to marry him or anything. Date him? Yes, she definitely wanted to do that. Once Bernadette moved on.
But now he was going to be raising a child with Bernadette. Every other weekend, he’d be taking care of a child. At least that’s how she’d always heard it worked. And what was he talking about anyway? Marriage? Had he gotten the wrong impression about her or what? Then she thought of the phone conversation between Bernadette and her. Her heart sank. He thought she wanted to marry him and make the fantasy story they were living true?
If the child became sick the daycare wouldn’t take them. Or what if they hired someone to look after junior and that person couldn’t make it? Would Scott stay home with the child?
She stared at the tablecloth, not knowing what to say. She hated to hurt him. He already was shook up over Bernadette moving into his house. Now with the notion of raising a child, he must have been beside himself, though he was taking the news well. He seemed like a responsible guy.
Nicole wondered if he figured she’d raise the child. How could he just think she’d marry him like that? She had a career that was her lifeblood. Yet she was torn about the feelings she had for him. Sitting with him in bed, sharing a pizza and champagne and watching movies had been so nice. On a cold day, tucked together on a sofa before a sparkling warm fire with Whiskers seated on top of them, she imagined life would be so much better. Seeing the displays in the pyramids was so much more fun when she’d gone with him than if she’d been alone, and that was discounting all the trouble she’d had with the stalkers. That he would stick it out with her, protect her, when he didn’t have to risk his life to do so said a lot about him too. He was not a reluctant hero in the least, even though he wasn’t some hard-charging elite Special Forces type.
Her gaze drifted back to the men at the other table and her heart grew cold. She hated to think they might have found her again, whoever they were. Scott’s fingers traced the bones in her hand. He was sweet, trying to distract her from being bothered by the other patrons.
She looked back at him, but she couldn’t share a smile with him. Her fears were in full bloom. The men trying to kill her would surely attempt to do so again as soon as they found her.
Scott sat back in his seat as their meals were served. He cut a slice of steak off and offered it to her. She shook her head. She wasn’t hungry at all. Even the bite of salad she took, wouldn’t go down properly.
She was glad he got her some sleep aid medicine though. Tonight, she was certain she’d need it. Tomorrow, well, she figured she would return to Killeen. Scott needed to take care of his business with Bernadette, and she needed to check out Bambi.
They finished their meals in silence, then Scott wrapped his arm around her waist as he led her out of the restaurant. His touch was reassuring, not possessive and made her feel warm all over. He strolled with her in silence along the lighted gardens of the mansion on the redbrick paths. After they looked at all the old log cabins and other build
ings brought there from other parts of the state, they walked back to the mansion.
There would be no champagne this evening, no rental movies, just sleep. She was certainly tired enough. It’d been a rough day. Her car was stolen, a killer had tried to run them down with his SUV, her car was found in the shape of an accordion, with her dead friend inside. Some friend. She shuddered and Scott squeezed her tighter.
They’d driven for miles in the tropical storm. Yeah, her body craved sleep, but her mind wouldn’t.
When they walked into the house, there was no sign of Eagle Eye. They continued to their room. Scott was quiet, and she wondered what he could be thinking. He was probably trying to figure out how to fit a baby into his work schedule and life in general. And how he was going to deal with Bernadette forever.
He walked over to the TV and turned it on. The sag in his shoulders indicated he must have been frazzled too. A flood of concern washed over her. He’d worked so hard to take care of her, protect her, keep her safe. How could she ever repay him?
She walked over to him and ran her hands over his back. His tense muscles relaxed with her touch. “Why don’t you lie down on the bed and I’ll give you a massage?”
He turned to look at her and his eyes were full of longing, but he didn’t touch her, only nodded and walked over to the queen-size bed and sat. After removing his sandals, he stretched out on top of the quilt, his arms tucked under his head as he lay on his stomach.
She turned off the television. Yeah, she could see he was totally worn out and until now, hadn’t let his body give in to the feeling. She kneaded his back, then stopped. “Maybe you should take off your shirt. It keeps slipping around.”
He rolled over on his back and unbuttoned the buttons while she opened her suitcase. She pulled out a bottle of lotion and his lips indicated a hint of a smile. He was enjoying being babied, and she loved doing the babying.
After he removed his shirt, she sat next to him and he rolled over again.
She figured she’d rub the lotion into his muscles for a while, and he’d be sound asleep. On the big bed. Though she wanted to sleep under the canopy, she needed to sleep in the twin-size bed. Then she’d dream she was sleeping in the canopy bed instead.
She rubbed his muscles, and pushed, stroked, and kneaded, making him moan in ecstasy. She chuckled under her breath. The day had been rough. But being with him like this, as husband and wife. She shook her head. Man, if the rest of the office knew she had taken up with a finance officer and was…
Scott snored slightly.
She laughed to herself and pulled the quilt over his body. Time for her to sleep too. She grabbed her nightwear and retired to the bathroom so the light wouldn’t disturb him. She changed, then shut off the light and climbed into the little bed.
Just as she shut her eyes, his phone rang. She scrambled out of bed to get it. Bernadette, again. Nicole switched the phone off and stuck it back on the dresser. Nightie-night.
She climbed into bed again, then lay still. The wind rustling the giant live oak branches outside their room and the running of water in another room kept her awake. Then her mind envisioned the mangled body of Jackie and she hurried out of bed again.
Where did Scott put the PM medicine? She unzipped his bag and searched through it. Had they left it back at the other hotel?
Then she thought she heard the doorknob to their room twist slightly. She turned on a lamplight and focused on the crystal-handled knob as it turned again.
They couldn’t have found her. She ran over to Scott and tried to shake him awake. He stared groggily at her, but the door handle stopped moving.
She lifted the room phone’s receiver, but the line was dead.
Her heart beating wildly, she grabbed his phone and heard a beeping. Damn. The battery was nearly dead. She dialed 911. The phone died. She searched the room for her phone. There was no sign of it. Where had she left it? Glancing over at Scott, she couldn’t believe he’d fallen back to sleep.
She grabbed a pair of shorts and pulled them on as she shoved at Scott again. “Scott,” she whispered.
“Yes, honey?” he muttered back.
Was he talking to her or to Bernadette? The notion he thought she was his ex-girlfriend irritated her, but then the grinding of a key sliding into the door’s keyhole made her catch her breath.
“Scott!” she whispered louder. She struggled with the zipper of her shorts as the filmy chemise got stuck in the teeth.
Damn! “Scott!”
He stared at her as he tried to focus on her struggles. “Need some help?”
“They’re trying to get in!”
He turned his attention to the door. It was silent again.
Hurrying off the bed, he reached for her shorts and tried to pull the gown from her zipper. He finally freed the material. “What happened?”
She lifted the chemise exposing her tummy while she tried to zip the zipper again. “They tried the knob first. Then they inserted something metal into the keyhole, but apparently it didn’t work. The phone’s dead and the battery on your cell phone just died too. Where’s my phone?”
“I put it in my car.”
She yanked off her chemise. He stood observing her, still half asleep. She reached into her bag and grabbed a bra and shirt, then hurriedly pulled them on.
By the time she had the rest of her clothes on, he had dressed and repacked their bags. She slipped into her sandals while he watched out the window.
“Anyone?” she whispered.
“I don’t see a soul.”
“I didn’t mistake hearing someone at the door.” If she’d had the PM medicine, she might have, but she saw the knob twist.
“I believe you.” He shut off the light in the room.
“I’ll carry my bag. If you have both of your hands occupied—”
He nodded. “If anything happens, drop the bag and return to the room.”
After he pulled the door open, she took a deep breath. The hall was as dark as a cave. The lights were off. For safety sake, she imagined they would have been on at night for the guests who stayed there. But the phone was dead too. And where was Eagle Eye when they first arrived?
Scott inched out into the hall. He whispered, “Maybe we ought to leave our bags here and make a run for the car. I don’t like the looks of this at all.”
“All right. We can always come back for them later.” She pulled his bag back into the room with hers and closed the door behind her.
At least with their cougar vision, they could see well enough in the dark. She wondered then if she should have shifted.
He held the railing as he tried to walk down the creaking steps without making too much noise, but it was impossible in the old house.
She kept close behind him, her knees touching his back as she crept down the stairs. Expecting the threat to appear ahead of them, an ice-cold chill ran down her spine when a board in the floor of the hallway creaked behind her.
Chapter 14
The floorboard creaked behind Nicole closer this time. She grasped Scott’s shoulder in a panic. “Someone’s behind me.”
She only meant for him to move more quickly down the steps, but instead, he grabbed her arm and pulled her in front of him. After running down the remainder of the stairs, she searched for a light switch on the wall as Scott scuffled in the dark with the unseen assailant. Then to her horror, a terrible racket filled the air as they both fell down the flight of stairs. She barely breathed as she rushed over to them. “Scott!”
Scott was on top of the other man, neither of them moving at first.
“Scott!” she said, reaching for his arm, worried he’d been badly injured, the other guy still not stirring.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” Scott grasped her hand weakly.
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I hit my head, but I’m okay. He’s not though.”
She reached over and felt the cast on the arm of the man, then leaned further into his body to feel his other w
rist. No pulse.
“What are we going to do?”
Footsteps headed in their direction from down the hallway. Scott scrambled to his feet, grabbed her arm, and rushed her through the front door. Pressing his keypad, he unlocked the doors to his car as they sprinted for the Mustang.
As soon as they closed their doors, he started up the engine and roared down the main street. She snapped her seatbelt buckle shut, then turned to Scott. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yeah.” He patted her leg. “I didn’t angle my body quite right in the combat maneuver I intended and after lifting him over my shoulder and throwing him to the floor below, I fell too.” He rubbed his temple.
“Where will we go to now?”
“We need to get Bambi.”
“He’s at the vet clinic.”
Scott glanced at her.
“I told you, Whiskers sleeps with him. He’s being boarded during my vacation at the local vet clinic. I’m sure my big white fur ball has his head snuggled against Bambi like it’s a pillow.”
“The clinic won’t be open, probably until at least seven or eight in the morning.”
“Yeah, so what do we do now?”
“I’d take you to my home, but—”
“Bernadette.” Nicole couldn’t help the venom in her voice.
“Yeah. I’ll kick her out, but tonight isn’t the night.”
Nicole rubbed her eyes. “My place probably isn’t safe though. Then again, the cops might be watching it.”
“Cops?”
“I had a break-in. They said they’d be watching it over the next few days while I was away.”
“A break-in? I thought it was related to the one I had where I knocked the two guys out, but it sounds like it wasn’t, given all the trouble you’ve had lately.”
“The policemen said an army officer had tackled the two men. Here I had my own James Bond with me all along and I didn’t even know it.”
He smiled at her. “Only I don’t have all the woman chasing after me.”