“No offense, cousin, your pops is a trip sometimes,” Mikhail added. “I can’t believe you worked with him as long as you did.”
None of this was anything Stephen hadn’t already said to himself. They were right, all of them. As hard as it was at admit to himself, he’d befriended Leo knowing that it would alienate his father even more.
“Come on, let’s order. I’m starved,” Natalia said.
“You’re always starved,” Dominik said. “Now more than ever.”
“Who’s picking up the check?” Mikhail asked.
Dominik shook his head. “Not me. I got it last time.”
“You two are ridiculous. I got it this time,” Natalia said, more parental than usual. “Just remember, dear brothers and cousin, I have a couple of sons to put through college in a few years, so don’t try to break the bank.”
Natalia turned to Stephen. “Hey, Esteban, you okay over there?” she asked softly.
“Yeah, just thinking.”
“You love Mia.” Her voice had softened, became empathetic, even maternal. “You’ve loved her since before Leo died. To love like that without having ever even met the person is beyond incredible. Leo saw what you were feeling and it was like he was preparing you to be with her. And of course, him asking you to look after her just about sealed it. Take it slow, and remember you know a lot more about her than she knows about you or any of this. There’s a good chance she’s going to have problems with you because of Carlos. When are you going to tell her everything?”
“I don’t know. Soon. I don’t have a choice.”
“Any indication how she might take it?” she asked.
“What part? That my father intentionally ruined her father’s career because of an article that was the truth? That I knew about it and helped? That Leo went back to drinking because of it? That he slowly killed himself by doing everything his doctors told him not to?”
“Carlos used you,” she said. “He lied to you.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that I did it. I went after Leo with everything in my power.”
“Then when you found out your father lied to you, you quit.”
“Do you really think that’s going to matter to her?” he asked sarcastically.
“Maybe, maybe not, but it mattered to Leo. He practically gave you Mia’s hand. He told you to watch for her and to take care of her. He had to know she’d be open.”
“Whatever was discussed between Leo and me has nothing to do with Mia.”
“Oh please, you know it does,” Natalia said.
“Whatever. I don’t want her to know about any of this, not until I tell her myself.”
“Your call,” she said, then reached over and squeezed his hand. “Just don’t wait too long to tell her. And don’t think that her obviously growing feelings for you will dull the pain when she finds out. They won’t. She’ll just feel betrayed, and believe me, that won’t be good.”
The waitress arrived and took their orders. Soon lunch arrived and as they ate, the cousins talked, enjoying their family bond. Stephen, however, only half listened. His thoughts were flowing in one direction—Mia.
Chapter 11
Ana was coming back and just like before, she wasn’t playing around. Mia drove steadily through the approaching storm, yet her thoughts weren’t on the weather or on her driving. Case in point, her car hydroplaned twice. The second time was enough for her to slow down and focus. Still her thoughts wandered.
It wasn’t even the fact that the county office was still closed that frustrated her. It was seeing Stephen, a man she knew practically nothing about, with another woman, Natalia. She was pregnant. He said she was his cousin and she believed him, so why was she still so upset?
She didn’t even know the man. But the idea, the possibility, of another woman in his life just didn’t sit well. It was completely absurd, beyond ridiculous, of course, but there it was. There was no way she was falling for him after just one night together. How was that possible? She was attracted to him, yes, but that was it. It had to be.
But, in those few hours she’d spent with him, she felt more alive and adored than in the last three years with Neal. It wasn’t just the sex. It was the closeness they’d shared, the fact that her father liked him and the fact that he made her feel the way she knew she was supposed to feel with a man. She laughed aloud. Ten to fifteen kids? No way. Maybe three or four, but that was it.
Whoa. She gulped, nearly choking on her last breath. The thought came at her from out of the blue. Making love was one thing, but she had just mentally negotiated the number of children they’d have. This can’t be right. Nowhere in her books did it mention this part. She never even had that conversation with Neal, the man with whom she was supposedly in love.
“It was the sex,” she said aloud. “The mind-blowing, toe-curling orgasms. The man is a masterful genius when it comes to a woman’s body. That’s why I’m so mixed up and confused.” She relaxed back against the seat, satisfied with her conclusion. But somewhere in the back of her mind there was a tiny nagging voice that continued to taunt and question the obvious. How could she fall for a man in a matter of hours?
“Stop it. Stop thinking about him,” she ordered herself. “It was one night. Get over it.” Forcing herself, Mia focused on the weather, the roads and her driving. Not surprisingly, some of the roads she had easily passed earlier were now completely flooded. She waded through some, detoured and took alternate routes for others, only to be confronted with more flooding and fallen debris. But through it all she drove steadily, hoping a constant pace would get her home. She splashed through deep puddles splitting high water arches along either side of the car. As the puddles got deeper, her anxiety increased.
The wind picked up and the car rocked again, shaking her back to her senses. She steadied it and continued. With certainty, the finality of her previous decision stood. It was attraction, it was lust and that was all. She sighed with relief. She was fine. She was just tired and bemused by the storm and all that went along with it. That included Stephen and their night together. The car pitched to the side, doing a lateral move. Mia held tight, and just like on ice, she let the wheel take her until she could regain control.
Control. That’s what she needed, to regain control of her life. Just like before, right after Neal eloped with his coed and their personal intimate life went public. She had felt sorry for herself, she’d mourned their relationship then went into a blue funk, but after long exhausting conversations with Janelle and Nya and especially herself, she’d come out better than ever. Stronger, and more determined to get her life back, just as her father had always taught her. Never give up on yourself.
“Just a few more blocks,” she said, patting the steering wheel affectionately. She looked ahead seeing a puddle that was definitely too deep to navigate through. She stopped and considered her options. She could try and pass or she could leave her car and walk the rest of the way. Wading through didn’t hold much sway, but neither did the idea of leaving her car. She took a deep breath, steered to the side, the shallowest part, and then drove straight ahead.
Midway through the puddle, the car seemed to slow down. She pressed the accelerator, it choked and then sputtered. Eventually she made it through the rest of the way. It was getting scary and she was getting more and more nervous. “That’s it. Time for a distraction,” she muttered.
To ease her nerves, she reached over and turned on the radio, finding the Holy Terror still on. He was issuing his top ten How to Get Through a Hurricane tips.
According to him, she had food, wine and a cozy place to relax, so all she needed was a man. “No, strike that,” she said aloud. “All I need is Stephen.”
Holy Terror repeated the warnings, then he opened the line to callers. Several people called in with additional helpful hints, while others gave on-the-scene flash flooding reports for local residents.
Mia consider calling in a few flooded roads then remembered she’d never charged her cell
phone battery. Then it hit her. She could charge it from her car battery. She reached over and pulled the adapter from the small compartment, dug out her cell phone then connected the two.
Seconds later the car rocked. Mia gripped the steering wheel as the car splashed through another puddle. Water sprayed up against the driver’s side window causing her to jump. “Okay, time to get home a little quicker,” she said, just as Holy Terror promised something slow and easy to take everyone’s mind off the weather.
“This is for all the lovers out there weathering the storm in each other’s arms. Tonight is the night not to tell, but to show that special someone how you feel about them. So, brothers, while Hurricane Ana is out there banging on the door, you take care of your business and take your special lady in your arms. Give her love. Show her how much you care. And, ladies, you know what to do. Me, well, let’s just say I’m doing just fine right here. Come here, baby. Let’s get it on.”
His voice was gentle and promising, making her wonder if Holy Terror had a special someone right there in the booth with him. The song began playing. It was an old one, Marvin Gaye singing his classic “Let’s Get It On.” Her smile broadened as she immediately began feeling the music and listening to the words as if they were detailed instructions. Then she sang along, nodding her head and moving to the easy flow of the soulful rhythm.
“Yes,” she said softly in agreement. Marvin was right. His words were exactly what she was feeling. She had been holding back too long searching for someone and now here he was there for her. She nodded agreeing completely. What was wrong about her being with him, loving him? Nothing. She wanted him and he wanted her, so what was she waiting for?
As the song faded she heard it come back on again. She listened again singing louder this time. It was played two more times and each time she affirmed more and more that she wanted to do exactly what Marvin suggested. By the time the song ended, Mia realized she was driving calmly. Marvin and Holy Terror had gotten her all the way home. The song had taken her mind off the weather; unfortunately it put her mind squarely on something—or rather someone—else. Stephen.
Mia pulled into the driveway, grabbed her supplies and groceries and ran into the house. She put everything away, jumped into a cool shower then dressed in her brand-new loungewear. No expectations, she promised herself. If he came, he came. But she knew she was lying. She wanted him there with her. She grabbed her charged cell and called her sister at work. Nya picked up immediately. “Hey, how’s it going down there?” she asked.
“Not too bad. I went into town this morning and picked up some supplies.”
“How long are you going to be down there?”
“I have no idea. Long enough to settle this, I hope. The clerk’s office was closed again today, so it looks like I’m here for a few more days as least.”
“You must be bored stiff.” When Mia started laughing, Nya asked, “Wait a minute. Is the cop still around?”
“He did spend the night here.”
“For real?” She started laughing. “Did you enjoy yourself?”
“As a matter of fact, I did, several times. Actually, I lost count.” They laughed.
“You go, girl. Way to take care of yourself.” Nya continued to laugh heartily. “Okay, okay, details. What’s his full name? I need to look him up on the scanner.” The scanner was what Nya called the magazine personal database. It listed just about everybody imaginable, noteworthy or notorious, and anyplace in between.
Mia sighed. “His full name? Believe it or not, I have no idea.”
“Are you serious? Well, it was a one-night stand so as long as he doesn’t get all clingy, then I guess it’s okay. You had your fling and got your engine fired up a few times. So you don’t see him again. It was fun while it lasted, right?”
“Actually, I just might see him again.”
“Okay, that’s different. What do you know about him?”
“He was born in Miami, his grandfather is the sheriff of Key West. He’s a deputy sheriff following in the family business as it were. His name is Stephen and that’s it. Oh, and he got hurt in an accident last week.”
“Not a lot to go on, but let’s see,” Nya said. Mia heard her quick typing then a brief pause. “Okay, I have a Deputy Sheriff Esteban Morales, does that sound right?” she asked.
“Esteban is Stephen in Spanish,” Mia said.
“Oh, that’s right. I forgot you speak fluent Spanish. So that’s him then. Okay, let’s see, Monroe County Sheriff’s office protects and serves all of the Florida Keys, from Florida City to Key West…over two million visitors each year…there’s the regular citation awarded stuff and some photos. Oh, is this him?”
“Nya, how am I supposed to know? I have my laptop, but no electricity, remember? Describe him.”
“This guy has a bronze caramel complexion, he’s clean-shaven, has very short hair. Ooh, nice, he’s built like an African warrior, drop-dead gorgeous and looking just too fine in this white shirt and black pants uniform. Also he’s got dark, soulful eyes that make you want to dive in and never come up for air.”
“Sounds about right,” Mia said.
“Girl, he is gorgeous,” Nya said. “I’m sending this profile to Janelle. Okay, here’s something interesting—photos for the special weapons and tactic division.”
“He’s SWAT?” Mia asked, surprised.
“No,” Nya said, “but there are a few seriously attractive men that are. I think I’d better plan myself a trip to the Keys.” Nya chuckled and Mia just shook her head. Her sister was too outrageous.
They continued talking about Stephen awhile longer, then the weather, Paradise Island and finally Stephen again. Later, after hanging up, Mia skimmed through the local newspaper. The hurricane, of course, was front-page news. Then turning the pages she was surprised to see a picture of Stephen. The article was about his heroic rescue a week ago and the citation he would receive. The caption read, “Local hero Deputy Sheriff Esteban Morales to be honored at Terrence Jeffries’s Club Hurricane tomorrow night.”
With a glass of wine in hand, from a bottle she picked up earlier, Mia went into the living room, grabbed her book and started reading. The battery-operated lamp she bought worked perfectly. It was just bright enough for her to read in comfort. But as soon as she turned a few pages, she started getting sleepy. Having not slept much the night before, she felt her eyes grow heavy and soon she fell asleep. Her dreams came in a kaleidoscope of images all centered on Deputy Sheriff Esteban Morales.
All warnings had been heeded. Roads were blocked and shelters were full. Now Stephen could finally get to Mia. He drove directly to Leo’s house. The first thing he noticed was that one side of the front yard was beginning to flood. It wasn’t an unusual occurrence when it rained too much and too hard. He often helped Leo pump water out of the yard. But not now. It was raining too hard and the wind had gotten stronger. Ana was definitely not finished.
He ran along the saturated paved walkway, then cut across to the flooded inset stepping stones. He hurried up the steps to the front door and knocked. There was no answer. He’d seen Mia’s car parked out front so he knew she was home. He knocked again and then checked the doorknob. It turned easily. He shook his head making a mental note to remind her to secure the locks, something he always warned Leo to do, as well.
Inside he looked around. The room was dark, but he saw Mia instantly. She looked cozy and content curled up in her father’s huge chair. He removed his wet raincoat and walked over to her. As he looked down at her, his heart lurched and a muscle in his neck tensed. She was the only woman to elicit such a powerful reaction from him. She was his Mia, the woman he had adored for so long.
She had told him not to come, but how could he not?
At that moment she was his and he drank in everything about her. She had on a sleeveless cream-colored dress that came down to her red toenails. It buttoned up the front and was opened just enough that he could see the sweet swell of her breasts and the luscious
curve of her thighs. His already hard erection jumped of its own volition at just seeing her brown skin.
He inhaled quickly and licked his lips, but his mouth was too dry to suffice. She took his breath away. “Slowly,” he whispered, cautioning himself, mindful of his promise. He knelt down to her, taking in the visual perfection of the woman of his fantasies as she slept.
Mia opened her eyes slowly, feeling her dream turn to reality. Stephen stood before her. Wordlessly he knelt down to her, his eyes never leaving hers. She read his intention there. Then in an instant his mouth was on her everywhere, kissing, licking, tasting, arousing her body’s senses to passionate madness. She gasped and moaned enjoying the dreamlike sensations of his lustful hunger. Then he leaned back and smiled.
He reached out and began unbuttoning her dress slowly, seductively revealing her nakedness to his pleasure. She waited impatiently, longing for the seconds to pass quickly, yet wanting this moment to last forever. When the fabric finally parted, her body heated to molten lava as she watched his dark eyes burn over her skin. He touched her nipple, and she trembled. Watching intently she saw his finger run down the front of her stomach then drift between her legs. She gasped as his fingers brushed her wetness. Her legs parted instinctively for him.
He leaned closer, his mouth hovering just inches from hers. The kiss captured her, freezing and burning her at the same time. His tongue delved deep, taking her breath away. She inched closer, wanting all of him. His hands caressed her, feeling her heavy breasts, her quivering stomach, and the oh-so-sweet wetness he loved to fondle. She called out his name as his lips followed the path his hand had just taken. He kissed down, down, deeper to her core, her treasure.
She lay there enjoying his masterful quest. Her body shook in anticipation. She watched anxiously as he parted her legs and leaned down to playfully lick and kiss her inner thigh. Every nerve ending jumped and every brain cell scrambled while she waited for that instant when he’d put his mouth on her feminine core. He raised her hips, kissing her there just seconds before his tongue entered her. She screamed in ecstasy as his hands held her hips in place and his mouth and tongue savored the sweet treasure she opened up to him.
Sultry Storm (Kimani Romance) Page 10