The Kegelmeister [Dr. Love Shark 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More)

by Bobbi Brattz

  “I’ll get your painkiller. Are you going to be okay?”

  Tara laughed bitterly, wincing because of the throbbing.

  “Sure. Have you got something to soothe my heart?”

  He chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do to make you comfortable, but your heart is a whole other matter.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  Carl left her alone after she took her medication, then she cried herself to sleep.

  * * * *

  Due to the fact that the gunman was on the loose still, Piers cancelled the class for the day and worked with the police to interview some of the guests. No one had seen a thing, but many of them heard the shot. It was a dead end. There was no way they could search every room for evidence, no matter how much time it took. The cleaning staff would let him know if anything seemed out of the ordinary, but they wouldn’t be allowed to search luggage or rooms.

  “Piers, we have to pull out. We’ve done what we can,” Van said, shaking Piers’s hand.

  “Thanks for helping out. I know you went above and beyond to find this creep.”

  “How’s Tara doing?”

  “I don’t know. Kona should be here soon to update me. The last I heard, she was doing fine.”

  “Well, keep me informed, Piers. I’ll let myself out.”

  Piers nodded at the man then tried to figure out who would want to hurt Tara. He still didn’t believe Selina was innocent, but how would she get into the house with so many witnesses seeing her at the bar?

  The phone rang, distracting him. The number on the call display was from the hospital. Thinking it was Kona, he answered.

  “Hello, Kona?”

  “No, it’s Tara. Have I done something to anger you, Piers?”

  “No, why? Are you all right?”

  “I’m getting released in the morning. You haven’t come to visit me or even called.”

  “I’ve been busy trying to track down the shooter. Maybe you should stay there for a few more days.”

  I’m coming back tomorrow. This hospital is okay and the nurses are wonderful, but I need to sleep in my own bed so I’m not poked and prodded every half hour. Besides, I…I miss you.”

  Pain stabbed at his heart as he thought of having her too close. She was under his skin and there was nothing he could do about it. There would be no future between them, but he’d fallen for her. Dismay set in, knowing that he couldn’t keep her away.

  “Piers?”

  “Yes, Tara.”

  “Would you pick me up in the morning when I’m discharged?”

  “I’m too busy right now. It will have to be Kona.”

  Silence reigned for a few moments.

  “Okay. Good-bye.”

  She hung up the phone and he realized that he’d hurt her. What she didn’t know was that he was hurting, too. How was he going to get her to leave and go back home without delay? He feared for her life. After all, the shooter didn’t wait around for him or Kona. Van thought it was strange, and that she was the target.

  He decided it was time to call Kona. The one thing he didn’t want to do was have Mateo and Rae come back to find the resort in an uproar. After all, he was their trusted friend who was in charge of it all. Friend. He wondered if he and Mateo would be able to rekindle their friendship. So much had happened between them in the short time Rae arrived on the island. Now, he was in worse shape because Tara had gotten past the protective wall around his heart. What a mess.

  “I’ll simply have to find ways to push her out of my life.”

  He picked up the phone and called Kona.

  * * * *

  When Kona arrived at the hospital to pick up Tara, she was ready and waiting. For the past three days, she’d been in a lot of pain, but the painkillers were working now. The only problem with taking the OxyContin was that they were extremely addictive, but they sure made the world look better.

  “Good morning. You look like you’re feeling better,” Kona said, kissing her gently.

  “I’m feeling more than better, my friend. The world is a much nicer place to be when you take drugs.” She laughed, happy to be going home. No, not home, but to the resort where Piers was waiting. Or was he?

  “Okay, funny girl, let’s get you home.”

  The porter came with a wheelchair and took her to the main entrance. When she stood, Kona slipped his arm around her waist and walked her to the car, treating her with such tenderness and support that she felt like crying. He smelled fresh and spicy, and his face was stubble free.

  “That’s quite an improvement since yesterday, my friend. You clean up pretty good.”

  His arm tightened slightly. “I can say the same about you, darlin’. You scared the hell out of me. Don’t ever get shot again, promise?”

  “Huh! If I could catch whoever did this to me, I’d have a few things to say to them. The doctor said it will leave a scar.” She sobered for a moment. “Why would someone want to kill me?”

  “That’s what Piers is trying to find out.”

  “I think Piers is avoiding me.”

  “You’re probably right, Tara. He’s not sure of his feelings and doesn’t want to fall in love, but you’ve ruined that for him.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “He’s fallen in love with you, but refuses to admit it.”

  “Shit! I told both of you–"

  “You know that, and I know that, but…well, Piers spends more time running from his heart than dealing with it. Don’t worry, Tara, you’ll be able to leave pain-free when the time comes.”

  Somehow, from the look in his eyes, she knew that he was lying through his teeth. None of them would be unscathed when she left the island. She loved them both in different ways. Kona turned out to be her best friend while Piers…

  “I hope so. Maybe I should leave now.”

  “No, we’ll find who did this to you, and Piers can take care of himself.”

  “All right, but I’m not placing any bets on it.”

  “Let’s just get you home for now and leave the worries for later.”

  “All right, Kona. To the resort, oh wise one.”

  The ride home took longer than usual because Kona was being careful not to jar her shoulder on the bumpy road. By the time they’d arrived, Tara was asleep, the journey taking a toll on her. When they were in the driveway she woke up, but instead of letting her walk, he picked her up and carried her into the house, taking her directly to her room. Piers was nowhere to be found.

  “Yes, he is avoiding me.”

  Moki met them in the bedroom and turned down the sheets for her.

  “It’s so good to have you home, sweetheart,” Moki cooed, brushing back Tara’s hair as she sat down beside her on the bed. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m good. A little loopy from the meds, but other than that, I’m doing well.”

  “Let me get you a nice hot cup of tea. That should make you relax so you can rest.”

  “Thank you, Moki. I’d appreciate that.”

  After she left the room, Tara turned to Kona.

  “Can you do me a favor and find Piers? I want to know if he’s okay.”

  He sat on the edge of the mattress and took her hand. It was bruised from where the IV needle had been. Lifting it, he kissed the bruise, then turned it over to continue with her palm. Tara squirmed, the erotic feeling stirring up her libido.

  “I’ll do anything for you, darlin’.”

  Helpless to do anything but lay back on the pillows, Tara smiled up at him. Kona began to lick her fingers, inserting them into his mouth one by one. When he got to her thumb, she pulled away.

  “Somehow I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m supposed to rest, not frolic with my handsome partners.”

  “The next time we make love, it will be slowly and so gentle, you’ll cry for release.”

  “Not make love, Kona. We just have sex. Is that clear?”

  He looked hurt for a moment then recovered and bent down to kiss her lip
s.

  “Call it what you will, Tara, but that’s what it’s going to be like. For now though, you need to rest. Your wound could take weeks to heal and you have to behave yourself.”

  “Yes, Master Kona. I bow to your wisdom.”

  “I’ll leave you to your nap then. Sweet dreams, darlin’.” He kissed her gently and left the room.

  Suddenly, Tara felt tired and closed her eyes. Would the murderer succeed a second time? She could only wait and see. Asleep in minutes, she began to dream about the shooter stalking her. Would the nightmare ever end? She was fearful of the answer.

  Chapter 13:

  Coming to Terms

  Piers sat in the office doing paperwork. All the searching he and Van’s team had done turned up nothing. Frustration ate at him, distracting him from working. The more he thought about a motive, the further he was from the answers.

  The door opened and he looked up to see Tara, wavering on her feet.

  “Are you out of your mind? Get back to bed.” He jumped out of his chair and rushed to her, gently scooping her up in his arms.

  “I missed you. Why didn’t you come to see me?”

  Her heart ached at the closed look on his face.

  He doesn’t love me. I’m sure of it. That’s good, isn’t it?

  Piers carried her down the hall to her room and pushed the door open with his foot. He walked across the thick turquoise carpet and placed her on the huge bed. When she was settled, he went to the hallway, and called out, “Moki, come here. I need you to take care of Tara.”

  “I don’t need anyone to take care of me, Piers. Now get back here and talk to me. You’ve avoided me long enough.”

  Anger suffused his cheeks as he stared at her for a breathless moment. She didn’t understand the turmoil she saw in him. He was acting just like he’d done when they met, cold and aloof.

  “Come sit beside me, Piers. Please?”

  At first she didn’t think he was going to listen to her, but then he came and sat on the edge of the mattress.

  “What do you want from me, woman?” He obviously didn't want to be there with her.

  “Piers, you know I want you. Why are you being so distant?”

  “I’ve got a lot of work to do. The next class is–"

  “No, we’re not talking about classes. Honey, I asked nothing more of you than sex.”

  At that, he cringed but she continued.

  “What have I done to make you hate me so much?”

  “I don’t hate you, Tara. In fact, it scared me to death, seeing you lying there with blood pouring down your body. It’s a scene I’ll never forget.”

  “But why are you angry with me?”

  “I’m not angry with you, Tara. I’m angry at myself.”

  “Piers, none of us knew what would happen. There was no preparing for it because it was so unexpected.”

  He closed his eyes and dropped his head back on his shoulders as though in pain.

  “I know that, but it doesn’t make it easier. I should have–"

  Finally, she was angry at him. “Should have, would have, could have! There is no use worrying about something that was impossible to control. It happened. I’m fine. Get over it.”

  “Look, Tara, I can’t help feeling like this. I’m worried that they’ll try again. I’ve got extra security guards surrounding the house, Van and his team are taking turns coming by to check up on us, and every staff member has been alerted to the potential danger. It’s not just you but the entire resort full of guests that I’m worried about. When you came into the office, I was about to send someone up to the cabin to tell Mateo.”

  “Don’t you dare ruin their honeymoon with our problems. We can take care of them ourselves.”

  “Obviously, Tara. You only have a bullet hole in your shoulder, and a killer on the loose. Why bother them with that?”

  “You know what I mean. They have another ten days of bliss. Why ruin it for them? That is, unless you want to. I know you wish Rae was yours. It’s time you faced the facts and realize that she’s out of your bed for good.”

  Like she’d taken a two-by-four and hit him with it, Piers reared back as if she’d dealt a mortal blow. His eyes turned cold, his lips tensed in a tight line, and his face flushed red as he stared down at her.

  “You have no idea of what you’re talking about,” he snapped.

  Tara knew she’d spoken harshly, but she’d had enough of his running from feeling anything about anybody because Rae had made her choice.

  “Prove it! Kiss me and tell me you’re over her.”

  “Kiss you? I can’t stand the sight of you.”

  “You see what I mean? You can’t let her go. You–"

  Piers seized her mouth, kissing her hard until she moaned, then stopped dead in his tracks, fearing that he’d hurt her. He pulled back as she threaded her fingers through his hair with her good arm, jarring her shoulder. When she cried out at the loss, he leapt to his feet, looking at her with shock.

  “You see, Piers, you aren’t opposed to using me as a close second. You love her and nothing will change that. I don’t want your love. I want you. I’ve told you that from day one.”

  “Why don’t you want more?” he asked, confusion written all over his face.

  “I just don’t need a relationship, that’s all.” This time she couldn’t meet his gaze, trying to hide her secret.

  “There has to be a good reason. You aren’t the type of woman who throws herself at men and walks away. I know that about you. What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?”

  “Nothing. Go on back to your lonely office and get away from me. You make me sick, seeing you moon over Rae all the time.”

  “For your information, Tara, I don’t moon over anyone. I know she made the choice.”

  “You do, but you won’t accept it. Don’t you see that, Piers? Until you can let her go, you’ll be wasted material. Kona and I are here to share our bodies with you temporarily. That should fit right into your plan of remaining a bachelor. Rae won’t look down on you for it either. She’s happy. Let her be. Let her live her own life.”

  Sparks flickered in his eyes as he tried to stare her down, but she kept her gaze on his, refusing to back away. After a few breathless moments, he turned and walked away.

  Is he walking away for good now? Did I say too much?

  Too pissed off to sleep, Tara picked up a book that Moki had given her.

  “Romance. Just what I need,” she cried, throwing it across the room. Her shoulder protested, making her moan in pain. It was almost time for her medicine, then she could sleep and ignore the man. He had her wrapped up in a green bow of jealousy, and that was new to her. She’d thought that she was the one in charge of her heart, but with Piers around, it was not so.

  “Damn him!”

  Moki knocked on the door. She was carrying a tray and had a very concerned look on her face.

  “What’s with Piers? He let out of here like he had fire on his tail.”

  “Oh, Moki,” Tara cried, covering her face with her hand. “I’ve ruined everything.”

  After placing the tray on Tara’s lap, Moki sat beside her and cupped Tara’s chin. “Hey, you. Look at me.”

  Tara removed her hand and stared up at her friend.

  “I’ve just blasted Piers for being so stuck on Rae that he can’t see anybody else. What am I going to do?”

  “It’s obvious that you two love each other and neither one of you are ready to accept that. All you can do is wait until you both calm down, then have a rational talk.”

  “Rational? There is nothing rational about either one of us, Moki. I give up. I’ll book my flight for tomorrow.”

  “Now, honey, don’t be hasty. A lot has happened in the past twenty-four hours. Give it some time to cool and then you can make decisions like that. Besides, you can barely get out of bed. You have to stay for at least a week before I’ll let you out of this house. Is that clear?”

  Tara let out a bitter
laugh.

  “Somehow, I think you have everything clear in your head. How do you do that?”

  “I was young once, Tara. The years ahead will bring you a ton of wisdom, and you’ll be helping someone realize what love is and how to deal with it. Give it some time for now.”

  “How did you get so smart?”

  “I was in love with a man many years ago with a similar situation, except there wasn’t a third party. He never came to his senses about us, and I left him. He also never came after me. There is a saying, ‘If you love something, let it go. If it comes back, it’s yours. If it doesn’t, then it never was.’”

  “I know that saying. I guess it’s true.”

  “Now, my friend, eat your soup and take your painkillers. It’s time for you to rest.”

  “Bully,” Tara teased. “You not only make me feel ashamed of myself, but you are the mother I never had. I’m so glad I met you.”

  “The same goes for me. If you don’t want to see how far this bully will go, then eat!”

  In no time at all, Tara ate then took the pills, soon falling into a healing sleep. The last thoughts she had were of Piers and the way he’d looked at her before he left the room.

  * * * *

  I may have missed her heart, but I’ll get her next time. For now, I’ll have to wait.

  With all the police and security guards watching the main house, there wasn’t a chance to get close to Tara. Dr. Piers was going to continue the classes in the morning. She had to attend or they might get suspicious. She pulled out the gun and ran her finger along the shaft, thinking of having Piers’s cock in her hands. He would love her for sure, if only she could get that woman out of his life.

  The mirrored reflection looked back at her and laughed.

  “You can’t get him. He’s way beyond your reach, you fool.”

  “Shut up!”

  The woman looking back at her shook her head.

  “Don’t kid yourself. Look at you, all fat and ugly. You couldn’t get a man if you lay flat out naked in the streets. No one wants you. No one!”

  “I said, shut up!” she shrieked, slamming the handle of the gun against the mirror. Laughter filled her head as the glass shattered, landing all over the table and floor.