Chances Are

by Abramson, Traci Hunter

  Ben tried to focus on that feeling now in an effort to calm his turmoil of emotions. He drove the short distance to the hospital and pulled into the parking lot. Immediately, he slowed when he saw the limousine parked near the front entrance. He was pretty sure it was the same limousine Rishi had arrived in the night before when he’d shown up looking for Maya.

  Ben circled through the parking lot, trying to decide whether he should risk going into the hospital through the emergency room entrance. He parked on the far side of the lot and pulled out his phone. He didn’t want to alarm Maya by telling her Rishi was camped out in front of the hospital, but he thought maybe the doctor could push back her release time in the hope that the guy would leave.

  That thought had barely crossed his mind when he saw Rishi and another man get in the limo. Ben waited, relieved when the sleek black car pulled away from the curb. As soon as it left the parking lot and disappeared into traffic, Ben got out of his car and headed for the main entrance. He saw Henry, the man who had shown him to Maya’s room the day before, and gave him a friendly wave.

  “That guy looking for Maya didn’t see you, did he?” Henry asked, concern in his voice.

  “No. I waited until they pulled away to get out of my car.”

  “Good.” He gave a satisfied nod.

  The woman at the desk let out a chuckle, and Ben looked at her, confused. “Am I missing something here?”

  “Not really,” Henry told him. “I just came and told Evelyn here that Dr. Schuster wanted her to call Georgetown University Hospital to check on Maya. We figured if that guy thought she was at Georgetown instead of here, he would get out of Maya’s way.”

  “I guess he fell for it.”

  “Hook, line, and sinker.” Henry smirked and motioned toward the elevator. “Come on. Let’s get her out of here in case he decides to come back.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” The two men fell into step together, and Ben asked, “So how well do you know Maya?”

  “Well enough to know that she’s too smart to get treated like someone’s property,” Henry told him. “It’s good to see that she has a friend here in town now. I’ve been worried about her being alone these past few weeks.”

  Ben didn’t know what to say.

  “Most people fighting cancer have someone to help them through their treatments, you know, give emotional support and such,” Henry continued. “Maya’s been quite a trooper going through this alone.”

  “I didn’t even realize she had cancer when I ran into her here,” Ben admitted, the slice of guilt resurfacing.

  “She’s a gem, that one.” Henry clearly held respect and admiration for Maya. “I’ve been doing this for a while now. You get to know the different types who come through here. Some are angry, some are in denial, and then there are those like Maya who accept their luck and concentrate all of their energy on fighting their way back to health.”

  “She does seem pretty frail.”

  “She’s actually gotten a lot better over the past week or so. I still can’t believe she tried to walk home after her second treatment.” He shook his head in disbelief. “The girl could barely walk two steps, and she tried to make me think she had a ride coming. She couldn’t have made it fifty feet before I caught up to her.”

  “How did she get home?”

  “I took her,” Henry told him matter-of-factly. “After that, she started waiting in the doctor’s office after her treatments so I could help her on my lunch break. The hospital lets me borrow a wheelchair to get her home every day.”

  They reached Maya’s floor, and Henry took a step toward the nurse’s station. “I’ll make sure the paperwork is all taken care of and get a chair for her. I’ll meet you in her room in a minute.”

  Still trying to visualize the scene Henry had painted, Ben headed to Maya’s room. He noted the alarm on her face when he knocked on the door and the relief that followed when she saw that it was him. “Don’t worry. It’s just me. You’re buddy Henry sent Rishi on a wild goose chase.”

  “The nurse said I should be all set to go,” Maya told him. “I’m just waiting on a wheelchair.”

  “Is somebody looking for me?”

  Maya’s face instantly brightened as Henry stepped in from behind Ben, and for the first time, Ben heard humor in her voice. “I thought today was your day off.”

  “Some patients deserve special treatment.” Henry winked at her. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here.”

  He pushed the chair closer and locked the brakes so he could help her into the chair. Maya struggled to stand and shift around so she could sit down. Surprised by how much weaker she seemed since she had walked into his apartment yesterday, Ben looked around the room. “Do you have everything?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  That was all Henry needed to hear before unlocking the brakes and wheeling her out of the room.

  * * *

  On Monday afternoon, the car was waiting right where Ben said it would be, a uniformed driver standing beside it. Maya smoothed her cream-colored dress over her knees and wished she could smooth her nerves away as easily.

  Not wanting to bother Ben for a ride this morning, she had splurged and taken a cab to the hospital, knowing she didn’t have the strength to walk that far yet. The doctor had told her to take it easy for the next few days, and having a car waiting for her was certainly going to make it easier to take that advice.

  “I wonder who that’s for,” Henry said as he pushed her forward.

  “Actually, I think it’s for me.” She looked up at him to see the surprise on his face. “I’m meeting Ben for lunch, and he said he was going to send a car for me.”

  “Well, the boy has class. I’ll say that for him.” Henry wheeled her closer and spoke to the driver. “Is this for Maya?”

  “Yes, Maya Gupta.”

  “That’s me,” Maya said, butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

  Yesterday, when Ben had dropped her off at Ian and Jessica’s apartment, he had outlined his plan for the two of them to arrive at the courthouse separately and then leave separately to keep the press from seeing them together. She understood his reasoning, but she kind of wished she would have had a little more time to get to know Ben before saying “I do.”

  It’s just make-believe, Maya reminded herself.

  She let Henry help her into the back of the car, and then she settled back against the smooth leather seats. “Thank you, Henry.”

  He nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “I’ll see you then.”

  Henry closed the door for her, and the driver got in and started the car.

  Maya took a deep breath, still not quite sure what to think about the fact that she was using one marriage to protect her against another. Throughout her infusion this morning, she had tried to relax, but as the hours passed, the tension had continued to build through her shoulders.

  She looked out the window, watching the buildings pass until they gave way to the Potomac River. The crystal blue sky reflected off of the water, and she could see the Lincoln Memorial in the distance.

  She had read about the many monuments of this historic city and wondered now if perhaps she might one day feel well enough to see them all. Some of her tension faded at the simplicity of that thought.

  When they arrived at the courthouse, the driver dropped her off at the entrance. The climb up the handful of stairs was taxing, and by the time Maya reached the door, she was struggling to catch her breath and praying she wouldn’t have far to walk.

  Using the elevator, she made it upstairs and was halfway to the clerk’s office before she had to stop and sit down. She glanced down at her watch, seeing that she still had ten minutes before she was supposed to meet Ben. Taking advantage of the extra time, she let herself lean back against the wall, hoping to regain her strength.

  * * *

  Ben parked in a parking garage down the street from the courthouse. His long strides ate up the sidewalk, his sunglasses in plac
e so that, at least for now, he was avoiding getting noticed by strangers. This morning he had been forced to deal with a more pressing problem when he discovered one of Rishi’s associates in the lobby of his building.

  Luckily, Ben had been on the elevator heading downstairs to the parking garage when he had noticed the man. As far as Ben knew, he hadn’t been seen.

  He jogged up the courthouse steps, thinking that maybe Maya should let him move her things from the manager’s apartment for her after his workout today. If one of Rishi’s friends was still camped out in the lobby, looking for her, he would see her as soon as she tried to access the main-level unit.

  He glanced at the directory and headed for the elevator, deciding he would let Maya know about the problem after the marriage ceremony. He went to the county treasurer’s office and took care of his parking ticket first, offering an appropriate apology to the cashier, who didn’t look like she cared one way or another if he was sorry about his misdeed.

  With his receipt in hand, he headed back to the elevator. As he emerged on the sixth floor, he glanced at the sign on the wall that directed him which way to go. When he started down the hallway, he saw Maya.

  She sat on a wooden bench halfway down the hall, her body perfectly still. Her head was leaned back against the wall as though she was dozing, but her eyes were still open. He recognized the dress she wore as one his sister had once owned, and Ben suspected that Kari had passed it on to Maya. The waist was tied back to try to hide the fact that the dress was at least a size too big, the hem falling nearly to her ankles since she was several inches shorter than his sister.

  Something in him softened a little as he closed the distance between them, taking note of her fragile beauty. “Are you okay?”

  She jolted at his voice and winced a little when she straightened. “I’m fine.”

  Ben offered her his hand and helped her stand. Her hand was small and warm, her grip weak. As soon as she stood beside him, he broke contact and dropped his hand to his side. “Come on. It’s this way.”

  They walked down the empty hallway, Ben finding that he had to slow his pace significantly so she could keep up with him. When he pulled the door open for her, she hesitated before passing through the doorway. Ben saw the questions in her eyes and spoke before she could voice them. “Yes, I’m sure.”

  “Okay.” Maya drew in a breath and let it out in a whoosh. Then she walked past him.

  Ben approached the woman sitting behind the desk in front of them. She looked to be in her late fifties, and for once, Ben found himself hoping the person he was about to talk to wasn’t interested in baseball. She didn’t seem to recognize him or his name and methodically walked them through the relatively simple process of applying for their marriage license.

  They had to go down the street to have the actual ceremony performed, and Ben followed his prearranged plan to have the hired driver pick Maya up so she wouldn’t have to walk. As they had at the courthouse, they arrived a few minutes apart and then made their way together to the civil celebrant’s office, where the actual ceremony would be performed.

  Ben sensed Maya’s tension. Oddly enough, seeing her nerves helped calm his. As he might have with his sister, he put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”

  Maya nodded, and Ben wondered if she was agreeing with him or trying to convince herself that his words were true. They presented the officiator with the marriage license and stood before him. There wasn’t any pomp or circumstance. No words of advice. Ben almost felt cheated by the lack of tradition in the process and then reminded himself yet again that this wasn’t real.

  A few words from the officiator and two hesitant “I do’s” later, Ben was told he could kiss his bride. He saw the flush in Maya’s cheeks when he leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers. The kiss was quick and fleeting, but the brief taste of her sent pinpricks of pleasure dancing along his spine.

  Surprised by his reaction, he straightened, his eyes staying on Maya. He saw the unspoken questions in her eyes again but found he didn’t want to face them. This is a marriage of convenience, Ben reminded himself. He repeated the words over again in his mind as he shifted his attention to the officiator and collected the documentation that proved they were husband and wife.

  Chapter 19

  Maya stared out at the river as she passed back into DC. She felt almost numb, like she was on the fringes of a dream she couldn’t quite shake herself out of. The whole marriage process had actually been quite cold, reminding her more of getting a driver’s license than of participating in a real wedding. At least it had right up until the moment Ben had kissed her.

  She closed her eyes, allowing herself to relive that one brief moment. How could something so simple have caused such a flurry of emotions? The moment his lips had pressed against hers, a pressure had built around her heart, a pressure filled with sweetness and terror. She knew it was natural to react to him, but she had to remind herself this wasn’t real.

  To her, a real wedding would have included a white dress, Kari standing beside her as her maid of honor, and ultimately, a marriage to a man she loved. Not that she knew what it was like to love a man.

  Looking back, she realized that until she saw Ben in the courthouse, she hadn’t really thought he was going to go through with this crazy plan. Oddly enough, as soon as they had their marriage certificate in hand, she had walked out of the clerk’s office with him, feeling like it had never happened.

  Ben had lingered just inside the door of the civil celebrant’s office until Maya’s driver arrived. It wasn’t until she was safely in the backseat and the driver had pulled out onto the street that she saw Ben step outside. As far as she could tell, Ben was going to get his wish that their marriage remain a secret. Except for the person in the clerk’s office and the civil celebrant, no one would be aware that Maya knew Ben Evans, much less that she was married to him.

  Though he hadn’t spoken the words today, when they had talked the day before, he had told her to feel free to move her things back into his apartment after the wedding. Maya thought of her large suitcase and wondered if maybe Ben would be willing to help her bring it up later. Even the prospect of hauling her smaller suitcase upstairs by herself was a bit overwhelming with the way she was feeling right now.

  The dull ache in the back of her head intensified, and she glanced down at her watch. She opened her purse to retrieve a pain pill and her water bottle, but when her cell phone rang, she pulled it out instead. “Hello?”

  Ben’s voice came over the line. “Hey, Maya. I almost forgot. Have the driver drop you off in the parking garage instead of in front of the building.”

  It was an odd request, but Maya assumed he wanted to make sure she wasn’t seen near his building in case someone did happen to see them together at the courthouse. “Okay.”

  “Also, I’ll get your stuff out of the Harrises’ apartment after I get home.”

  “That would be great. Thank you.”

  “Oh, and, Maya?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do me a favor and don’t go into the lobby or anywhere until I get home.”

  “Why?”

  “One of Rishi’s friends was hanging out down there today. I don’t want you to have to face anyone by yourself.”

  Maya tensed, and her fingers closed around the pill bottle in her purse. “I appreciate the warning.”

  “I’ll see you later,” Ben said.

  Maya hung up and put her phone back in her purse, trading it for the water bottle so she could down her pills. Through the window, she saw they were nearing her building. She leaned forward and spoke to the driver. “Excuse me, could you please drop me off by the elevator in the parking garage?”

  The driver nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Thank you.”

  Maya was relieved that she didn’t see Rishi’s limousine out front. She hoped that perhaps he would think she had run away again and give up his search for her, b
ut she followed Ben’s advice and went straight to his apartment, quickly unlocking the door and slipping inside.

  Unlike the first time she had walked through Ben’s door, the apartment definitely looked lived in now. He’d tossed a cotton throw haphazardly over the arm of the couch, and a water glass rested on a coaster on the coffee table next to the remote control. Once again feeling like a trespasser, Maya forced herself to continue forward.

  Recognizing that she probably should have eaten something with her pills, she turned toward the kitchen. She was a little surprised to see the counters clear, except for the blender Ben had used. Maya pulled open the cabinet where she had left a box of crackers, relieved to find them still there. She took a few out and leaned against the counter while she ate them. Then she went into the living room and sank back against the plush cushions.

  * * *

  Ben dropped his bag by the front door with a thud and stripped off his shirt as he strode through the living room. The idea of working out at Nats Park had been a good one, but there had been one minor problem—he had forgotten about the off-season tours, which happened to be going on today, tours that included the locker room, where he normally would have showered.

  He heard the gasp of surprise and looked over to see Maya curled up on the couch, a blanket tucked over her legs and a blush rising on her cheeks. He stumbled to a stop and stared. How was it that he had already forgotten she would be here when he got home?

  “Hey there. I see you got inside okay.”

  She nodded, her cheeks continuing to redden.

  Ben glanced down at the shirt he held and his well-muscled chest. After dealing with the press coming through the locker rooms after his games, he’d lost all sense of modesty, but obviously, Maya wasn’t the type of girl who was used to men walking around half naked in front of her. He noticed the way she stared, and he fought back a grin. After all, a man was entitled to some vanity, especially when an attractive woman took notice of him.

  “I’m going to grab a shower, and then I’ll go downstairs to get your things so you can get settled in.”