The Ultimate Romance Box (6 Bestselling Romance Novels)

by Eckhart, Lorhainne

  Like that would happen. Sheri knew she sometimes wore rose-colored glasses, but even she accepted that in real life, nothing was ever so simple.

  Chapter Forty-One

  Taking the babies into her bed was a big no-no, but today she bent the rules and nestled beside them while they slept. To soothe her breaking heart, she touched their soft dimpled hands and petted their sleep-flushed faces. Curls were gently combed through her trembling fingers and kisses placed on their cheeks. Her camera got a full workout as well. Moments she had to store away, treasures for the next few months until she could make arrangements with Miguel for her visiting rights.

  Her suitcase sat in the closet packed with everything she’d require for the next few weeks. Arrangements were made for a hotel room because she knew she’d need to be alone for at least the first few days, alone to cry and scream, mourn and heal.

  After that, Sheri took her friend for granted, assuming she’d be welcome to stay at Charly’s apartment until she could re-open her own.

  Now, all she had left to do was play her role. Convince the family of her excitement to welcome her unexpected friend, who’d just called to say she’d planned her arrival in Santiago today as a surprise. After all, how could she leave her best pal to fend for herself in a strange country? Not that anyone knowing Charly could ever think her dependent on anyone. A more independent person didn’t exist but the family here didn’t know that, and Sheri had no guilt in a few fibs if it meant that she could escape as planned.

  As long as she assured Andrea that they would turn up at the party later, everyone should be satisfied. She knew the importance for Grandma to show off her grandchildren to the rest of the Riveras. Especially after Miguel had forbidden too much company at the house until the doctor had cleared his mother. It was something Andrea complained about incessantly.

  As long as Sheri asked for the limo to return to pick them up later, all doubts should be pacified. Then when Charly showed up with the twins and gave Miguel her letter, all would be explained. She tried to envision his joy in finding out that the twins truly belonged to him as much as they did to her. If the moment could be filmed, and she had a million dollars, she’d pay every penny.

  It was imagining his happiness that kept her going, kept her focused. Wanting him to have everything he desired would only happen with the babies around him to make his life worthwhile. She knew that instinctively. The painful effort to get her mind back to the place where she’d been before Mary-Anne and Felipe’s accident, a place where she’d accepted that the babies growing inside did not belong to her was difficult but not impossible.

  Maybe she’d always known that she’d only been borrowing them and that they truly did belong to someone else. If she could convince herself that this premise was true, could she’d make it without losing her sanity?

  With a heart feeling as if it weighed a ton, she sniffed back her tears and tenderly stroked the soft plump cheeks of each of the twins once again. This was her time with her babies and she wouldn’t waste a precious second.

  The next few hours flew by and then the plot began. Charly called and threw the household into a spin.

  “Sheri, my dear, of course you cannot leave your friend to go to a hotel after she’s flown all this way. You must stay and welcome her to the house. If Charlie is too tired to come to the party with you, please do come by yourself with the twins.” Sheri knew that Andrea misunderstood her hesitation. “And if you decide you don’t want to leave Charlie alone, we can send Miguel to get Rafael and Carrie-Anne after the dinner. He won’t mind, after all, we do have the limo for the entire evening at our disposal.”

  “That would be fine, Andrea. However we work it, I promise you that the twins will be there at your party, and you’ll be able to show them off to your heart’s content.”

  “You’re too good to me, Sheri, how did I ever become so fortunate to have a daughter-in-law as kind as you?”

  “I don’t know. I guess its pure luck.”

  “Or the good lord’s actually begun to pay attention to my prayers.”

  “I bet that’s it.” The two women smiled, enjoying their repartee.

  “We’ll be leaving now. Maria tells me she has left lots of treats in the kitchen for you with instructions to prepare.” Sheri made a funny face, which ended in a grin. “I know. She doesn’t believe anyone else knows how to cook.”

  “Don’t tell her, but she’s right. I hate cooking.”

  “Me too. Our secret.” The horn honking stopped Andrea’s nervous chatter. “They’re waiting for me. I’m must go. See you later.”

  Sheri moved in and hugged the other woman, having a hard time letting her go. “Hasta luego, mamacita.”

  Andrea sighed and patted her cheek seeming pleased by Sheri calling her mamacita and for her using a typical Spanish phrase.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Sheri’s plan proceeded like a well-oiled wheel. Charly arrived right on time and the two flew into each other’s arms. Since Sheri had two hours before she had to leave for the airport, she knew that there was time to help her friend get acquainted with the house and play with the children before she had to break the news of her change in plans.

  “Where’re my babies?” Charly held Sheri at arm’s length, scrutinized her face and then her jeans and fluffy blue sweater. “You look like hell. What have they been doing to you around here? You’re hardly an armful anymore.”

  Purposely ignoring Charly’s last question, Sheri chose to answer the first. “They’re in the family room in the doll-house Juan built for them. It’s a little structure with windows and a doorway and has a completely enclosed yard around so they can play safely there if we leave them for a few minutes. It’s like a glorified playpen. Wait’ll you see it!” Sheri turned away but was hauled back around.

  “Something’s up. I can see it in your eyes. Tell me.” Charly’s shorter flyaway mop of goldy-red hair stuck out in all directions, spiked by hair products and her gross inability when she trimmed it herself.

  “You’ve cut your own hair again?” Sheri’s obvious divert tactics didn’t work if the squinting of green eyes and the firming of full lips were any indication.

  Charly’s eagle-like stare didn’t waver.

  “I promise I’ll tell you soon. Just give me a little while to enjoy your company before you beat me up.” She glanced up to see if her friend’s expression had softened. It hadn’t. “Please Charly.” This time the entreaty worked.

  “Fine. Whatever. Take me to the rugbugs. I need my fix before I start babbling like an idiot and the shakes hit me.”

  The twins acted shy for as long as it took Charly to land on the floor beside them and scoop them into her enthusiastic bear hug. She sang her own rendition of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and it worked the final magic. They remembered her and were ecstatic to be back with their old playmate.

  After a while, Sheri put a stop to the shenanigans, saying that they couldn’t tire the babies out as they had a performance later that night and she had promised they’d be at their best. Happy now, Rafael and Carrie-Anne took their gathered toys and settled down to play together.

  Charly, sprawled on the floor, leaned her back against the nearest chair and tucked her long, jean-clad legs to her side. Comfortable, reclining lazily, she looked the picture of relaxation but her keen, searching gaze let Sheri know it was just a pose. Her friend was on the warpath and the time had come to fess up.

  “I’m going home alone. I need you to stay here with the twins and when the limo comes to pick us up, I want you to take the twins to the party in my place. There, that’s it.

  “Cool. Sure. No problemo. You want me to take the twins to some kind of shindig where there are a bunch of people hanging out that I don’t know, people who speak a different language? Now why would that bother me in any way?” She glared her disgust, and the flames shot straight into Sheri’s heart. She’d never thought about this part of her plan. About how hard this would be for Charly who
hated crowds and covered her crippling shyness with sarcasm and pithy, smart-ass remarks.

  Sheri knew Charly the way very few others were ever allowed. She loved her wonderful spirit, her intelligence, her talent as a writer and her loyalty as a best friend. However, that didn’t mean she should bypass Charly’s crusty exterior and take advantage of her inner softness.

  Clinging doggedly with the tips of her fingernails to the end of her rope, Sheri’s dismay surged “God, Charly. I’m sorry. I didn’t even think of how hard this would be for you. I mean, I know Andrea and Paula and some of the others well enough that it didn’t seem… like, well, unfamiliar. I can’t explain it. I took you for granted.” White faced, brown eyes darkened with despair, Sheri slid to join Charly on the floor. She reached to pat her friend’s clenched hands and said. “Forget it. I’m asking too much. Would it be okay for you to just stay here with the twins until the rest return? Then, when they get home, give Andrea and Miguel the letters I’ve written to them.

  “Oh for the love of all that’s beautiful, why the hell don’t you just tell Miguel the truth? Sit him down and explain. If he’s mad…tough. He’s a smart guy. He’ll get over it and then the two of you can work out a legitimate way to share the kids.” Charly’s mouth pursed in disgust and she shook her head. “Hold it. I can hear those few rogue blonde cells gathering over that last line. I didn’t say split them, I said share them. The old saying where there’s a will there’s a way comes to mind.”

  “Except he meant it when he said they’d never leave Chile, which means he has no intentions of sharing. Anyway, would that really be the answer for the twins?” The shimmering in Sheri’s big blues was a definite sign that she was barely holding on. “And he doesn’t love me. In fact, he hasn’t even wanted to spend the nights with me anymore. He’s miserable and I can’t stand to see him in such pain.”

  “Blasted bull patoodies! You know I can’t resist you. God save me from ever meeting a man who can twist me like you can. I’d be the biggest pushover… Never mind. That’s not about to happen. Okay, tell me slowly, in detail, what the hell you’ve planned?”

  “I’m not taking the twins back to the states. I’m leaving them here with their father and grandmother.” Seeing Charly’s angry response building, Sheri held up her hand. “Let me finish. They love the twins as much as we do, maybe more. Look, this is Miguel’s only chance to be a father, have children with his blood, and it would break his heart if I took them away. You should see the man when he’s with them. He’s marvellous. They both adore him and call him da-da. The children need him, Charly. Plus, Andrea loves them so much. Just having them here has helped her recover from her injuries.” Sniffling, Sheri pulled the wad of tissues from her pocket and put them to good use.

  “Will you survive?” Charly searched her wet face and Sheri saw her zeroing in on her stubbornness.

  “With your help.”

  “You got it.”

  The two girls hugged. Sheri’s eyes leaked more tears. But just a few. The dam she’d erected, held. Charly, on the other hand, dealt with pain differently. Anger barely concealed, she gritted her teeth and patted Sheri’s back. “Enough. You said the taxi will be back soon and I guess there are things we need to do. If I’m going to some damn gala, I’d better get in my suitcase and dig out ‘the dress’.

  Sheri picked up Rafael, while Charly lifted Carrie-Anne in one arm and her suitcase in the other as they made their way to Sheri’s suite.

  Sheri reached for her daughter. “Let me take the twins to get them dressed and you can change. They’ll be sending the limo back in twenty minutes and once you’re away the taxi should be here right after. I’ll head to the airport and catch the evening flight.” She passed Charly an envelope she took from her pocket. “Here’s enough pesos for you to pay for a new air ticket home and a hotel room. I doubt if Andrea will let you stay anywhere else, but if you decided you’d rather not, you’ll be covered.

  “What about you? Did you want the keys to my place?”

  “I’ve booked a hotel room until you get back, then I’ll join you.”

  “Why don’t you go stay with my mom until I get there? I don’t like to think of you being alone while going through this separation.”

  “I’ve been alone since I got here and I’ve managed. Trust me. It’ll be fine. Please don’t argue, just get dressed.”

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Miguel arrived late at the party and it took him some time to get through his welcoming family until he spotted Andrea. “Where are Sheri and the babies?” His piercing gaze roamed the room.

  “Where have you been, mi hijo? I’ve called your cell phone numerous times and you haven’t answered. I even had Nick search for you with no luck.

  How could he tell her he’d been sitting alone in a bar trying to come up with the courage to tell Sheri he’d made a decision. After the last weeks, he knew things had to change. He’d seen his wife transform from the beautiful glowing woman when she’d first arrived to the forlorn wraith she’d become lately. He had to let her go back to her Charlie, and with her babies. As hard as this would be for him and his family, they had no right to ruin her life. His mind was made up. Tonight he’d break the news and help her arrange her trip back to Washington.

  “Miguel, I’m tired of talking to the air. Will you please listen?” Andrea’s hand yanked at his sleeve, once and then harder. “Aye yai yai! You make me want to hit something. Sheri isn’t here because her friend Charlie surprised her with a visit and was to arrive about an hour ago. Sheri wanted to wait for—”

  “Stop. Charlie is here? In Santiago?”

  “Of course, Miguel what is wrong with you? Sheri talks about this friend all the time. Miguel, where are you going?”

  “To stop my wife, if she hasn’t already left.”

  Knowing he’d had far too much to drink to be comfortable behind the wheel, Miguel raced out to the parking area to find the Limo driver gone. Pushed by a niggling instinct, which told him he had to get home, an instinct he’d learned to pay attention to, he ran back into the party and found Nick surrounded by the single ladies. His handsome bachelor friend never suffered a lack of female companionship, unlike Miguel whose recent life as an engaged man had curtailed that kind of frivolity.

  “Nick, I need a favor?”

  “For you mi amigo, anything.”

  “Have you had a lot to drink? Can you drive?”

  “Nick jiggled the nearly full glass he held. This is my first. I just arrived.”

  “Good. Will you drive me to the hacienda? I want to pick up Sheri and the twins but we must leave immediately.”

  Nick passed the champagne to the pretty blonde on his right. He kissed her cheek and winked. “Hold this for me, pretty lady, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He hurried after a retreating Miguel, past the packed crowd, through the heavy carved door and into the courtyard.

  It took some minutes to extricate his vehicle from the others, and all the while Miguel felt as if he would burst.

  “Something’s up? I can feel you vibrating.” Once they’d cleared the lot, Nick pushed his red Ferrari F430 to the speed limit, and then some.

  “My wife’s friend from Washington has arrived in Santiago and I want to confront him. Before he steals my family and takes them back home…so step on it.”

  “Make sense, Miguel. What are you saying? Sheri has another man who’s come to take her away? I don’t believe it. After I saw the way she looks at you, man, I felt totally jealous and so happy for you.

  “You’re mistaken. She’s loved this man long before I met her.” Miguel pointed to the seldom used road off the main highway. “Use the back way. We’ll save some time.”

  Nick’s horrified look spoke for him.

  “Look, I have to talk with her before she leaves. There’s something I need to tell her.”

  Miguel watched his friend grimace as he swung his beautiful car over a road usually used by farm trucks and mules.

  “On
ly for you, my friend. Only for you.”

  The rising tension in Miguel’s chest made it difficult not to grab at the wheel, throw Nick out and take over so he could tramp hard on the gas pedal. He had to crouch over because it controlled the pain tearing away at his guts. The thought of those empty bedrooms where his wife and babies now resided sickened him. Bile gathered and had to be swallowed. At least he’d restrained the urge to scream. If let loose, the howls tearing away at his insides would surely scare the hell out of Nick and put the car in the ditch.

  Soon, Nick skidded to a halt at the paddock gates and Miguel leapt from the vehicle and opened them before they’d even come to a complete stop. Miguel was back inside in seconds.

  Sparse grass and tall weeds flew by and so did the brush and the boulders. The Ferrari wasn’t made for this type of road. Nonetheless it performed magically—one-half driver’s skill and one-half incredible machine.

  They pulled into the back quarter and came around the corner to the front of the house just as the limo pulled in through the ornate black-iron gates. Miguel sighed and slumped in his seat while waiting for the vehicle to pull up next to theirs. He gave the driver instructions to wait in the limo and then he and Nick entered the front door to see only one suitcase packed and waiting by the entrance.

  A tall, slim woman wearing a lovely flowered dress and carrying a jacket came from around the corner pushing the bundled up twins in their stroller. Her hair stuck out around her angular face like a halo of spikes as the lights from the foyer chandelier picked out and brightened the golden streaks. She smiled sweetly, all her attention on the two seated in front of her. Her tickling fingers created a reaction of giggles, which made her join in. Sensing something amiss, she stopped and looked up.