What Tomorrow Brings (Florida Keys Series)

by Raye, Cyndi

  “Jake, you really should be at the hospital. Your pretty banged up. What happened?”

  He shook his head very slow, his eyelids flickering, his words husky and strained. “I’m sorry Maggie, so sorry that I was late. You must’ve been terrified.” He reached out and tried to grab her hand but his arm fell to his side. “So sorry.” His voice was fading and he sounded so weak.

  “Jake, honey, don’t pass out. Please!” she begged, dipping the rag into the water and blotting it on his face. Where was his brother! “I don’t care if you didn’t show up on time, you showed up,” she whispered. Maggie swore if the brother didn’t show up in the next few minutes she would call 911. Then she heard the gate slam. “In here!” she shouted.

  Jake’s identical twin brother came bursting through the bungalow door carrying a doctor’s bag or more like a backpack. Maggie was stunned at first, he was a dead ringer for Jake except his hair was cut a bit shorter. She shook her head and blinked her eyes.

  “Yep, that’s usually the reaction I get,” Jon said. “What’s going on here?” He didn’t wait for an answer but tossed the backpack beside his brother and knelt down on one knee. After assessing the damage, Jon went to work getting the area sterilized and stitching up the deep wounds. With Maggie’s assistance, he dressed them, gave him a shot and forced Jake to take some pills, then left the bottle on the table, the whole time ignoring Jake’s grumblings and incoherent ramblings.

  “Jake, I’m gonna get you up but you’ll never make it up those steps tonight. Do you mind if he stays here,” Jon turned to Maggie.

  “Of course not. I’ll help you get him in bed.” Maggie turned down the covers and helped Jon get a now drug induced Jake into it. She covered him up and sighed. “Thanks Jon, you saved him.”

  Jon nodded. “Story of my life, it seems. This isn’t the first time.” Maggie’s eyes flew open.

  “What do you mean?” she asked, terrified that Jake was some kind of criminal. Where had he been all day and why did he come back for her covered in blood? Was he doing something illegal? She was afraid to know the answer. Is that why he didn’t want to go to the hospital? “Are the police looking for Jake,” Maggie asked.

  He laughed out loud and it sounded almost like Jake’s. Almost, because Jake’s was just a little bit deeper and rougher. “No, the police aren’t looking for him, but others are. You may want to catch the news later.” Then Jon nodded and left her there, wondering what in the world was happening to her calm little world.

  Chapter Six

  Maggie stood in the living room of her little bungalow staring at the flat screen tv, her mouth hanging open. There was Jake, on the local news, surrounded by emergency responders, the police, the coast guard and news media. He was helping to guide a stretcher into an ambulance. A little body was on it, covered in a blanket with an oxygen mask over it’s face. It was down pouring and you could barely make out Jake, but she knew it was him, he had on the bloodied shirt she found in the boat. No one else had abs that fit a shirt like that! After the ambulance pulled away, Maggie watched as Jake became surrounded by news media.

  “Sir, what happened out there? Can you talk to us?” Several microphones were shoved near Jake’s face. He pushed them away, turned and headed towards his boat, which was tied to the dock. “Sir, where are you going! Come back here and talk to us! Sir! Sir!”

  One journalist turned to the camera. “We just witnessed a life saving moment for a small child who was in the water with her family. Their boat almost capsized and the parents were left unconscious. A man, whose name we do not know, rescued them and hadn’t realized there was a child also. The mother woke up screaming that her baby was still in the boat, so this unknown hero went into the dangerous waters and rescued her. The small child, whose name we just found out is Lily Rose, has been saved by a mysterious man who has just fled into the dark, rainy night as you have just witnessed live. If you know who he is, please call the Monroe County Police department or our news station as he looks seriously hurt.”

  “He was coming for me,” Maggie whispered, stunned. She sat down amazed and in shock, just staring into space, realizing what kind of man Jake truly was. Maggie McCoy felt like the luckiest girl in the world. How could she feel this way in a matter of days of meeting Jake Hatfield? Was this one of those moments when you know the guy is right for you even though you just met? Was she just feeling special because of what happened? Maggie tip-toed into the bedroom and stood staring at her hero for awhile. He was so still that she almost walked over to him but then saw his chest rise and knew he was in a deep sleep.

  Maggie went upstairs and let Jax out for awhile. “You poor thing,” she crooned, “I bet you were wondering where your master went.” She wandered around Jake’s kitchen searching for Jax’s dinner. In the corner of the counter stood the bag of dog food, so Maggie grabbed it and took it down to the bungalow. “Your gonna have to stay with me for awhile, Jax.”

  She closed the bedroom door tight so the dog couldn’t disturb his master and set about preparing the puppy’s meal. Gathering some plastic dishes from the cupboard, she placed them on the floor in the kitchen and watched while Jax happily ate as if he hadn’t been fed in a week. The phone rang.

  “Hi Maggie. How’s Jake doing this morning?” Jake’s brother asked, all doctor like.

  “He’s sound asleep. Has been since last night.”

  “You’ll need to wake him soon and get some more antibiotics in him. I left them on the table.”

  “Thanks for being here for him last night, Jon. I saw the news. Jake was coming for me, that’s why he left, “ she explained.

  “Coming for you? Where were you?” he asked, sounding perplexed.

  Maggie didn’t want to go into all kinds of detail but felt she should explain why Jake didn’t stay around to get help. “He dropped me off on this island earlier in the day so I could do some writing, then it started storming. I didn’t think he was coming back and there was no way off the island. When he finally did show up, I had no idea he had been saving lives. He’s so brave. He got us back without a hitch and that’s when I saw the bloody mess.”

  She heard Jon take a deep breath through the phone. “That explains why he took off so fast but no worries Maggie. He wouldn’t have let them take him to the hospital anyway. He would’ve made them call me first.”

  “Really? Why is that?” Most people would relish the idea of getting help if they were hurt as bad as Jake.

  “He doesn’t like hospitals, but I’ll let him explain why. I’ll be by to check on him later this evening. Gotta run, a doc’s work is never done. Bye Maggie,” Jon said and hung up.

  Maggie tip-toed into the room again, shutting the door behind so Jax wouldn’t run in and jump onto the bed. She held the bottle of pills in one hand and a glass of water in the other. She hated to disturb him, but he needed to get these down. She sat on the edge of the bed. “Jake,” Maggie whispered. “Wake up.”

  He stirred and slowly opened his eyes. Trying to stretch, he stopped and let out a groan. “I feel like a truck hit me.” Jake moaned again, then grumbled some words that she couldn’t understand. It was obvious to her that he didn’t want to wake up.

  “Not a truck, but perhaps a boat,” Maggie joked. “Here, open up.” She placed two pills between his lips for him to take and he looked at her for a moment with that stormy, smoky gaze. He opened his mouth to take the pills, nipping her finger with his bottom lip. He winked.

  Maggie sighed. “Are you kidding me, Jake? You’ve just been through a night of hell and you try to flirt as soon as you wake up?” She shook her head, smiling.

  He took a sip of the water she held to his lips. “I’m having some pretty amazing dreams, Maggie. Want to know who’s in them?” he asked in a sleepy voice. Then he winked again before his head hit the pillow.

  She shook her head. “Go back to sleep Jake. You need to rest.” She closed the door behind her and smiled to herself as she made some lunch. She checked on him to see if
he felt like eating, but he was sound asleep. Maggie put a plate back for him and sat outside, working on her laptop for the afternoon while Jake got his rest. Jax stuck close to Maggie, looking a bit lost.

  <>

  “Hey buddy,” Jake said to the pup as he started out the screen door. Maggie jumped up to help him as he was a bit unsteady on his feet.

  “Really Jake. You’re supposed to be healing.”

  “I’m fine, just a few cuts and bangs,” he said. “I’m feeling a lot better now.” He eased himself down into one of the patio chairs on her little porch. Maggie went inside and made him a cup of coffee while Jax nuzzled his master.

  “I’m afraid I don’t have any hazelnut but this should wake up your senses.” She placed the cup down in front of him.

  “I’m sorry Maggie,” Jake said, getting right to the point. “I didn’t mean to leave you out there on the island by yourself. If it would’ve been the weekend there would’ve been a lot of people there, but during the week it really is deserted. That’s why I thought it was a perfect place to write. I go there myself at times just to get away and unwind from work.” He brushed his good hand through his hair.

  “It’s okay Jake.” She sat down across from him at the small table and gripped his hand. “I understand now. But I doubt I ever want to go back there alone again without a way to leave. It was scary.”

  He squeezed her hand and then gazed at her, his smoky gray eyes troubled and intense. “I promise I will never do anything to hurt you. I never planned for you to be there that long.”

  “I know Jake. I was calling you some really bad names for awhile. But after listening to the news, I think you are a hero.”

  Jake shook his head. “I’m not a hero Maggie. Anyone would have gone in the water to get those people out. I just happened to be there.”

  “According to the media, you are. It was all over the news again this morning. They’re searching high and low for the mysterious man who disappeared into the sea.”

  He sighed. “Let them search. All they want is a sensational story to up their ratings, while all I wanted was to get back to the island to you Maggie.” He closed his eyes again.

  “Come on Jake, you need to rest.” She stood up and made him go back to bed. He must’ve felt really bad because he didn’t argue but followed her inside. She poured him some of the liquid concoction that Jon made up for him, laced with pain meds so it was easier to get down. She covered him once again and closed the door.

  She leaned up against the wooden frame and closed her eyes, remembering those words that blew her mind. While all I wanted was to get back to the island to you Maggie! She floated on air, feeling as if she were living inside one of her best sellers. Even though she grumbled about her Mother sending her here, this trip may have been just what she needed to help get writing again and to find someone that she could care about. Because it was starting to look like her and Jake were getting to be more than just casual neighbors.

  Chapter Seven

  Two days of bliss and to be honest, Maggie was enjoying every little bit of it. She never had a man in her bed for so long. Actually, he slept most of the time, taking very strong antibiotics and regaining his strength. Jake had failed to mention he bumped his head, so after calling his brother about the terrible headaches he was complaining about, Maggie was instructed to keep him quiet. Jon told her he checked Jake’s head thoroughly at each visit, noting that he suspected by the knot he found on his brother’s skull, there was the chance of a mild concussion. He wanted Jake to go get an MRI to make sure everything was fine, but Jake refused. So every night after he left his work, he would stop by to check on Jake.

  Maggie was writing on the patio one evening when Jon came through the gate. “Hi Jon, can we talk?” She stopped him at the door.

  Jon sat down across from her. “What’s up, Maggie?”

  Maggie noticed how haggard Jake’s brother looked. It was almost dusk and Jon was just leaving his practice. “I just want you to know how grateful I am to have you checking in on Jake. I’m certain you work very hard and to come by here every night like this, well, I just wanted to thank you.”

  “He’s my brother. I don’t need thanks, but it’s nice of you to say that. Now it’s my turn to ask some questions?”

  Maggie shifted in her chair, realizing she opened the door and the tables just turned.

  “Jake usually doesn’t rent out his little bungalow. How did you happen to get in his little world here?” Jon circled the air with his hand. “I’m just curious, not judging.”

  She laughed. “You can thank my Mother. She’s also my manager. I just needed to get away from the daily grind and spend time trying to get back my writing capabilities, which I had lost for some reason.”

  His eyebrow shot up, just like Jakes. “Who is your Mother?”

  “Maggie McCoy, international speaker and woman of a million other things, like running my business also. She’s like a tornado when she becomes determined. I’m not sure how she got me this bungalow, but if she wanted it, you better believe she probably strong armed poor Jake into giving it up.”

  Jon burst out in laughter, a disarming, deep sound. “I doubt anyone could strong arm Jake. I think there is more to this story than meets the eye,” Jon said. “I remember my Father talking about a Katie McCoy. If I’m not mistaken, she was his first love, before our Mom. I’m just wondering if perhaps my Dad didn’t have something to do with this arrangement.”

  Maggie propped her elbows on the outside table and leaned forward. “My Mom and your Dad, very interesting,” she said slowly, drawing out the last word. “Hmmm, my Mother mentioned that she had a past here in the keys.”

  “That could explain a lot then,” Jon said, nodding his head. “I think my Dad more like strong armed Jake, not the other way around. Dad can be very convincing when he wants to be. Jake will do anything for him.”

  Maggie tapped her nails on the table. She was already conjuring up more dramatic stories in her head. The two talked politely for a few more minutes, then Jon went in to check on his twin. Maggie went right back to her laptop while the two brothers spent time together. She could hear them talking, Jon raising his voice a few times until he exited out the screen door a little while later.

  Maggie looked up. “How is he?”

  Jon shrugged. “Grumpy, like usual. Nothing new there,” he mumbled. “I brought him something to help relax a bit. He should be up and about in the next day or two, but I told him if he continues to get headaches, I’m taking him to get an MRI myself.”

  “Good. He needs a big brother to keep him straight. That is one stubborn man inside,” Maggie mentioned, but smiled. She had listened to him cuss and complain every time she woke him up to take his meds. He would wink at her after she put them in his mouth and get him to swallow them, nibbling on her fingers that touched his bottom lip, then he would roll over and fall asleep.

  “He should be able to go back to his house tomorrow, but it is nice if you could keep an eye on him. Maybe we’ll just keep him here a few more days, just to be sure.”

  “Is that a doctor’s order or brotherly concern?” Maggie asked?

  “Both. I know Jake, he’s stubborn and thinks he can defy anything. But those gashes were deep and if it weren’t for you applying pressure when you did to his wounds, he’d be a lot worse off.”

  “So I can use the line, I saved your life with accuracy?”

  “Absolutely and I’ll back you.” Jon reached over and gave Maggie a hug. “You are good for him, I think. I don’t know you at all except what I’ve seen here but I tell the honest truth and I see you must care about him to put up with a man like my brother.”

  She blushed. “Jon, we aren’t anything but neighbors.”

  He laughed out loud. “Yeah right!” and turned on his heels and went through the gate, slamming it behind him.

  Maggie shook her head, trying to focus on her writing. She needed a distraction. Thinking about Jake always made her crazy,
because her emotions were off the wall when it came to him. She had one objective here and that was to finish a book. Falling for the guy in her bed was not a good choice, not at all.

  <>

  Maggie was trying to work on her laptop after Jon left but her head kept thinking about the man inside in her bed. Dare she try to continue this relationship they had? Whenever she was around him she not only had a great time, he made her laugh and knew how to have fun. Being sexy, hot and ripped were a plus too. But, did it mean anything? Was he just having a good time in the land of paradise or was there something more? He had tried to get back to her when she was on the island, but it was mostly because he left her there and felt responsible, wasn’t it? Of course, he could have sent someone else and got the medical attention right away. Like he said about the people he saved, anyone would have done it. Is that how he felt about coming back to the island for her? She shouldn’t be thinking this way, sometimes her head just went in too many directions. She was confused, so she decided to consult her fans.

  Maggie went on line, found her author face book page and started writing, “OK fans, here’s a good one for you....Let’s say out of the blue, you had one date with a guy and had a good time. Then this guy gets hurts and winds up in your bed and you have to nurse him back to health. Things are starting to change, you are developing feelings for him. Do you take advantage of him while he’s ill and in your bed or wait until he’s feeling better and talk to him about it?” She hit send and closed her laptop. She trusted her readers, they would tell her the truth. After listening to the sounds of the night, Maggie finally went inside to spend another night on her couch. At least it was comfy, even if she would rather be in her own bed.

  Chapter Eight

  The next day brought on more of the same routine. Maggie got up and took her shower, grabbed coffee and went outside to the patio to start working on her book after checking on a sleeping Jake. She opened her laptop and then remembered what she had asked her fans the night before. She searched her Face book page to see if anyone responded. If there was one thing she knew, her readers could have some pretty wild imaginations, even disturbingly so at times. She would on occasion ask them a question or two about something she was writing and they would respond immediately. She was right on the mark, there were already answers waiting for her.