Valentine Babies (Holiday Babies Series)

by Risk, Mona

  Damn, she’d be traveling soon and giving him ample time to forget about her.

  Chapter Five

  Greg pulled himself out of his bad memories. His mother’s nagging had been an ongoing trial he’d managed to survive. He wouldn’t let Roxanne be consumed by her past. Not when he wanted her in his present. Or better still, in his arms.

  Her loose chestnut hair fluttered with the breeze blowing from the ocean. A hint of a smile floated on her mouth as she focused on his face with keen interest. Awareness vibrated between them. He brought her fingers to his lips. “Roxy darling, I can’t help you if you raise a wall between us.”

  “I don’t, Greg.” Sparkles of desire danced in her turquoise eyes. Or was it his imagination? “Honestly, I don’t want to lose your friendship.”

  Friendship? Just friendship?

  He heaved a deep sigh. Heaven knew he had enough trouble keeping his hands away from her. But she needed a friend who could listen to her, not a lover or a boyfriend with whom to share a passionate encounter. Even if Greg knew he could promise her more passion than she’d ever felt.

  Bitterness invaded him and he gritted his teeth. Being a best friend was grating on his nerves at the moment. “Can we stop talking about these people now that you’ve reached a decision?”

  She nodded, but her eyes simmered with confusion and regret.

  Darn, how could he ask her to forget the past when Nabil’s sister kept sending her daily emails all the way from Iraq? Would the dead boyfriend and his family always be at the center of their conversations? Greg fisted his hands under the table and struggled with his urge to hit something. Yet he swallowed his frustration and searched for a way to drag Roxanne out of her past.

  “You described the Diabs as decent, hospitable people. I’m sure they’ll be happy to learn about their son’s child. Your good news will be a big gift, an unexpected joy after all the sorrow they’ve faced.”

  “You think so?” An uncertain smile hovered at the corners of her lips.

  “In all my years as a doctor, I’ve never seen grandparents reject an innocent bundle. Even when the parents have faulted.”

  “You’re so right, Greg. Thank you for reassuring me. I’ll tell Leila, and her mother, Marie, about the baby and let them decide how to handle it with old Elias.”

  Greg exhaled his relief. Finally he’d managed to help Roxanne relax. But now he needed to numb his own irritation. “Let’s walk on the sand. The weather is gorgeous.” He paid the bill and they cut along a pathway that led to the beach.

  A crescent moon hung in a clear sky. Whitecaps popped on the dark ocean and unfurled on the sand in a soft hum. A beautiful night for a discreet cuddle with a loved one.

  Roxanne unlaced her high-heeled sandals. Greg removed his loafers and rolled his pants up to his knees. Hand in hand they sauntered toward the water.

  “Careful, don’t step on the Man O’ War.” Greg pointed to a multitude of bubbles, some the size of big apples, others resembling elongated watermelons.

  “What are they?” She bent to look at them. “They are blue and transparent.”

  “Some sort of jellyfish.”

  When she extended her arm to a blue bubble, Greg drew her back against him. “Don’t touch.” His arms stayed around her waist. “They sting. Their venom can cause an allergic reaction.” He couldn’t let go of her, and she didn’t ease away. In the few weeks he’d known her she’d become very dear to him. More important than any women he’d met. And yet he’d never really kissed her.

  Desire burrowed through him. He spun her in his arms but kept holding her, staring at her in the night, breathing her sweet floral scent. “Roxanne, all this emotion is not good for you.” He talked as a doctor still worrying about taking a wrong step, saying a wrong word that would cause her to withdraw her trust and walk away. “Until your child is born, please, concentrate on your health and his.” And a little bit on me.

  “Sure.” She drew out of his hold and strolled on the wet sand. With her bare foot, she kicked nervously at seashells, matching his unsettled mood. “Greg, I’m just trying to do what is right, what I think is my duty.”

  “You’ve mentioned guilt and duty so many times. What about love, Roxanne?” he sputtered. Doubt had tortured him for four long weeks. “Did you love him?” His question exploded from him before he could weigh out the consequences. A twinge of remorse stabbed him. Too late to scold himself.

  She stopped in her tracks, her ragged breathing audible in the silence of the night. He paused beside her. Tension stretched between them.

  “He was a good friend.” Her voice wobbled. “A proud man.”

  Cursing himself for his insensitivity, Greg wrapped an arm around her waist to support her. “I’m sorry Roxanne. I had no right to ask you that. Don’t say anything.” He wished he could retract his callous words.

  She fidgeted and faced him. “It’s better to face the truth.” Her chin high, her back straight, she held his shoulders. “I felt many things for Nabil, respect, admiration, friendship. I was sorry for his family’s situation and wanted to help them. I hesitated a lot about accepting his proposal.” Her voice cracked with emotion.

  Afraid she might swoon, he clasped her waist in both hands, yet he didn’t breathe a word, waiting for her to assess her feelings and acknowledge the truth.

  “After that one night, I knew I made a huge mistake for not breaking up with him earlier. In spite of the baby, I didn’t want to go there again. We were too different. And I didn’t love him enough to marry him. That’s the last thing I told him on the phone. Until now, I’ve tried to block the memory of these words.”

  A huge weigh lifted off Greg’s chest. “Don’t regret it. You told him the truth.”

  Thank you, darling. She’d never loved the dead officer and wouldn’t spend months or years crying for a lost love. Still, she carried his child. A child that would always be at her side, a constant reminder of her past mistake. Relief warred with a nagging anxiety in Greg’s heart.

  “I should have known better than to end a long distance call on sour words. He died two days later. And I was left with sorrow and remorse.” She heaved a deep breath, but didn’t cry. “I can’t change the past, but I’ll try to help his family.”

  Admiration filled Greg for the beautiful woman who wasn’t afraid to tackle a difficult task. Greg brought her against him and stroked her back. “I’ll do my best to help you.”

  Her eyes widened. “Are you serious? You’d help me take care of Leila, her parents and little Michael?”

  “As much as I can from here. I can provide the medicines and buy things they need.”

  “Oh Greg, you’re such a wonderful man.”

  “Just because I’ll take care of your friends?”

  “No, because you’re as kindhearted as you’re smart and handsome.” Her palm cradled his cheek. The sweetness of her gesture and words nearly cut the air from his windpipe.

  “Really? Does that mean you’re a bit attracted to this smart and handsome man who’s holding you in his arms and dying to kiss you?” His lips twitched in a sideways smile.

  “What on Earth is he waiting for?” Her arms crept above his shoulders and folded around his neck. She gazed into his eyes.

  He lost his smile and lowered his head. Brushing her mouth softly, he lingered, determined to enjoy the moment he’d been longing for. Her lips parted in an eager invitation he accepted heartily. Every muscle in his body went rigid in anticipation. His hands splayed over her back pressing her against him.

  Like a starved man, he slanted his mouth over hers and kneaded her luscious lips. Tongues met, and tasted, and sparred. For a whole month, he’d been dreaming of kissing her, holding her in his arms, and making love to her. At least he’d reached two of his goals. The last would have to wait until she gave him a sign she was ready for him.

  Held against his solid body, Roxanne could hardly breathe, yet she’d gladly give up breathing to remain cocooned in his arms. He finally re
leased her mouth. Cupping her chin in his palm, he looked deep into her eyes. A slow smile spread over his face. “Darling, you are one special girl for me. And so beautiful.” His husky whisper warmed her ear.

  She swallowed, mesmerized by his touch, his look. His lemon cologne and the ocean smell enveloped her with a promise of fun and relaxation. “I wish...”

  “Yes?” He trailed kisses along her throat. Smiling with delight, she tilted her head, offering her naked shoulder to his lips.

  “You’ve already answered my wish. Soon it’ll be Valentine’s Day. I want more kisses.”

  A groan answered her. His lips flew to her mouth for the most passionate kiss she’d ever received. Lips molded to lips, tongues waltzed an erotic dance, teeth grazed against soft flesh. Totally consumed, she moaned and eased away. Her forehead nestled in the crook of his neck.

  “Will you be back by February 14th?” He smoothed her hair from her cheek. His fingers lingered on her temple, turning her insides to mush.

  “Definitely.” She pulled back. He held her hand as they strolled on the beach again. “I don’t plan to spend more than a week in Iraq. Just enough time to do my reportage and deliver the things I’m taking for Leila and her family. I’d like to spend Valentine’s Day with you, Greg.”

  “I’d like that too. I’ll ask for time off and we’ll go somewhere. Any place you want.”

  “You’re so sweet. Would they let you go on vacation now?”

  He shrugged. “I have plenty of vacation days I never took.”

  “How come?”

  “I didn’t need a vacation. I relax at the beach when I’m not at the hospital. And I visit my mother once a week. Other than that, my work consumed all my time.” He didn’t seem to have friends outside the hospital. But he was her friend. The best she ever had. Now that she’d tasted his kisses, she didn’t want to lose him.

  “Come with me, Greg.”

  She felt him stiffen. His head spun toward her. “Come where?”

  “To Baghdad. We’d be together. We’ll stop in Paris on the way back to recoup and unwind.”

  “I would have come. Just to make sure you’re safe.” He exhaled loudly. “But I can’t fly.”

  “I’ll hold your hand the whole flight.”

  He snorted. “Sounds great. Still, I can’t do it. The last time I flew I was ten. I cried and screamed and upset the passengers. My mother was embarrassed and punished me. I’ll drive anywhere, any distance but no planes for me.”

  “Too bad. It would have been fun to be together.” Anyway, taking him to Baghdad was not realistic.

  “When do you plan to leave?”

  “In three days. I’ll stop by my apartment in Atlanta to pack a few professional clothes and buy the stuff I’m taking, and then I’ll fly two days later.”

  “I can drive you to Atlanta.”

  “Really?”

  “Sure. I’d love to see your apartment. Can you give me a tour of KNR?”

  “No problem. You’ll stay with me. I have a folding sofa in my living room.” A wave of heat crossed her cheeks. No intimacy. She’d rushed things once, and look where it got her. “I mean—”

  “The sofa is perfect.” His voice held an undertone of amusement and he wrapped an arm around her waist. “Ready to go back to pick up our shoes?”

  “Yes, I’m ready.”

  It’d been a special night for her. She’d made up her mind on what she wanted next. Hopefully, that last trip to the Middle East would allow her to put the past behind her and recover her peace of mind.

  Chapter Six

  Rush time slowed the traffic to a crawl. Black clouds darkened the end of the day into an early night. Greg glanced at the onboard digital clock. “Don’t be nervous. We have plenty of time.”

  “I’m not nervous at all. You’re an excellent driver.” Roxanne’s smile illuminated the car and his heart.

  He held her hand and squeezed it, loving her presence at his side. Her soft sweet perfume enveloped him like a soothing mantle.

  “Damn, it’s snowing now.” His early relief dissolved into dread. Why did she have to travel? A heavy sigh escaped him.

  “You don’t like driving in the snow?”

  “Driving is not a problem. I love new snow, but I don’t like the idea of you flying during a snow storm.” Greg’s fingers clutched on the steering wheel.

  Roxanne shrugged. “Only a few flakes. I wouldn’t call this a snow storm.”

  “Maybe they’ll cancel your flight.”

  She burst out laughing. “Don’t you wish.”

  The few flakes turned into heavy snow. Greg veered into a right exit and stopped his old SUV at the curbside drop-off in front of the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.

  “Careful, it’s slippery.” He held out a hand to her. “Don’t try to carry anything,” he warned as Roxanne exited the car. “I’ll take your luggage inside.” He heaved the two suitcases and her carry-on out of the trunk.

  “Greg, wait.” She spun toward him. Her low ponytail bounced and golden brown curls fluttered on her shoulders. “No need to break your back.”

  Roxanne had already called an airport porter who loaded her luggage on a cart. Dressed in a gray pantsuit, a black turtleneck, and black short-heeled shoes, she presented the perfect image of an independent, efficient career woman.

  “Okay, I’ll go park the car.”

  “I’ll check in my luggage and wait for you in front of the security check.” She certainly knew her way around an airport while he hadn’t stepped in one since he was a kid. It took him twenty minutes to navigate through the heavy traffic, park his car, and jog back to the terminal.

  Roxanne waited for him as promised, sitting on a bench with her carry-on and huge handbag in front of her.

  “You should go in now,” he suggested, although he hated to see her leave.

  “Not yet. Now that I don’t have to worry about the suitcases, I’m not in a rush. We can spend half an hour together before I go in. Greg, I’m so happy you came with me to Atlanta.”

  “It was an incredible experience visiting KNR. I really enjoyed the official narrated tour for visitors, and then the private one with you. And it gave me a chance to meet your boss.”

  “Lou Roland is a fun guy.”

  “Hmm, I wanted to punch him when he said not to worry about you. The man is sitting in his comfortable cozy office while he throws you into the most dangerous places.” Fear for Roxanne’s safety and anger for the insensitive bastard pummeled his insides.

  “Relax. I’ve never seen you so nervous.” She held his hand and rubbed it with her thumb. “Lou goes out of his way to make sure his people are safe and prepared. We’ve been thoroughly trained on how to handle an emergency, how to evacuate, and come home in a rush.”

  Greg shoved his hand into his pocket to extract a business card. He glared at it, striving for calm. “He had the guts to ask me to call him if something weird happens at my hospital. We love good stories,” he added, mimicking Lou Roland’s voice.

  She burst out laughing. “I’ll take care of his good stories. Now forget about Lou and give me a hug.”

  “These past three days have gone too fast.” He pulled her from her seat into his arms. “I’ll miss you, Roxy.”

  “Hopefully, the next few days, too, will pass before we even notice.”

  He covered her cheeks and temples with kisses. “Promise you’ll be careful. You’ll take care of yourself.”

  She blinked several times. “I promise. Please don’t worry. I’ll call you every day. If you don’t hear from me, it’ll probably be due to the lousy international connections. I’ll call back the next day.”

  He nodded. But he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep if he couldn’t talk to her daily.

  “Roxanne, how I wish you didn’t have to go.” He cradled her face and kissed her with all his pent-up passion.

  Her poise forgotten, she responded in the same way and moaned against his lips. “Oh Greg,” she r
epeated between kisses.

  “Darling, when you come back, we’ll have to talk and plan.”

  “Sure. I have to go now.”

  His arm around her, he walked her to the security check and gave her one last kiss.

  She dug out her passport and boarding pass and handed them to the officer, and then she followed the line of passengers.

  Rooted in place he watched her progress to the security tables. She turned and waved. He waved back until she disappeared from his view.

  For a moment he kept staring, with the crazy hope she’d turn and come back. Maybe they canceled the flight because of the snow. Maybe she’d change her mind about the trip and stay.

  Don’t be silly. She was a self-confident, successful journalist doing her job. A generous woman going beyond her duty to help others. One in a million who’d become so dear to his heart.

  In an hour Roxanne would fly on a jumbo jet and remain in the air for ten solid hours. Greg’s heartbeat raced and his stomach somersaulted. A cold sweat moistened his forehead and he balled his fingers against his pants. The panic attack. It was coming at him full speed although he hadn’t boarded a plane himself. Damn, he couldn’t stay in the airport another minute.

  Oh God, let her come back safe.

  ****

  As soon as she buckled her seat belt, Roxanne punched Greg’s number on her phone. “Hi, it’s me. Are you already on the Interstate?”

  “Yes, heading toward Florida. I left right away. The idea of you up in the sky makes me sick.”

  “You shouldn’t worry about me. I’m settled in a comfy bucket seat, sipping an orange juice, compliments of Lou who upgraded my business ticket to first class. Isn’t that nice?”

  “Nice? It’s the least he could do. The man is a damn selfish bastard for sending you on a long flight in your condition.”

  Roxanne couldn’t help a chuckle. Things hadn’t clicked between Greg and her boss. “Don’t get upset while driving. It’s not safe. Is it still snowing?”