by Mimi Barbour
Snuggled back against his rapidly moving chest and hearing the ragged sighs he couldn’t hide, she became aware that their passion affected him just as strongly. I’m getting to him. Good!
Just knowing he was equally affected gave her the strength to pull back and undo the buttons on his shirt. She glanced up to see him watching her fingers and then he looked right at her. Hot pools of lust had always seemed such a corny phrase in a trashy novel, but it described the look in his eyes perfectly. Her fingers stopped, and so did her heart.
His didn’t. It vibrated. It actually moved around in the pocket that her hand lay against. A frustrated moan broke through her daze as he reached under her fingers to pull out his cell. Torn from her trance, her head flopped forward, and if the scream she heard inside could be let loose, he’d have a fairly good idea of just how demented she felt.
“It’s Angelo. I have to answer it,” he said in a harsh whisper, as he cradled her body by wrapping one arm around her and rubbing her back. He listened for a few seconds and then spoke the words that put paid to Sadie’s fantasies.
“We’ll be right there.” He stabbed the off button and threw it on the coffee table. The sound of it slamming on the wooden surface somehow gave her a bit of satisfaction. It was a slight indication that he was as pissed off at the interruption as she was.
“There’s something wrong with Angelo Ruiz’s baby. He says she hasn’t stopped crying for more than twenty minutes since her birth. Now Isobela has started, and he’s at his wit’s end. Can you call your mom? See if she’ll be willing to check things out? Tell her we’ll pick her up on the way.”
Chapter Seventeen
“She’s hungry.” Bea’s diagnosis rang in the silence. Everyone had waited in fearful anticipation, hoping that the situation could be resolved without ambulances and a visit to the nearest hospital. For Sadie, hearing those words brought a strange relief, but it was also a sad testimonial.
“Mio Díos, no! I’ve fed her over and over. She spits my body out and doesn’t want the milk. She won’t eat. She won’t sleep. She cries and cries—” The woman looked like hell and anguish rang in her voice.
“Isobela, trust me. It isn’t your fault.” Bea turned to the nearest person, who happened to be Liam, and unloaded the squalling baby into his arms before he could step back.
The fear on his face was a thing to behold and tickled Sadie’s funny bone. Until he tried to pass the baby on to her. Not in this lifetime! She help up her hands and backed away. Her baby skills weren’t any better than his. Finally he lifted the hysterical bundle against his shoulder, and began to whisper. Whatever he said worked like a magic chant. The crying eased and the hiccupping sobs slowed.
Bea’s soothing voice drew Sadie’s attention back to where the melodrama unfolded. The older woman held both the mother’s trembling hands. “Isobela, have you been under a lot of stress lately? Maybe not sleeping or eating correctly, drinking too much coffee, or doing a lot of worrying? All this can affect your milk. Your body’s production depends on how you treat it, and if you’re tired and upset, things stop working properly.”
Isobela, who stood clasped in Angelo’s arms, lifted her face from his shoulder and stopped sniffling to listen. “This is true? It can be that my milk isn’t good?”
“Oh, trust me; your milk is good, but not nourishing enough right now. She needs more.”
Bea turned to Liam, who held the now miraculously quiet baby like she was a bundle of hot coals. “Liam, can you take Angelo and go to the drugstore for some baby formula?”
Isobela spoke up, her voice tremulous, her face lit with hope. “I have no bottles. You need to buy Teresa a bottle, also.”
Liam forced the baby into Sadie’s reluctant arms with a satisfied grin and motioned to Angelo. Within a few seconds they were gone.
An instinct, from somewhere deep inside her female psyche emerged, and unaware of doing so, Sadie began to rock the baby, swaying from side to side. The squirming that had started as soon as Liam had abandoned the tiny mite vanished as she settled down once again.
Pedro, who had been peeking around the door from another room, crept from his hiding place and called to his mother.
“Mamá?”
“Si, hijo. You come visit with the ladies, but when papa returns, you must go back to bed.”
Dressed in too short, too tight teddy-bear pajamas, he ran full tilt towards her, and she picked him up and squeezed him gently.
“What is wrong with our baby?” His chubby little hands seized his mother’s cheeks, and his intent look meant business.
“Your sister is hungry. That is why she makes so much noise with her screaming. Your papa has gone with Señor Liam to buy her special food.”
“Poor Teresa.” His little hand reached towards the babe as if he wanted to stroke her, and so Sadie moved forwards to let him. Watching the touching scene unfold made it extremely difficult for her to swallow. The gentle way the boy patted his sister’s blanket and the anxious tenderness obvious in his big brown eyes illustrated to her that this small family operated with love at its core.
“Señora Bea? Once she drinks the formula, will she still need my milk? I-I want to feed my baby like I did with Pedro. Breast-feeding is special for me, and it would break my heart if I couldn’t do so any more.”
“Oh, yes, my dear. Your milk is still more nourishing than anything bought in a grocery store. Besides, it’s important for your body to keep the milk flowing. Just give her the formula as a supplement, so she feels full.”
Bea wrapped an arm around the woman’s shoulders. “Isobela, you must take care of yourself. You need to sleep. From the bags under your eyes, and those black circles, you haven’t had a good rest in days. And you need to eat more protein and drink a lot—milk, juices, and water. If you follow these rules, very soon you’ll see her settle down and be a happy, contented baby.”
“I will do so, I promise. I’ve been so worried, but now, thanks to Señor Liam, my worries are over.”
Bea—being Bea—couldn’t help herself, and Sadie knew it. She wasn’t at all surprised when her mother asked the question. Thank you, Mom!
“What did Liam do to help?”
“He has found my Angelo a job and our family a place to live. We are to look after his father and take care of the house and gardens. And we get to move this weekend and leave this horrible place.”
“You’ll live in the house with his family?”
“He has only a father. Angelo thinks maybe his mother has passed on.” Isobela made the sign of the cross and then continued, “According to what he told me, they showed him a beautiful apartment which will be our new home. It is attached to the garage. I can’t tell you how blessed we feel to have such a friend as Don Liam.”
Pedro piped up and added, “There’s a garden for me to play, and lots of grass. And an old man who will maybe be my friend.”
“If you behave like a good boy.” His mother smoothed his curls.
“I will be the best good boy, Mamá. I promise.”
Sadie fell in love with the little man all over again. She felt the muscles in her throat tighten from hearing the happiness in his voice. Swallowing became difficult, and she had to speak low so as not to wake the now sleeping baby.
“He’ll love you, kiddo. He won’t be able to help himself.”
Bea nodded and agreed. “I just met you, and already you’re my hero.” She laughed when Pedro grinned and hid his face against his mother’s neck. Then she turned to Sadie. “That look suits you, my love.”
Sadie backed away. “Don’t get any ideas.” Her touchiness belied her true feelings. Watching the tiny face between the folds of the soft, blue, well-worn blanket had instigated the most unique flow of emotions she’d ever experienced.
Visions of a different baby, Liam’s baby, with his features and his dimples, evoked tingles of pleasure that started in her tummy and strangely made her knees feel weak.
* * *
While drivin
g, Liam glanced into the rearview mirror and teased Bea in the back seat. “Thank you for your kindness tonight, Miss Nightingale. It was really appreciated. The Ruiz family has no money, and they fear doctors since they’re here illegally. I hoped your nursing knowledge would be enough to help them.”
Bea, surrounded by her black bag and her huge purse, smiled. “Teresa’s basically healthy and seems well-cared for. So is their little boy. Therefore I knew they weren’t being neglected. There had to be another reason for the baby’s symptoms.”
“They’re good people.”
“As you guaranteed earlier. It’s not Isobela’s fault that her milk hasn’t enough sustenance to nourish the baby. I’m glad you explained how stressful things have been for them lately. It did help me in my prognosis. Isobela needs to sleep and let her body become stronger. Birthing is traumatic; it takes a lot out of a female’s constitution.”
His voice droll, Liam added, “Not so easy on the old man, either.”
Bea chuckled in sympathy. While the men had gone to get the formula, Isobela had shared her experience with the women about Teresa’s birth. In fact they’d had a bit of a giggle after listening to her graphic details.
“Once they get settled in their new home, and she has the benefit of some good wholesome food, she’ll be just fine. Speaking of good food, what time do you want me and the girls to pick you up tomorrow, Sadie?”
Sadie turned to look into the back seat. “Why? Where are we going?” She knew her voice came out sharper than she’d intended, but being shocked out of her fantasy world of picking up with Liam from where they’d left off earlier, she hadn’t taken the time to filter her attitude.
“To the lake, remember? You promised! We want to get an early start. Is that a problem for you? I’ve got all the food and necessities organized, so all you need to do is bring a swimsuit and a change of clothes.”
“Aw, Mom. I totally forgot, and I—”
“Uh-huh, Sadie. You don’t get to back out at this late date. We’ve all been looking forward so much to having family time. The girls downloaded two of the top romantic comedies, I baked and cooked all your favorites, and we’ve loaded up on all the good junk food. It’ll be a blast, sweetheart.”
“Sounds wonderful! Don’t know how you can refuse.” Liam grinned wickedly in her direction, and under cover of darkness, she pinched his side. Hard! Heard the expletive and felt some satisfaction. Turncoat!
They pulled up in front of the house, and Bea leaned over the seat to give Sadie an awkward hug. She squeezed Liam’s shoulder in farewell and opened the car door. Before she could step out, Liam had made his way to her side and leaned in to offer his hand.
“You are one sweet man, Liam. If I weren’t old enough to be your mother, I’d lasso and corral you.”
“Hey, I like older women.” He kept her hand as he led her up the front walk, her bags tucked safely under his free arm.
Once they approached the door, Bea passed him a card and whispered in a voice only he could hear, “Here’s the address and phone number of where we’ll be for the next two days. If you were to show up Sunday morning to rescue Sadie before she loses her mind, I know she’d be thankful. Never underestimate how far a crazed girl might be willing to go in payment for such a sensitive deed, my lad.”
“The heck with Sadie. How about you and me getting it on? You’re just my kind of chick.”
Sadie flinched at the loudness of her mother’s bellowing laughter and shook her head when she heard Liam join in. One was just as bad as the other. But the warm glow that started in her body couldn’t be stopped, and so she let it fill her and erase the pissy feeling she’d gotten when her mother had reminded her of her earlier promise.
Visions of spending the night with Liam wilted and died. Her hands clenched as she crossed her legs and tightened the throbbing areas in her lower half that had dared to anticipate a glorious night of celebrating her newly awakened libido.
Chapter Eighteen
After dropping Sadie at her house with a light embrace and a friendly kind of kiss, Liam took his unsatisfied body, still aching from the earlier disappointments, and escaped temptation as fast as he could without looking too much like an asshole.
Before Bea had warned Sadie of their early-morning plans, he’d envisioned them returning to her place and spending the night wrapped around each other.
But family couldn’t and shouldn’t be ignored. The thought of coming between Sadie and her mother and sisters wasn’t on the table. Look at his relationship with his own father. Growing up he never knew whom he hated worse. The shrew of a mother who could turn from a sweetheart to a bitch at the drop of a hat, or the man who let her use him as her personal whipping boy.
To this day he was screwed up because of these sentiments. Having already sensed elements of unease when Sadie passed time with her family, he also understood that she loved them dearly and would never hurt them. He envied her that kind of relationship and would honor it.
Enough! Out from under her spell, he could think more clearly. He knew he needed to stop fixating about a girl he had no right to care for! Ruiz’s call had come at a fortuitous moment. And he knew just who to thank for that happening.
Earlier, while shopping, the two men had talked and Ruiz had explained how Liam’s name had come to his mind as if sent from some force that wouldn’t let up until he’d placed the call. No doubt about it—Johnny-come-lately working his magic. Guess he owed him his thanks. With his life in such a mess, Liam knew he’d best concentrate on how the hell he’d be able to once again have a full night’s sleep.
Too bad tonight wasn’t the night. Wide awake, he pulled to the side of the road and reached for the iPad he carried in a special pouch in his car. Scrolling through the Internet, he did a search on the Bradford brothers. In no time at all, he had a fairly good idea of the scope of these two men, where they lived, their business background and associates.
Since he knew there’d be no rest for him that night, he decided to do a drive-by and survey their fancy pet store where they sold a huge variety of dog breeds. Advertised as the best, he’d noticed the quality of the photographs on their distinctive website. Those had to have been taken by a professional. In fact, the whole enterprise looked to be uniquely expensive.
Certain the culprits would never keep the newly stolen dogs in so inappropriate a place, nonetheless he felt it imperative to get a good feel for what he and Sadie were up against.
The night warranted putting the top down and he drove along happily, letting the warm breeze cool the heat still rampaging inside his body. As he passed near the Potomac River, he spotted the glorious Lincoln Memorial ablaze with lights, glowing as a reminder that his country had fought and won the battle for freedom and Independence. Just like the battles he fought with his conscience every night… Hey, man! Don’t go there!
He shook off the waiting depression and realized it had been easier. With so much on his mind, he hadn’t had time to dwell and smolder in all that pain. Maybe the shrink was right.
No! Staying busy helped, but a man had to relax sooner or later. And if every time he closed his eyes he saw bloodshed and horror, then it wasn’t getting better.
The honking behind hurled him from the sickening memories and made him pay attention to his driving.
The ostentatious building that housed the pet store stood amongst other buildings full of designer-like commodities—a fancy shoe store on one side and a jewelry boutique on the other.
Leaving the car, Liam made his way over to glance into the window, not surprised to see that fancy wooden blinds closed off the view of the inside. He wandered over to the other side of the building and noticed there was a narrow walkway that led to the back. Glancing each way first to see if anyone paid attention, he skulked forward and made his way under a lit window.
High up on the brick wall, the ledge poked out some three or four inches, enough that he could use it to chin up in order to briefly see inside.
Three men sat around a luxurious office of brown leather, crystal artifacts, and dark wooden bookshelves. They all held drinks and a tray with a decanter sat on the low table in front of them.
Anchoring himself with one arm, Liam reached for his cell phone and, using the video feature, panned the room and then zeroed in on all three men. By this time his muscles were screaming.
Liam wished he could read lips. Not a sound came through the double-paned glass, so he had no idea what was being discussed. From the celebratory way they’d clinked glasses, he had no doubt these three dudes were happy about something. And he couldn’t help but wonder if the missing dogs had anything to do with their contentment.
Just before he lowered himself, the three stood up and shook hands. Back on his feet, he meandered to the sidewalk, trying to look inconspicuous, and then headed for his convertible. To put the top up took only a few seconds but gave him a reason for being parked there, and the men who all left the store together didn’t even look his way.
Head lowered, he snuck glances and saw that two of the men stood side by side as if a team, while the other backed away first. He now knew which ones were the Bradford brothers. Dressed in expensive suits with ties to match their shirts, carrying brimming briefcases, they stood shoulder to shoulder, the same height. And both were partially bald, slim built, and wore glasses.
Having just read their resumes, he knew they lived on the same property, in separate houses. Talk about togetherness. How ridiculous!
Their Lincoln SUV wasn’t hard to follow, since they had chosen white with all the bells and whistles. Then again, the cheesy lit-up license plate reading I “heart” Dogs would have kept him on track anyway.
Sure enough, they drove to their property, where the gate swung open to let them enter. Liam just kept driving along and didn’t pull up until a block later. He’d done everything he could tonight. If he got the video to Stan early in the morning, before the scheduled move for the Ruiz family, he hoped the identity of the third man might give some clues to where Giorgio and the other missing pets were being kept.
