by Sherie Keys
“Hello?”
“Hi Michael, it’s Dr. Ruby returning your call.” She felt her stomach knot and her breath catch at her own nervous words.
“Dr. Ruby, good to hear back from you. I’m surprised, though, considering it’s only been a few hours. But I might have an idea of why that is.” He sighed as he seemed to answer his own question.
Catherine paused and took a deep breath. Her eyes quickly looked over the park as she tried to compose her thoughts and decide how to approach this issue.
“So, I read the news about your case…” she trailed off.
“And you want to know if I fund terrorist groups?”
She let out a nervous laugh. “Well, yeah… It may have come up a few times in my research.”
“Yeah, it’s somewhat of a big deal, being exiled and all. Unfortunately, I can’t give you specifics beyond what you read because I still have lawyers working on the case. All I can do is invite you out here for some time, let you get to know me, and allow you to come to your own conclusions.”
She felt herself release the tension her body had been holding. She had expected a confrontation or reluctance; instead, he wanted to leave it to her judgment, and she realized that was the only fair option. The facts were at her fingertips, the jury was still out, and she needed to be her own judge. Rascal nudged the ball again, and she pitched it out to the tree line this time.
“Okay, I’m in.”
He paused, and she heard him sit in that creaky chair again. “Really?” this time he sounded astonished. “I wasn’t actually expecting a ‘yes’ from anyone.”
She nodded in agreement. “Not exactly the vacation I had been planning, but I figure not too many opportunities like this come around, and I shouldn’t miss it.”
He replied with sudden gusto in his voice, excited that she had accepted his offer. “That says a lot about you, Dr. Ruby. I truly appreciate you making this journey to help my brother and me. Now, I’ll arrange for a private flight down here, when is the soonest you can fly?”
“Uh, how about the day after tomorrow?” She mentally went through her cases, and the recent lull suddenly seemed like a gift from the opportunity gods.
“That will work. I’m looking forward to meeting you, doctor.”
She smiled. “Please, call me Catherine.”
A sudden look of concern fell over her face as Rascal looked up at her. “You allow dogs on your private jet, right?”
Chapter2
The next day Catherine spent the early morning and afternoon packing her and Rascal’s essentials. She let work know she was going to take a vacation and met with her fellow surgeons that afternoon to delegate any cases that needed attention. The next morning, she was picked up by one of Michael's drivers and taken to a private airport not too far from the city. As she sat in the small but luxurious jet, she realized that she was in for one hell of an adventure. She smiled to herself as she pulled Rascal close, and they both watched out the window as the plane took off.
“Hope you like the tropics Ras, we might be there a while.”
The flight went smoothly, and by the afternoon, she had arrived in Havana. After the seemingly endless, brutal winter that had hit New York, she beamed in excitement at the sun and warmth. As they exited the plane, she was greeted by clear, bright blue skies and a delightful ocean breeze. She looked around and noticed the beach off in the distance and the palm trees lazily blowing in the warm winds. Shining, cobalt waters reflected the dancing light, and miles of white sand invited her to come play. She inhaled deeply and reveled in this new world, excitement stirring in her heart at the thought of spending the next few weeks in this tropical paradise.
She looked back and past the plane and noticed a man waving at her. He was leaning against a classic car that appeared to be straight out of the 1950s. A brilliant turquoise that fit right in with the tropical landscape, it had gleaming silver trim and was well-kept with no rust. The man was short and tan. He wore a button-up white shirt, white suit pants with a dark brown leather belt, and matching, buffed shoes. His salt and pepper hair showed his age, and a big smile revealed a few missing teeth.
“Dr. Ruby!” he called out to her with a thick, Spanish accent.
With a wave, she began to walk over, Rascal following close behind. She approached the man and reached out a hand; he gave her a friendly smile and shook it.
“I’m Dr. Catherine Ruby, nice to meet you…” she paused to let him fill in the blanks.
“Alberto, pleased to meet you, doctor. I’ll be taking you to Mr. Francis’ estate.” He looked down at Rascal, and his grin widened. “And who might this little gentleman be?”
Catherine smiled as she watched the older man bend down and give Rascal a scratch behind his ears. The dog seemed to smile back at him and leaned into the affectionate touch.
“That’s Rascal, he’s my buddy.”
“And a good buddy to have, aren’t you?” Alberto sweetly asked the dog.
With some extra effort, Alberto stood up and waved for Catherine to give him her bags. She obliged with a “thank you” and followed him to the front where he opened the passenger side door. She got in the car and watched as he hurried over to the driver's seat. As a native New Yorker, it seemed strange to sit in the front, but riding in this classic car made it easy to make an exception.
The beach scenery quickly passed by as they made their way into Havana and onto the busy roads. She watched with an open mouth and shining eyes as the foreign place revealed itself in the afternoon sunlight. All the cars were American classics from the 1950s. It was liking take a step back in time, and she couldn’t stop staring in awe at each passing vehicle.
She turned to Alberto. “Why classic cars?”
He laughed and looked at her with twinkling eyes. “Castro banned American auto imports in the '60s, so buying a new car became impossible. We’ve had to keep and maintain these beauties.” He gave the car a loving pat as he spoke.
She returned her gaze to the window as the beach began to turn to city and the ancient Spanish architecture rose from the concrete and stood stark against the newer buildings. Bright colors popped from the walls in strokes of pink salmon, tropical teal, bubblegum pink, sunset orange, and sky blue. The classic cars seemed to match; many taxis that passed were the same palette, and the scene appeared right out of a 1950s tropical paradise.
“This is amazing,” she whispered, her eyes gleaming as she tried to soak it all in.
Alberto chuckled as they continued their way through the city. The asphalt rolled on with palm trees and greenery rising up here and there, giving the city a more natural, inviting appearance. They made their way past the shops, restaurants, apartments, and offices that made up the hub of Havana. Once past the downtown area, the cityscape began to thin and turn back to luxurious beach. She gave Alberto a look of confusion as the homes seemed to disappear.
“I thought we were going to Mr. Francis’ estate in Havana?” She felt herself grow nervous.
He nodded, looked at her then back at the road, and pointed to a giant building off in the distance. She looked up, and her eyes widened as she realized that he didn’t have some small home in the city—he had an entire property to himself on the outskirts of downtown, right on the beach.
They drew closer, and Alberto pulled up to the tall, black iron gates and punched in the security code. They opened and the car slowly rolled down the long, winding drive that was lined with palm trees and exotic flowers. The lawn was lush, green, and thick and seemed to spread for acres within the ongoing iron fence. Catherine looked ahead to the giant building at the top of the drive. It was beyond impressive.
“Damn, that’s something else.”
It was made of white stone and had the same Spanish look of the city, with curves and domes that made it seem to stand tall and proud among the land. Three stone steps led to the entrance that must have been at least twelve feet high. Multiple narrow windows decorated the walls with stained glass. The roun
ded entrance was encompassed by two wings of the building. She realized this place must have been thousands upon thousands of square feet.
Alberto brought the car to a stop right in front of the steps. He turned off the engine, and the door creaked as he got out and began to unload her bags. Catherine stepped out and looked around at the surroundings, her enthusiasm growing as she took in where she would be staying for the next few weeks, possibly months.
She heard a door squeak and looked to the entrance where an incredibly tall and handsome man stood watching her. His chest was broad, and he wore a button-down white shirt tucked into dark grey dress pants. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing tan, powerful arms. His frame was tight and fit with a lean waist, athletic legs, and full shoulders.
His thin lips were pulled back in a small, bright smile under his thick, clean-cut beard, and those dark blue eyes seemed to glow in the daylight as they peered from behind his high cheekbones. Catherine felt herself grow warm and flushed. He looked even better in person.
He stepped down the stairs and reached out a large hand. “Dr. Ruby, pleased to finally meet you.”
She shook it, his grasp strong and easily encompassing her slender hands. She looked up at him with a gracious nod. “Pleased to finally meet you as well, Michael. It’s a beautiful place you have here!”
She waved her hand at the exquisite grounds that nestled up next to the tropical beachside. His gaze followed with a nod.
“I know, I’m incredibly lucky to have been able to purchase such a remarkable piece of property. It actually used to be a hotel until the decline in tourism from the '60s to '80s left it sitting completely empty for years. You should have seen the place when I purchased it.” He shook his head with a look of imitative terror. “I thought I had made one of the biggest real estate mistakes in Cuba, but it all turned out pretty well after two years of renovations.”
Catherine watched him and couldn’t help but feel the physical attraction his presence brought. She heard the small voice in the back of her mind telling her to get it together—this was solely a business trip and nothing more. She was here to operate on his brother. A life was at stake, and her sexual desires needed to take a back seat. He cocked a brow at her as he signaled for her to follow him into the house. A shiver of elation went down her spine, accompanied by a rush of adrenaline. Her mind may have told her to stop these thoughts, but her body had other ideas.
“Dr. Ruby, we have a large, fenced-in kennel in the back with lots of room to run. Would you like me to take Rascal back for you?” Alberto asked as he slowly made his way up the steps. He pointed at the terrier who was excitedly wagging his tail and pulling at the leash to go explore.
“That would be fantastic, Alberto. Thank you.” She handed the leash to the older man who smiled in return as he looked to Rascal then turned and began his stroll toward the other side of the grounds.
She heard Michael give a small snicker. “That man loves dogs. He lost his last year, and I keep telling him he should get another, but I think he might just steal yours.”
“Well, he’ll have his hands full if he does. I always tell that dog if anyone ever took him they’d return him in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, that’s what happened to him at the shelter.” She shook her head at the memory.
He paused and looked at her. “You were the only one to keep him?”
“Yeah, no one else could handle his energy. He can be destructive when bored, and he cries when I’m gone, but I love him too much to ever give him up.” She shrugged as they strode slowly into the corridor.
“That says a lot about you, Doctor. Maybe one of the reasons you’re one of the top brain surgeons?” he mused with a small smirk.
She laughed in return. “Ability to handle terriers translates into brain surgeon skills? I like it!” She looked around at the enormous room they had walked into, which appeared to have once been a large lobby. “I like this too.”
The ceilings towered over them in a dome, and stained glass windows let rainbow-colored light filter through onto the rough, white stone tile. The walls were an eggshell-colored stone material as well. Tall panes of clear glass reached up and down in thin strips that allowed the sunlight to dance throughout the room. Three large halls spread out, one on the left and right, and one straight forward toward the back of property.
His footsteps echoed as he stepped forward. He looked back at her, and his face became somber. “I know there is a lot to talk about, being exiled, my brother’s case, and the work to be done here. But if you don’t mind, today I would just like to show you around and enjoy a relaxing dinner. It has been absolute hell the last few weeks. It’d be great to just have a meal with a beautiful woman like yourself.” He looked at her with leering eyes.
Catherine felt her cheeks grow warm, and she let out a nervous laugh, “I think I can agree to that, Mr. Francis. But you have to promise me that first thing tomorrow morning, we go over everything.” She raised a brow at him and put her hands on her hips assertively.
He turned to face her as she stood tall. His expression shifted to a smoldering look of desire, and she could almost feel the heat coming from his eyes. His lips were pursed, and his eyes seemed to study her athletic yet curvy frame with hunger. She had never wanted so badly to walk up to a man, grab him, and pull him in for a deep, lustful kiss. She mentally kicked herself, but his step forward and into her space made her pause—he seemed to be sharing the same thought.
“Of course, Dr. Ruby.” His voice was more of a whisper now, and the silkiness sent goose bumps down her arms.
She let her hands fall to her sides as they held the gaze for a moment. His lips were slightly curved upward in pleasure as he watched her succumb to his sexual intensity. He gave a small nod, mere inches from her face. “Let me give you the tour.”
Catherine felt her mind spinning as she lay back on the bed. She brought her hands to her face and held them there, closed her eyes, and shook her head in bewilderment.
“Wow.” She sighed, a look of amusement on her beaming face.
Michael had taken two hours to show her around the property, and that was the quick version. It contained everything from a dining hall, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a game room, a little movie theatre, a massive kitchen with a private chef, and so much more she couldn’t even recall. Outside there was a golf course with a country club, an empty stable with arenas for horseback riding, and a giant warehouse where he kept some of his medical supplies.
After they had finished, he showed her to her room—a gorgeous suite with a king bed, silky linens, and a panoramic view of the beach. She had a private bathroom with a Jacuzzi and a walk-in closet with a mechanical rack. Rascal had made himself at home in the closet; he had taken his blankets and made a bed on one of the lower shelves. He loved finding small, odd little spaces to sleep.
Dinner was beyond words. Her mind buzzed at the fresh memory. She and Michael hadn’t stopped talking the entire time, and she felt herself blush just thinking about him. Whether talking about their shared medical field, one another's work, what living in Cuba was like, and how New York was holding up, they couldn’t stop the words from flowing. It had been almost impossible for the two of them to bid each other farewell for the evening, but they had reluctantly gone, like pulling magnets apart.
A soft knock at the door startled her. She sat up quickly and looked to the entrance.
“Come in.”
With a creak of the hinges, Michael stepped in. His smoldering eyes locked on hers, and they felt the electricity in the air crackle.
“Hope you don’t mind me barging in this late, I just really enjoyed our conversation at dinner and wanted to keep it going. You intrigue me, Dr. Ruby.” A mischievous grin spread over his face as he slowly strode toward her. He seemed to be testing the waters as she watched him from the bed.
She bit her lip, playfully watching him. “I’d have to say I feel the same way about you, Mr. Francis.”
He now stood right in
front of her. Her legs were crossed as she leaned back slightly and looked up to his face with a sexy smirk. His gorgeous features and the cool light that faded in from the night outside gave him a powerful appearance. She felt herself grow warm and wet for him. Their eyes met. His appetite for her was clear as he leaned in until he was almost touching her.
“Do you, Catherine?”
His lips met hers, and the feeling was electrifying. She felt every fiber of her being come alive. She needed him—needed to taste him, to feel him, feel his hands on her body. She returned the kiss with matched intensity. Their hands reached up and pulled the other close as everything else fell away.
She felt his beard tickle her neck as he made his way down to where her dress began. With an animalistic growl, he reached down and pulled it off her in one quick motion. He hungrily nipped, sucked, and nibbled at her breasts as she moaned in satisfaction. His hands reached up and pushed her knees from their crossed position; she laid back at his request and giggled as he made his way down her midriff.
