by July Dawson
"I'm Doctor Nielson and this is Doctor Brown," the first doctor, a petite woman with white hair said. The doctors shook our hands in turn. She explained that Mitch was stable, but that there was nothing to do for him at this point except wait for him to emerge from the coma.
"Which is unlikely, right?" Liam asked flatly.
"It does happen."
"Where are the police?" I asked.
"I don't know anything about that. Do you have any questions about your father's care or treatment?"
Liam glanced at me. "Did you have anything?"
I said, "No. We're fine. Thank you."
Even though the Delaney family, at the moment, was far from fine.
As soon as they had left, I called Joe. I saw Liam roll his eyes as he leaned forward to speak softly to our father. The low murmur of his voice was lost in the gloom of the room.
"Yeah, I know a firm," Joe said. "Good friends of mine, good guys. I'll get someone over to the hospital ASAP."
"Whatever it costs," I said.
"Well, I won't tell them that. Take care."
"I'll try," I said, hanging up the phone.
Liam looked up. "What's the word?"
"Joe's going to get us some security help."
"Okay. And then what?"
"Then I'm going to find out who did this to dad."
"You think Grandma's safe?"
"I think I want her and Naomi locked down at the house while we figure out what's going on."
Liam quirked an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Why? Someone hurt Dad. Who knows why."
"Yeah? So what does that have to do with Naomi?"
I shook my head, irritated. "I want to cover all my bases."
"You like her, and you want an excuse to cage her up at the house." Liam shook his head. "Don't do it, brother. She's going to cage you up."
"Don't talk about Naomi like that."
Liam whistled. "You are..."
I took a step towards him. All my pushed-down adrenaline was rising, even though Liam wasn't the right target. But the hospital door swung open almost as soon as someone rapped on it.
Naomi rushed in, followed by a security guard. Her face crumpled with relief when her eyes met mine. "Oh, you really are here."
"What's going on? What's wrong?" I asked. Naomi hurled herself against my chest, and my arms closed automatically around her. "Naomi?"
"Did you want to file a report?" The guard in the door asked impatiently.
"Whatever, I don't know." Naomi waved him off. She sounded cold, dismissive, but I knew her better than that.
"Give us a few minutes, please," I said, steering her over to the chair in the corner. She sat heavily, and I knelt in front of her, my hands on her knees. Naomi’s eyes were wild. "What happened?"
“Did you call me?” she asked. “Did you call me to come up here? Because I don’t get reception in the hospital.”
“Naomi, what happened?” But her face was still frantic, waiting for my answer, so I said, “No, I didn’t call you.”
She raked a shaking hand through her hair. "I was reading when this man came up to me. He said, the Delaneys asked you to come to their room. I tried to call you, but I don't get any reception in the hospital." She held up her cell phone, her hand trembling. "He said yeah, that's why they had to call down to the reception desk. And he was dressed like the greeters at reception. With the logo t-shirts, you know?"
"Okay," I said, rage boiling through my veins.
"But then we walked through the hospital to the elevator bank in the back. I was getting kind of lost. I was trying to make small talk with him and it felt weird... off. And so we get in the elevator and there's no one else in there and he pressed the button for down."
"To the parking garage," I said, because I could see where this was going.
"I think he grabbed for me, but I jumped out of the elevator as the doors were about to close and I ran all the way back to the main lobby and I wouldn't go anywhere until Security came. And I still wasn't sure about them."
"Well, you're here now with me," I said, hugging her close. "You're safe."
“Maybe it was a mistake. Someone else called reception and it got mixed up.”
“Maybe,” I said, because that might help her shake her fear. I squeezed her tight. I sure didn’t think it was a mistake. Even as I held her, I felt my body on high alert, ready to fight off any attack. Someone had to be watching us.
I whispered into her hair, “Whatever happened, you’re safe now. I’ll keep you safe.”
Safe, and I was never going to let her out of my sight again if I could help it.
23
Naomi
Alice wrapped my hands in her own. We sat in the Delaney living room, the most comfortable, homey space right off the kitchen, with the morning sun trickling in through the two-story windows over the mission-style furniture and enormous cream sectional.
“So what do you think really happened?” Alice asked. “Do you think it was a big mix-up?”
“Rob thinks—”
Alice broke in. “We all know what Rob thinks.”
I cocked my head to one side, taking in my sister’s face. Rob had made it clear he was feeling rather protective. That was why I had called Alice, asking her to stop by on her way into work, instead of meeting Alice by her office for coffee. Alice seemed irritated, and I wasn’t sure why.
“I know he’s being annoying,” I said, wanting to draw Alice back to my side. “But I think maybe he’s got reason.”
“Okay!” Alice said, even though she didn’t seem convinced. She squeezed my hands. “I think you’re right to be cautious. You should stay here.”
I chewed my bottom lip. Alice’s sudden agreement made me feel like I had to talk through the flip side myself. “I want to be smart. But how long can I really stay here? I have work to do…”
“It’s fine,” Alice said. “Naomi, you’ve made the business your life. It’s not even a business you chose. It’s okay to have a life!”
“This isn’t a life,” I said. “It’s like, a few days of staying in Castle Delaney. Rob’s going crazy putting in these new security measures…”
Alice nodded along, and finally, I knew what she meant.
“I’m not starting a life with Rob!” I protested.
“Well, the extra time together can’t hurt.”
“Alice.”
Alice spread her hands out innocently. “Look. Love needs time. Whether I think Mitch was unlucky and had a home invasion and now Rob is going nuts and overprotective and the two of you are losing your minds, or not… You two spending more time together can be a good thing.”
I stared back at Alice. “Rob’s not the only going nuts.”
“What’s that?” Rob asked, leaning with his shoulder against the doorway.
I turned quickly, not sure how much Rob had heard. He was smiling slightly, his hands shoved into his pockets. His jeans and snug black t-shirt skimmed his powerful body. I felt a surge of lust, no matter how much trouble I worried we were in.
“I was saying that I’m surrounded by loons,” I said.
“Then since you’re the one sane one, apparently, you’re duty-bound to stay with me.” When his lips were quirked up in that little smile, it made me want to kiss him so badly.
Alice stood, gathering her purse from the couch. “You two are adorable, and I can’t handle it. I’m going to go write divorce settlements for the next ten hours to purge this from my psyche.”
“Divorce settlements?” One of Rob’s dark eyebrows quirked over those cool-water eyes.
“Alice is a paralegal for a divorce lawyer.” I said.
“When you finish law school, do you think you’ll stick with divorces?” Rob asked.
“I don’t know,” Alice said. “The law is fascinating, but there’s really no happy-ending kind of law anyway. Divorce law isn’t so bad.”
“More power to you. I couldn’t do it.”
“I couldn’t be a SEAL.
So.” Alice smiled at Rob as she passed.
“I don’t know,” Rob said, stepping back out of her way. “Both of you girls seem pretty fearsome.”
“I meant because there are no women SEALs… yet,” Alice said crisply. Rob opened his mouth to answer – I was willing to bet he had strong opinions on that – and Alice smiled back mischievously at me over her shoulder as she headed for the door.
“Hey! How are you doing?”
Even from where I sat on the couch, I could hear Liam greeting Alice in the entryway. I rose to follow the sounds of reunion.
Rob rested his hand possessively on my lower back. His touch sent a spark up my spine, but when we entered the big, Italian-tiled foyer, the warmth of his hand fell away.
Liam and Alice were disentangling themselves from what seemed like an awkward hug, their shoulders leaning together without their hips touching. The very awkwardness of it seemed to make them both smile.
“It has been a million years!” Alice said. “I’m sorry we’re meeting again under such unfortunate circumstances. I’m sorry about your dad.”
There was a faint flush in Alice’s cheeks, and that combined with the rapidity of her speech made my want to grab my sister by the hand and hustle her out the door. Alice had no play-it-cool when it came to Liam, it seemed.
“It’s okay,” Liam said, his smile dimming. He was handsome like his brother, leanly muscled and square-jawed, although Liam seemed so much younger. “He’s going to be fine.”
Alice rested her hand on Liam’s forearm, looking up into his face with concern in her hazel eyes. “I’ll be praying for you.”
As far as I knew, Alice was a completely lapsed Catholic.
“Thanks,” Liam said. He took a step back. “Better pray for whoever hurt my dad. They’re the ones who are in trouble.”
“Oh, Jesus, Liam.” Rob said.
“What?” Liam demanded. “Like you’re not one hundred percent focused on finding them—”
“Yeah, to make sure Mitch, and you guys, are safe.” Rob’s eyes flickered to me apparently counting me in that you guys. I felt a surge of warmth at his protectiveness.
Something flared in Liam’s eyes. I felt my lips part, startled by the sudden anger written across Liam’s face, but Liam was already forcing a smile onto his face instead.
“Don’t let him worry you, Naomi,” Liam said, still looking at her directly. “Rob’s a worrier. Always has been.”
“You’ve always given me reasons to worry,” Rob said.
“I’m not worried,” I said. “I want to help. Any way I can.”
“That’s nice of you. But this is bigger than anything you can help with.” Liam said. He raked his fingers through his hair.
“Okay, well, I should be going to work,” Alice said. She hugged me goodbye again. I wrapped my arms around her, surprised by the unnecessary second hug. Alice seemed unnerved.
Alice squeezed me tight, smelling of her usual rose perfume, her suit jacket slightly scratchy.
The Delaney house–the Delaney world–was unsettling. Alice reminded me of the grounded real world outside those gates, even if this house was supposed to be where I was safest. Before Rob, the news sometimes made me anxious. But I had never been afraid of kidnapping or carjacking or that anyone would try to harm me personally.
“Come over tonight? If I’m still here?” I asked.
“I have class.” Alice’s arms slid away, but even as she started to walk across the foyer, she couldn’t help turning back. “But, I’ll come over between. Late lunch? And if you need me, I can stay. Skip my class. I haven’t missed all semester.”
I waved goodbye as Alice whirled around again and let herself out the front door. When it clicked shut behind her, Liam said, “Please don’t make her skip class.”
“Liam,” Rob said.
“What? There’s no need. It’s a waste.”
Rob gave Liam a dark, suspicious look.
Liam shrugged. “I’m going to go through Dad’s office and his room. I know it’s a long shot, but I thought I’d see if there’s anything there that might give us a clue.”
I looked at Rob quizzically. “I thought the police said the attack was probably random? That there were a series of home invasions?”
“Yeah,” Rob said. “We’re just trying to cover all our bases.”
“Is there something else going on?” I asked.
“No. Just being thorough.”
Liam lingered, watching us both with his hands in his pockets. Rob said to him, “Why don’t you start with the master? I’ll catch up with you in a few minutes.”
Liam took the hint, heading for the stairs.
I said, “You think I’m in danger too now?”
“Because you’ve been seen with me? Because of what happened in the hospital? Yeah, I think better safe than sorry.”
“Then why aren’t you telling me what’s going on?”
“I am,” he said. “When I know something, I’ll tell you, believe me.”
“Because this affects me too. My life, my family, my business—”
“I know, Naomi.” His voice came out gruff, startling me.
Liam was making the world’s slowest progress up the stairs.
“Let’s argue in the study,” Rob said impatiently.
“Are we arguing?” I felt my eyebrows rise. “I wasn’t aware we were arguing. I thought you were about to open up to me about what’s going on, since I just have this weird feeling you’re keeping secrets. Or are we arguing?”
Rob glanced towards the stairs and then ushered me forward towards the study. I rolled my eyes, but I went. I could sense Liam’s irritation as he stormed the rest of the way up the stairs, as if he didn’t trust Rob not to spill family secrets. How the hell had Liam Delaney become my enemy? Shouldn’t we all be on the same side?
I breezed into the dark study in front of Rob. He shut the door behind us.
“What do we need privacy to discuss?”
“I’m trying to piece together why Mitch might have been attacked,” Rob said. “And like I said, I will tell you anything that’s relevant. To you.”
“But you’re going to decide what’s relevant?”
“Yes. I am.”
“Why the hell do you get to make all the calls, Rob?”
“Well, I am the one who’s a SEAL,” he said, the slightest smile coming to his lips before it fell away under my gaze. “And this is my family. The Delaneys have a sordid history.”
“Which is why you think I might be in danger,” I said.
“I think you might be in danger because I care about you.”
“And why are you being so tight-lipped?” I raked a hand through my hair. “God damn it, Rob, this is scary for me. I can’t be the helpless damsel in distress, waiting in your castle for you to sort it all out.”
“But the castle has HBO and a pool and a hot tub and a beautiful library…” Rob said.
“I don’t care about any of that,” I said. “I have a life I need to get back to, Rob. My mom doesn’t want to feed my cats every day. I have work to do. A gala to plan.”
“The gala will still go off. I’ll pay someone to take care of your cats.”
I perched on the edge of the desk, crossed my arms across my chest. “You can’t throw money at every problem and fix it.”
“No. But it doesn’t hurt.”
“Rob.”
“I don’t want you to know that sordid history, okay? I can’t stand it.”
I hesitated. On some level, I wanted to ask, archly, there’s more? After all, what had been covered in gruesome detail by newspapers and tabloids was common knowledge in Newport. I was embarrassed by how avidly I had consumed it all as a teen, feeling myself grow wild and anxious for Rob. I had pictured him suffering alone, obsessing over what his dad had done as he sat on the dock behind their mansion. But slowly, as the days passed after the accident, I had become convinced by the bright-faced Rob who swaggered through school with his arm across K
ate’s shoulders like he didn’t care.
“I don’t know why you would care what I think,” I said. “I’m just the help.”
His big hands fell on my hips, pulling me off the desk and against his body. I felt the warm, muscular heat of him along the curve of my ass, felt a familiar thrill of longing, and despite myself, I leaned back into his strong arms.
"Naomi," he whispered, his breath against my hair. "I might not be much of a talker, but why can't you believe me when I show you how I feel?"
He kissed the side of my neck. His soft, warm mouth moved down the sensitive skin below my ear, tugging aside the neck of my shirt so could kiss the place where my neck joined my shoulder. "You smell warm, like vanilla and sunshine."
Sunshine wasn't even a smell. I wanted to say as much, to push him away, but as he kissed my throat, his hands dipped down to caress my breast, pushing aside my bra. When his palm rubbed roughly against my nipple, I could barely bear the urgency I felt for him.
As if he knew how I felt, he pulled the hem of my t-shirt up, exposing my white lace bra, and slid his hand inside, cupping the other breast. My back arched against him.
"I've wanted to do that since I was fourteen."
I wanted to tell him, I would have let you. But even if he admitted he wasn't much of a talker, I was going to be less of one. Saying words like that would open up the door for him to hurt me again.
As his hand rhythmically massaged my breast, the movement seemed to pulse to my very core. I moaned, hating my weakness.
When his palm brushed between my thighs, I dug my fingers into his muscular thighs, trying to push him away. Or pull him closer. I couldn't make sense of it anymore.
"There are worse things," he murmured in my ear, "than being mine. Protected. In my castle."
I slipped around in his arms, resting my hands on his broad chest. "I'm not convinced there's anything worse than wanting to be yours."
His eyes widened, and then one side of his mouth quirked up into a small smirk. "Oh, Naomi. You're painfully honest."
"And you're not. Rob Delaney. I know that you like me, and the fact that we have to play this stupid game of yours... I don't see a point."