“Want to try it once more?”
“No.” She settled her sunglasses on her nose.
“Liar.” He put a hand around her neck and tugged her toward him, giving her a proper kiss this time.
“Wow!” she said when he released her.
“And that’s all you’re going to get until the day turns into night and the lights go down.”
“Tease.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. “I think it’s time for you to cool down. Come on. Let’s go for a swim.”
“No, no, the water’s cold and I’m perfectly comfortable as I am.”
“You don’t want me to pick you up and throw you in, do you?”
“You wouldn’t do that.” She went to sit back down, but he blocked her. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Wanna bet?”
“Ryan…”
“Would you rather walk or be carried?”
“Why are you bullying me? If I want to stay on the beach, that’s my prerogative.”
“I can kiss you better in the water, away from all these people. Unless you don’t care, of course.”
She smiled. “Maybe, just maybe, that might be worth it.”
He grabbed her hand and they ran into the water. He dived in and she followed suit, coming up right beside him. Instantly his hands were at her waist, and he pulled her to him.
“Now do you see why I had to cool down?”
She could feel him through his trunks, and he was hard for her. “Mmm-hmm. Maybe it was a good idea.” She took his head in her hands and gave him a thorough kiss. “Ryan. This is crazy.”
“Have you ever made love in the sea before?”
“No, and I’m not going to either.” She looked around at all the people on the beach. “They can see us.”
“They see us bobbing around. That’s all. But don’t worry, as exciting as the idea is, when I make love to you again, I want to do it properly.”
He kissed her again and swam away, leaving her standing there wanting more.
* * *
Several hours later, the three of them were back in Princeton. No one had wanted to leave the Hamptons and face the reality of what the upcoming week would bring, but it had been a wonderful time away and they were all grateful for it.
The moment Leila got inside the house she checked her phone messages. The hospital had called with the reminder that Ryan and Callie were due at the hospital in the morning for their pre-admission testing. Margaret had called twice, her mother three times. Her sister Crystal had called once, announcing that she would be arriving Monday.
Leila hadn’t told Crystal that Ryan was occupying the guest bedroom, but she would learn soon enough. Well, her sister wouldn’t mind being sent to the Nassau Inn, especially if Leila picked up the tab. She’d actually prefer the luxury accommodations to staying in a small bedroom and sharing a bathroom with her niece.
Leila knew her sister was coming ahead of schedule so she could meet Ryan, and she couldn’t entirely blame her for that. He was an interesting man with an interesting history, no doubt about it.
When she’d heard all the messages, she told Callie that Aunt Crystal was coming for a visit.
“Geez, what is this? Grand Central Family? Aunt Crystal hasn’t been here since we first moved in, and we have Uncle Ryan here. Where’s she going to sleep?”
Leila told her, but Callie put her nose in the air and stuck out her chin. She wasn’t overly fond of her aunt and Crystal wasn’t overly fond of any child. Unless he was male and at least eighteen.
“I don’t know why she’s coming.” Callie pouted. “She doesn’t care about me. I don’t want her here.”
“That’s not a very nice thing to say, honey. Aunt Crystal loves you and she wants to be here for the surgery.” Leila wasn’t sure how she was going to tell Callie and Ryan that she’d convinced her sister to pretend she was the donor.
“She didn’t care enough to come the first time around,” Callie pointed out.
“She had a part in that commercial. Remember? She couldn’t get away.”
“Yeah. Right. As if that stupid air spray ad was going to make her famous. It only made her look dumb.”
“Callie…” Leila warned. “That’s enough.”
“I’m going upstairs.”
Leila watched as her daughter flounced out of the room and up the stairs, then turned to Ryan. “I’m sorry,” she said. “She’s not normally this rude.”
“She’s probably frightened about going to the hospital tomorrow. Reality is sinking in.”
“Maybe. I don’t know. She never tells me these things. She always acts like it’s no big deal, even jokes about dying sometimes. Which I can’t stand and won’t tolerate.”
“It’s a bluff. You must know that.”
“I don’t know anything anymore. I wish I did.” She glanced at Ryan. “I have something to tell you. It’s about Crystal and it’s kind of complicated.”
“Shoot. How complicated can it be?” His expression changed. “Oh, I get it. Of course. I’ll move out. Your sister should stay here.”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just…well, your mother kept asking me who the donor was and I couldn’t say you, so I said her. She’s promised to cover for me.”
“You did what?” His voice had an edge to it. “How are you going to pull this off? She won’t be in a hospital bed. I will.”
“I don’t know, but she’s an actress, don’t forget. She’ll figure something out.”
“I don’t know how you’re going to get her into a sick bed, unless she shares mine. Hey.” He grinned suddenly. “Maybe that’ll work. If I have a private loo, I can hide in there, she could slip into bed, my parents can visit, and they’ll be satisfied that she was the donor. Maybe we can get away with it. The doctors told me the catheter will be removed the day after the surgery, and I’ll be out of the hospital either that day or the next.”
“They’re going to release you that soon?” She hoped she didn’t sound as disappointed as she felt, but she didn’t want him leaving that quickly. Reality was, indeed, sinking in.
“That’s what they told me. So all you have to do is keep my family well away from me for one day. That’s all I ask.”
Leila knew better than to say she’d do her best. Her best wouldn’t be good enough if she screwed up.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The next morning Ryan and Callie met with the anesthesiologist and the nurse practitioner. After more lab work, they were given instructions for the night preceding the operation and briefed on what to expect during their stay at the hospital and upon discharge.
Late that afternoon, Crystal arrived. She’d grabbed a cab from the airport, showing up with an oversized bag that looked as though she intended to stay a month. Leila was so happy that she’d come and agreed to go along with the charade, she didn’t care how long her sister stayed.
She welcomed her with open arms. “You look gorgeous,” she told Crystal, knowing it was what she wanted to hear. “Have you lost even more weight? Sheesh, you look about ninety pounds soaking wet.”
Crystal was thirty-six but could easily pass for ten years younger. She had had a lot of surgery to stay that way; in her business, it was expected. She was wearing skin tight jeans and a turquoise sweater that flattered her ample breasts. Her blonde hair fell in long waves down her back, and she had big blue eyes like Leila’s, and a tiny upturned nose.
Crystal flashed her perfect white veneers and preened. “Aren’t you a sweetie? No, I’m still a size two, but these jeans are just so flattering, aren’t they?”
“Uh-huh.” Leila knew Crystal only wore designer jeans that cost a fortune, and she had to admit, her sister looked amazing. Maybe she should spring for a pair or two herself, if they could make her butt look that good.
Callie had gone upstairs the moment she saw the cab pull into the drive, but Ryan was waiting in the living room. Now that Leila was done greeting her sister, he came forward to introduce himself.
>
“Hi, I’m Ryan,” he said, extending his hand.
Crystal took his hand and gushed, “I know. I can’t believe after all this time that we finally get to meet you! This is so exciting.”
“Yes, I’m excited too,” he said, exchanging a glance with Leila.
“I want you to tell me all about Australia over a nice bottle of wine,” she told him, linking her arm through his and giving him an adoring look. “Your accent is simply darling. Did it take you long to learn it?”
“Oh, about fifteen years. That’s how long I’ve been down under.”
Leila picked up Crystal’s carry-on bag, which weighed a ton, and followed the other two. She dropped the bag at the bottom of the stairs.
“I might as well tell you now, Crystal. Ryan is occupying the guest room. I booked you into the Nassau Inn.”
“Oh! You did?” Crystal looked with disappointment at Ryan, and Leila could see her mind working. “I could stay here and sleep on the couch. It’s only for a few nights, right? Besides, I have so much to ask Ryan about the outback. Some guys I know are shooting an indie film down there. I’m hoping to get a part.”
Leila frowned. She doubted it was true, and the last thing she wanted was for Crystal to go to Australia and hang around Ryan. Her stomach clenched in knots at the idea of Crystal making a play for him.
“Well, blimey, wouldn’t that just be fair dinkim?” Ryan said with a grin, using slang Leila had never heard before. Obviously, he was playing the role of Crocodile Dundee to the best of his ability.
Crystal giggled. “Oh, I love it when you talk like that. Don’t you, Leila?”
Leila rolled her eyes and made a face at Ryan. “Oh, yeah, I sure do.”
“I’m going to wash up,” Crystal said, “and then we can open up some wine. I have some nice pinots from the Napa Valley in my carry-on.”
So, that’s why it was so heavy. “How did you get the bottles past security?”
“I batted my eyelashes, what do you think?” She bent over to unzip the bag, making sure her tush was pointed in Ryan’s direction. She pulled out a couple of bottles and handed one to Leila. “Open this.” It was a Donatiello pinot noir. “It’s mellow and smooth. Delicious.” She took a couple steps toward the downstairs bathroom, then turned to Leila. “Hey, where’s the kid?”
Leila gritted her teeth. The kid. No wonder Callie didn’t care for her aunt.
“She’s taking a nap. She’ll be down soon.”
“Poor baby. Let her sleep. She must wear out easily.”
Leila tried not to let her sister’s attitude get to her, but it was hard. Crystal had no idea how much Callie suffered and had no wish to know. She didn’t like being around sick people. Actually, Crystal preferred to avoid unpleasant situations all around.
“Yes, but things will be different soon.”
“How are we going to fool your parents, Ryan, into thinking it’s me giving up my kidney?” She switched the light on in the downstairs guest bathroom. “I hope you guys have some ideas, because I’m drawing a blank.”
She closed the door and they could hear the water running. Leila looked at Ryan and shrugged. “Isn’t she sweet?”
“Adorable.”
Leila grimaced. “Yeah. Adorable.”
A short time later the three of them were sitting in the living room with their glasses of wine. Ryan told Crystal of the plan that he’d devised, and they talked about its pros and cons.
“If you’re going to be all hooked up to IVs and stuff, it won’t work,” Crystal said.
“Only the first day. The catheter will be out by the next day. So, as long as you can keep visitors out of my room the first night after the operation, we should be home free.” He looked at Leila. “You can manage that, can’t you?”
“Sure. I’ll padlock the room if I have to.” She smiled. “Actually, with Callie in the ICU, I’m going to want to stay at the hospital anyway. Maybe I’ll camp out in your room, and that way I can monitor who comes and goes. I’ll let the doctors and nurses know that you do not want to receive visitors.”
“That should work.”
Crystal pouted. “But I thought I was staying in his room.”
Ryan looked at Crystal, considering that, then turned back to Leila. “That does make even more sense. After all, that’s why she came.”
Crystal tossed her a triumphant look, and Leila wanted to wipe that smug smile right off her face. The fact that Ryan was single, attractive, charming, and the right age for her sister did not sit well with her.
He wasn’t up for grabs. He just wasn’t.
“But I…” Leila stammered, “I’ll want to be in the hospital to be near Callie. Crystal, you don’t have any reason to be there. You can stay here and then come first thing in the morning. Maybe I’ll call Ryan’s folks and tell them it’ll be okay to visit you around noon.”
Crystal just kept smiling. “I think I’d better stay the night in case they drop in unexpectedly.”
“Ryan,” Leila argued, “that isn’t a good idea. Tell her.”
“Leila’s right.” He winked at Crystal. “I can’t be trusted alone with a pretty woman like yourself. Even tied to the bed with a catheter, I’m a bit of a dog. You’re best to stay here.”
She laughed. “You’re a funny one, aren’t you? So tell me, did you really have a wild youth?”
“I’m sure it wasn’t any wilder than yours,” Leila said sweetly.
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Crystal’s eyes narrowed warningly as she looked at Leila.
“Well, you did have quite the reputation in high school, didn’t you? Weren’t you voted by your senior class as ‘the girl most likely to’?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“Well, of all the nerve!” Crystal set her glass down so hard, wine splashed onto the coffee table.
Ryan rubbed his chin, looking from one sister to another. “Uh-oh. Do I sense a family rivalry going on here?” He gave them both the benefit of his sexy smile. “Look, if it’s going to cause problems between you, why don’t both of you stay here and check in with me in the morning? I’m sure you’ll both be more comfortable here than in a hospital room. There’s probably only a chair to sleep in and neither of you would want to do that. Besides, I was only being half-serious. The idea stinks.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Crystal said. “If your mom and dad don’t see me with their own eyes, they’ll never believe it. Especially since I refused the first time around.”
“You had a right to refuse,” Leila said in lieu of an apology. “It’s your kidney. No one should shame you into doing something you aren’t comfortable with.”
Crystal gave her a close look, as if trying to judge her sincerity. Leila tried to keep her emotions from showing. It wasn’t her fault her sister had been born without a heart. Crystal was the one who had to live with that disability.
“Problem is,” Ryan said, “once they release me, the hospital bed will be remade immediately for the next patient. They aren’t going to let you lie around entertaining visitors.”
Everyone smiled at that.
“Maybe they will.” Crystal tossed her head, and her long blonde hair swished as if she were in a hair commercial. Leila wondered how long it had taken her to perfect that technique.
“You’d be surprised how much I can get away with when I tell people I’m an actress,” she said proudly. “Most likely, they’ll remember me from that soap I did a couple of years ago.”
“You mean ten years ago,” Leila said, a little too quickly.
Crystal waved her hand. “Whatever. People still remember the role I played.”
“Oh?” She just couldn’t keep her mouth shut. “What was it?”
“Girls,” Ryan interrupted. “Could we not snipe at each other?” He got up and poured them more wine. “You’ll have to ditch the makeup and look pale and sickly,” he told Crystal.
“Uh-huh. Don’t worry. I know how to act.”
“Aunt Crystal?” Calli
e appeared in the doorway. “Hi. I thought I heard your voice.” She walked over to her aunt and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Leila noticed how still her sister became. She’d been uncomfortable around Callie ever since she’d got sick.
“How are you, baby? Excited about getting this new kidney, I bet.” Crystal patted the seat beside her. “Come sit down next to me. I haven’t seen you in so long. You’re turning into quite the young lady.”
“Thanks. I guess it was bound to happen sometime. Right?”
Crystal didn’t seem to know what to say to that, so she turned her attention back to Ryan. “I think it’s pretty wonderful that this darling man came thousands of miles to give you the gift of life.” She took a dainty sip of her wine, then toyed with the glass, running her fingers up and down the delicate stem. “I had a small part in a movie once and this poor girl was in the hospital, just like you, dying from liver or kidney failure. I forget, but it was so awful.”
Leila knocked over her glass of wine. Red wine spilled across the coffee table, pooling like blood, and dripped onto the Persian carpet. Leila stared in horror, not moving.
Ryan jumped to his feet. “I’ll get some towels,” he said, already on his way to the kitchen.
Crystal frowned at Leila. “I didn’t mean anything by it. Why are you so sensitive?”
Callie got up and put her arm around her mother’s shoulders. “Forget it, Mom. Okay?”
“And why are you so insensitive?” Leila shot back at her sister. She was trembling, and she hated this feeling of losing control. But any mention of her daughter dying sent her emotions into overdrive.
Ryan was back with a wad of paper towels. He dropped to his knees and began to methodically pat the floor. “Callie, can you please bring me some water? I’m going to need lots of it.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” Crystal got up and tapped Ryan on the shoulder. “Stand back. You’re only making it worse.” Callie returned with a small pot of water, which Crystal poured all over the wine spill. “You’ve got to soak the carpet first, then pat it. We need more water, Callie, honey.”
When Ryan and Callie left to get more water, Crystal glanced at her sister. “I was only talking about a TV show, not real life, Leila. I mean, get a grip. It wasn’t something for you to get all upset about.”
ESCAPE INTO ROMANCE- 4 Book Bundle Page 17