"Once we find out who wants us dead, then the police can arrest him or her. There'll be no reason for me to be here all the time. So, let's put this lust on the back burner and get on with it."
Natalie nodded, though she knew there'd be no putting her lust on any back burners. Thanks to the incident in the kitchen, he was firmly on her mind. Still, she needed to focus on something other than that. Something that would help them solve this riddle.
"I suppose I could call Kitt to see if she's had any luck finding Macy," Natalie suggested. But that might just interrupt her sister from doing something important. After all, if Kitt had indeed found Macy, she would have already gotten in touch.
Well, unless her sister was trying to shelter her from more bad news.
"I have a better idea," Rick said, taking out his cell phone. "I'm calling Carlton." He pressed in the number and then hit the speakerphone button. "I'm just going to ask him point-blank if he's involved in any of this."
Natalie didn't even attempt to stop him. As difficult as this conversation would be, it needed to happen if only so it would help rid Rick of any doubts about his uncle.
Now, the question was—how could Natalie rid herself of her own doubts about Carlton?
She silently admitted that she had reservations about the man, mainly because he disliked her so much. Still, that wasn't a reason for murder.
She listened to the sound of the phone ringing at Carlton's house. No answer for the first five, and she figured his answering machine would soon kick in.
It didn't.
On the sixth ring, someone picked up.
But that person didn't utter any sort of greeting. There was just an eerie silence.
"Carlton?" Rick said. "Are you there?"
The silence continued for several seconds. "No. Carlton's not here right now. I don't know where he is."
Natalie had no trouble recognizing that voice, but she did have trouble figuring out why she was hearing that particular voice from Carlton's phone. "Mom?"
"It's me," Macy confirmed.
Okay. That was the one person she hadn't expected to be there. "What are you doing at Carlton's house?"
"I came to see him, but he's not home."
Rick and Natalie exchanged uneasy glances. "Stay put. I'll be there in fifteen minutes," Natalie insisted.
"No," was her mother's response.
"No?" Natalie challenged. "Mom, be reasonable. We have to talk. You need help."
"I don't need your kind of help. You tried to have me locked up in the psych ward. I'm not crazy."
"I know you're not. Someone's been drugging you, and we need to find out who's doing that. Just stay there, and Rick and I will come and get you."
"No. It's too late for that. Much too late. I have to do something to stop this."
"What do you mean?" And Natalie actually held her breath, waiting to hear an explanation.
But Macy didn't answer. She mumbled something that Natalie couldn't distinguish and hung up.
Chapter Twelve
While he waited for Kitt to phone him back, Rick fixed Natalie a grilled cheese sandwich and coaxed her into eating. She balked, of course. And then she balked about not doing more to help find her mother.
Rick understood her frustration. He, too, second-guessed his decision to send Kitt to Carlton's house to look for Macy. Rick would have preferred to do that task himself. But if he did that, it would mean leaving Natalie alone. She wouldn't have eaten, she wouldn't have rested, and the worst part was that he wouldn't have been there if something went wrong. He couldn't put her and the baby's safety behind finding her mother.
Kitt had felt the same way. She'd been insistent that they stay put in Natalie's house while she hurried to Carlton's. Kitt's insistence, however, might have been driven by the fact that Macy apparently no longer trusted Natalie or him. Still, Rick's second-guessing continued until the call finally came. He snatched it up on the first ring.
"Macy's not here," Kitt informed him.
Rick gave a frustrated huff. He hadn't really expected Macy to still be at his uncle's place, not after making those troubling comments to them over the phone. No, Macy had probably left within minutes of hanging up.
"I've searched the entire house," Kitt continued. The worry in her voice was evident even over the phone. "No one, including Carlton, is here."
Rick nearly suggested that Kitt canvass the neighborhood, but that would likely be a waste of time. Even if the neighbors had seen Macy, they almost certainly wouldn't know where she was now. If she had access to a car and money—and she probably did—she could be anywhere.
"How's Natalie?" Kitt asked.
Rick looked at her. She was seated in a chair across from him. She had her feet tucked beneath her in a comfortable pose. But what ruined that facade of comfortableness was the bunched-up forehead and the lip-nibbling.
"I'm fine," Natalie assured her sister, but since she practically snarled when she said it, Rick knew she was far from fine.
"I hired a PI," Kitt continued. "Well, actually I hired an entire crew of them. They're looking for our missing trio—Macy, Troy and the bartender, Brandon Stevens."
That was a good start, and Rick knew if Kitt could find any of the three it would be a victory. Heck, anything positive at this point would be not just a victory but a miracle. "If they have any available manpower, I also want them to check into Dr. Benjamin and Isabella Henderson."
"Anything specific?" Kitt asked.
"I'd like to know if there's a possible federal investigation into the Cyrene Project. Isabella Henderson said that Dr. Benjamin learned about such an investigation three days ago. That's not long before someone started trying to kill Natalie and me."
"Well, my money's on Benjamin so I'll tell the PIs to dig extra hard when looking at him. I'll get back to you when I have something."
"Thanks, Kitt." Rick clicked off the phone and glanced at Natalie. She was stewing about something, and he didn't have to guess what. "You're upset because your sister is trying to keep you out of this?"
Natalie nodded. "She's treating me like an invalid."
"No. Kitt's treating you like a sister she loves." Still, he knew this was tough on Natalie. She was like him in so many ways, including that stubborn, do-it-myself way. This wasn't just a blow to her ego, it probably made her feel distrusted, belittled and useless.
Still, there was nothing he could do about it except keep apologizing. He couldn't risk anything happening to her or the baby. And that included safeguarding her health in general.
He checked his watch. It wasn't really that late. Barely past 8:00 p.m. But since it'd been a long, hellish day, he decided to call it a night.
"You need to get some rest." Rick stood and motioned for her to stand as well.
Natalie frowned. "That has a you're-an-invalid tone to it."
"Well, it wasn't intentional. I was aiming for an I'm-tired-and-I-can't-rest-until-you-do tone."
She couldn't argue, though he could tell that she wanted to do just that. Instead, she gave a very loud huff and followed him.
Rick had already checked the security system, the windows and doors to make sure no one could get in without setting off the alarms. He grabbed his gun that he'd left on the foyer table and headed up the stairs.
Toward Natalie's bedroom.
Rick figured he'd deliver his ultimatum once they were there.
"Maybe these PIs can find Macy," Natalie commented.
Rick knew it wasn't an idle comment, either. She was no doubt extremely concerned about her mother. Macy was disoriented, missing and possibly still drugged.
Macy could also be in danger.
Natalie had probably already figured that out as well. Because the person who wanted to kill them just might use Macy to get to them. In Macy's present state of mind, she might not realize she was being used until it was too late.
Hence, the reason he was carrying a gun, and the reason for the ultimatum he was about to deliver.
>
He opened Natalie's bedroom door and then turned to face her. He took a deep breath. "I'm staying in here with you tonight. And before you argue—hear me out. Security systems aren't perfect, and if something goes wrong, I don't want to be all the way down the hall. I want to be here, right next to you, so I can protect you."
Rick braced himself for another invalid argument, but it didn't come.
"So, we're sleeping together?" she concluded.
Now, why did that sound like a carnal invitation?
Probably because his dumb male body decided to interpret it that way. He told his body to knock it off. This was essentially business.
His body laughed at him.
"But I meant that only in the literal sense—as in, we'll actually be sleeping and nothing else," Rick explained. And he hoped his body grasped that tidy explanation because sleeping was the only thing that was going to happen in that bed tonight.
She folded her arms over her chest. "Is this like your no-kissing session?"
He mimicked the smart-mouthed look she was giving him. "I wish. But that kind of activity won't leave much time for rest. You're resting."
"I'm beginning to hate that word," she grumbled.
"No, you don't. You're exhausted, and getting off your feet will feel darn good. I promise."
The staring war began. It was a battle of wills. Rick knew he would win. Why? Because of those dark, sleep-starved circles beneath her eyes.
It didn't take long.
"All right, I am tired," she admitted. She dropped her arms to her sides, turned and headed for her dressing room to change for bed.
And that brought Rick to the next dilemma on his full plate of dilemmas.
Could he really sleep in the same room with Natalie and not touch her?
Since he really didn't want to examine that and since he didn't like the obvious answer that came to mind, he pushed the question aside, put his gun on the nightstand and took out his cell phone. Work was the best cure for dirty thoughts about Natalie.
He called his head mechanic, Hal, to give him an update on the fire—that it was arson and the place would likely be closed for several weeks. As Rick figured he would, Hal volunteered to call the rest of the workers and pass on the news. Rick thanked him, hung up and made the next call on his list.
To Dr. Macomb, to see if the man had located the missing lab results.
No such luck.
The results and his blood samples were nowhere to be found. They'd simply vanished.
Rick figured it was time they gave up on that particular angle. Besides, the test would have only proven what was used to drug him, not who had done the drugging.
Frustrated that he was spinning his wheels, Rick sat on the end of the chaise adjacent to the bed.
Yes, the bed.
It was the place Natalie and he had had sex. The place where he'd gotten her pregnant.
The place where they'd spend yet another night.
Lucky him.
This time though, they wouldn't be drugged, and they'd have no excuses. They would keep their hands off each other.
He repeated that.
Despite what'd happened earlier in the kitchen, that was as far as Rick could take things in the sexual, making-out department. He could rationalize that giving Natalie some much-needed release didn't totally violate the promise to David. After all, it hadn't been sex.
Though it had been pleasurable.
For Natalie. For him.
For him, it'd been torture, too, but Rick had savored that look of passion and surrender on Natalie's face. Man, pleasuring her had been the ultimate pleasure. Taking in her scent. Feeling her shatter. Hearing that erotic little hitch she made deep within her throat.
He was becoming aroused just thinking about it.
Which was the exact reason why he couldn't think about it. It was also the reason he would need a cold shower or two before this night was over.
His need for a cold shower increased significantly when Natalie came out of her dressing room.
She wore dark purple pjs and a matching robe. The fabric was silk, but other than that, it wasn't provocative. In fact, it covered as much of her body as sleepwear could cover.
Unfortunately, Rick's imagination quickly filled in the blanks.
He was betting Natalie had some very good blanks.
"You're smiling," she pointed out.
"Am I?" He immediately tried to change his expression.
She smiled, too. Briefly. It let him know that she knew what he was thinking. Damn her. The woman was a mind reader.
She tipped her head to the chaise where he was sitting. "Is that where you plan to sleep?"
He glanced back at the piece of antique furniture in question. It was rose-colored and girlie. But it would have to do. He wasn't leaving Natalie alone. "Sure."
"Now who's being stubborn?" she grumbled. "The chaise is five feet long and meant for delicate Victorian ladies. You're six foot two, not Victorian and not delicate. The bed is big enough for both of us."
It was. Probably three times larger than his own bed.
But it still wasn't big enough.
The Grand Canyon wasn't big enough when it came to Natalie and him.
"Don't you dare give me an argument about this," she said, practically glaring at him. "I've been subjected to invalid treatment and constant requests to rest. Well, I'm going to rest, and so are you."
Rick nearly argued with her, but he knew it was an argument he couldn't win. He didn't really want to win it, either. In addition to the chaise being more than a foot too short, it just wasn't very comfortable.
Still, the need for comfort didn't outweigh his need to keep sane. He kept on his jeans and T-shirt and only removed his boots and socks before he got onto the bed. Oh, and he stayed on top of the covers. That would put a linen-and-silk chastity belt between them.
Too bad it wasn't something much sturdier.
"We'd better get used to this," Natalie commented as she climbed into bed. She used the covers, too, pulling them all the way up to her chin. "I don't mean the bed-sharing, but we'd better get used to being around each other. When the baby comes, you'll be over here for visits."
"Yeah." And Rick was thankful that that gave him something else to think about other than being in bed with Natalie. If he'd done the math right, by early spring their baby would be born.
"It's silly, but I'm scared," she said. She rolled on her side so he could see her. "I mean, that whole giving-birth process." She made a face.
Rick made a face, too—mainly because he thought about Natalie going through all that pain. "Maybe I can be in the delivery room with you," he offered. Not that he had a clue how that would help. Still, he left the offer on the table.
She didn't say anything right away, and he began to interpret that as a no. After all, they weren't real lovers. Definitely not partners. Yet, his being there would be the most intimate thing two people could ever experience. Then there was that whole part about her being naked. She really might object to his seeing that.
"Okay," she mumbled.
"Okay?" he questioned.
He waited until she nodded before he took it as a genuine okay. He didn't know whether to be happy or to panic. The panic was winning by a nose, but he knew this was a gift. The ultimate gift.
"But I think we have to go through classes, too," Natalie added. She hesitated and groaned. "Mercy, we're not going to be able to do this."
Because he was afraid she'd rescind her offer to let him witness the birth of his child, he stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue.
"I want you," she whispered.
Oh. So, it had nothing to do with giving birth. It was that old issue that'd been between them since they were old enough to know what sex and attraction were. It was ironic. Because of their parents' matchmaking, they'd avoided each other.
Until that night that David had walked in on them kissing.
That kiss had been a lapse, but Rick knew there'
d be other lapses. Because it was true—Natalie and he were attracted to each other.
"I keep thinking that if we just have sex," Natalie continued. "I mean, one of those wild, crazy, against-the-wall kinds of sexual encounters, that whatever's between us will just burn up. That all these aches and yearnings will go away because they've been sated."
He turned on his side as well and faced her. "Sex against the wall?" And because he thought they needed some levity, he added. "That's not very original, and it's really hard on the back and legs."
It worked. She smiled a moment before she groaned. "I'm not usually this preoccupied with sex."
Neither was he. It seemed to happen any time he was around Natalie. "We could just blame the pregnancy hormones again."
She nodded. "Yes. That's good." Her gaze met his. "I'll go to sleep now."
Her eyes stayed open.
Their gazes continued to connect. Rick also continued to feel the heat simmering between them, and that sex-against-the-wall idea was gaining momentum.
"I could take the edge off for you," he suggested. "Not sex though."
Natalie actually seemed to consider that, and Rick wondered why he'd ever opened this Pandora's box in the first place. Oh. It was because he wanted her bad.
"I could take the edge off for you," she countered.
He thought maybe his eyes crossed. "I don't doubt that, but please—spare me the details of how you'd do that. Because other than torturing each other with all this edge and sex talk, nothing other than sleep is going to happen tonight."
"What about tomorrow?" she teased.
"Smart-ass."
But it was the billon-dollar question. He could keep things under control tonight because he knew Natalie was exhausted. It was the drunken-babe rule again. But tomorrow—well, that's what cold showers were for.
And apparently phones.
The phone next to her bed rang, putting on hold their discussion about sex. Rick reached over and answered it.
"It's me," Kitt greeted. "For a change of pace, are you ready for some good news?"
Rick released the breath he'd been holding. "You bet."
"I located Macy."
"Thank God." Since he couldn't find a speaker function on this particular phone, he relayed the news to Natalie and motioned for her to move closer so she could hear the conversation.
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