He didn’t meet her gaze even when the older woman led him to the chair across from Kendra and he sat.
“Joshua,” the nurse said, touching his shoulder. “This is your cousin, Kendra Whitaker.” She looked at Kendra and nodded.
Kendra cleared her throat. “Joshua, it’s good to see you again. I’m sorry I haven’t been by to see you, but my work has kept me very busy.”
The man across from her kept his chin to his chest and didn’t say a word. Was this man insane? Eli seemed to think differently. Of course, after having this kind of treatment for five years, any sane person would go crazy.
“Ma’am,” the nurse said, “if you need anything, there are several guards around the room who will be ready to assist.”
Kendra took another glance. Why hadn’t she noticed them before? Four men stood around the room, each one at an exit, and a few others wandered through the room. She gritted her teeth. She wouldn’t have any chance to talk to him in private.
After the nurse left, an awkward silence came between Kendra and Joshua while she struggled to find the right words. During this time, she studied him. Handsome, just like his son, he had muscles that bulged underneath his hospital attire. His hair was almost the same color as Eli’s, but much shorter, and she hoped he had Eli’s eyes…if he’d just look at her. Instead of the shaggy goatee Eli had, Joshua was clean-shaven which emphasized his square jaw.
Yes. It was easy to see where Eli had received his rugged good looks.
A guard dressed in a black and gold uniform walked by, peering at her through narrowed eyes. She smiled and nodded, hoping to appear unaffected. When the man turned his back on her, she looked at Joshua. What could she say? She had to say something.
She took a deep breath to begin, but didn’t get the chance.
“You’re not my cousin.”
Joshua’s voice was deeper than she’d expected and reminded her of Eli’s sexy tone. He lifted his gaze and met hers. Her heart flipped. Heaven help her, Joshua had Eli’s fascinating green eyes.
He took a quick glance at the guard then looked back at her. He placed his clasped hands on the table and leaned closer. “I don’t know you.”
She smiled and resisted the urge to reach out and touch his hands. He’s not Eli, she reminded herself. “I know. I had to say I was family or they wouldn’t let me see you.”
He nodded. “Do you know who I am?”
“Yes. You’re Joshua Montgomery,” she whispered. “Son of Adam Montgomery, former President of Montgomery Aisle.”
His eyes misted over, and her heart tugged with emotion.
“Be careful not to say that too loud.” His voice was low, also. “They might want to put you in here for being crazy.”
“You’re not crazy.” She followed her instinct and touched his hands. In one smooth movement, his fingers gripped with hers. Once again, her heartbeat pounded lively, quickening her breath.
“How do you know?” he asked.
No way could she tell him about Eli. “Let’s just say I know someone who convinced me of your innocence.”
The guard walked back their way, and Joshua lowered his head again. She continued to hold his hand, even used her other hand to stroke his arm, trying to look like the grieving relative.
“...And my mom and dad say hi. Remember Cousin Billy?” She raised her voice for the guard’s affect. “He’ll be getting married next month. I feel sorry for his wife, though. Billy eats like a pig and probably out-weighs one, too.”
Joshua’s mouth quirked at the corners, a dimple flashed in his chin. How adorable. She had no clue if Eli had a dimple because of his goatee. But that was all right. It helped her to keep Joshua and his some separate in her mind.
The guard walked by, and Joshua met her gaze. His eyes sparkled, just like his son’s had done. “Are you purposely trying to make me laugh?”
She shrugged. “I had to say something in front of that guard so he doesn’t think we’re being secretive.” She tilted her head. “Why? Don’t you laugh in here?”
“Rarely.” He glanced around the room. “What’s there to laugh at?”
Once again, emotion suffocated her. No matter what, she must get him released.
“Joshua, I have people looking into your case—”
“Don’t,” he said roughly. “Terrel will do something awful to you just like he did to me and all my father’s servants. You shouldn’t put yourself in harm’s way for a man you have never met before.”
She smiled. “But I feel as if I know you really well.” She squeezed his hands. “My father will help protect me if it comes down to it.”
“Who is your father?”
“He was senator of New York, but he’s not now.”
His forehead creased. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because...I love the person who told me about you, and I want to get you out of here.”
The guard came their way again, so she quickly changed the subject and lifted her voice. “...And Cousin Jill, well, she broke her arm the other day. She’s been interested in body-building and looking like Popeye, so she challenged a man three-times her size and lost.” She shook her head. “Poor, foolish idiot.”
This time she noticed the guard hide a grin as he walked by. Once he passed, she looked back at Joshua. His smile had widened, as had the dimple in his chin.
“Will you quit?” he asked.
She chuckled. “Sorry. I like to make jokes when I’m nervous.”
“Why are you nervous?”
“Because I don’t want anything to go wrong. I want to be able to get you out and have everything fall right into place.”
He shook his head. “If you know Terrel at all, you know it won’t work like that.”
“I can dream, can’t I?”
His thumb stroked over her knuckles, and the gentleness of his action caused tingles to shoot up her arm. Good grief. What’s wrong with her? Why was she getting these feelings from Joshua? She shook the crazy thoughts from her mind. This was Eli’s father, for goodness sake. Yet, he was approximately the same age and resembled Eli quite a bit.
She pulled her hand away and tucked it in her lap. “I came here today to get to know you, and to tell you what I’m doing.”
“How do you know Terrel?”
Kendra gulped. Hopefully Joshua would believe her even after she confessed... “Terrel and I were engaged.”
His forehead creased and his gaze narrowed. “Were? You’re not any longer?”
“No.” She ran her fingertips over his hand. “Even before I discovered what he’d done to you, I wondered why I couldn’t bring myself to love him fully.”
His expression relaxed, and a gleam sparked in his eyes. “How will you keep all of this from Terrel?”
She shrugged. “Eventually he’ll find out, but I hope by that time, it’ll be too late. My father knows a few people on the Medical Board of Directors who will look into Doctor Goodwin’s past. We know Terrel is paying him to keep you here, but there’s got to be a reason the doctor is willing to jeopardize his practice.”
He nodded. “You’re right. But how will your father accomplish this?”
“He still has connections and can help us.”
“Have your father check out a couple of names. They’re connected to Terrel one way or another.”
“Who are they?”
“Thomas Pett and Lance Monroe.”
“I will, I promise.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know how I became so lucky all of a sudden. You’re a walking dream, Miss Kendra Whitaker...it is Miss, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I’m available.”
He arched an eyebrow.
Good grief! Why did I say it that way? “I mean, I’m single.”
Joshua smiled again, and her heart jumped.
When the guard walked by again, Kendra pushed away from the desk. “Of course I’ll come see you again, Joshua. Is tomorrow all right?”
He raised his gaze, his deep green
eyes penetrating into hers, and she almost melted. He nodded.
It wasn’t until the older nurse touched her elbow she realized the woman had walked behind her. “Ms. Whitaker, I must say what a remarkable difference you’ve made. Why, Joshua rarely smiles and he hardly ever speaks.”
Kendra let her grin widen as she continued to gaze into his warm eyes. “Good, because this man needs to smile a lot more.”
The nurse moved around Kendra, helped Joshua up, then led him back out of the game room. He didn’t look over his shoulder at her, but she didn’t mind. She partook of the magnificently built man as he left the room, wishing he were Eli instead.
Chapter Nine
The next time she visited Joshua, she stayed a little longer. They couldn’t go outside the game room, so they strolled around the mostly empty space. She couldn’t stop comparing him to his son, especially when she realized Joshua was as tall. Good grief, even his broad shoulders reminded her of Eli.
It was nearly impossible not to look at Joshua and not see his son, but sometimes she didn’t see the future-man. Joshua acted more reserved, and didn’t have the nutty humor his son had. Of course, being cooped up in a mental ward for five years, but she couldn’t blame Joshua for not being as spontaneous.
Although she could visit, there was still a guard or a nurse looming near, which meant they couldn’t talk serious for very long.
After their little stroll around the room, they sat at a table, and set up the checkers game. She teased him about how she was going to whip his butt, and it took him a few minutes, but he soon returned her taunt—but slowly as he if doubted his own ability. She loved to make him grin just to see the adorable dimple on his chin.
“Kendra,” Joshua whispered. “Has your father found out anything about Doctor Goodwin yet?”
“No. Why?”
“Because he’s been acting different lately.”
She arched her brows. “What’s he doing?”
“He’s treating me differently. He hasn’t really talked to me for a few months anyway, but suddenly he thinks he needs to do more tests on me. He hinted around about my visitor last night, but he never really said anything.”
She sucked in a quick breath. “Is he here now?”
“No. He leaves to go home around five o’clock, unless he decides to stay to check things out.”
Fear lodged in her chest and her hands turned cold. “Do you think he stayed after today?”
“No, but I’m sure once he learns of your visit today, he just might stick around tomorrow.”
She fumbled with the game pieces. “Then, perhaps I shouldn’t come tomorrow.”
He grasped her hand and squeezed. “I don’t want you to get hurt, but it makes my day when you come.”
She gave him a shaky smile. “It makes my day to see you, too.”
Pulling her hand away, she concentrated on the checkers again. Once they were all set up, she lifted her gaze. His eyes met hers, and the tender emotion in his green stare nearly shattered her.
“Kendra, can I ask you a personal question?”
She shrugged. “Depends how personal it is.”
He chuckled. “Will you tell me how you know so much about my family? About me?”
As much as she wanted to tell him all about his wonderful son, the fact still remained—Eli hadn’t even been born yet. How could she talk about a man from the future?
She nodded and licked her lips. His attention dropped to her mouth, the color of his eyes darkening. Her heart thumped crazily. There was another similarity between him and his son. They could both make her quiver by one look of their passionate gaze.
“Well, I when I was engaged to Terrel, I didn’t know what a terrible person he was at that time.” She picked up a checker piece and rolled it between her finger and thumb. “Since then, I’ve discovered his deception.” She met his gaze. “He not only lied to me, but to others, and he ruined the life of one terrific man.”
The anger lines in his face quickly disappeared, and a smile touched his mouth. “I guess I can be happy you finally saw the light.”
She nodded. “I was finally shown the light.”
“So, are you ever going to tell me who it was that led you in my direction?”
“Not yet. Maybe someday.”
He chuckled. “If you keep that up, you’ll be the one driving me insane.”
She laughed with him.
When the guard came back, they were playing checkers and not talking about anything personal. She found Joshua as delightful as his son, but thankfully, he wasn’t as flirtatious. She didn’t know what her reaction would be if Joshua started charming her as his son had done. Already, she had a soft spot in her heart for Joshua. Was it only because he was helpless and needed her assistance? Or was it because of what Eli meant to her?
She rubbed her forehead. Everything was so very confusing, especially her feelings. She could never have Eli. He was in a different time. What about Joshua? Could she ever have feelings for him like she had for Eli?
Most importantly…would it be right if she did?
Perhaps Eli’s purpose for coming into her life was to lead her to Joshua. But, if that were so, why did he make her fall in love with him? Unless Eli didn’t know what his true purpose of coming would be.
She rubbed her forehead again, the headache she thought had disappeared was returning. She needed to get rid of this extra stress in her life.
“Are you all right?” Joshua asked.
She smiled at him. “Yes. I’m just developing a headache.”
He slipped his hand over the top of hers, his thumb gently stroking her skin. “You don’t need to stay and keep me company. I’ll be all right.”
“Nonsense. I enjoy being with you.”
He squeezed her hand. “And I enjoy being with you.”
She sighed heavily. “I was just thinking of everything ahead of us, everything that has to be accomplished before we can get you out of here.”
“I wish I could help you. Unfortunately, everyone in this facility thinks I’m crazy. Doctor Goodwin is the only person who knows the truth.”
Once again, his eyes misted over and heaviness gathered in her chest. “Joshua, we will get you out of here. Soon.”
He nodded and rubbed his eyes. When he met her gaze again, he smiled. “Is it too soon to tell you I think I’m falling in love with you?”
Humor laced the tone of his voice and, although heat rushed to her cheeks, she laughed. “I think you’re getting that emotion confused with gratitude.”
“Maybe...maybe not.”
He winked, and she cursed herself for thinking of Eli in that instant.
* * * *
The next morning, Kendra opened her front door to find her father standing there, his face void of color and worry etched in his eyes.
“We need to talk.” He pushed past her and walked into the apartment.
She closed the door and met him in the living room. “What’s wrong, Dad?”
“I don’t want you going near Terrel ever again. Is that clear?”
Suffocation tightened her chest. “Why? What did you find out?”
“My FBI friends are still checking things out, but if it’s as bad as it looks, Terrel isn’t a very good person at all. He just might have connections to the Mafia.”
Her heart lodged in her throat. She held onto the corner of the wall to keep from collapsing to the floor. “Are you serious?”
“It’s looking that way. Remember those names you gave me the other day? Thomas Pett and Lance Monroe?”
She nodded.
“This morning, I received a call from my friend and he told me to warn you. Pett and Monroe are linked to the Mafia. If Terrel connects with them, I’m worried what will happen to you when his illegal operations are revealed. The FBI will not only arrest him but the others linked to him.”
She covered her face with her hands. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“It is.”
“Does Terrel know he’s being investigated?”
“Not yet. But he will soon.” He wrapped his arms around her. “So please be careful.”
“I will, I promise.” She paused, then asked, “What about Doctor Goodwin?”
“He’s also being investigated. I think he’ll be losing his job here shortly.”
“Why did he put his job on the line for Terrel?”
He patted her cheek. “Are you sure you want to know?”
“I think I already do.”
“Doctor Goodwin is a cocaine addict. Terrel is his supplier.”
She shook her head. “Figured.”
“Kendra, honey, I’ve decided to hire a bodyguard for you. I don’t trust Terrel.”
“Do you really think he’s going to hurt me?”
“I don’t know, and I’m not going to find out.” He motioned his head toward her front window. “Outside in an unmarked vehicle is a man I’ve hired to protect you.”
“You think all of this is necessary?”
“Do this for your old man. Once this is all taken care of with Terrel, I’ll let Shane go, but for now Shane is here to protect you.”
He kissed the top her head, turned, and left. She let out a ragged sigh and leaned her forehead against the cold wall. What had she done in her life to become involved with such a man as Terrel Montgomery? Had they met by chance, or had he sought her out because of her father? It didn’t matter any longer. She must break it off with him immediately, and without an audience…which meant she couldn’t have the bodyguard around. As long as she didn’t go into details with Terrel, she would dump him and leave and all would be well.
With her heart beating like an Indian drum preparing for war, she hurried and readied herself for the day, preparing to tackle the Terrel problem. It had to be done today, no matter how frightened she was of telling him.
She called George at the office to let him know she’d be coming in later. Thankfully, her friend understood. When she hung up the phone, her hand shook. She clasped it with her other and held it to her jumping stomach. She closed her eyes and breathed slow and deep, fighting for control.
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