“Hello, Stewart residence.”
“Thad?” The voice on the other end was female, thin, weak, and yet familiar.
“Yes?” He tried to place the voice.
“Help me.”
Recognition! Fear gripped him. “Darnell?”
“Yes. Please come. I need you.”
CHAPTER 12
Thad gathered Darnell to him gently as he removed her from his car. Weakly, her arms circled his neck. He groaned.
“Darnell, you’re burning up. I shouldn’t have listened to you. I’m calling an ambulance. You need to be in a hospital.”
Her “No” was barely a whisper as her head moved against his shoulder in protest.
She had insisted that he take her to his home, stating that she didn’t want the publicity her hospitalization would cause. Reluctantly, he had complied, breaking the same speed records on his return home that he had broken as he headed to Sausalito to find her. Luckily, as he was going to find Darnell, he passed his neighbor David Alan, who was out jogging. He was a doctor and had agreed to meet Thad at his house when he returned home. If it hadn’t been for David’s assurance that he would be available, Thad would have taken her to a hospital whether she wanted to go or not. As he looked at her now, he hoped that he hadn’t made the wrong decision.
Thad called David from his car phone as he neared their neighborhood. He was relieved to see David pull into the entrance to the driveway as Thad carried Darnell up the steps.
Donald, returning home from an outing, had just opened the front door when he looked around and was startled to see his employer behind him, carrying a woman. Thad looked frantic. Needing no explanation, Donald stepped aside.
“Show Dr. Alan to my bedroom,” Thad bellowed as he darted past him into the house.
Thad’s adrenaline was pumping as he raced up the stairs. Stepping into the massive bedroom, he glanced down at Darnell in time to see her eyes roll up into her head. She went limp in his arms. He froze.
“Oh, God!” He couldn’t breathe. He placed her on his bed, just as the doctor entered the room carrying his medical bag.
Pausing, David stood for a moment assessing the situation. One look at Thad’s face and the unconscious woman on the bed brought him swiftly across the room. Thad hovered anxiously at the foot of the bed as David examined Darnell.
“Is she all right? Is she going to be all right?”
David looked from Darnell’s sweat-drenched face to Thad’s worried one. He tried to sound reassuring. “She’ll come around.”
Weak with relief, Thad gripped the four-poster bed for support. His eyes never left Darnell’s face.
She began to stir. Her eyes opened slowly and focused on the dark-haired stranger sitting on the bed beside her. He was wearing stylish wire-rimmed glasses and was dressed in a white knit shirt and white shorts. For a brief moment, Darnell wondered if she was in heaven.
“Hello.” His voice was soothing as he smiled down at her. “I’m Dr. Alan, but there’s no need to introduce yourself. I know who you are. I’m one of your biggest fans. So I’m going to make sure that I take special care of you.”
A weak smile made its way to Darnell’s lips before she closed her eyes and slept. Thad resumed breathing.
* * *
What in the world was going on? How had the actor Thad Stewart gotten into the picture? Moody was literally stunned by what had occurred.
He had been watchful and worried since returning to his West Coast home. Yesterday, he had been on the beach waiting for Darnell for their planned accidental meeting. He was determined that it would take place that day. His patience had run thin. He had waited for quite some time, but she hadn’t appeared for her run. He had been very disappointed.
Undaunted, Moody had returned to the beach this morning. This time, Darnell did make an appearance, but again there was a change in her routine. She started to run but seemed to have changed her mind as he glanced up in time to see her climbing the path toward her home. She was too far away for him to reach her. Frustrated, he had returned to his house, but his luck had changed this afternoon.
Feeling confined, he had gotten in his car for a trip into town when he spotted Darnell’s sports car ahead of him on the road leading to the highway. He decided to follow her.
He had thought that their drive would take them into town or maybe to Monterey on some errand. He was ecstatic, thinking that this would finally give him the opportunity to bump into her and start a conversation. Instead, he found himself on an unexpected trip to San Francisco, but she didn’t stop there.
They crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and took the exit into Sausalito, which had been clogged with sightseers. Moody maneuvered the crowded streets skillfully, undetected by Darnell, but he was confused as to where she was going and the reason why. Perhaps a short getaway for a change of scenery? He wasn’t sure, but he kept following. When she pulled into the parking lot of an upscale strip mall and parked, his confusion increased as she remained in the car. Parking across the street, far enough away so that she could not see him, he sat watching and waiting. She didn’t get out of the car.
Twenty minutes passed, and a bright red Ferrari raced down the street and screeched into the parking lot. Alert, Moody sat up and peered through the windshield. He recognized the red car as it pulled up next to Darnell’s Mercedes. It had nearly run over him—twice. Moody unlocked his car door. A man leaped from the car and rushed to Darnell’s vehicle. Moody’s hand slid behind him for the gun that he wore in his back holster. By the time the man lifted Darnell up in his arms and placed her in the passenger seat of his Ferrari, Moody was across the street with the gun concealed in his jacket pocket.
Moving steadily but not wanting to attract unwanted attention, Moody was still unsure as to what was happening, but his heart was pounding loudly. What was happening with Darnell? He could see that she wasn’t putting up a fight at being transferred to the other car. Had she been expecting this stranger? And why had she not walked to his car on her own?
By the time he reached the sidewalk separating the parking lot from the street, the man had gotten back into the Ferrari and was pulling out of the parking lot. Darnell was at his side. Hand in his pocket, Moody stood at the exit of the lot. He would have a split second to assess the situation and make the decision as to whether the stranger would live or die. He stood tensely as the car came to a halt only inches from him. The window was down. The driver slowed briefly to check traffic before pulling out. It was in that moment that Moody peered at the face behind the steering wheel. He knew that face! Caught off guard, he hesitated and his grip on the gun relaxed.
The car turned onto the street as Moody stood immobilized, watching as it became a blur in the distance. Through the back window, he could see the faint outline of Darnell’s head against the headrest. There were no screams of protest, no resistance to having been abducted. She had gone willingly, and her supposed abductor was no dangerous stranger. It was none other than Thad Stewart, a man who had entertained Moody and his cohorts for years.
Long after the car had disappeared, Moody stood frozen in place, trying to comprehend what had happened. His Darnell had been carried away. She was now in Thad Stewart’s hands. What he couldn’t understand was how that had happened, and most important of all, why?
* * *
He was there. On the occasions in which Darnell opened her eyes from her feverish illness, Thad was always there—sitting by her bedside, stroking her hair and reassuring her of a speedy recovery. She would awaken and see him sitting beside her bed, asleep, awakening at her slightest stir. Or, he would be lounging on the balcony outside the bedroom, reading, yet alert and at her side at the hint of any movement. He attended to her every need.
When the doctor diagnosed her illness as the flu, Thad hired a private nurse to be at her disposal. Introducing her as Catina, he assured Darnell of the woman’s discretion. She was a friend. Neither of them would have to worry about her revealing their arrangement t
o the tabloids.
Thad also called Mrs. Sharon and informed her of Darnell’s infirmity. Her mother was not contacted at her daughter’s request. She was out of the country on vacation, and Darnell didn’t want anything to disturb her. Voicemail and text messages would handle any communications from Bev on her daughter’s cell phone. Mrs. Sharon was to make an excuse for her employer if Bev called the house.
It was on the third day of her confinement that Darnell fully awakened. Catina, an attractive woman in her early forties, was entering the room with a food tray when she noticed that her patient was wide awake. For the first two days of her illness, she had only stirred from her slumber to take medication, quench her thirst and hunger, or take care of bodily needs.
“Hello. How are you feeling today?” she asked, flashing a friendly smile.
Darnell stretched, gave a wide yawn, and returned her smile. She liked this woman. Her boundless energy was a spirit booster. “I feel much better. Thank you.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear it.” Setting the tray aside, Catina hurried to help Darnell as she pulled herself into a sitting position. The nurse fluffed the bed pillows behind her back for support, then went to the window and pulled the cord that opened the vertical blinds covering the windows. Daylight streamed into the room. Catina moved quickly as she walked back across the room, picked up the tray, and settled it on Darnell’s lap.
“I’ve got some homemade soup for you, chicken noodle, and there’s Jell-O for dessert.”
Darnell looked into the bowl of chunky liquid and shook her head. “I’m not hungry.”
Catina ignored the comment and handed her a spoon. “Dr. Alan said you’ve got to eat. You haven’t eaten much of anything in three days.”
Darnell glanced at the soup. It looked good, but her stomach still felt queasy, and she had no appetite. With a weary sigh, she pushed the bowl of soup away, settled against the pillows, and looked around the bedroom. It was the first time that she had felt well enough to do so.
It was a beautiful room, decorated in muted tones of beige and pale yellow. The furniture was expensive and tasteful. The huge four-poster bed in which she lay dominated the room. Original paintings by African-American artists adorned the walls. Fresh flowers—long stemmed yellow roses—rested in heavy cut crystal vases on shelves and tables throughout the room. She inhaled their fragrance.
“Whose room is this?” Darnell asked.
“Mr. Stewart’s.”
Darnell nodded. Catina’s reply didn’t surprise her. The room was meticulous, just like the man. There was a place for everything, and everything was in its place. Thad was the kind of man who knew how to take care of things, just as he was taking care of her in her illness. She stole a glance out of the doors that led to the balcony.
“He’s not here,” Catina said knowingly.
Darnell’s eyes slid back to the nurse. She looked at her innocently. “Who?”
The woman wasn’t fooled. “Mr. Stewart will be back shortly. He had to run over to the center in Marin City.”
“The center?”
“Yes, the center.” She paused expectantly, surprised by Darnell’s inquiry. “You know, the one Mr. Stewart built for the kids in Marin City,” she prompted, trying to jog Darnell’s memory. “ The new community center.”
“Oh! That center.” Darnell dropped her eyes, not wanting the woman to know that she didn’t have a clue what she was talking about.
Sensing Darnell’s confusion, Catina shrugged. “I guess he doesn’t talk about it much. I shouldn’t be surprised. He doesn’t like to talk about all of the things he does for people. He does so much.”
“He does?” Darnell couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice.
Catina, who had resumed fussing with the pillows supporting Darnell’s back, stopped short. “Yes, he does. He donates a lot of money to charities all across the country and—” She shrugged. “But like I said, that’s something he doesn’t talk about.” She paused thoughtfully for a second before proceeding. “I really don’t mean to pry, Ms. Cameron, but how long have you known Mr. Stewart?”
Darnell wasn’t one to discuss her business, even with someone who seemed as nice as Catina. Her answer was short. “Not long.”
Her reply left no room for further discussion. Getting the message, Catina nodded and continued her duties while Darnell considered the tidbits of information that she had shared with her about Thad. He had never said anything to her about having contributed in any way to any community. As far as she knew, it had never been publicized that he had a commitment to any cause except pleasuring the opposite sex. This made Catina’s revelations about him even more amazing. It certainly heightened Darnell’s curiosity. Thad had to be the most complex person she had ever met. The contradictions in his life were as mind boggling to her as her growing attraction to him.
She had started to Tiburon to give the man a piece of her mind and to sever all ties with him once and for all. Yet, when she fell ill, she’d had no doubt that when she called him he would come for her. What a paradox.
Where her trust in the man came from, she didn’t know. Maybe it was the confidence and skill he had displayed in handling the car in the Santa Cruz Mountains, or perhaps the care with which he’d planned each activity they did together. Whatever it was, he had come through and she admired that about him. She could tell by the way that Catina talked about Thad that she admired him, too.
Darnell put the tray aside. Catina eyed the untouched meal, then looked at her disapprovingly.
“Mr. Stewart is not going to like this. He’s been beside himself with worry about you. I’ve never seen him so upset.”
Darnell raised a surprised brow. “Really? Why?”
Catina looked at Darnell as if she were half-witted. Surely, this woman was aware that Thad Stewart was in love with her. Everything he did and said indicated that fact.
“If you don’t know, then it’s not my place to tell you. Now, Dr. Alan told me that you had to eat to get your strength back, and you’re going to eat!”
Darnell noted the determination in Catina’s command, but it wasn’t going to work. “I’m not hungry,” she answered with equal determination.
The two women glared at each other, both sensing that the other’s will was as strong as her own. Catina sighed, deciding to try another tactic.
“Believe me, Ms. Cameron, my husband’s homemade chicken soup is a taste you won’t forget.”
Darnell’s voice rose in surprise. “Your husband’s soup?” Darnell glanced at the third finger of Catina’s left hand. She wasn’t wearing a ring. “Who’s your husband?”
Catina followed Darnell’s eyes and anticipated the unasked question. “My husband is Donald Chapman, Mr. Stewart’s assistant, and I don’t wear a wedding band because I’m allergic to gold.”
Darnell’s eyes registered her surprise. She couldn’t picture this petite, attractive woman married to Thad’s staid, straight-laced assistant. At least that’s how she pictured Donald. She hadn’t met him yet.
“How long have you and Donald been married?”
“Four years,” Catina answered, tucking the covers in at the foot of the bed. “Ever since he got out of prison.”
The latter information was delivered so matter of factly that Darnell doubted what she had heard. She tried not to convey the shock she felt, but she could hardly believe it. Prison! Old straight-laced Donald was a criminal?
Preoccupied with straightening the bed covers, Catina didn’t notice Darnell’s reaction. She turned back to her and indicated the abandoned soup. “I’m telling Mr. Stewart about this.”
“Telling me about what?” The deep voice resonated throughout the room, drawing the attention of both women.
Thad was leaning casually against the doorframe. His arms were folded across his chest, and his attention was fixed on Darnell.
Her eyes swept his towering frame. He was dressed in white linen slacks, a black double-breasted sports jacket, and a white shirt tuc
ked neatly in his pants. He looked as though he were posing for the cover of a magazine. Darnell felt her pulse quicken as she became aware of her own appearance. She gave her hair a cursory swipe. Then, in an effort to hide her discomfort at his sudden appearance, she set her mouth firmly and met his gaze. She had come to do battle with this man, not to go weak over the sight of him. There were matters to be settled here, and she would not let his movie star looks sway her…except, of course, she was already swayed.
CHAPTER 13
Catina looked from her stubborn patient to Thad. “She refuses to eat, Mr. Stewart, and that won’t do.”
“No, it won’t.” Thad shifted his weight from the doorframe and stepped into the room, his eyes still on Darnell. With feline grace, he moved across the room, removing his jacket as he did so.
Catina shifted uncomfortably. The electricity between Thad and Darnell increased with every step he took. Tossing his jacket onto a chair, he tore his gaze from Darnell momentarily and took the tray from Catina. “Thank you. I’ll call if I need you.” Relieved, she stole silently from the room.
Thad placed the tray on the coffee table in front of the sofa. His heart was doing its usual drumbeat. He had become used to its beating double-time whenever he was near Darnell. His spirit soared at the sight of her awake and alert. Her large, dark eyes were bright and shining with fire, no longer dull with fever.
“Good morning, Doe Eyes.”
Darnell could not repress the flicker of pleasure she felt at the tenderness in his greeting. However, before she could respond, her surprise turned to shock as unexpectedly he scooped her up into his arms.
“What are you doing?” She kicked her feet in protest. “Put me down!”
Having reached the sofa across the room, Thad plopped down on it with Darnell still in his arms. He pulled a comforter from the end of the sofa and wrapped it snugly around her as she twisted and turned in his lap. Thad held on.
Singing a Song... Page 9
