“We interrupt this broadcast with urgent news. There have been seven confirmed cases of butterfly flu in Mexico City.”
Luke cursed. He tightened his one arm around Becca and used the other to turn up the radio up.
“‘We have confirmed the cause of death through autopsy results. The individuals did not seek treatment and may have infected others. We’re working to contain the disease but urge citizens to stay home’—said the Mayor of Mexico City.”
“Like that’s going to happen,” growled Luke. He sank into the couch, his hand sliding down Becca’s arm and catching her hand. He couldn’t seem to let go of her completely. The physical connection was stimulating murky areas of his brain and tingling his skin.
Becca sat next to him. Luke’s hand slid to her knee allowing him to remain connected, grounded, and in control of the grief and anger at being restrained from working that threatened to overtake him once again.
“BluePharma says that the flu is known to spread rapidly through heavily populated areas. It may only be a matter of time before Texas and other border states begin to report cases of infection. According to their spokesman, they are working day and night on a cure, but there’s no way to stop the spread of the disease.
“GermTechPharm was the only company close to a cure. However, their CEO, Lucas Scott, has disbanded the project while under investigation for his sister’s death. KTXY will continue to bring you breaking news as it happens. We now return to your regularly scheduled programming.”
Becca gathered her hair and twisted it into a messy bun on the top of her head like she was about to get serious. Luke liked the sexy-nerd quality in Becca—it was both natural and becoming. “Were you really that close?” she asked.
Luke nodded thoughtfully, his mind half on the question and half on the gentle slope of her neck she’d just revealed. He’d really like to explore that slope. “Not only were we close to a cure, we were working on an vaccine. We wanted to keep people from getting sick in the first place.”
She poked him in the shoulder. “Smart. Polio could be fought, but the lasting effects of the disease were life altering. With the inoculations, no one gets rickets or has to straighten their legs with braces or any of the other issues polio leaves behind.”
“Right. We didn’t know what the lasting effects of the butterfly flu would be, so we figured stopping it before it started was the best option.”
“Makes sense.”
Luke tapped his temple. “Makes sense up here. I just wasn’t fast enough. If I’d been able to give my sister a shot before she left to pick up the baby . . .” His voice caught. After clearing his throat, he continued, “ . . . she’d still be here.” He cleared his throat again. The darn lump wouldn’t go away.
Becca’s eyes softened. He liked that there wasn’t sympathy there, though she had that in spades; what he found was empathy. “She didn’t die because of you, Luke. I know it sounds trite, but it wasn’t your fault.”
“Tell that to the world,” he bit out, lifting his hand to indicate the radio, where his sins—or apparent sins—were on repeat twenty-four hours a day.
She threaded her fingers through his. Luke wondered if she felt half the thrill from the palm-to-palm contact that he did. “You figured out how to grow the bacteria; that was huge.”
Luke’s head came up. “How did you know about that?”
She lifted a shoulder. “I did some research.”
“Tyler’s article?”
“Yeah.” She snapped her fingers. “The problem reminded me of another disease, but I couldn’t remember which one.” She shrugged. “It will come to me.”
* * *
Luke used his free hand to trace the outline of their fingers. Becca reveled in the soft caresses, the way Luke held her hand as if she were fragile. She would like nothing more than to wrap him up and hold him hostage in her boat for the rest of their lives. They’d carve their own little piece of heaven right here in the marina. They’d share quiet evenings in the cabin of her boat and spend their free time on the sea fishing, or just letting it lull them as they dreamed and kissed.
But Luke wasn’t Big Red. She couldn’t put a leash on him and then fill his life with love, good food, and company. He was a man—a very big and handsome man. And there was this flu . . .
Squeezing her eyes shut, Becca tried to block out the thoughts that came through like words from a bullhorn. As much as she wanted to keep seeing Luke, keep kissing Luke, and truly love him for the rest of her life, Luke didn’t belong to her. He wasn’t free to make a commitment with his heart because his head had a purpose. He just hadn’t realized it yet—and maybe that was the real reason his and Becca’s paths had crossed. Not to become partners in life, but so that she could set him in the right direction. Unfortunately for her heart, that direction was away from her.
Luke and his company and the world were all bigger than her needs. The irony was that she’d finally found a person she trusted more than a dog, and she had to send him away.
Becca searched for the right words. “I-I guess it’s probably time for you to get back to work.”
“What?” Luke’s hand stilled.
Becca swallowed the tears that threatened to shake her resolve. “From what I’ve read, you know more about this than anyone on the planet. I know how science works. You guys keep things close to your lab coats and don’t share. I get that. But if you aren’t working for a solution, then it could take years for someone else to catch up.”
Luke was shaking his head before she finished. “I’ve been banned from the lab. Besides, even if I did find the formula, the FDA wouldn’t accept my findings.”
“Make them,” Becca whispered, struggling for control of her voice. “Salk gave away the polio vaccine.”
“I’ve been blacklisted.”
“I bet—”
Luke stared at their hands. “I’m a dead end.”
The chili bubbled and hissed on the stove. Becca extracted her hands so she could move it off the burner. She turned around and leaned against the counter for support. The small distance allowed her to clear her throat and say with false cheeriness, “You’re pretty smart. You can figure this out.”
Luke gasped. “That’s what Brianna said.” He fell into her couch, rocking the boat and buried his face in his hands.
Becca stood beside him and brushed her hand over his back. “Sounds like a smart woman.”
“She was.”
Handing him a bowl of chili, Becca settled next to him, tucked her feet underneath her, and blew on a spoonful.
Luke stared at the beans and spices while the wheels turned. She’d gotten him thinking—good.
“What did you mean when you said that the butterfly bacteria reminded you of another illness?”
Becca swallowed. “I remember reading that there was some disease that was hard to detect because the bacteria wouldn’t grow in traditional laboratory environments. It had something to do with armadillos.” She lifted her shoulder. “I was going to Google it today, but there was this duck—”
“Leprosy,” blurted Luke.
Becca stopped her spoon in midair. “That’s right. Several cases pop up in Texas every year because armadillos—”
“—carry the Mycobacterium lepre.” Luke stood. “It could have mutated,” he muttered. “There are dozens of leprosy colonies in India.”
Becca watched him pace across the small space. Three steps one way, three steps back. He glared at the chili bowl as if it had personally offended him because it interrupted his train of thought then set it on the counter so he could gesture freely as he threw out words like microbes and phyla.
Becca smiled sadly. He was seriously cute when he was thinking hard with his jaw set and his eyes taking on an intensity and inquisition that took her breath away. If it was possible, she was falling in geek love with the guy. Okay, not just geek love. Real love. Because under that nerdy brain of his, Luke was a good guy. The type of guy who would take the blame for his brother-in-law an
d risk his life so his nephews would have one parent to raise them. He was the type of guy you hang on to—
Luke’s eyes suddenly lit up, and without a word, he put his hands on both sides of her face. Pressing his lips against hers, he said, “I have to get on the server.”
Kiss. Kiss.
Becca kissed him back with everything she had. “Go!”
He moaned and ripped himself away. With a long look over his shoulder, Luke slipped out the door and was gone before Becca’s lips had a chance to cool. She hauled herself off the couch and shut the door. Chili didn’t sound good anymore, and her small boat suddenly felt like an empty warehouse without Luke to fill it up. She’d wanted to keep him all to herself, but she believed what she’d said. He was the one person in the world who could stop the spread of the butterfly flu, stop the deaths … stop the fear. As much as it pained her, she had to let the best guy she’d ever met go off and save the world.
14
Luke rubbed his bloodshot eyes as he asked Siri to call Tyler. It wasn’t until Tyler croaked hello that he wondered what time it was. “Ty—I need you to get to the lab. David’s already on his way and will meet you there.”
“Lucas? What’s going on?”
“I think I’ve got it—the formula.” Luke stared at his computer screen, soaking in the glow and the formula displayed there. Everything added up—he could feel it all the way through his cells.
Tyler didn’t say anything.
“For the butterfly flu,” Luke clarified.
“You’ve got my attention.” Clothes rustled, fabric brushed against the phone. Luke assumed Tyler was getting dressed. He sniffed his T-shirt. How many days had it been since he’d changed? He had no idea. It wasn’t important. He turned his attention back to Tyler. “I think it’s a mutated form of leprosy. I need you to run a couple tests on the mice.”
“I’m not supposed to be in the lab.” Tyler cursed under his breath. “Will my key card even work?”
Luke blinked, realizing this was the first time he’d talked to Ty since the funeral. He’d opted to keep distance between them and hopefully keep the barracuda away from Tyler and the boys. Suddenly he felt awkward, like he should bridge the gap in time, say something to reconnect to what happened at GermTechPharm and what was happening now. He just couldn’t find the right words. “I’ll call my secretary and have her get you in.”
“Where are you? Can you meet me there?”
Lucas caught the accusatory tone. He deserved it much more than he deserved the bruise on his cheek. He touched his face and didn’t feel any pain. How long had he been locked away? “I’m in California.”
Tyler grunted. “I’m almost there.”
“Call me when you’re in.”
Lucas hung up and called Juanita. She didn’t sound half as sleepy as Tyler had. “I wondered how long it would take.”
“What?”
“You can’t live without me. What’s the matter, are you out of clean socks?” she teased.
Lucas observed his disheveled room. There were plenty of socks. They hung on the back of the chair, out of a drawer, and even one on the door handle. He couldn’t remember how they all got there. He observed power bar wrappers, empty water bottles, and a few boxes of cereal scattered about. He had no idea what condition the lower level was in. “Yeah, but that’s not why I called.”
“Shoot. Are you in jail?”
“Juanita, focus! I need you to make sure Tyler can get into the lab.”
“Hang on.”
Lucas scratched his chin.
Juanita clacked away. “Okay, he’s got clearance, but it won’t stay under the radar for long. What’s up?”
“I’m not sure.” Now that things were moving, Lucas didn’t want to announce his find, even to Juanita. He didn’t believe in jinxes, but just in case . . . “It’s a hunch, nothing more.”
“Your hunches are usually pretty good.”
“Let’s pray this one is, too.” His phone beeped. “I have to go.”
“Bye.” She clicked off first.
“Tyler?”
“Yeah, I’m in. David’s here too.”
Perfect. They could do this with their eyes shut. “I’ll dictate the test. I want this one off the server.”
“My lips are sealed.”
The magnitude of what had just happened hit Lucas like a fifty-pound anchor. Tyler had dropped everything and run to help Lucas, no questions asked. Lucas could think of three people on the whole planet who would be there for him like that. He took a deep breath. “Hey, Ty?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for this.”
There was a pause, and Ty lowered his voice. “Brianna’s gone, Lucas. But you’ve still got a brother.”
Lucas couldn’t talk past the lump in his throat.
Tyler coughed. “I’m switching to video so I can set the phone down.” There was a blink on the screen, and then Lucas could see Tyler and David in front of the cages. “Okay, lovelies. Let’s get to work.”
Six hours later, Lucas stared at the vial of red liquid as Tyler held it up to his phone. “I think this one’s a winner,” said Tyler.
Lucas swallowed against the cotton in his mouth. “We’ll know soon enough.”
Tyler injected three mice with the medication and placed one in the cage with the infected mice. He gave one a shot of the butterfly flu, and the third he placed in a sterile cage by itself. Tyler removed his protective layers and approached the phone. “Get some sleep. I’ll come back tomorrow and test these three.”
Lucas nodded.
“If it works, you’ll have to name it,” said David.
Lucas yawned. Now that his brain wasn’t running numbers and composing his paper, it chugged to a stop, and he became aware of the signals his body sent. He was wiped. It wasn’t far from the desk to his bed, and in two steps he had sunk into the mattress. The cure had been elusive for so long. “Sunshine. We’ll call it Sunshine.”
Tyler chuckled. “I’m hanging up now.”
15
Becca hadn’t seen Luke for days. His day boat was tethered to the side-tie, and there were lights on here and there, but they were always on, night or day. Was he working in there, or had he gone back to his lab? He said he was locked out.
She checked for signs of life when she left for work, when she ran errands, and right before going to sleep because she missed Luke. Missed having him around to joke with, to talk to, to kiss. She stepped out of the cabin and onto the deck of the Salty Dog, watching the Incognito, hoping to at least see him move around in the upper cabin. He had to come up for air or food sometime if he was there.
Becca’s gaze was fixed on the Incognito when she tripped right over Big Red. “Oof! Red!” She caught herself as she fell and rolled to avoid landing on the dog. He was over her in an instant, trying to give her big slobbery dog kisses. “Cut it out.” She shoved him back and sat up. “You’re a menace.” She affectionately rubbed both sides of his neck.
“I told you it was her dog.”
Becca looked over her shoulder and found Sasquatch and the harbor master, Garth Templeton, watching her with Big Red. She scrambled to her feet. “He’s not, I swear.”
“Becca.” Garth shook his head.
“Garth, this isn’t my dog. He’s a stray.”
“Then why is he sleeping on your boat?” accused Sasquatch.
“I don’t know.” Red nudged her hand for another scratch. She stepped to the side, and Red followed with a whimper. Her shoulders sagged.
Garth pointed to his phone. “If he’s a stray, I’ll have to call animal control.”
Becca’s heart dropped. After five days, Big Red would be put up for adoption, and after thirty days he’d be put down. “Can you give me a week to find him a home? He’s a great dog, well behaved and full of love. I know I can find him a family; I just need a little time.”
“I’m sorry.” Garth studied the wood planking.
Sasquatch nudged him as if to say, �
��Get on with it.”
“Becca, if he’s your dog, I’ll have to evict you. Please don’t ask me to do that.” Garth had sent flowers when Grandpa died, and he’d attended the scattering ceremony held on Little Toot, the tugboat that gave tours of the harbor.
Sasquatch grunted. If his glower was any indication, he was ready to untie her boat and give her a nice shove towards the channel. “I saw her feed him.”
Becca narrowed her eyes. What was with this guy? Was one night of sleep worth ending an animal’s life or getting her kicked out? Becca leaned against the cabin wall for support. “This is my home,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“I asked her to feed him.” Luke called from his upper deck. Becca took in every scruffy inch of him. His hair was a mess, sticking up in all directions, his clothes were wrinkled as if he’d slept in them for days, and he was the most gorgeous thing she’d ever seen. “Big Red, come,” he commanded, and Big Red obeyed, bless his furry little heart.
“Sir,” said Garth, “you’re required to have your animals secured on your boat at all times and leashed when on the dock.” He glanced at Sasquatch. “I’m going to have to issue you a citation.”
“I’m not living near that thing.” Sasquatch jabbed finger toward Big Red. “I have allergies.” He rounded on Becca. “And she’s on probation. She shouldn’t have an animal on her boat—even temporarily.”
Becca clasped her hands to keep them from shaking. It was true. Just by entertaining Big Red she’d broken her agreement, and Garth had every right to kick her out.
“She can have my slip,” offered Luke.
“Excuse me?” asked Garth.
Luke saluted them. “Bon voyage.”
“Is he really leaving?” asked Sasquatch as he scratched his hairy belly. Becca considered buying him a shirt for Christmas or something—a gift for the whole marina.
But she really couldn’t concentrate on that right now. Not when the houseboat’s engines had kicked on. They purred ever so low and rumbly, reminding Becca of Luke’s voice and his hands buried in her hair. She jumped from her boat and ran to the end of the dock.
The Reclusive Billionaire (Destination Billionaire Romance) Page 10
