by Anna James
“I do. I’ll have some brought to you.”
Emma grinned. “Okay. Thank you.”
After she ate the Jell-O and some chicken soup, she turned her attention to Ethan and asked, “How long can you stay before you have to go back to Paris?”
“Don’t worry. I have no plans to return in the near future. We’ll have plenty of time to see each other while I’m here.”
“I wish you would stay and not go back at all.”
“Emma, don’t.” Rachel blurted.
He grasped Emma’s hand and squeezed. “Who knows, maybe I’ll be able to work it out so I can stay.”
Emma’s eyes widened. “I hope so. That would be so great.”
Ethan reached down and grasped the package he’d placed on the bedside table when he’d first arrived. “Here, I brought you a present.”
Emma’s eyes lit with excitement as she ripped and crumpled the paper. “An iPad? I’ve wanted one of these for a long time. I can’t believe you got one for me.”
Ethan chuckled. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I don’t just like it Ethan, I love it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, kiddo. I had the man at the store load a bunch of games on it. You can play them when you’re bored. Do you like Angry Birds?”
“Yeah, let’s play it now.”
Later in the evening, Rachel stood with him in the corridor outside Emma’s room. “Thank you again for coming today. It means a lot—to both of us.”
He hugged her, and didn’t want to let her go. “I’d like to come back and visit again if it’s okay with you.”
She turned away from him. “No, Ethan. It’s not a good idea. With the shareholders dispute and everything.” Her voice trailed off.
He sighed. Complicated all right. Maybe too complicated? “I’ll talk to you later.” He gave her a swift kiss on the cheek and then left, wondering if they’d ever work things out.
Chapter Ten
Streaks in varying shades of blues mixed with hues of pale yellows filled the late evening sky when Rachel parked the car in her driveway. “Emma, we’re home,” she announced with immense satisfaction, after the car came to a full stop. No response came, and a quick glance at the passenger seat confirmed Emma was fast asleep. Rachel smiled. The painkillers the nurse administered before leaving the hospital had kicked in. Opening the door, she got out and ran right into Ethan. “Oh.”
“Whoa.” Ethan reached out to steady her.
Goose bumps broke out on her sides where his hands rested and, oh my, there went her hormones again.
“You okay, Rach?”
She sucked in a deep breath, and a hint of his cologne drifted past her nostrils. He smelled good. Fresh. Clean with a hint of spicy citrus. Yeah, really good. She stared up at him and those eyes… Those amazing, gorgeous eyes gazed back at her. Her palms glided up his arms and rested on his shoulders.
“Rachel?”
His warm breath caressed her cheek, those luscious lips mere inches from hers. “Huh?” Would he taste as good as he smelled if she brushed her mouth over his?
“I asked, are you all right?”
She blinked. Good grief, what was she doing? Heat scorched her neck and face. She jerked her hand from his shoulders and stepped back. “Yes. Why are you here, Ethan?”
A frown settled on his face. “Didn’t Emma tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“She invited me to have dinner when I called this morning to see how she was doing. Told me you were having a celebration because the doctor discharged her.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh.”
“I assumed she’d okayed it with you before asking.”
Rachel shook her head. Emma hadn’t said a word. She probably hadn’t thought anything of it because Emma didn’t know Rachel had promised to keep her distance from Ethan while her firm investigated the shareholders dispute.
“Well, this is a little embarrassing. I promised Emma Chinese takeout.” He held up the large brown paper bag. “I even picked up some vegetable Lo mein, your favorite.”
He remembered her favorite Chinese dish? Her lips curved into a tentative smile. She couldn’t disappoint Emma and ask him to leave. One visit couldn’t hurt, could it? “I’ll wake her and we can go inside and eat.”
“Let her wake up on her own. It’s obvious she needs the rest. I’ll carry her in if you’ll take the food.”
She nodded. “Okay, great.” Rachel clutched the bag and hurried toward the house and unlocked the front door. They stepped through the opening into the living room. “Put her on the sofa for now. I’ll grab a blanket out of the trunk in the family room.”
She set the bag of food on the counter, then headed into the room adjoining the kitchen. “Oh my God!”
“Rachel, what’s wrong?”
She stared in horrified silence. The sectional lay tipped on its side, the seat cushions tossed on the floor at the far end of the room. The contents of the closet had been removed and scattered about. She ran over and peered in. Damn. The video camera, Xbox and stereo equipment were gone. Her eyes scanned the room. A small painting was missing off the north wall and the computer from Emma’s workstation as well.
“Son-of-a—”
Her eyes jerked to the entryway. Ethan stood there, his mouth gaped open. He seemed to be in the same state of disbelief as she.
“Don’t touch anything. I’ll go call the police.” He hurried into the kitchen.
While he spoke on the phone, Rachel went through the rest of the room to see if anything else had been taken. He returned as she opened the last of the built-in storage cabinets.
“The police should be here within thirty minutes. It looks as if the thieves came in through the back door. They broke one of the glass panes.”
Rachel shook her head. “So much for the security system I installed the last time this happened.”
Ethan’s eyes opened wide. “Last time?”
“Someone broke in during Ryan’s funeral. At least this time they didn’t completely trash the place.”
He stared at her, a stunned expression on his face.
“The cops told me burglars actually read the obituaries to see what funerals are being held and target those houses because they know no one is likely to be around, not even the neighbors, as in my case, who were all at the service. They figure that’s what happened to me.”
“What did they take?”
“Mostly electronics, some jewelry.”
“And this time?”
“The same from what I’ve seen so far. I’ll need to go into each room to see if there’s anything else missing.”
“I went through the house to make sure no one was still here. They tossed the office so you’ll want to check what’s disappeared from there, but it doesn’t look like any of the other rooms on the main floor were touched. I’ll go check upstairs and then see if I can find something to cover up the hole in the door.”
“There might be something out in the garage.”
“Okay.”
She turned to go.
“Rach?”
“Yes?”
“I think you and Emma should stay at a hotel for a couple of days until you can get a new security system installed.”
More bills. Rachel rubbed her throbbing temples. So much for surprising Emma with a trip to Disney over Christmas break. “I’ll pack a few things, and we’ll leave after the police have taken my statement.”
Ethan nodded. “Good.” Opening the back door, he stepped outside.
Rachel walked down the hall to the office and gasped when she peered in. Tossed didn’t quite cover the mess in front of her. The desk had been tipped over, the drawers pulled out and the contents dumped in a pile on the ground. The closet had been emptied and items thrown everywhere. Ryan’s computer was gone as was the Bose mini stereo that had graced his desk and the printer/fax machine. They’d taken everything they could easily carry and left the rest.
The doorbell rang
. That’ll be the police. She hurried to answer it.
An hour later, Rachel placed the last of Emma’s things into a duffle bag, grabbed her own and went downstairs. Ethan sat in the living room in the armchair opposite the sofa.
He smiled up at her. “The back door is all set. I’ll fix the nail holes in the frame when the glass is replaced.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m going to replace the door with one that doesn’t have any glass.”
“Good thinking. What did the officers have to say?”
“This is the third break-in in the neighborhood in the last month. They all have the same MO—small electronics, jewelry, anything the thieves can get out easily. The police believe the robberies are all related. They plan to talk to the neighbors tomorrow to see if they saw anyone around the house.”
“Any hope of getting your possessions back?”
She sighed. “Not really.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too.”
“Are you ready to go now?”
Rachel nodded. “Would you mind carrying Emma to my car?”
He stood. “Not at all.”
Rachel reached down and brushed the hair from Emma’s face. “I can’t believe she’s still sleeping.”
“She’s recovering. The excitement of coming home and the drive were probably too much for her.”
“That and the pain killer the nurse administered before we left.”
Ethan picked up Emma, cradled her in his arms and followed her out. He put her in the front seat. After securing the seat belt, he glanced up at Rachel. “I’ll follow you to the hotel.”
“Ethan, you’ve already done more than enough.”
He shook his head. “I’ll follow you to the hotel and help you get settled.”
She gave him a small smile. “Thanks.”
He kissed her cheek. The skin tingled where his lips touched and, my goodness, there it was again, the fluttering in her stomach every time he came near.
“You’re welcome.”
She got into the car and drove the short distance to the hotel. When they arrived, Ethan volunteered to stay with Emma until Rachel checked in then he carried her through the lobby and up to the room. “We’re in 415.” Rachel pointed to the left. “All the way down at the end of the hall.”
“Mom,” Emma murmured when they reached the door. Her eyes fluttered open.
Rachel brushed her hair away from her face. “I’m right here.”
“Where are we?”
“We’re staying at a hotel for a few days.”
“Why?”
Emma had been scared for months after the last break-in, and Rachel didn’t want to put her through the turmoil again, at least not now while she was vulnerable. “We’re going to have a mini vacation for a few days while you get better. Room service, video games and I’m even going to let you watch television as much as you want.”
Emma smiled, and her eyes closed.
Rachel swiped the key card through the reader and opened the door. Once inside she turned to Ethan. “Let’s get her into bed where she’ll be more comfortable.”
Ethan strode through the suite into the bedroom and lay Emma on one of the beds, covered her with a sheet and blanket and pressed a kiss on her forehead. “Sweet dreams, kiddo.”
Rachel stood in the open doorway and watched, amazed by his gentleness and caring. It had been that way from the day Emma came into this world. Unlike Ryan, who never made an effort to bond with his only child. If only she’d met Ethan first. She closed her eyes and drew in a sharp breath. No. She wouldn’t indulge in such fantasies—couldn’t.
“We should leave the door open a crack so we can hear if she needs anything.” He put an arm around her shoulder and escorted her back into the living room. “Sit,” he ordered, and handed her the menu lying on the coffee table. “You haven’t eaten yet and since we left the takeout back at the house you’ll have to settle for room service. I’ll order whatever you want before I leave.”
She didn’t want him to go. Not yet. She enjoyed his company and this would be the last time they saw each other until the shareholders dispute was settled. “You haven’t eaten yet either.” She glanced down at the menu. “What do you say we get a pizza and split it?”
He sent her an inquiring glance. “Can we get anchovies?”
“I suppose, but only on your half.”
He grinned and picked up the phone. “You’re on. I’ll order a bottle of wine too.”
She nodded, dropped down on the sofa and curled her legs up under her.
After placing the order, Ethan sat in one of the chairs opposite her and stretched out his long legs. “It’s been a heck of a night.”
“I’ll say. I don’t think I’d have gotten through it without your help. Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me. I’m glad I was there.”
She smiled. He’d always been there when she needed him, except for the one brief period after Ryan’s death.
“How is your new assignment going?”
“Surprisingly well. My team’s been on site collecting information while I’ve been at the hospital with Emma. I’ll have to go in and meet with them toward the end of the week, but I can do the majority of my analysis from home, which is great because the doctor says Emma’s recuperation time could take several weeks.”
Ethan nodded.
Despite her promise to keep out of the bank investigation, Rachel’s curiosity got the better of her. “Do you have any news on the shareholders dispute?”
He shook his head. His eyebrow arched up. “Hasn’t Kelly kept you in the loop?”
“I haven’t talked to her since Emma’s accident. There hasn’t been any time.”
“It’s slow going. Jarrod and the rest of the team are still combing through the records. He estimates another two or three months before he can generate a report with his findings and get it to the Security Exchange Commission. How long the SEC will take to issue a final resolution is anyone’s guess.”
“Oh.” This would definitely be the last time she saw him for a while.
Ethan rose when they heard a knock at the door. “Our food’s arrived.”
He disappeared, then returned a moment later.
After wheeling the serving cart into the room, he placed the pie, two dishes, silverware and goblets on the coffee table, poured one glass of the cabernet, then frowned. “I forgot you don’t like wine.”
“Actually, I do.”
“Since when? You never liked it before. Come to think of it, I don’t remember you liking any alcohol.”
She smiled and absently twisted the ruby ring on her right hand. “It’s not that I didn’t like it. I’d never had it growing up. My father believed it was the devil’s drink and those who consumed it were filled with evil spirits.”
Ethan handed her the glass, poured another for himself and returned to the chair. “I remember.”
“It was hard to let those beliefs go, but in recent years I’ve learned I enjoy the taste of wine, and I like to relax with a glass or two.” She gave him an irreverent grin. “And since I haven’t sprouted horns yet, I’m pretty sure I’m okay.”
Ethan let out a hearty laugh. The rich, vibrant sound washed over her, and the tension that had been with her all week started to ease.
“Dig in.” She grabbed a slice of pizza and put it on a plate, then picked up the remote control for the TV and turned it on. “Would you like to watch a show while we eat?”
“Sounds good to me.” He stood and started to turn the chair toward the TV.
“Come over here and sit with me. You can see the television better and there’s plenty of room.”
Rachel surfaced slowly from the best sleep she’d had in years. Jimmy Fallon’s voice murmured in the background. Once again, she’d fallen asleep on the sofa. Too tired to move, she burrowed deeper into the warm cocoon enveloping her.
Her fingers flexed and glided over hard planes and smooth skin. A low moan
escaped from…
Not her. The sound didn’t come from her. Her eyes snapped open and stared, at Ethan. Oh dear, lord. She peered around. The hotel room. The movie.
“Rachel,” Ethan cried out.
Her eyes flew to his. She yanked her hand out from under his shirt. Good grief, what have I done now?
Chapter Eleven
Rachel unlocked the front door and stepped into the entryway of her Greenwich house, relieved to be home once again. A couple of days at a hotel had turned into three weeks due to a delay with the installation of the new security system she’d ordered.
Living in the small, confined space of the hotel suite hadn’t been bad at first, but as the days progressed, and Emma started to feel better, it had been near impossible.
“Can I watch TV?” Emma asked as she brushed past her.
“For an hour, then I want you to do some of your summer reading.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She trotted into the living room, plopped down on the sofa and turned on the television.
The telephone rang. Rachel followed behind Emma and reached across the coffee table to pick up the receiver.
“Rachel, it's Connie. We’re finally home and want to know how Emma is doing. How is the poor child? We were so worried about her.”
Rachel snorted. Who was Connie kidding? Other than the one terse message she’d left a couple of days after the accident, she hadn’t been in touch. “She’s much better.”
“Good. We’re on our way. We should be there soon.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re coming today?”
“Of course we are. Why wouldn’t we? We want to see her for ourselves.”
And yet you couldn’t be bothered to check up on her while on vacation? Instead, you wait four friggin’ weeks to call? Rachel sighed. “All right. We’ll see you when you get here.”
“Who was on the phone?” Emma asked when Rachel hung up the receiver.
“Grandma Connie. She and Grandpa Frank are on their way here to visit you.”
“Great.” Emma smiled and then returned her attention to the TV.
An hour later, Rachel stood at the kitchen sink, cleaning up after their late breakfast. The sound of a car pulling into the driveway had her peering out the kitchen window. “Emma, your grandparents are here.”