by Bobbi Brattz
For a moment Mateo was silent then blew out a deep breath.
“She isn’t interested in making up.”
“You smell like a bar, Mateo. When are you going to start taking better care of yourself?”
She could only imagine the corners of his eyes lined with the sadness and worry he’d displayed before the accident and felt the urge to smooth them away with her fingertips, yet she didn’t. After the violence between the two men, she was wary.
“I’ll go do it now. You’re okay, aren’t you, Rae?” He seemed hesitant to leave her.
“I’m fine. Moki will take care of me.”
After he nodded, he left her side. She heard the shower in his bathroom start up and wished she could watch him. Soon she dozed off with images of Mateo’s sleek muscular body flitting through her mind.
* * * *
The next morning Lance stopped by the house again to see Rae. Moki had stayed the night and answered the door, frowning at his intrusion.
“What do you want?”
“I came to see my wife. Let me in, or I’ll just start yelling until she hears me.”
“Don’t you threaten me, young man! She is unavailable this morning. After what you and—”
“Moki, I called him. I’m going out with Lance for a little while.”
In surprise, Moki turned to face Rae. She was dressed in a pretty Hawaiian dress that gave a little color to her pale cheeks. “You should be resting, Rae. He can wait.”
“No. I want to get out for a while. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Mateo won’t like it.”
“I don’t think that matters.”
Rae gave her a warm hug and stepped past her on the way out, holding onto Lance’s arm for guidance.
“Where are you going, Rae?” Moki called. There was something about that man that sent shivers of dread up her spine.
“For a drive. I’ll be back soon or call you. Thank you, Moki.”
* * * *
As Rae and Lance drove off, Moki started back to the kitchen, stopping in her tracks when Mateo stumbled from his office, obviously inebriated.
“What are you doing to yourself, Mateo?”
“Nothing. I’m just filling in time until Rae wakes up.”
He was weaving on his feet, his eyes smudged from lack of sleep and his hair mussed in all directions.
“She’s gone, so you can just go to bed and sleep it off.”
“Gone?”
Surprise registered in his eyes as he strode in an uneven pace toward his bedroom where Rae had been sleeping for the past day.
“Yes. What is going on with you? Have you completely lost your mind?”
Moki was angry at him for his loss of control, yet felt a little empathy, too, since Rae was keeping him at arm’s length. It was all too clear that he was head over heels in love with the girl and didn’t know how to handle it.
“Where? Where did she go? Please don’t tell me she left me again.”
Pain flashed in his eyes as he stared down at her.
“She went out for a few hours with that jerk.”
Rage replaced the pain as soon as he blinked once.
“Hooper? She went out with that bastard?”
“Well, since you can’t seem to pull yourself together, I suppose she had to do something constructive. You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t head back to Canada with him at the rate you’re going. I can’t remember a time when I was this angry with you, Mateo. Get into the shower while I make some coffee. You’re useless the way you are.”
“I want to know where she is, Moki, now!”
His low growl didn’t bother her a bit as she raised her finger and jabbed it into his shoulder to punctuate her words.
“She didn’t tell me, and she certainly wouldn’t tell you after what you and that idiot did last night. Now get into the shower!”
A stunned look on his face nearly made her smile as he stared at her for a moment. He turned on heel, stumbled, and made his way to his room without another word.
“I hope he wakes up from his stupidity soon. If not, he’s going to lose the most wonderful woman he’s ever met.”
The phone rang, and she picked it up. “Hello?”
“Hi, Moki. How is my patient today?”
“Piers, you know she’s not your patient anymore. She’s gone out with her ex-husband.”
“What? Why didn’t you stop her? Why didn’t Mateo stop her?”
“You heard me. It wasn’t my place to stop her, and she’s not a prisoner here. At least, not anymore. And Mateo is too drunk to stop a feather. What’s your excuse?”
“You’re getting nasty in your old age, woman,” Piers grumbled.
“It serves you both right. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll come and resolve this rift between you and Mateo for Rae’s benefit. She feels bad enough that she’s the cause of your fight in the first place.”
“She’s not the…oh…well, maybe she is, but Mateo’s had it easy for too long, and I…”
“You will give up this ridiculous squabble, or I won’t speak to either one of you again!”
At that, Moki slammed the phone down and left the house. She decided that the three adults would have to fix their own issues without her.
“I’m getting too old to play nursemaid,” she muttered.
* * * *
Lance was quiet while he drove them to town. For a moment Rae recalled his handsome profile and wondered what she ever saw in him. Sure he was many a woman’s dream of a hunk, and he knew how to romance a girl, but he’d always had a cruel line to his mouth, and his eyes had a frosty bite to them that she’d never noticed before. Though she couldn’t see him, she sensed his tension.
She was about to ask him what was wrong when he slammed on the brakes and pulled the car to skidding halt.
“What are you doing?” she asked in alarm.
“Why are you staying with him?” He took her upper arm in his grip and pulled her closer.
“Ouch! That hurts, Lance. Let me go.”
“You are my wife. It’s time you—”
“I’m your ex-wife, and I’ll not be manhandled by you or anyone else. Now release my arm!” Her anger matched and even surpassed his. The headache she’d retained from her wound began to throb even harder as she tugged her arm away. He let go, yet Rae felt his anger wash over her in waves and tried to leave the car, but he grabbed her hand before she could find the door handle.
“Stay. Please, Rae, I’m trying to understand what’s happening with us. I want you to come back to Canada with me.”
“Why?”
“Why? Because I want you to, that’s why.”
“You want something from me, Lance. I know you do. Is the media paying you for more pictures of me? Is that it?”
When he fell silent, a memory of him lying to her face flashed through her mind. She sat back and blew out a deep huff of breath.
“That’s the whole thing with this fake act, isn’t it, Lance? You only want me back because I can give you something…money, fame, notoriety. Whatever it is, you can’t have that. We broke up for a reason, and I’ll not go back in time to repeat past mistakes, whether I remember them or not.”
With desperation in his tone, he tried to plead with her. “Rae, I just need some money to tide me over for a year or so. Darlene is pregnant and…”
“Who’s Darlene?” Fury nearly blinded her as she realized he was only using her, just like Mateo and Piers had, but worse because it was for money and there was another woman involved.
“She’s…she’s my wife.”
Shocked speechless, Rae felt the blood leave her head in a rush as a spell of dizziness forced her to suck in deep breaths to prevent passing out.
“Your wife, pregnant with your child, and all I am to you is a means to an end. You bastard!” she shrieked, raising her fist to hit him. He stopped her and yanked her close to him, his teeth grinding aloud as he held her captive.
“Your boyfriend can afford to g
ive me some money, or else I’ll go to the newspapers nationwide and tell the world what a frigid bitch you really are. All that crap in the papers was just a way for him to drum up business. I’ll tell them it was all a hoax, and he’ll be ruined. You get me?”
“I knew you were up to something, Lance. You’ve not changed a bit from the lying, cheating, scumbag you were when we were married. I won’t help you blackmail Mateo, ever!”
Lance cursed, slamming his fist on the dashboard. “You’ll do what I tell you. Do you hear me, you bitch?”
For a moment Rae stared at him, startled that he was so out of control. She shuddered in fear, and then her temper took over and she reached up with her free hand and scratched his cheeks with her sharp nails. Lance shouted and released her long enough for her to grab the door handle and escape.
Rae hoped she could find her way back to the resort without killing herself by falling off a cliff or something, but heard him chasing her. His breath was hot on her neck as he grabbed her and spun her around, his fingers biting into her arms as he shook her.
“I’ll kill you for that.”
A sudden screech of wheels made Lance pause. Rae heard a man growl and hit Lance, knocking him to the ground. She cried out as she fell with him, her hair still entangled in his fingers. Pain crashed through her head when it struck the pavement.
“Rae!” Mateo shouted as he knelt by her side. He removed Lance’s grip and pulled her close. She smelled the clean scent of him, all traces of alcohol gone. Tears filled her eyes as she curled into him, secure in his embrace. Lance was silent.
“Are you all right?” Mateo asked, kissing her cheeks, forehead, and mouth until she was breathless.
Her skull pounded as she gasped for air, nausea clenching her gut.
“I’m…I’m okay. Can we go?”
“I had my driver call the police. Hooper assaulted you, and he’s been in jail for doing the same thing to many other women in Canada.”
“How do you know that?”
“I had a background check on him done. Not only is he into money laundering, but he’s a gambler who is neck-deep in trouble with a gang in Toronto. I figured he was up to no good since he’d done nothing to keep your marriage alive and then he showed up out of the blue. I’m sorry, Rae, but he only wanted to exploit you for money. He’s remarried.”
“He told me. I can’t believe this. I can’t trust any of you men!” she cried, trying to break free of his embrace, but Mateo held her protectively in his arms.
“Rae. Let me help you to the car, and then I’ll leave you alone. I swear. If you fall again and hurt yourself further, Moki will have my hide.”
All Rae could do was cry, giving in because she had no other option. She allowed him to carry her and place her in the car. Sirens sounded as Mateo leaned in close and murmured in her ear. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Stay where you are, Rae. I mean it.”
She was surprised when Indigo spoke into the silence of the air-conditioned car.
“Are you all right, Miss?”
“Why are you here, Indigo?” Sobs welled up as reaction set in.
“Dr. Mann needed a driver. I told you we’d take care of you if you ever needed us. Moki called me right after you left. She’s worried about you.”
“I’m okay now,” she lied. The sirens suddenly began to fade as darkness claimed her. The last thing she heard was Indigo shouting for Mateo.
Chapter 19:
The Light of Love
The agony of awakening made Rae want to remain asleep forever. Something flashed in her eye, bringing with it sharp jabs of anguish.
“Stop!” she moaned.
“Rae?”
“Mateo, shhh, don’t yell so loud.”
She felt his fingers tighten on her hand and took comfort in the sensation. If she couldn’t have him always, it was time she let him go to prevent her heart from breaking further than it already had. I have to leave now. It hurts so much to be near him.
“Can you see anything, Ms. Hooper?”
“I wouldn’t if you let me close my eyes. That light is killing me.”
“You can see?” Mateo cried.
“Shhh…Ouch!”
“Rae, please, tell me you can see something.” Though his voice had dropped to a mere whisper, she was too startled to realize it and opened her eyes wide.
“Oh, my! I can see! It’s blurry, but definitely, I can see.”
When she looked over at Mateo, she thought she could determine tears in his eyes, but wasn’t sure. Suddenly, his shoulders sagged and he stood, leaned over, and kissed her forehead then walked away.
“Mateo, where are you going?”
“My lawyer will be in touch with you later today. Good-bye, Rae.”
She watched his indistinct figure leave the room and fought back the cry that ripped from her throat. Now that she could see again, Mateo was washing his hands of her!
Tears flooded her cheeks as she lay back on the pillow. The doctor and nurse worked around her without talking for a few moments while she sobbed. When they left, Rae fell into an exhausted asleep, all hope for a happy future with him gone like smoke in the wind.
* * * *
Two days later Rae stood in the airport terminal, her bags on the floor as she waited in line. Mateo’s lawyer had brought her a check for ten million dollars, payoff for her time at the resort. She accepted it in stunned silence, then when the man left the room, she tore it into a dozen pieces and made plans to leave. After calling Moki to have her bags brought to the airport, she arranged for her friend, Janie, from San Francisco, to pay for her ticket and put her up until she could figure out what to do.
“Miss, could you help me, please?”
Echoes of the past. “I’m sorry. I’m incapable of helping anyone right now. You’ll have to speak with the security guard.” No way was she going through that again.
The young boy who looked up at her appeared to be ready to cry. Damn it! I can’t…I…damn! “What do you need?”
“My mom and dad are lost in the crowd, and I can’t see over anyone’s heads because they’re all so tall. It’s so busy here. Can you help me find security? Please, Miss?”
Rae blew out a deep sigh. Jimmy stood on the other side of the room, speaking to a young couple who looked frantic. That must be them.
“Sir,” she spoke to the man standing behind her. “I have to take this young man to security to meet with his parents. Can you please keep an eye on my bags for a moment?”
After giving her an appreciative look head to toe, he smiled and nodded.
“Thank you.” She took the boy’s hand and moved through the crowd with him.
“Hello, Jimmy. I believe this young man is lost.” Rae smiled when the parents seized the child and held him close. Jimmy winked at her and took her hand.
“I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you, Ms. Hooper.”
“Rae. Just call me Rae. I apologize for playing hardball with you the last time I spoke with you, Jimmy. I should never have threatened to cause you to lose your job, but I was desperate to leave at the time.”
“No worries. Dr. Mann actually gave me such praise that I’ve been promoted. They gave me a huge raise, too. I suppose you’re going back to Canada now?”
“I’m going to visit a friend in San Francisco. There is nothing left for me here.” Bitter tears pricked the back of her eyes, but she fought them down.
“Well then, I wish you luck. If you ever come back to Hawaii, please look me up. My wife and kids would love to meet you.”
Rae leaned up and kissed his weathered cheek. Unable to speak due to the turmoil of her emotions, she nodded then made her way back to her luggage. She stopped in her tracks when she saw the man who’d promised to watch them but her belongings weren’t anywhere to be found. She rushed up to him.
“Where are my bags?”
“Qué? No comprendo.” Stunned, Rae realized that the man didn’t speak a word of English. She was right back where she’d
started!
“Jimmy!” she shrieked.
He came running, gently pushing people aside.
“It…they’re…it’s happened again! My bags are gone.”
Jimmy rolled his eyes and took her arm. “Come on, Rae. You know the routine. Let’s go to my office.” Nearly hysterical, she started to laugh while tears poured down her cheeks. She could not believe it had happened again.
“You’ll have to wait in my office, Rae. I’ll send the guards out to search for them.”
He let her inside and closed the door behind her. The room was dark, so she turned on the lights and gasped. There, behind the desk, sat Mateo.
“I see you’re causing trouble again.”
“What are you doing here?”
Slowly, Mateo stood, his long legs stretching as he walked toward her and took her hands in his. His gorgeous brown eyes studied her until she could barely breathe before he finally spoke.
“Why didn’t you take the money, Rae?”
She shook her head. “I don’t want money from you, Mateo.”
“What do you want?”
Though she tried to pull away and escape the room, his presence, he held tight.
“Tell me.”
Rae had a hard time swallowing the sob that arose but blurted out, “I want what you can’t give me, Mateo.”
“Rae, I want you, only you. If I could give you my heart, my love, my respect, would that be enough?”
“I…I’m not sure you can do that. You’re Dr. Love Shark, the man with a thousand notches on his belt. I only want one man who can give me honesty, love, and…children. I’m not happy with anything less than forever.”
He tilted his handsome head, his eyes shining with something she’d never seen there before.
“Funny, for the first time in my life, that’s what I want, too. Marry me. Be my love today and always.” He knelt in front of her and kissed her open palm. “I love you, Rae.”
Tears welled up as she fought to answer. “What about your models, travelling, all those women who want you?”
“You’ve turned me into a man who wants what I never had, Rae. Spend the rest of your life with me and let me prove to you how much I can offer. I’ll be true to you. I’ve never even looked at another woman since the day I met you. My travels are done. I can run my business here at the resort. With the age of technology, we can create training videos and have others run the seminars. My life is yours. I, too, want children, many of them.”
