They drove around the city for a while trying to find somewhere they could park the car and as Richard put it, ‘make out like teenagers’ but in the end, they got so fed up and horny, they drove back to her place.
Lila loved that, in the month they had been dating, Richard had spent as much time here hanging out with her as they did in his penthouse apartment. He teased her about her books, piled high, some of them even serving as a de facto coffee table. He spent hours looking at her artwork and talking about art with her. They would turn all the lights off except the string of twinkle lights along her bookshelf, drink wine, listen to music.
He had no pretensions, none that she would have expected but then again, when she’d met Delphine and Richard Snr., she realized where his everyman charm came from.
Now, on her single bed, they stripped off, tumbling together onto the hard mattress (the only thing he complained about) and made love, completely absorbed in the other as they moved together.
Afterward, famished, they ordered pizza and ate it in bed, chatting about school and work and what to do the next night. There was never any question that they spend their free time together – they were still in that heady, love-struck phase.
‘So when do you finish school for the summer?’
‘A couple of months. I do love it, but I’m looking forward to a break. Why?’
Richard smiled, hooking a lock of her hair over her ear. ‘Because I thought we could take a trip together…Paris, London, wherever you want. My treat, of course.’
Lila picked at her pizza, feeling uncomfortable. ‘Rich….’
‘I know what you’re going to say. But it’s a gift from me to you; a thank you gift if you like.’
She shook her head, half-smiling. ‘You can’t get around it like that.’
Richard sighed. ‘Look, Lila, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Yes, I have money. I’ve been very lucky both with my family and in business. That’s just reality. But I’m also just a guy who wants to go on a vacation with his girlfriend. Do I not get to do that because I’m rich?’
She touched his face. ‘But I don’t want to be…kept.’
Richard laughed out loud. ‘You are nothing of the sort. Look, we can even do a budget, backpacking thing if you like, if that’s what makes you feel better.’
Lila was surprised. ‘Really? You’d do that?’
Richard stroked her cheek. ‘Of course. For you, anything.’
Lila wound her arms around his neck. ‘In that case…yes, I’d love to travel with you, Richard.’
HE kissed her thoroughly then looked at her with a wicked look on his face. ‘Can I make one suggestion…as a compromise?’
She squinted at him in amusement. ‘What?’
‘Paris…that’s luxury and all on me.’ He studied her face and she shook her head, laughing.
‘Oh if you must…’
He grinned and pushed her down onto the bed, covering her body with his. ‘Thank you, Lila…now, let me show you just how thankful for you I am…’
Afterward, Rich slept as Lila lay awake, unable to sleep. She was chewing over the idea of Rich’s offer. She’d love nothing more than to travel with him – and she was touched by his understanding of her financial situation. She knew, if she let him, he would pay for…her life, really but she would not let that happen. They had to have some kind of parity.
Something else was bothering her too…Charlie. Despite her annoyance with him, she had to admit he had a point; what had Rich been doing on that street that night? She couldn’t believe he was dealing – why the hell would he need to? He was a billionaire, several times over. She turned on her side and gazed at him…she had no experience with drugs except the odd joint now and again so she didn’t know what a high-functioning junkie would look like. Was he using? He didn’t have track marks, that much was obvious, so whatever it was, it was going up his nose...
Stop it, don’t think like that. Charlie’s just being over-protective as usual.
She closed her eyes and willed sleep to come but couldn’t get the thought out of her mind. Just ask him. She sighed. Later, another time. After all, was it any of her business?
She had a lot to learn about Richard, she knew, it was just…she had already fallen hard for him, and Lila didn’t want anything to break this blissful bubble she was in…
12.
Now…Lenox Hill Hospital
Dr. Honeychurch wrote down Lila’s latest vitals then frowned at her. ‘You’re not doing as well as I would hope by this point,’ she said gently. ‘We’ve handled the risk of infection, and your wounds are healing well. But I’m worried, Lila. I think we need to set up a session with a serious neuro specialist because your nerves are obviously badly damaged, and I’m concerned your spinal injuries will affect your range of movement.’
She moved to the foot of Lila’s bed and raised the covers. ‘Can you feel this?’ She drew her finger up both of Lila’s feet.
Lila nodded. ‘I can feel it, but the pins and needles are still there. I have been walking, but it’s like walking on someone else’s legs.’
‘Right. And how’s the pain?’
Lila sighed and shrugged. ‘Pretty bad but it is what it is.’
Dr. Honeychurch pursed her lips. ‘I think I’ll change up your meds. You really shouldn’t be in this much discomfort still.’
Lila looked at her. ‘Do you think it could be psychosomatic? I’m all for finding out.’
Dr. Honeychurch smiled. ‘I don’t know, but that’s the right attitude. How’s the counseling going?’
‘Good. Slow but good, although I just wish I knew…’ She trailed off as Delphine Carnegie knocked and poked her head around the door
‘Is this okay? I can come back.’
The doctor looked as if she was about to agree to that but Lila shook her head. ‘No, please, come in.’ She smiled at the doctor. ‘Delphine and I have no secrets; she was to be my mother-in-law after all.’
Delphine’s eyes widened, but she said nothing, sitting in the chair in the corner so not to get in the way.
‘Well, look, I’m going to go see if I can make an appointment with the neuro gods. Just happens we have a superstar attending neurosurgeon visiting for a week. He’s from your old haunt, actually,’ the doctor was scribbling on her notes, ‘Seattle-born boy. Nice fella too.’ She leaned in conspiratorially. ‘Has already won the Nobel and he’s not even forty yet. That’s who you want on your case.’
With a smile, she left Lila and Delphine alone. It was the first time Delphine had been to see her since Charlie had told Lila about Richard’s arrest and Lila could see the upset, the wariness in the older woman’s eyes. She reached out a hand to Delphine, and she could see Delphine relax slightly. ‘Come sit with me,’ Lila said and when Delphine was settled, Lila fixed her with a steady look. ‘Richard did not do this. I believe that with everything I have, with every cell in my body. He did not do this, Delphine.’
Delphine promptly burst into tears. ‘Oh my little darling, I’m so sorry. Thank you for saying that…I’ve been so worried. I know my son, and he simply isn’t capable.’
Lila tried to smile through her own tears. ‘I know. He’s flawed, and spoilt,’ – she grinned playfully at Delphine at that – ‘and sometimes the biggest pain in the ass but a murderer he is not. I will not believe it until Richard himself tells me it’s true.’
Her smiled faded. ‘Delphine…Cora told me that…’ She couldn’t get the words out and choked a little, breathing deeply. ‘He cheated on me.’ She said the words in a rush to help soften the blow, but her own heart clenched with sadness. ‘Now that…sadly I can believe.’
Delphine was staring at her in horror. ‘Sweetheart…no. He loves you. Deeply.’
Lila nodded. ‘Oh, I know that I do. But Delphine…he’s done it before.’
Delphine got up, shaking her head. ‘He wouldn’t, Lila. He just – ‘
‘He told me.’ Lila said in a small voice. ‘He confessed i
t to me. I just didn’t listen at the time, blocked it out. But hearing Cora say the words…I assume the police think that’s the motive for the stabbing. Which is why I know he didn’t do this – or rather – it’s another reason I know he wouldn’t do this. He confessed once – in a rather roundabout way – so why wouldn’t he just say, ‘Lila, I don’t want to marry you, I have someone else,’ rather than sticking a knife in my gut?’
Delphine flinched, her eyes dropping to the bandaging around Lila’s abdomen. ‘Do you remember anything about that day?’
Lila nodded. ‘Whoever stabbed me wanted me dead; he was merciless, brutal. The level of violence is something I’ll never forget. Richard isn’t capable of that kind of…’ She stopped as Delphine looked away from her. ‘What? What is it, Delphine?’
‘No, nothing,’ the older woman said hurriedly. ‘I agree with you.’ She was silent for a long time, then, in a voice broken by fear and distress, she looked at Lila and spoke quietly.
‘Would you go see him? When you’re well, I mean? Talk to him?’
Lila picked up her hand and squeezed it. ‘Of course. As soon as I’m able. I want to see him, see if we can’t sort this mess out.’
Delphine clutched her hand. ‘Whatever you decide, you will always be my family, Lila Belle.’
Lila smiled at her but couldn’t help feeling sorry for her. Caught in the middle.
‘Who would, then?’
Lila blinked. ‘Would what?’
‘Want you, of all people, dead? Everyone adores you.’
Lila laughed softly. ‘Not everyone. But, to answer your question, I really don’t know.’
She hoped to God Delphine didn’t know she was lying.
13.
Now…Lenox Hill Hospital
Noah Applebaum flicked through his notes from the surgery he’d just completed. Thanks to him, the seventeen-year-old being wheeled into recovery would play football at college next year. Noah knew he was good at his job – hell, that’s why Lenox Hill invited him to the table – but he would go through the surgery in his mind, noting anything that went wrong, felt wrong, anything new he’d learned from the other people in the room. Noah had always listened to his nurses, his anesthesiologists, every one of the theater staff because they were the people in the trenches as he called it. His collaborative methods and lack of arrogance made him one of the most popular surgeons back home in Seattle and his reputation.
Even though he’d deny it, it didn’t hurt that at six-five and built like an athlete, with a face carved by Greek Gods, his physical presence was like catnip to others.
They’d laugh if they knew how shy he really was, that his last girlfriend had been a few years ago. She, Lauren, had been fun at first until he realized she had found out about his family. His very wealthy, very private family. Then she’d been constantly on his back to get engaged and after one too many ‘false’ pregnancy scares, he’d simply shut her down. Her vitriol and spite when he had broken things off with her had made him wary of getting too involved with anyone since then, his sex life being a series of one night stands. To most of them, he hadn’t even given them his real name.
Work was his reason for getting up in the morning; he loved it more than anything except his family. Now as he made his way to the attending lounge to grab some coffee, he thought how nice it would be to have a break from Seattle – as much as he loved it. He’d been impressed by the staff here – more than impressed, inspired. One of his favorites, Delia Honeychurch, was in the lounge when he came in, and she grinned, raised her coffee mug in greeting.
‘Just who I wanted to see,’ she said, chuckling. Noah hid a smile, instead giving a moan.
‘God, what fresh hell is this?’ He winked at her and went to the coffee machine (not as good as the one in Seattle, but hey, he couldn’t have everything.)
Delia drained her own cup and held it out for a refill. ‘Actually, I think you might be interested. A young woman, mid-twenties, was admitted six weeks ago with multiple stab wounds to the abdomen. Really nasty.’
Noah frowned. ‘Yes, I heard about that…wasn’t she attacked in a wedding dress store?’
‘Like I said, real nasty. Anyway, her wounds are healing, internal organs are responding well, but she’s experiencing paresthesia in both feet and lower legs, sciatica, inflammation of the joints in her legs.’
Noah nodded. ‘Not uncommon when the nerves have been damaged. How’s her spine?’
‘Structurally fine but like I said, it was a nasty, vicious stabbing – the knife nicked vertebrae, sliced through nerves. Lila’s young like I said. Nice girl too. She was supposed to marry Richard Carnegie.’
His eyebrows shot up. ‘The Carnegies? Those Carnegies?’
‘Yup. Richard Carnegie Jr is – or was – her fiancé. He’s been charged with her attempted murder.’
‘Son-of-a-bitch.’ There was nothing, nothing that got under Noah Applebaum’s skin than violence against woman. Something to do with all the times his father whaled on his late, beloved mom…another reason he’d gone into medicine.
Delia Honeychurch waved her hand. ‘Don’t be too quick to judge,’ she said, taking the coffee mug he offered,’ Lila swears blind Carnegie wouldn’t do that to her. And it does seem the evidence is flimsy at best.’ Delia’s tone lowered, turned gossipy. ‘Lila’s stunning, I mean, a real beauty. Her best friend is a cop, and he was the one who arrested Carnegie. Seriously, it’s like a soap opera around here.’ Her face changed, and she looked ashamed. ‘Ignore me. I’m getting jaded. But back to my original purpose – would you take a look at Lila?’
Noah sat down opposite her. ‘Of course. When…?’
Delia grinned. ‘How about after we finish this coffee?’
‘Slave driver.’
‘You bet your ass.’
14.
Now…Lenox Hill Hospital
Lila lay down and tried to turn onto her side, to get comfortable, but nothing helped. Every time she moved, her stomach muscles screamed in protest, but she just hated sleeping on her back. Eventually, she managed to prop up her sore belly with a pillow and get a little comfortable. She closed her eyes, but her mind whirled.
She still remembered the day Richard had tried to confess his infidelity to her. He had picked her up from work and at first, she hadn’t noticed how quiet he was. She had been getting excited all day because tomorrow, finally, they were getting on a plane to London. She was beyond excited and so, when Richard met her at college, she was hyperactive, grinning from ear-to-ear and babbling on.
It was only when they got back to his place, she noticed his blank expression, the flatness of his usually expressive eyes. ‘What is it, love?’ She asked softly, going to him as he sat on the couch. He pulled her onto his lap and buried his face in her neck, pressing his lips against her throat.
She smoothed his hair, frowned at his desolate expression. ‘Rich…tell me.’
He looked up at her with a deep sorrow in his eyes. ‘Why are you with me?’
The question shocked her. ‘Because I love you, silly.’
‘And I love you.’
‘Then why are you asking?’
He seemed to struggle to get his words out. ‘You deserve everything, Lila, everything. I’m not good enough for you.’
Lila’s heart began to beat faster. ‘What the hell are you talking about?’
He looked away from her gaze. ‘You deserve better.’
Lila got up. ‘Whatever’s on your mind, Richard, just say it.’
He sighed and put his head in his hands. ‘I saw Camilla today.’
And she’d known exactly what he he was trying to tell her. Camilla, his stunning society ex-girlfriend. Camilla of the debutante societies, Camilla who attended cotillions and flaunted her beauty at polo matches. The anti-Lila. Camilla, who’d been introduced to Lila by Delphine and who had immediately gone out of her way to make Lila feel like the outsider she was. That Camilla. Bitch.
Lila stared at Richard. ‘So?
’
He looked up, not understanding. ‘What?’
‘So you saw your ex? So what? We both have past lovers, no big deal.’ She was being deliberately obtuse, but she was also damned if she’d let that bitch win. As long as she didn’t allow Richard to say the words out loud, she could cope with his…
Cheating. That’s what it was, plain and simple. But Lila, still only very young, was also wise to the world. Ex-sex was a thing, and Richard had made a mistake. It was okay, Lila told herself, trying to quell the pain in her heart. She turned away from him, gathering her thoughts, her feelings, getting up and going to the window.
‘Don’t worry about it, honestly, Rich. Let’s focus on the future.’
‘Lila…’
‘Rich, please,’ her voice cracked. ‘If you’re truly sorry, let me deal with this how I need to.’
He got up and came to her, and she let him take her in his arms. ‘Okay then,’ he whispered, ‘but just know, I love you so much, and I’m truly sorry.’
She leaned into him. ‘Don’t do it again.’
‘I swear.’
Whether Lila admitted it or not, it had marred the trip. Although they had great fun traveling – their adventures were fun and light-hearted – every time they would dissolve into laughter, Lila would be hit with a jolt of reality. He cheated. He cheated. This man in front of her, being silly with her, teasing her, loving her, also cheated on her.
Paris was at the end of their trip and true to his word; Richard had gone all out – a luxurious suite at the George V, a balcony looking out over Paris to the Eiffel Tower. Lila was overwhelmed by it all, and although she loved every minute she had to admit, it was so far out of her realm of experience, this opulent life, she felt out of place. It made her question whether she and Richard should really try to merge their vastly different lifestyles or whether, by being with him, everything she brought to the relationship was somehow diminished.
The Billionaire’s Lighthouse Series: A Billionaire, Bad Boy, Romance Page 102