FRAUD: A Romantic Suspense Novel

by R. C. Stephens

  “Yeah,” I sighed.

  “Sometimes life happens when we aren’t paying attention.” She shrugged.

  “It certainly does. I don’t have the right to go after what I want right now,” I rebutted.

  “The timing is off, that’s true, but you can always hope for someday.” She gave me a sad smile.

  “Someday, yes.” I almost wanted to smack myself awake from my stupor because some of us weren’t meant to have a happily ever after.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Hayes

  I couldn’t get her out of my head. I was leaving Florida in one week, and she was all I could think about. The way her body pressed to mine, the hunger in her kiss, and the way the heat between her thighs made me practically forget my own name. If I’d craved her before, now I felt like I needed to be inside her to breathe.

  Mark had mentioned he wouldn’t be joining her this morning at her mother’s house. He was ditching his family Christmas morning, and I wanted to know why. I felt bad lying to Immy and Shay about wanting to head to the Keys for the day, but I had to do it. I had to know where Mark was going that was so important. I followed him back to the same apartment he visited for hours last week.

  I dialed Nathan’s number. “Yeah,” he snapped. It was eight o’clock in the morning on Christmas.

  “Nathan. Sorry to bother you, mate,” I said cheerfully into the phone.

  “What the fuck do you want?” In the background I heard some shuffling, the sound of a woman and more shuffling.

  “Merry Christmas. I’m truly sorry for calling this early. I just need to know who lives at this address: 1401 Lincoln Rd. Suite 201. Please, Nathan, just give me that.”

  He groaned. “Fuck, Hayes. Give me a minute.” It was pretty cool that he sounded totally American, but I guess his ability to impersonate was one of the reasons the FBI had taken him. “I need time to look into it.”

  “Okay. Can you find out anything and everything about whoever lives there? I know I’m asking a lot . . .” My voice trailed off. How could I explain my insanity?

  “You are,” he said curtly.

  “I’m sorry, I truly am. I really care for this woman. I need to know she’s safe when I leave for New York next week.” I was pleading. Nathan wasn’t a bad guy, he was just in a sour mood most of the time. He was single and had a female in his bed early in the morning, which meant I may have caught him just after or before getting lucky.

  He groaned. “Fuck.” He went silent. I wasn’t sure what that meant or what I was supposed to say.

  “Um . . . what does that mean, mate?”

  “It means I need to talk to my superior and see if I can get proper clearance,” he barked. I remembered he was all about following the rules. Dotting his i’s and crossing his t’s. “I’ll call you back at 1500,” he said, and the line went dead.

  I stayed in the car, waiting for fucking Mark to exit the apartment. I was about to crawl out of my skin two hours later when he finally did. The shops on that strip were closed because of Christmas.

  I followed Mark to the same fucking gay club. The street was pretty quiet. I didn’t know what the hell he had to do at a club on Christmas but I was more than curious. I parked my car on a close side street. I didn’t need him spotting me.

  He exited the club carrying a large black duffle bag. I paid attention to the way he carried it, over his shoulder taking heavy steps. A part of me wanted to leave my car and accidentally bump into him and find out whatever the hell it was that he was carrying, because it didn’t fit the work description of a real estate agent. Will’s cryptic behavior and Nathan’s unwillingness to disclose anything reminded me that something must be up with Mark.

  Once Mark drove off, I didn’t follow him. It wouldn’t matter, and for all I knew he was headed back to the apartment on Lincoln for a few hours.

  I wanted to see Natalia like I needed air.

  I shot her a text.

  Me: Can we meet?

  I didn’t want to drive to North Miami because I told Shay and Immy I was taking a day trip. I also didn’t want to leave town, in case she needed me.

  I drove toward Fort Lauderdale for no other reason than I had nowhere else to go. My phone rang. I quickly glanced at the screen to see Natalia’s name. I wasn’t expecting a call.

  I reached over to the seat, picked up the phone, and put it on speaker. “Hey.”

  “Hi.” Her voice came across as barely a whisper. “I’m with my dad. Is everything okay?”

  It was bad that it warmed my heart that she had called me rather than texted. Calling was personal and told me I was important to her, whether she meant it that way or not.

  “I need to see you.” I tried to hide the urgency in my tone, but it was hard.

  “I can’t.”

  “Leave the children with your dad for a while and come meet me.” I was desperate for her. My ability to hide my feelings waned the minute she pressed against me in the bathroom yesterday.

  “Hayes, it isn’t a good time,” she whispered.

  “Where are you calling me from?” I asked, my lip quirking on one side.

  “The bathroom,” she answered, and it reminded me of the way we kissed in the small space yesterday. She made me crazy with lust.

  “Well, that’s just it. I keep thinking of the bathroom, and I can’t get you out of my head.” I laughed at my own words. “That sounds wrong.”

  She groaned. “I can’t stop thinking about it either.” I pictured her biting that lower lip of hers. Those succulent kissable lips. Truth was I wanted her desperately, but I was more concerned about her safety. I had questions I needed answered.

  “Come to me. Your dad will be happy to watch the kids, and Mark isn’t around, so what do you care?” I hit below the belt to get what I wanted, but I wasn’t thinking rationally. I couldn’t tell her what I knew about her husband. Slowly my mind had begun to believe that something was off with Mark, and I needed Natalia safe.

  “Okay. Where?” she asked.

  “Where does your dad live?” I asked.

  “South Beach,” she answered, and I put coffee shops in South Beach into my GPS search as the light turned green. I was going in the wrong direction, but I also knew Mark was in South Beach, and we didn’t want to bump into him. Most coffee shops were closed on Christmas. I thought about a hotel, but I knew that would mean I would have an even harder time keeping my hands off her.

  I pulled the car off to the side and googled hotels that weren’t on the main strip. I was going to hell. But maybe we could meet in a hotel lobby since they were open today.

  “I’ll text you an address soon,” I said.

  “Okay let me know.”

  I sent her an address for a hotel and even went so far as to book a room. I wasn’t planning on sleeping with her. I wanted complete privacy.

  Me: The Miranda. Suite 322. Ask front desk for a key.

  Her text response came in seconds.

  Natalia: Oh lord

  Me: That works for me, but I prefer you say oh Hayes when you come.

  I realized my text was a little much after I pressed send.

  Me: I just want to talk privately. I don’t intend to bed you. Yet.

  I didn’t want to make her nervous to see me.

  Natalia: You’re bad. I like it. Okay, see you soon.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Natalia

  I must have seriously lost my mind. I approached the front desk and gave my name as Hayes told me to and was given a key card. A fucking key card that would allow me into a room to meet a man who wasn’t my husband and I still felt no guilt. I was going to rot in hell. But I couldn’t help myself because the man I was meeting had gotten under my skin a long time ago. Years ago actually, and I didn’t know how I’d managed to resist him until now. As I slid the key card into the door, my pulse thrummed with an excitement I’d never felt before. I wasn’t some inexperienced teenager driven by hormones. I was a grown-ass woman who knew what she wanted and h
ow she wanted it, and after feeling lonely and empty for so long Hayes would fill that void.

  “Hi.” He lay on the bed looking like sex and lust rolled into one hot package.

  I swallowed. “Hi.” My sudden boost of bravery had waned when I realized how real this was about to get. He was on the bed in a grey T-shirt and jeans. He sat up as I opened the door and slowly walked over to me. His unruly hair fell on his forehead. His hand came up and caressed my cheek, and I moved into his touch like a feline rubbing herself against a scratcher. He took another step and dipped his head, pressing our lips together, and my thoughts flew out the window as my hands tugged on the strands of his hair. Our hungry lips moved in rhythm, claiming, possessing.

  “Oh Lord.” I breathed into his mouth and opened my eyes for the briefest of moments to see a smile across his lips. His hands worked through my hair, our mouths caressing, our tongues lashing and dancing frantically the heat of our bodies beating together. My breasts pressed against him, his erection poking from his jeans, wanting inside me. My thighs clenching together as he broke the kiss and his lips moved slowly behind one ear and down my nape. Shivers rolled down my spine and fire scorched a path left behind from his hot kisses.

  He took a deep breath. “I knew bringing you to a hotel was going to test any resolve I had left. I needed a private place to meet with you. I care for you too much to take you now,” he said, and his thumb outlined my lips.

  “What’s going on?” I swallowed. “You have to stop looking at me like that. I need to get back to my dad. Where will I explain I disappeared to on Christmas Day?”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to take you away from your family. I’m worried about you. Yesterday I meant to break into that bathroom to see how you’re doing.” He licked his lips. “And well . . . we got carried away.” He gave me a shy smile only the warmth in his gaze quickly morphed into concern. “One minute you’re telling me you’re leaving him and the next he can’t keep his hands off you.” His brows furrowed. “My gut tells me something is wrong.”

  I took a deep breath, walked over to the bed, and sank down on it, fantasizing how much I wanted him to continue kissing me. To claim my whole body. Still his concern for me was endearing. “I told Mark I wanted a divorce, and he threatened me,” I said, staring him in the eyes. His ground his jaw and closed the space between us, stopping in front of me but not joining me on the bed. The reason was clear as day. I’m pretty sure if he wouldn’t make a move I would. I knew how shitty that was. Part of it had to do with my anger toward Mark, and Hayes deserved better. I did too.

  “How did he threaten you?” He looked pensive.

  “He knows exactly what I hold dear, and he uses it against me. My kids… He’s threatened a custody battle and reminded me how poor and homeless I would be if I left him. He’s right. Financially I’m not ready to care for the kids on my own. And once we pay off all our debts, there won’t be any money left in the house.”

  “I don’t want to tell you what to do. You’re a smart woman, but I worry that you let him manipulate your decisions,” he said carefully.

  “I know I do.” A strangled laugh escaped me. “I don’t want him dragging my children through a custody battle, and I can’t live without them.”

  “I know,” he said softly. He placed his phone on the side table and wrapped me in his arms. “Things won’t be like this forever. You’ll find a way to make money and care for the children,” he said with such assurance.

  “I need to go back to school. But it will take four years to complete my degree.” I pulled my head back to look at him.

  “Seriously? I’m finishing up an eleven year degree. What’s four years? You’re young.”

  I snickered. “I feel old and worn. What are you doing here with me?” I couldn’t help the tears that fell.

  He swiped at them. “That’s easy. I like you.” He smiled only the smile died fast. “I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. Everyone needs some help. Don’t be too proud to ask.”

  I nodded. “My dad would love for me to go back to school. I’m pretty sure he’d pay the bill.” I huffed.

  “What’s holding you back?” he asked.

  I want to say Mark, our bills. I don’t.

  His phone lit up and beeped on the side table. I turned my head, and my eyes fell toward the sound instinctively. I didn’t mean to look at his phone, but the name Nathan and beside it Mateo Nunez drew my attention like a moth to a flame. What the hell? I jolted to my feet in one swift movement. Why would this Nathan whoever he was send Hayes a message about Mark’s old partner? The man who abandoned Mark when sales at the store got bad, the man who left him with a bank loan and took off back to LA.

  Hayes stared between me and his phone, noticing my widened eyes. “What just happened?” His caramel brows drew together and his head tilted to the side.

  “Some guy named Nathan just texted you the name Mateo Nunez. Why the hell would someone text you that name?” I crossed my arms over my chest and stared him down. Was I a bad judge of character again? What the hell was going on? I’d lived with a liar, with a man who kept secrets for too long. I was paranoid and scared.

  “Okay, relax.” He got up from the bed, checked his phone, then looked at me.

  My insides were shaking from my spiked adrenaline. “I want to know what the hell is going on?” My heart thudded in my chest, and I wondered if I was being played. If I was that delusional to believe that whatever was happening between Hayes and me was something more than animal attraction.

  “Okay.” He held his hands up in the air in surrender. “I assure you that whatever I’ve told you is the one hundred percent truth. I’ve spent some time around Fernando, and I know he speaks a lot of rubbish, but I began to wonder if there was truth to his words, especially after you told me about your conversation with Bella, Mark’s sister. I was just looking out for you. I care for you and . . .” His voice trailed off. “This is going to sound fucking crazy.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Trust me, I know how crazy this will sound.” He looked at the ceiling almost like an eye roll to himself. “Given my background . . . and, I mean . . . in the Royal Navy.” He was mumbling.

  “You’re scaring me now.” I paced back and forth, holding my arms close to my torso.

  “Shite. Please sit.” He took my hands and guided me to the bed. He didn’t feel like a threat so I sat. He kneeled on the floor in front of me so we were eye-level. “I don’t want to scare you. I want to protect you.”

  His clear blue eyes held a sincerity that tugged at something deep within me. “From what? What do I need protecting from?” I insisted.

  He swiped a hand over his mouth. “I don’t know yet.” I shot up to my feet and paced again. Not the answer I was looking for. I didn’t want to think that he sounded crazy, but he sounded crazy.

  “Stop! Wait a minute and let me explain.” His urgent tone pulled me from my racing thoughts. “You know I was part of a special unit in the Royal Navy . . . well, a lot of my mates are now MI5 and FBI. Um . . . that is the route they took after the Navy. Some of us are still in touch, and I worried you were in some kind of trouble where Mark is concerned . . .” he explained sincerly. “I realize I may be paranoid because I’ve listened to the ramblings of a mad man, and after everything I’ve been through with mum and the war, I couldn’t bear for something to happen to you. I asked a friend at MI5 about Mark’s family, and he said something troublesome. I wasn’t sure if he was yanking my chain, because sometimes he likes to be an arse.” He shook his head. “Regardless, I called another guy who is kind of a friend, he works for the FBI and I . . .” He paused and looked me in the eye, his narrowed gaze filling with some sort of regret causing my stomach to sink. “Promise me you won’t freak out at the next part.” He waited.

  Internally I was freaking the heck out, but I held myself together so I could hear him out. As much as he was scaring me, I also found him sweet as hell. This big man with a huge heart who wanted to protect
me, even if his assumptions were way off base.

  “I won’t freak.” I smiled warmly, more relaxed that I now understood he wanted a background check on Mark and Mateo’s name must have come up.

  “Thank you.” He blew out a breath. “I’ve . . . been following Mark around,” he said, and my confusion returned.

  “What do you mean?” The words flowed slowly as I excentuated every syllable.

  “I mean I’ve spent two separate days tailing your husband,” he answered matter-of-factly.

  “Why?” My brows furrowed ,and my tone indicated I was back to thinking this was a little crazy.

  He gritted his jaw. “Because I wanted to know what he does with his time. I’ve been trained to trail people to gather reconnaissance. This shouldn’t surprise you.”

  “Only you aren’t in a special Navy force anymore,” I reminded him, trying to keep my tone even. It was crazy he was following Mark around.

  “That doesn’t mean my skills melt away. That my instincts don’t work,” he argued, trying to defend his questionable actions.

  “So, tell me what happened.” My tone softened. I didn’t want to put him on edge. He wanted to look out for me, and I appreciated it. He was sweet even if this wreaked craziness.

  “Are you sure you want to know?” he asked, placing his hands on his waist.

  “Are you fucking kidding me, Hayes? Don’t pull this on me now. I’ve wondered for years how my husband spends his days. I know he lies, I know he has secrets.” With all the crazy, if I could get answers, I wanted them. That was for damn sure.

  “Would you hate me if I was the bearer of bad news? If I was the one to reveal those secrets to you? I need to keep you safe, Natalia. You need to promise you won’t do anything stupid,” he said softly, looking into my eyes for confirmation.

  I wanted to tell him I’d keep my cool, but I couldn’t promise that. “Please tell me. I’m dying here.”