by Unknown
“You look fine.” By the time she brought her head up, he was talking to Kayla. “So do you.” The little girl grinned up at him. Shamelessly, he pressed his point. “The portions are very generous, and he had to tell you about his five granddaughters whose parents work in the restaurant. Kayla can meet some children her own age.”
“Can we, Mama? I’d like to play with them and I can show them Teddy.”
“I suppose it would be all right,” Naomi finally said.
“Great. Kayla, you and I better examine Teddy to ensure he’s up to his first outing.” Holding the little girl’s hand in his, he went into the exam room.
Naomi regarded their leaving as if she wasn’t sure what had happened. Her hand went to the V neck of her printed top.
“You made the right decision,” Catherine told her.
“I hope so.” The opening of the door had her moving down the hall to the receptionist area. In came a willowy brunette holding a small brown and white dog, his nose stuck snugly in the crook of her arm. “Good evening.”
Neither the greeting nor the smile was returned. “I’m Mrs. Floyd. I have an appointment to see Richard.”
Naomi’s smile wavered. “He’ll be out shortly. Would you like to take a seat?”
Her strawberry-colored lips pursed, the woman started to sit down, then saw Luke. The pout on her pretty face quickly turned to a smile. With her free hand, she swept back her hair from the collar of her sky blue velvet jacket. Diamonds and sapphires sparkled on her fingers. “Luke, what a wonderful surprise.”
“Hello, Sybil.” Luke regarded the animal. “Shakespeare worn out from chasing cars?”
She laughed, then hit him playfully on the chest. “That was only once, but I’m concerned that he doesn’t seem as active as usual. He won’t play with any of his toys.”
“Richard will fix him up.” He pulled Catherine to his side. “I’d like you to meet a friend of the family. Dr. Catherine Stewart. Sybil Floyd.”
The wattage of the woman’s smile dimmed considerably. “Dr. Stewart.”
“Hello, Ms. Floyd,” Catherine greeted, automatically extending her hand. After a brief, telling hesitation Sybil lifted hers. The contact was brief.
“My sister mentioned you.” Her hand stroked the head of the little dog.
“I’m afraid I’m at a disadvantage.”
“Gloria Harris.”
Now Catherine understood the coldness. “You should be very proud of her. She did a wonderful job of getting the parenting workshop together.”
Surprise glinted in Sybil’s eyes. “Why, thank you.”
Behind them, the door opened and Richard and Kayla came out. “Hi, Sybil.”
“Hello, Richard,” Sybil’s voice mellowed to spun sugar, then she looked behind him. “Where’s the patient?”
“Here he is.” Kayla held up Teddy to her. “We checked Teddy out and Dr. Richard let me listen to his heart and everything.”
Sybil barely glanced at Teddy or the child. “Richard, could we please see Shakespeare now?”
“Go on into the room I came out of,” he said, his voice stiff.
“You won’t be long, will you?”
“No.”
“Goodbye, Luke.” Holding the animal closer, she went into the room he had indicated.
“She didn’t like Teddy,” Kayla said, her head down.
Catherine started to comfort the child, but Richard was already bending. “As long as you love Teddy, that’s all he cares about,” he said. “I bet he thinks he’s the luckiest bear in the world to have a pretty little girl like you to love and care for him. Catherine knew that, and that’s why she bought him for you.”
Her head came up, and, her smile blossoming, she hugged the animal. “I love Teddy and I’ll take good care of him no matter what.”
Richard’s hand brushed her hair. “I know you will.” He stood and regarded Naomi, who had her hands gripped. Anger emitted from her in waves. “I’ll be out shortly and we can go eat.” He turned to Luke and Catherine. “See you tomorrow.”
“Goodbye, Richard,” Catherine said. “Thanks.” They both knew for what.
“Bye, Richard,” Luke said, then, “Watch yourself.”
“Always.” After one final look at Naomi, he went into the exam room.
Naomi started for Kayla. Catherine shook her head. The child was smiling and talking to her new friend.
Luke crouched down. “Dr. Youngblood is right, Catherine knew Teddy belonged to you. I think I see him smiling. He won’t be lonely anymore in the store by himself because now he has you.”
“He won’t, will he?” Kayla gazed up at Catherine. “Thank you, Miss Catherine.”
Looking at Luke and Kayla together, Catherine felt her heart catch. He would make a devoted, understanding father. Squatting, she hugged Kayla. “You’re welcome. Don’t feed Teddy too much dinner or he’ll have a tummy ache and won’t be able to sleep.”
She nodded solemnly. “I won’t.”
Catching Catherine’s elbow, Luke stood. “Don’t let Sybil ruin your dinner. Richard will take care of her.”
“I . . . thank you,” Naomi said, her trembling hand on Kayla’s shoulders.
Catherine smiled. “That’s what friends are for. See you tomorrow.”
His hand sliding from her elbow to her hand, Luke walked with Catherine to the truck. “Like I said, Richard will take care of it and Sybil will feel it a lot more from him.”
“Because he’s a man?” Catherine got into the truck, still angry at the coldness of the woman toward a child.
Luke slid in beside her and backed out of the small parking lot before answering, “Because he knows that she has him picked for husband number three.”
Catherine tsked. “Richard has more sense.”
“How can you be so sure?”
She shot him a quick glance. “Richard doesn’t strike me as the superficial type. He’d want substance in a woman.”
Luke grunted. “She has that.”
“Not that. A good plastic surgeon can give a woman a double D,” she snapped, and turned a stiff shoulder toward him. “Men.”
He didn’t like the sound of that. Remembering what had happened last time, he slowed down and let the plodding truck get two car lengths in front of him. “What’s wrong with you? If anyone should be upset, it’s me.”
“And why is that?”
“You’re quick to say that Richard wouldn’t be taken in, but you obviously think I would.”
“You’re the one who seems to think so highly of her substance,” Catherine said, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
“I do not. I only said . . . why the hell are we arguing over a woman who we both know is as shallow as water in a teaspoon?” he grated.
“I’m not sure,” Catherine said, knowing she wasn’t being honest. She was jealous. “Maybe I’m hungry.”
“You want to stop and get something or wait until we get home?”
“Let’s go home.”
“Home it is.”
HER FACE TIGHT WITH ANGER, SYBIL CAME OUT OF THE exam room and slammed out of the office. The adobe walls were too thick to shudder, but the windows weren’t.
Richard didn’t even glance in their direction. “The three of you ready to go eat?”
“We are,” cried Kayla.
“Go pick up your things, Kayla,” Naomi said, her attention on Richard.
“Yes, ma’am.” She ran out of the room. For once Naomi didn’t tell her to slow down.
“She’s not coming back, is she?” Naomi said.
Richard pulled off his lab coat. “I hope not.”
“I pulled Shakespeare’s record. She brings the dog in often and she always pays.” Naomi frowned, for once her gaze direct as she searched his face. “You barely know Kayla.”
“Money isn’t the issue here. There is never a reason for rudeness, especially to a defenseless child.” Draping the coat over his arm, he started for his office.
“Dr. Youngbloo
d?”
He turned. “Yes?”
“Thank you for caring.” Her voice trembled.
The rigidity left his shoulders. “You’re welcome, Naomi, and don’t you think you should call me Richard? Everyone else does.”
A stillness invaded her body. “I’d prefer not to.”
“As you wish.” He continued into his office.
Returning to her chair, Naomi straightened her desk. Nothing was as she wished for a very, very long time.
THE CARILLO WAS JUST OFF THE PLAZA. NO SOONER had Richard walked into the restaurant than Mr. Carillo and several of his family members converged on him. As he had expected, Naomi and Kayla were greeted just as warmly. By the time they had reached their table, Mr. Carillo’s four-year-old granddaughter, Linda, was getting acquainted with Kayla and Teddy.
While Naomi’s attention was on her daughter, Richard spoke hurriedly to Mr. Carillo. His olive face saddened, then he took their orders personally. Service was impeccable, the food delicious.
Seeing Naomi relax and eat was worth the small lie, Richard thought. He still couldn’t get the picture of her eating only half her hamburger, then carefully wrapping the other half and putting it in her canvas bag when she thought he wasn’t looking.
Leaving the restaurant, he drove them back to their hotel and walked them to their door despite Naomi’s insistence that he didn’t have to. “I just want to make sure you and Kayla get inside safely.”
Opening the door, Naomi ushered Kayla into the room, then turned and stood in the opening of the doorway that dwarfed her petite body. “Thank you.”
Richard was acutely conscious that she still didn’t trust him. It bothered him, especially since he may have given her cause. “I’ll go by an ATM machine and get the rest of your money,” he said. “Should I bring it back here or leave it at the desk?”
Naomi’s shy gaze fastened on him for a split second, then dropped to his chest. “Tomorrow will be fine. You must be tired.”
“A little,” he confessed, breathing a little easier now that he hadn’t scared her away. “It’s been tough at times doing both jobs. I’m glad I have you.”
Her gaze zipped back up, then down again. “Good night.” The door closed.
Richard glanced skyward and wondered what the hell was wrong with him. He was scaring Naomi to death when all he wanted to do was help her. Is that all? a little voice asked. The scowl on Richard’s face was the only answer.
DUSK WAS SETTLING AS LUKE AND CATHERINE LEFT THE cabin and made their way through the woods after dinner that night. The piñon and aspen trees were thick with leaves, the grass lush beneath their feet. The summer before had been mild, the runoff water from the mountains plentiful, and all the inhabitants had benefited.
“Where are all the animals I usually see?” she asked.
“All except the night hunters are getting settled for the night,” Luke told her. “It’s not much farther. You said you wanted to celebrate, and I have something to show you that does exactly that. Can you make it?”
“Easy. I may have grown up in the city, but I’m no wimp.”
“I know that better than most.” His hand closed around her arm as they stepped into a clearing. “There.”
“Oh my, Luke, it’s beautiful,” she whispered softly and took a step closer to the edge of the placid pool of water.
The beauty of the small, hidden lake never ceased to touch him, the rush of the water spilling down from the mountains and over rocks to soothe him, the timelessness of the place to help him remember his own mortality. “It’s been my favorite place since I first saw it.”
On bended knees, Catherine scooped up a palm of water, then laughed, shaking the moisture away. “It’s like ice.”
A shiver went through Luke at the crystal sound. He caught himself tilting his head to catch the slight echo the surrounding trees and rocks created, wanting her to laugh again when the sound faded into nothingness.
“Is it safe to drink?”
He worked his shoulders as if that would rid him of the disappointment. It didn’t. “If you don’t mind your teeth aching. The water comes from high in the snowcapped mountains. Because of the angle of the sun, it keeps the water from heating up until late summer.”
She sat back on her heels and stared up at him. “What do you call heating up?”
“Sixty or a little below.” He barely jumped back in time to miss being splattered with the water she splashed at him. “It’s not that bad once you’ve been in it for a while.”
Using one hand to support herself, she sat down, then crossed her pants-covered legs beneath her. “It might be worth getting frostbite.” She turned to him as he sat down beside her. “Thanks for sharing.”
He wanted to reach out to touch, to claim. The growing need to do so surprised and aggravated him.
“How did you find this place?”
“Chasing an executive who was involved in a kickback scheme with his brother-in-law,” Luke recalled with a chuckle. “He rabbited the moment he saw me and the CEO of the company drive up. But he soon discovered that running on a treadmill and through a forest are worlds apart.”
“I knew it was natural,” she blurted, sounding pleased with herself.
“What?”
She flushed and glanced out across the water. Thinking about Luke’s well-toned body was going to get her into trouble. “Nothing. How long ago was that?”
“Six years ago,” he responded. “I couldn’t swing it, so I asked Daniel to come in with me.”
“From the way Daniel talked, you can name your own price now.”
“I get by.” But nothing compared to the money her family had. He stood. “We better get back.”
“All right.” She held her hand out to him.
He was slow in extending his. When she was upright, he released her because he didn’t want to. He couldn’t decide if Sunday was too far away or too close.
CATHERINE BARELY KEPT FROM SIGHING WHEN THEY walked back to the cabin. Unlike the trek there, Luke hadn’t held her hand and there was no leisurely stroll. She got the distinct impression he wanted to run.
As was his practice, Luke checked to make sure no one had entered the cabin, then unlocked the door and let her in. “I’ll be in the office working.”
Her trembling hand rested on one of the huge log posts in the entryway to unobtrusively block his path. “You mind if I bring my laptop and join you?”
She almost smiled at the frantic look on his face. He hadn’t expected that. “The office is kind of cramped.”
“I don’t mind.” She started toward her room. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
“I work better alone.” The words sounded weak to his own ears.
Slowly she turned around to face him. “Of course. Have you found out anything?”
He shook his head. “As far as we can tell, neither Perkins, your assistant, nor Tolliver have been out of the city for the past week, nor have they had any large withdrawals from their accounts.”
Her arms circled her waist. “You mean they might be paying someone.”
“Sounds reasonable. They’d want an alibi and hiding out undetected takes skill and patience,” he told her.
“So now, I have to worry about two people.”
He hated the fear that flared in her eyes. “I’m going to find out who is behind this, but chances are it’s someone from the university. Rena Bailey is still in rehab and hasn’t been out on a pass or seen anyone since she went in, and your neighbor is in Europe on vacation.”
Catherine leaned against one of the log posts. “I still find it difficult to believe one of my colleagues would do something like this.”
“From what I read and what you’ve told me, no one else has a reason to try and discredit you,” he told her. “If they were trying to get to your parents or your brother by using you, they’d come at you a lot heavier.”
Her gaze held his. “So, I’m the target.”
There was no easy way. “Ye
s.”
Nodding, she straightened. “At least my family is safe.”
“You are, too.”
“Thanks to you.”
Her smile was all that he could have wished for and something he could never have. “I better get to work.”
“Good night, Luke.”
“Good night.” Before he allowed himself to even think of something foolish, he turned and went to his office.
HER PLAN OF SEDUCTION CERTAINLY WASN’T WORKING out, Catherine thought as she paced her bedroom. Here she was all perfumed and wearing the sexiest nightgown she had brought and hadn’t the foggiest notion of how to get Luke into her bedroom or herself into his.
Screaming was out. She didn’t want to scare him. She didn’t like the idea of faking an illness. Luke would have her to a hospital before you could say thermometer. There had to be a way. Time certainly wasn’t on her side.
She had finally found a man she respected, admired, and cared enough about to want to be intimate with. What’s more, he wouldn’t want anything long term. Luke couldn’t have been more perfect if she had ordered him. He was caring, gentle, and had a body that made her insides shiver just thinking about it.
And he was determined they not become lovers because he admired and respected her.
Sighing, she admitted defeat. She might as well go to bed. Glancing at the closed plantation shutters, she sighed again.
Waking up and being able to see the woods each morning had been one of the pleasurable things she liked about the cabin. From her bedroom window in her condo in Los Angeles, she saw another building. The first morning here she had seen a deer, the next a flight of birds. Just the peacefulness of the woods themselves had been soothing.
Once finding out someone had been in her room, she had keep the shutters nearly closed. The room was beautifully decorated, but she wasn’t going to be able to stare at the four walls tonight. She was too tense and on edge.
She took a step closer. Maybe she would crack them just a little more so the moonlight could filter through. With her mind made up, she crossed the room and opened the shutters . . . and stared into two glowing eyes.
Her scream was loud and piercing. She staggered back, then turned to run. With three running steps she barreled into something warm and solid. Luke.
