FRAUD: A Romantic Suspense Novel

by R. C. Stephens

  I walked straight past the liquor store. That night was not the night to drown my sorrows. It was a night to keep my head above ground. I forced myself to walk over to McGuillicutty’s to hang with my mates. To drink, to socialize, to feel like a real twenty-four-year-old and not the old man I felt like.

  Chapter Nine

  Natalia

  “I’m going for another,” Jane said, sitting beside me, referring to another child. We were out for lunch at some fancy place in South Beach to celebrate Immy’s birthday. The sun was hot, but a welcomed breeze came off the ocean. The hotel we were eating brunch at was super expensive, but Immy wanted to treat everyone since it was her last year in her twenties.

  “Well, I’m already there.” Immy grinned, rubbing her rounded belly.

  “Two is great. It’s double the work though,” Annabel chimed. “It takes time for the brain to adjust to having to take care of two children, but watching Carter with Tia is amazing. I can’t ask for anything more in life; it just makes me so happy.” Her giddiness was contagious, making my biological clock tick-tock in my head. Lily deserved a sibling.

  “Lewis is super excited too.” Immy glowed, smiling wide. “He comes up to my belly and talks to his little sister. It’s completely adorable.”

  I’d been itching for another child for a while now but things were tight with Mark opening the store back in the fall. It had a good start with the snowbirds down for the winter, but he’d gone into a lot of debt in order to make it work. It would take time to see profit. Which also meant settling into life on a new budget. Gone were our fancy cars and weekly visits for a manicure. Best of all Mark was in a good mood, spending time with his friend from LA, which made the atmosphere at home happy too.

  “You guys, you’re making me want to go home and get pregnant,” I mock whined, lifting the glass of sangria to my lips. I tried to forget how difficult Mark had been about watching Lily this afternoon.

  “Go on and do it. Lily needs a sibling.” Rosabell gave me a little nudge with her elbow. I was relieved we shared Uber cars to get here because I had a nice buzz going on.

  “Trust me, I may jump Mark the second I get home. I hope Lily is napping this afternoon.” I winked, taking the sangria down a little faster now.

  “Cheers to that.” My friends all lifted their glasses of sangria and clinked them together. “To Natalia and baby number two,” Jane cheered.

  I blushed, but maybe it was the warmth of my cheeks from my drink. “Aw! Thanks for the well wishes. I always have this fear it will be hard for me to get pregnant the second time around; it’s crazy, I know.”

  “Don’t overthink things. Besides you got pregnant after two seconds of trying for Lily,” Immy reminded me. She was the only one drinking orange juice so her head was clear, unlike the rest of us. And she was right, I tended to overthink things.

  “You’re probably right.” I sighed.

  After lunch my friends and I took a small walk along the beach, then we Ubered back toward the North Miami Beach area.

  As I walked through the door of our house, Mark’s gaze landed on me. He held his finger to his mouth. Fuck yes! Lily was sleeping. I clumsily slipped off my sandals at the door. The last two sangrias I drank had me feeling more drunk than buzzed. Tiptoeing over to Mark, I reached for the remote control and raised the volume two notches on his soccer game. That bought me a curious look. Without explanation, I slowly lowered my panties from beneath my dress. He cocked one of his dark brows, his lips turning up slyly. Recently our sex life had picked up. Mark went from not wanting sex to wanting it almost every night, which was strange, but I was not going to complain after an over-six-month dry spell.

  I straddled him on the couch. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me into his groin. The guttural groan that boomed from the back of his throat said it all.

  “You’re drunk,” he said. That was the truth.

  “Very drunk.” I giggled.

  He swatted my ass, causing a small yelp to break free from my mouth. Just as my mouth opened Mark captured my lips, kissing me hungrily. He was wearing a pair of well-worn basketball shorts and a grey T-shirt.

  “This has to go.” I raised the shirt over his head, raking my nails along his pecs and down his torso.

  “We don’t have a lot of time. She’ll be up soon.” His warm breath tickled my lips.

  I could do fast. It was the perfect time of month for me to get pregnant.

  “Maybe we should take this to the bedroom,” he suggested.

  I shook my head, feeling naughty and a little adventurous. Riding him on the couch was the perfect change of scenery from our bedroom.

  “Let’s do it here,” I said, my voice raspy and low. He removed his shorts and boxers in one fell swoop, his cock springing free, stiff and very erect. My belly clenched and my heartbeats increased at the sight as I shifted my torso a little so I had leverage to rub myself against him, coating him in my juices.

  “I should get a condom,” he said. That had been our routine since I recently had my IUD removed.

  “What do you think of making Lily a brother or sister?” I asked, grinding myself onto him.

  His dark eyes turned molten. “I like the sound of that.”

  Mark and I had always talked about having at least three kids when we got together. He came from a large family and wanted Lily to have siblings to love and rely on like he did. I sank onto his cock and began moving my hips while grinding myself on him. I wasn’t going to last long as an intense orgasm began building.

  “Mark,” I moaned.

  “Keep it down.” He pressed a kiss to my lips in an effort to shut me up, but I was too riled after all that talk about making babies. I rode him hard and fast and when my orgasm hit Mark let go and came inside me. My body shuddered and convulsed, I could barely contain the loud moans that escaped. When we both came down, I pressed my knees together and got off him slowly. I lay upside down on the couch with my feet in the air.

  Mark laughed.

  “What? I want to make sure it sticks.”

  “Make sure it’s a son.” He chortled. Jerk! “I think I need to get you drunk more often. I forgot how uninhibited drunk Nat can be.” He pressed a kiss to my lips while I was upside down. If our marriage was on the rocks only a few months ago, it now felt like we were back in the groove of things. I attributed it to his store getting off to a good start, which made him happy and meant he’d soon be able to support his family in the way he wanted. He was also thrilled about Mateo living in Miami. I understood how he felt, because I could never imagine living in a different state than Immy. We had been close all our lives. I embraced our new calm. If only this feeling could last.

  Chapter Ten

  Winter 2007

  “We’re late.” I looked to Mark.

  “You’re always late, Nat,” he said. No warmth to his tone. His good mood had lasted a few months and now we were back to miserable Mark. We drove in silence over to Immy and Shay’s house for Lewis’s birthday party. Lily sat quietly in her car seat in the back of my used Honda Civic.

  Mark mentioned this morning he couldn’t go to the birthday party because he and Mateo had had some trouble at the store, and even though it was Sunday he didn’t want to take the day off. The store had a good start with the increase of snowbirds for the winter, but sales had begun to fizzle. Mateo spoke to Mark about closing even though the snowbirds were back for another season. Our debt was growing. I had to stop working because I was pregnant and placed on bed rest. Things were going downhill again. Mark reminded me on more than one occasion that Immy and Shay were my friends, not his, but I put my foot down and insisted he go today. If not for Immy and Shay, then for me and Lily since Lewis was her best friend and she was looking forward to the party.

  “Well, it’s hard for me to move around.” I reminded him of my predicament as I shifted in my seat. My eight-month-pregnant belly felt heavy against my bladder ,which was already screaming for release. An ultrasound a couple month
s back made it very clear I was carrying a boy. I thought the news would put Mark on cloud nine, but apparently not. “It took me time to get dressed.” The doctor put me on bed rest a month ago. It was like a repeat of my pregnancy with Lily. The doc was concerned about a heart condition I’d been born with. It wasn’t anything too serious, but pregnancy was considered a strain on my body. My specialist felt it was better for me to take it easy since I was experiencing some irregular heart palpitations.

  Mark rolled his eyes at me. We pulled up to Immy’s house. By the number of cars parked out on the street, she invited the whole neighborhood. Mark parked the car down the street to my dismay. I hoped he would drop me out front and then park because my ankles were swollen and my legs were in pain. My body wasn’t accepting this pregnancy as well as it did with Lily, and I was having a hard time. Mark was already in a bad mood, so I didn’t want to push him. Lily was almost four and we walked hand in hand together while Mark walked ahead of us, reading something on his phone.

  The front door opened to a house filled with guests. I noticed Shay’s parents from England were visiting. I’d met them before. I looked forward to talking with Shay’s mom. I loved the proper accents and air kisses. Lily took off into the house, looking for Lewis as per usual. They had started preschool together this year.

  “Natalia.” Immy walked up to me with open arms. She’d lost all her pregnancy weight from Althea and looked gorgeous with her dark hair blown out and wearing a fitted floral dress.

  “This is so exciting. I can’t believe he’s four.” I hugged Immy. Time was flying by fast. Lily’s birthday was the following week. Immy had extended her three-month maternity leave with Althea and was heading back to work next week. Between planning this party and mentally prepping herself to leave her baby and head back to work, she was a nervous wreck. I saw it on her even if she did a good job of trying to hide it. I was a little jealous she was starting to work again. She was a pharmacist. She loved her job and worked great hours. It was something that was all her own. Working as an assistant in a medical testing lab was interesting, but it wasn’t my true passion.

  “Come, everyone’s here.” She guided us farther into the house then leaned in to kiss Mark. “Eat. There is so much food.”

  I laughed. “I’m not surprised you went overboard.” She usually did. “I’m running to the washroom before my bladder pops.” I cringed.

  “Go! I know the feeling.” She waved me off. “I better check on Althea. She’s being passed around.” She turned away to mingle.

  When I exited the bathroom, Mark was waiting for me. “Sorry.” I motioned for Mark to follow me. He was a little uncomfortable in this crowd. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure why. Mark complained my friends were boring. He used the words nerds or computer geeks. I didn’t entirely know what that meant. They were good men, committed to their families. They knew how to have a good time. They weren’t always working like Mark. We also didn’t have much to show for his long hours.

  “Are you good? I wouldn’t mind a beer.” He smiled.

  Really? Beer at noon. Gah!

  “Go ahead. I’m exhausted already. I’ll just take a seat on the couch,” I said, and he walked away. It wasn’t until he was gone that I felt thirsty, but there was no way I was getting up now.

  Mark went off to hang out with some of the husbands in the backyard. At least he was social this time.

  “Need company, friend?” My old friend Rosabell took the seat beside me and began to tell me stories about her latest clients. She was a divorce attorney, and her clients were sometimes over the top. I laughed at something she said when I saw wide shoulders coming down the stairs. My breath hitched, because I would recognize those caramel blond curls anywhere. He rounded the corner and stopped to speak to some people before his eyes landed on me, and it was as if the world suddenly stood still. I didn’t mean to squirm in my seat. I was eight months pregnant not at my most attractive. Hayes gave me a small smile and tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear as he made his way over to Rosabell and me. Rosabell smiled widely. My heart skipped a beat as I remembered the last time I saw him. He had confessed he wanted me while we windsurfed together. I would say the moment was awkward except I had been drawn to him too. I couldn’t explain it, there was more than attraction. I remembered the look in his eyes when he spoke to me. I was his sole focus, and I wanted to drink in every moment of his attention. I was at a loss for words, my feelings for him matching his own for me. I’d wanted him like a fish needed water to survive. I would never admit that, instead I feigned insult and swam away the fear of temptation overwhelming me. It had been close to two years since we spent that day on the beach and still my heartbeat changed with his close proximity. He looked as hot as ever, and his tan was gone, but there was something deeper than the way he looked that drew me in and caused nervous butterflies to float in my belly as he made his way over to us with a few long strides, causing my breathing to change.

  “Hayes. You’re back.” Rosabell’s tone was warm and friendly. Her brown seductive eyes took him in from head to toe. I knew how she felt even if I hated her transparent flirtation.

  “I am.” His gaze narrowed on me with that smoldering look that made me feel like it didn’t matter that I was eight months pregnant. He was simply delighted to see me.

  “Nice to see you.” I tried for non-chalance, failing epically.

  “I wouldn’t miss Lewis’s fourth birthday, and I had yet to meet Althea. The timing was right.” His gaze met mine as his lips slightly curved. “It’s good to see both of you.” He looked between Rosabell and me, breaking the intense stare we shared for such a brief moment I wondered if I fantasized it. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to each of our cheeks. Rosabell blushed. My cheek burned hot where I felt the imprint of his full lips. His citrusy sandalwood scent wafted up my nose, and I inhaled the familiarity, trying to hide what his scent did to me while remembering it as if it were yesterday.

  “Have you been traveling?” I asked because I needed to stop staring at him while the need to say something tangible nagged at me.

  “A little. I went back to the UK for a month. Visited with my Gram and Gramps. I basically live in New York. Just finishing up my bachelor’s in psychology,” he explained.

  “Oh! Good for you,” I answered.

  “I’m going to grab a drink,” Rosabell said. “Can I get you two anything?”

  Truth was I was thirsty and a little hungry, but I wanted time alone with Hayes.

  “I’m good.” I gave her a small smile but my insides were dancing and my heart beat in a way it hadn’t in a long time.

  “Me too.” Hayes smiled.

  He returned his attention to me. “You look good,” he whispered the minute Rosabell was out of earshot.

  I scoffed. “I’m very pregnant.”

  “It suits you. You’re a hot pregnant woman.” I laughed even harder. My husband sure didn’t think so. He was scared to touch me. If I thought our six-month dry spell had been bad, now was worse. Mark hadn’t touched me since we found out we were pregnant, and add that to my hormonal needs and my vagina probably felt equivalent to the Sahara. He hadn’t been this way when I was pregnant with Lily, although he definitely became more cautious when touching me.

  “You’re good.” I shook my head.

  “I know.” He winked and took the seat Rosabell had just vacated.

  My grin grew wider.

  “What is it? You don’t think I can find you hot while pregnant?” He leaned into my ear to ask. His warm breath on my neck caused goosebumps to erupt down my spine.

  I shushed him. “Keep your voice down.”

  He winced. “You’re right. Can’t let everyone know I’m hitting on you.”

  My smile was so wide I felt my cheek muscles at work. “Is that what you’re doing?” I asked, and my cheeks must have been crimson because they were burning.

  “It is altogether possible.”

  “You’re a kid. Why would you th
ink a pregnant woman is hot? I’m sure there are a slew of women your age waiting to date you”—I leaned closer to him—“that aren’t married.”

  He moved closer, tilting his head toward me. “Ah! You think I’m hot.” He grinned salaciously. My body tingled all over, a foreign gush of warmth filled my chest.

  “What? Huh?” I was confused.

  “If you can imagine I have a long list of women waiting for me, you must think I’m hot,” he explained as if he were stating the obvious.

  Oh dear! I shook my head and smiled.

  “You can’t tell me who to like.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m twenty-five. Hardly a child. And I don’t decide who is hot or not; it’s my body’s visceral reaction.”

  Something about his words caused a stir in my own body and a clench between my thighs.

  “Why don’t you come outside? The pool is refreshing,” he said, getting ready to stand.

  “I better sit here,” I answered. Swimming was definitely not on my to do list with bed rest.

  “Why?” he asked, tilting his head to the side. For some reason he wouldn’t let well enough be.

  “Because I was put on bed rest. I can’t be on my feet for too long.” I said, and he sat back down beside me, staring at me like he wanted to know more. He brushed his hands along his thighs and my mouth watered as I watched the movement. This was so messed up.

  “So, psychology huh?” I asked, hoping to derail the conversation while trying to gain a semblance of composure.

  “I like helping people,” he said so easily. I could see that about him.

  “That’s nice.” I grinned widely.

  “And what about you? Immy mentioned you two went to UCLA together,” he said, leaning back into the couch. He asked Immy about me. Sigh.

  “Yeah, I got my bachelor’s and then I didn’t continue,” I explained curtly.

  “Why?” he inquired.