Truth or Consequences

by Sharon C. Cooper

  “Thank you again for bringing me,” she said, leaning in close so that he could hear her over the noise growing in the auditorium. “I still can’t believe that I’m actually at a playoff game. Tickets sold out within hours, and I know I couldn’t get seats this good even if I wanted to.”

  “I’m glad you were able to come. With this possibly being the last game of the season, I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather be here with.”

  Natasha’s eyebrows rose. “I never pegged you for being a sweet talker.”

  His wholehearted laugh caught the attention of others around them. “I’m not going to lie. I’m not all that sweet, baby, but I can be sweet at times.”

  “Is that right?” Every time his penetrating gaze met hers, her heart did somersaults within her chest. She had witnessed his laid back, joking side, and lately this sweet side that she doubted many people saw. “So tell me about your family. Do you have any other siblings?”

  Malik shook his head. “Nope, only Hunter. We have the same mother, but different fathers. My mother and Hunter moved to L.A. shortly after I left for the service.”

  “How many years between you two?”

  “Ten.”

  When someone passed in front of them, Malik placed his arm on the back of Natasha’s seat and turned his body so that they could get by, bringing him closer to her. The scent of his cologne, sandalwood with a trace of citrus, flowed past her nostrils, making her want to lean in to get a better whiff. God, he always smells so good.

  “So why haven’t you remarried?” Malik asked her out of nowhere. “You seem like the marrying type who would have two-point-five kids and a white picket fence by now.”

  Natasha grunted. “Yeah right. Well, I tried the marriage thing once, and as you know that didn’t turn out too well for me.”

  “Have you ever thought about trying it again?”

  Natasha was surprised by the question, especially coming from a confirmed bachelor who, from what she’d heard, had never been in a relationship for more than two months.

  “I’ve thought about it,” she answered honestly. “Even more so the last couple of months. I have been so focused on my career that I rarely do stuff like this.” She waved her hand around, indicating their surroundings. “Now that I feel a little more comfortable in my career, I’d like to try marriage again and maybe have one or two children.” She turned slightly in her seat toward him. “What about you? Is marriage and kids in your future?”

  Damn. He had walked right into that, not thinking that she might turn the question on him. Discussing marriage and kids with a single woman was risky considering most of them were trying to snag a man. Yet, with Natasha it was different. She didn’t come across as a woman whose sole purpose of going out with a guy was to make him fall in love or lust after her, and then expect a marriage proposal within a few weeks.

  “Had you asked me six months ago I would have said no, and probably would’ve said a few more things that your delicate ears wouldn’t have been able to handle.” They both laughed.

  “But now?” she prompted.

  He stretched his other arm along the back of the empty seat next to him, finding it impossible to get comfortable. A few seconds passed as he debated on how to respond to her question, but decided to be honest with her.

  “Now … maybe.” He glanced at her. “And if you ever tell Wiz or Quinn I said that, I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you out to the woods never to be seen again.”

  “Well, dang, you act like someone is asking you to give up a kidney or something. Marriage is not that bad.”

  “No?” He looked at her pointedly. “Then why aren’t you still married?”

  Seeing her deep in thought made him wonder if he shouldn’t have saved the question for another day. The last thing Malik wanted to do was ruin the good time they were having. The game wouldn’t start for another twenty minutes and he was enjoying their small talk.

  “He cheated on me.”

  Malik sat up straight. He knew he didn’t like her ex before, but now he was tempted to hunt the bastard down and beat his ass.

  “It wasn’t his fault, though.”

  “How the hell wasn’t it his fault? Nobody accidently cheats,” Malik said before thinking.

  “Okay, it wasn’t totally his fault. I wasn’t there. I wasn’t present in our marriage.” She shrugged. “He got tired of sleeping alone, eating alone, and point blank being alone. Unfortunately, I put my career first.”

  “You were young, ambitious, and working to become a surgeon. He should’ve understood.”

  “Would you have understood?” She looked at him expectantly.

  Silence fell between them as he searched her face, finally zoning in on her tempting lips. “For you, yeah. I would have understood.” He pushed a lock of hair out of her face and the back of his finger glided down her cheek. “I would have understood, but I probably would have been at the hospital every damn day. Either bringing you a meal, pulling you into a broom closet for a quickie, or I might have done something real stupid like cut off a finger so that I could get you to sew it back on for me.”

  “That is the sweetest … and the most disturbing thing anyone has ever said to me.”

  Her undiluted laughter was a sweet sound to his ears, a sound he wanted to hear long after their night together was over. Attending the game with her was turning out to be better than he expected. Normally the seats they were in were reserved for his boys, but she was a good fill in. She looked amazing in an orange one-shoulder top that stretched lovingly across her ample bosom. And Malik loved seeing a woman in jeans. Hers didn’t disappoint. The skinny jeans, with a belt that matched the color of her shirt, fit like a second skin. The woman was hot, and tonight she was his, but right now, he wanted to know more about the stupid Dr. Martin Lockham.

  “Being divorced definitely looks different than I would expect. First Wiz and Olivia, now you and your ex. What’s that all about? When you get married these days, do you have to sign something that says you’re going to remain friends if you decide later to split up?”

  Smiling, Natasha shook her head. “I don’t know about all of that. But seeing Cameron and Olivia together in California, no one would ever believe that they were divorced.” Natasha took a swig from her water. “As for Marty and I, we were friends long before we married. Although he gets on my nerves at times, he’s actually a nice guy.”

  “If you say so.” Malik took a swig from his beer, noticing how quickly the auditorium had filled. Something else about Natasha’s relationship with her husband had been rattling around in his mind. He leaned in and asked, “So … do all of your friends have a key to your house?”

  She briefly stared at him before shaking her head. “No, and I’m done answering questions.”

  Malik studied her, a glazed look of disappointment in her eyes and a slight slump in her shoulders. “All righty then. No more questions. Let’s sit back and enjoy the game.”

  Chapter Nine

  Malik and Natasha walked hand in hand to his truck. She wasn’t a petite woman, but next to Malik she felt tiny, feminine, and safe. She was also happy. The worries of the week were placed securely in the back of her mind, giving her an opportunity to enjoy being Natasha Lockham, the woman.

  They approached Malik’s Chevy Tahoe and he disarmed the vehicle. Instead of opening the passenger door, he wrapped his strong arm around her waist and backed her against the truck, the hard wall of his body against hers. He stared down at her and she didn’t miss the sensual look in his eyes.

  “There is something I’ve wanted to do from the moment I picked you up from your house this evening.”

  He pressed his mouth over hers, smothering her lips with demanding mastery. She didn’t fight the boldness of his gesture or the desire strumming through her veins. Like him, she wanted this too, giving herself freely to the passion of his kiss.

  Malik cradled the back of her head with his hand, increasing the intensity of his mouth aga
inst hers. As far as Natasha was concerned, they could stay that way forever. Her arm wrapped around his waist, and her fingers caressed the hard planes of his back turning her on even more. What was it about this man that made her want to throw caution out the window and let the desires of her body take control?

  Malik moaned against her mouth and his other hand slid up the side of her body, crawling along her waist and fiddling with the edge of her shirt. Natasha’s senses reeled from the feel of his fingers against her heated skin and the way his tongue dipped and explored the inner recesses of her mouth.

  What was he doing to her? His expert lips had her heart thumping loudly inside her chest, pleasure radiating through her body. She clung to Malik, not trusting her legs to keep her upright.

  A phone chirped and Natasha pretended not to hear it. She didn’t want the sweet torture of his mouth on hers to stop. The phone chirped again. The moment was broken.

  Malik lifted his head and Natasha’s hand went to her mouth, her lips still warm from his kiss. The fervent passion brewing in the depths of his eyes showed she wasn’t the only one affected. Had it not been for the cell phone, there was no telling how long she would have stayed pinned against his truck.

  The phone chirped again and Natasha realized it was hers.

  “I’m sorry, I have to get that.” She pulled away from him and dug her cell from the side of her Coach bag. “Hello.” Malik opened the passenger door and she climbed into the truck.

  “Dr. Lockham,” the voice on the other end of the phone line rasped, “I need to see you as soon as possible.”

  “Who is this?” she asked, her fingers gripping her cell tighter. She chewed on her bottom lip as Malik climbed in on the other side, his gaze meeting hers.

  “Dr. Halsey.”

  “What is it?” Malik asked, his voice low and throaty.

  “Dr. Halsey?” Natasha whispered, and swallowed audibly. All types of thoughts were running through her mind. Should she contact the hospital? Risk management had been trying to reach him for days. “Bob, we’ve been trying to rea—”

  “I need to see you immediately. It’s … it’s important.”

  Thirty minutes later, Malik pulled up to a small building with a crooked, wooden sign hanging over the roof that simply read, Coffee House.

  “So why did he want to meet here?” Malik shut off the ignition, turning his head left and right as if looking for something.

  “I’m not sure. Maybe he was in the area,” Natasha said, even though she doubted Bob hung out on this side of town, especially at this time of the night. Near the corner of the building, a drunk stumbled down the street, swaying back and forth. Cans and bottles littered the sidewalk near the building. Turning in her seat, Natasha saw a small group of men sitting on a stoop, loud music pumping out of the speakers in the window above them.

  Returning her attention to the front of the truck, she had to admit that she was happy Malik was with her. Had Bob called and she not been with anyone, she might’ve made the trip alone, which wouldn’t have been a good idea.

  Malik stepped out of the truck and walked around to her side. She slipped her arm through the strap of her purse and accepted the hand that he offered. Natasha wasn’t sure what Bob had to say and she didn’t know what she’d say to him.

  With his hand at the small of her back, Malik glanced around discretely as if memorizing the area. He guided her toward the entrance.

  “I don’t like this, Tasha.”

  She looked up at him, her eyebrows knitted together. “You don’t like what?”

  “All of this. I say you tell the doctor that you’ll listen to anything he has to say, but not here.”

  “Oh, Malik, you’re being ridiculous,” she said in a low voice. She grabbed hold of his arm and leaned into him. “I think your training has you paranoid. I’m just going to see what he has to say and then we can go.”

  Malik looked down at her, his serious expression unreadable. He grabbed hold of her hand and opened the door. They stood near the entrance and several beats passed before he spoke. “Is he here?”

  “Yeah, he’s in the back booth next to the window with the black baseball cap.” She gestured with her head. There were only five or six people in the whole establishment, and again Natasha had to admit it was a little weird that Bob had chosen such an out of the way place. She also couldn’t ever remember seeing him in a baseball cap.

  “You’re telling me that the old white guy, who’s trying too hard to fit in by wearing urban gear, is the doctor you’re here to meet?” Natasha nodded, her discomfort rising by the moment.

  “I really don’t like this, but make it quick.” He kissed the top of her head and released her hand. “I’m giving you ten minutes, and then we’re out of here. I need to make a call, but I’ll be at the table over there.” He pointed to a table a few feet from where the doctor sat.

  “Hi Bob, aren’t you supposed to be on vacation in Mexico or someplace?” She searched his face. His weathered skin held more wrinkles around his gray eyes, and he looked tired, as if he hadn’t slept in days.

  “Change of plans.” He pulled the bib of his cap down lower over his eyes. “Who’s the guy you came in with?” he asked, his tone rough and disapproving.

  “My date.” She hadn’t had a real date in so long, it felt weird attaching the title to Malik.

  Her gaze moved to Bob’s freckled hands; they shook uncontrollably when he lifted the glass of water to his lips. Something is definitely wrong. Whatever was bothering him was bad and Natasha was beginning to think that Malik might have been correct in his initial assessment of Bob and their meeting location.

  She glanced over at Malik; he was staring at Bob, his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. Natasha didn’t know what he was thinking, but his intense gaze sent goose bumps up and down her arms. She looked around nervously before returning her attention to Bob. The sooner they got out of there, the better.

  “Bob, why’d you ask to meet with me, especially here?”

  He toyed with the bib of his cap again, still not making eye contact. Natasha reached over and touched his hand, to keep it from shaking.

  “I’m not sure what’s going on, but whatever you’re involved in, I’ll do whatever I can to help.” She pulled her hand away, folding them on top of the table. “So talk to me.”

  “Over twenty-five years ago, I dedicated my life to medicine, wanting to save lives and help people who couldn’t help themselves.” He toyed with the paper that once held his straw, folding it into a small square and then unfolding it. “I never thought I’d be in this position, questioning poor decisions and fearing for my life … and my family’s life.”

  “What are you talking about? Is someone after you?” An intense silence settled between them. When it didn’t look as if he would answer her questions, she spoke. “If you don’t start talking soon, the man I came in with will carry me out of here and you’ll never have this opportunity again.”

  “I lost my medical license prior to moving to Chicago.”

  Natasha gripped the edge of the table, slowly releasing the breath that had lodged in her throat. “Wha—” The weight of what he’d just revealed hit her like a steel beam to the stomach.

  “Please let me finish,” he interrupted.

  A wave of fear and anger gripped her gut. Her muscles tightened into a ball with each second that passed. There was no way a doctor was working under her leadership without the proper credentials. Was there? No. That’s impossible.

  “All I’ve ever wanted to do was save lives and help people. I thought I would die when I lived in Texas and the medical board unfairly stripped me of something I treasured more than anything … my medical license.” He rubbed his forehead and swiped at his eyes. Natasha sat stunned, the meaning of his words tearing at her insides. For the first time since she had arrived, he looked into her eyes. “I didn’t care what I had to do, I wasn’t about to let anyone tell me that I couldn’t help people, that I couldn’t do what I
had dreamt about doing since I was eight years old.”

  “I don’t understand. There’s no way you could’ve gotten this job without having a medical license!” she said angrily, her voice rising with each word. She felt Malik’s movement more so than saw him, so she lowered her voice. She leaned in and whispered, “If what you say is true, how did you get hired?”

  “I hired a lawyer. A damn good ruthless lawyer. He helped me get a new identity and presented me with a new medical license.” Bob ran his hands down his face. It was as if he was aging before Natasha’s eyes. “I’m glad I finally have someone I can talk to. I’ve been living a lie for over nine years and the secret is slowly killing me.”

  Natasha collapsed against her seat, trying to maintain her fragile control. If any of this ever got out, the hospital would be ruined. The lawsuits would no doubt come rolling in. Part of her wanted to scream and shake some sense into the doctor, but there was nothing she could do about what he’d already done.

  Malik, who was now looking at her, squinted. She wasn’t sure what he saw on her face, but he started to stand. She quickly shook her head and raised her hand, praying that he would stay put. Although she didn’t think she was ready for Bob’s complete story, she had to listen. If what he said was true, it was way past time to put an end to his deception.

  “A few years ago,” Bob continued, “the lawyer who helped me change my identity, approached me about joining an organization that he was a part of. My Child Adoption Agency.” Natasha made a mental note to do research on the agency. “I told him I wasn’t interested. Actually, after all that he’d done for me, I didn’t trust him.”

  Natasha was getting madder by the moment, not believing what she was hearing as she slowly started piecing things together. It was like a horrible nightmare that she couldn’t wake from.

  “I assume your call this evening has something to do with the women who have mysteriously died in your care.”

  “When I told the lawyer I wanted nothing to do with whatever he was involved in,” Bob continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “he told me that he would destroy me. I would never be able to practice medicine anywhere, and even worse, he would destroy the foundation. Destroy my efforts to support families who have children with leukemia. I couldn’t let that happen.” He wrapped his hands around his water glass. “Besides, that foundation is my wife’s whole life. She would be devastated.”