“What do you mean?” Janet asked, having recovered from her breakdown. “Like migraines?”
Dr. Edwards nodded. “He needs to be observed for twenty-four hours, but if he doesn’t experience any blackouts or additional disorientation, he can go home.”
“We want them transferred to Cedars-Sinai as soon as possible,” Steven said.
Dr. Edwards didn’t seem too happy to hear that. “I’ll see what we can do. Michael here got the worst of it. He has a broken leg and bruised ribs. It’s a clean, easy break, so I’m looking at six weeks with the cast. He’s going to have some trouble moving for a while and will need to wear a pad around his ribs. He’s on painkillers now and he’ll likely need them for a few days, but I’d prefer no longer than that.”
“Sounds good,” Steven said. “Doctor, let’s work on getting them to Cedars as soon as possible.”
As Steven left with the doctor, Janet came over to Carter. “Are you having memory problems, sweetie?”
Carter shook his head. “I know everything I think I should know. You, Dad, Michael, Leigh and the kid. What else is there to know?”
“Good.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “You don’t need anything else.”
“And there’s Avery of course,” Carter added. “We’re engaged and we’re going to get married soon.”
Janet’s eyes widened only briefly before she composed herself and spoke sympathetically. “Carter . . . I . . . You aren’t . . .”
Carter laughed. “I’m just kidding, Mom.”
Janet slapped him on the arm. “Don’t do that. That isn’t funny.”
“Kimberly.”
Janet turned around in response to Michael calling for his wife. She walked over to her son with a look of apprehension. “You’re on painkillers, baby. Just rest.”
“Where did she go?” he asked.
Janet’s shoulders dropped in disappointment. “She’s not here, Michael. It’s just me and Dad.”
“She was here,” Michael said. He saw her face as clear as day just moments ago.
“It’s the drugs, idiot,” Carter called out. “The doctor told us twice only Mom and Dad were on the plane.”
Michael was shaking his head, trying to come up with the right words to explain that he’d just seen Kimberly, but not finding them. “She’s here.”
“You can see her when you get to L.A.,” Janet said, trying to hide the disdain she felt at his need for her. “She and the boys will be there waiting for you.”
“I want to see her now,” Michael said. “She’s my wife.”
Janet reached out to her son, placing a gentle hand on his arm. “She’s not here, baby. You don’t need her. I’m here.”
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills is known around the world as being one of the best hospitals in America, and the hospital of choice for the rich and famous in L.A. Cedars is popular because it has the best doctors, the best security, and luxury suites that could rival a four-star hotel. And while Carter and Michael were being transferred into their own luxury hospital suites, Steven was on the Plaza level, where the press gathered to get the latest on who and what.
“My wife, Janet, and I appreciate the concerns of the many who have called Chase Beauty, the hospital, and have sent flowers.” Steven didn’t like to sit down at comfortable press tables. He stood tall and looked strong in a distinguished and expensive suit, looking directly in the eyes of the press, not even blinking as cameras flashed.
“Our sons are fine,” he continued. “A few cuts and bruises, but they are only in the hospital for twenty-four-hour observation. They will both be going home tomorrow. My wife and daughter, Leigh, are with them now and my daughter, Haley, and I will be joining them shortly.”
Haley was standing next to him. She didn’t want to, but her mother made her. She’d taken advantage of a weak moment. Haley was so happy to see Carter and Michael when they arrived at the hospital, she was amenable to almost anything. She knew the script. Her entire life she had smiled for the camera and held her head high in the manner a Chase, even in the face of tragedy or pain, would be expected to.
“Right now,” Steven said, “we ask that you all focus on Anderson Davis. He was a good pilot and a better man. He left a wife and son behind. His family needs our support and that is what we plan to give. That’s all for now.”
“Mr. Chase!” one reporter called out before Steven had a chance to turn away. “What about the crash? Do we know what happened?”
“Not yet,” he answered. “There will be an investigation. We’ll let you know. Thank you.”
Haley was taught to stand until her father passed her and then turn and follow him. It was all a little show, but just as she turned, someone called her name. She looked into the crowd, barely able to see anything.
“Since you’re here, can you answer a question about your involvement, if any, in the murder investigation of Justin Ursh?”
How in the hell did he know she was involved?
“No comment.” She’d said that a million times.
“Is it true that your boyfriend is a person of interest?” someone else asked.
Haley didn’t answer. She turned to leave but was halted by her father, who stood like a stone sculpture. His disapproving and damning eyes bore into her and Haley felt like screaming. He’d been looking at her like this her entire life. She couldn’t stand this man who only chose to acknowledge that she existed in order to scold her.
“I didn’t do anything,” she said to him, even though she knew he wouldn’t believe her. He never believed anything she said. She didn’t wait for a response and she didn’t care about press etiquette. She passed right by him and stormed into the hospital hallway.
Thinking she was escaping the fire, Haley felt a brick in her stomach when she saw who was waiting for her in the hallway. “What in the hell are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry about earlier,” Sean said. “But I . . .”
“No, I’m serious. How in the hell did you get over here? There’s supposed to be security.”
“The security is on your brothers’ floor, not here.” Sean hesitated as he saw Steven appear from the press area. “And I have this, remember?”
Haley made a smacking sound with her lips as she placed both hands on her hips. “Do you think I give a damn about that badge?”
“What is this about?” Steven asked as he approached.
“I know your family is going through a lot right now, Mr. Chase,” Sean said, “and I know we are all, especially my sister, happy that they’re okay.”
“Thank you.” Steven took hold of Haley’s arm to bring her along, but she jerked away from him.
“Don’t touch me,” Haley snapped.
Steven seemed unfazed by her reaction. “What do you want, detective?”
“I hate to bother you now, but Haley has gotten herself and my sister, Taylor, involved in a murder investigation and she’s causing a lot of trouble.”
“The murder of that lawyer,” Steven said.
Sean nodded. “We know she wasn’t involved or anything, but she has volunteered herself to be involved and, in effect, involved my sister.”
“Your sister made her own bed,” Haley said. “She lied first.”
“We’re aware of that,” Sean said. “But your lie makes her attempt to tell the truth look false.”
“What lie?” Steven asked.
As Sean told him about how Haley provided an alibi to back up Garrett at Taylor’s expense, Steven’s expression never changed, despite the fact that another emergency from Haley was not something he could deal with right now.
“Just tell me this,” Steven said. “What do you want her to do?”
“Hey?” Haley said. “I’m right here, you know. I decide what I do. No one else, and I’m not going to bother with his little social-climbing sister.”
“This isn’t just about Taylor,” Sean said, although she was all he thought about since their parents and the family’s lawyer
had escorted her into the police station only moments ago. “This is about your safety as well.”
“Jesus Christ.” Steven turned to Haley. “I’m going to send you to Europe again. I can’t deal with this now.”
“I didn’t ask you for anything,” Haley said.
“What danger?” Steven asked.
“I was able to get a glimpse of some of the file,” Sean said. “The firm that Garrett works for is very shady and there is no doubt he is somehow involved in this murder. There are already signs of a cover-up, and the people the police suspect are criminals. They will do whatever they have to, to get rid of loose ends.”
“She’ll be down at the station tomorrow,” Steven said. “Right now, we have family business. Come on, Haley.”
Looking at Haley being ordered around like a child, Sean hated himself for feeling some compassion for this girl. Daddy issues were behind a lot of who she was, why she hated everyone and showed such disdain for men. Even though she knew that her father had broken every rule to protect her, she continued to hate him.
“This is serious, Haley.” He looked into her eyes and was reminded of how beautiful she was. He remembered how he loved feeling her soft, auburn hair against his skin and hearing the sound of her sexy, raspy voice. “These people are dangerous, and if you don’t do right by my sister I won’t be around to save your ass a third time.”
Haley rolled her eyes to give the impression she didn’t care, but as Sean walked away, she felt a little tightening in her stomach. Sean had saved her life twice now. He killed a drug dealer just before the dealer had tried to kill her. Less than a year later, he shot her ex-boyfriend just seconds before that boyfriend was going to blow her brains away with a nine millimeter.
Was she going to need him again?
7
Standing right outside Carter’s hospital room, Avery’s heart was pounding so hard, she was sure it could be heard a mile away. The gamut of emotions she had been experiencing since that morning, had taken its toll. She wasn’t sure she could survive when she’d thought he was gone. She could barely stand for the longest time. She wasn’t hysterical, but she was devastated inside. All she could do for an hour was hold tight the baby, who was oblivious to the fact that the man who loved her more than any man ever would, could be dead.
But he couldn’t be. Avery had imagined Carter being in her life forever, and not just because of Connor. She wanted him in her life. The thought of a life without him was too much to bear.
Avery was finally able to pull herself together when Anthony walked in on her in their bedroom in the middle of a prayer. It was a silent prayer and she hadn’t even known he was standing there, but when she opened her eyes, he was the first thing she saw, and he knew she was praying for Carter despite the fact that she had told him her concern was only for Connor.
Nikki had rushed over and kept Avery calm until she got the call from Leigh that Carter was alive. She buried her face in her mother’s chest and cried for a few moments before taking hold of Connor and kissing her incessantly. With every second that passed, Avery grew more and more anxious to see him, to touch him.
He called her just before getting on the jet to return to California. She could tell that he was still a little shaken and everything inside of her wanted to comfort him. Both Anthony and Nikki were standing next to her when he called, so she made it brief and agreed to get Connor to the hospital as soon as possible when he got to Cedars-Sinai. Nikki had taken her to the hospital because she couldn’t concentrate well enough to drive.
And here she was, standing outside his suite, afraid of her own emotions in his presence. She took a few deep breaths, smiling at Connor, who was falling half-asleep in her arms. She felt titillating excitement creep through her unexpectedly, as she opened the door and saw him sitting upright in the bed. He was, as usual, looking down at his BlackBerry. Her heart screamed to her how much she loved him; how much she would have lost if she had never been able to see him again.
She started toward him, and when he looked up, she was frozen in place. Her breath caught at the sight of the bruise on his forehead. She hadn’t realized she was no longer moving until he spoke.
“Do you expect me to kiss her from here?” Carter asked, all but ready to jump right out of this bed for his girls. Both of them.
Avery laughed as she approached the bed. She could see the bandages on his arm, but she was more focused on the bruise on his head.
“Does it hurt?” she asked.
Carter nodded. “But it’s getting better. Especially now that you’re here.”
She looked into his eyes and remembered what it felt like to love him completely and feel no guilt or apprehension about it. Those were some of the happiest days of her life.
His eyes held hers, while his heart told him this was real. For seconds in that plane, this image of that nose, those eyes and especially those luscious full lips, had flashed before him and he’d wanted to reach for her. But she wasn’t within his reach. Now she was, and for the first time since that plane started going down, Carter felt like everything was going to be all right.
Neither of them knew how long they stared at each other, but Connor’s cooing and reaching for her daddy broke them both out of their trance.
“Is this my little princess?” he asked as he reached for her. She jumped into his arms and he immediately kissed her on both her cheeks. He held her out in front of him, looking at her and feeling himself overcome. His baby; his whole world and he almost . . .
Avery felt her breath being taken away as Carter’s eyes began to fill with tears. When he held Connor tightly to his chest, Avery couldn’t control herself. She reached out for him, placing one hand on his arm as she leaned in and whispered, “It’s going to be okay.”
Carter looked up at Avery, her face only inches from his. “I thought I would never see either of you again. Just thinking about it makes me . . .”
“I know.” Her finger touched his cheek, wiping a tear away. She had never seen him cry before. “But I knew you had to be okay. I looked at her and knew you would see her go to school, fall in love, get married.”
“Conquer the world,” he added. “She is a Chase after all.”
She smiled, letting her own tears fall to her cheeks as she enjoyed just feeling love and being so grateful. She gently took his face in her hands and felt the power of his presence engulf her. He always had that effect on her. She would get within feet of him and everything else disappeared.
Carter leaned forward an inch and his lips brushed against hers before kissing her. It had been so long since he tasted the softness of her lips, like sweet red wine, he imagined he would be rabid the moment he could drink from them again. But he wasn’t. He was overcome with a sense of emotion and need that went beyond sex. This was reassurance that he was still alive, and she was the only person who could give it to him.
Avery felt a sexual sensitivity rush through her entire body as she kissed him. She felt herself dizzying, as if her feet had left the ground. It was so sweet and perfect, just as she remembered. She had missed this more than she could even comprehend. It had been a long time, but she had never forgotten the way his lips, and only his lips, could make her feel. No one else . . .
Suddenly remembering herself, Avery separated from him and leaned away. Her hands slowly left his face. Their eyes continued to hold each other as Carter leaned back. Avery couldn’t hide that she was flushed. She knew her cheeks were so red it could be seen over her chocolate skin. Her hand went to her chest and she could feel her breathing.
And she could not tear her eyes away from his.
“I’m sorry,” Carter said, even though he wasn’t.
“It’s okay,” Avery said, her voice catching. “I . . . We’re . . . How can anyone know what to do or say when . . .”
He held his hand out to her and she placed her hand in his. They didn’t grasp each other or try to hold on. Her fingers merely trailed his palm before lifting away. She was to
o frightened to touch any longer.
“Ya!” Connor yelled as she reached out for her mommy.
Avery was finally able to turn away from Carter to focus on her little angel. “That’s Mommy for now. I’ve noticed just in the past few days she says ‘ya’ and points to me.”
“That’s progress.” Carter kissed Connor once more before handing her back to Avery. “I’ve still got a thousand on her saying ‘daddy’ before ‘mommy.’ ”
Avery nestled Connor on her left hip. “You don’t have a chance.”
“You’re probably right.” He reached out and tickled the bottom of Connor’s foot and she screamed in joy. God, he loved that sound. “I’d pick you first over me too.”
“How sweet.”
Julia’s cold smile took the temperature in the room down about twenty degrees. She walked toward them, stopping at the end of Carter’s bed.
Avery didn’t care. She was too happy to let anything or anyone get to her. “Hello, Julia.”
“Avery.” She nodded a hello, before turning to Carter. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m great,” Carter said, and he’d never meant it more. “I’m just great.”
Julia’s smile was having a hard time holding as she seemed to understand what he was saying. Avery didn’t want to ruin the moment. It was too wonderful.
“I guess we’ll get going,” Avery said.
“You just got here.”
“Visiting hours are almost over anyway,” Julia said. “Besides, I’m sure Avery’s tired. She certainly looks like she’s had a hard day.”
“We all have,” Avery said, not bothering to look in Julia’s direction. “We’ll come back tomorrow?”
“He’s leaving in the morning, ” Julia said. “I’ll be here to take him home. To our home.”
Avery continued to ignore her, staying focused on Carter.
“Why don’t you come over tomorrow in the afternoon?” he asked. “Everyone’s going to be there in the morning but they’re all going over to Michael’s in the afternoon. I’ll be able to spend a little bit more time with my angel.”
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