Just a Kiss [The Tiburon Duet]

by Lara Santiago

"Why do you need to know?"

  They'd wheeled Gabrielle away, and he'd seen the animated look she gave him after discovering his name. Didn't she know it was him? Probably not based on the way he was dressed, the darkness, and the all-around confusion.

  "I'm concerned about her. I want to make sure she's unharmed.” He needed to find her to explain everything.

  "Well, when you find your identification, you need to come down to the station and make a formal statement."

  "Right, I'll do that. Where did you say they took her?"

  "I didn't, and I'm not going to, either."

  Bastard. “Am I free to go?"

  "Sure, I guess. Why don't you leave the lady alone? She's had a rough night."

  "I'll have to, won't I, since you won't tell me where she is now?"

  Keller's earth residence where his identification and other components were stored was not too far away from this clearing. In fact, the area was chosen as a departure platform because of its seclusion and usual lack of human activity.

  Keller strolled from the scene in the opposite direction of his destination. He didn't want the police to follow him. Once he got what he needed, he'd have to scour the city hospitals for a woman named Gabrielle who had a dog named Skippy.

  He remembered just now he didn't even know her formal name.

  * * * *

  "It's after midnight. Do you have to ask these questions now?” Gabrielle whined.

  Five minutes ago, Officer Flanders trotted into her hospital room dressed in civilian clothes with a detective in tow.

  "The man who attacked you recently escaped from a mental institution for the criminally insane,” the new detective informed her as if she should be shocked by the information. “He'd attacked women in this manner before."

  "Oh, really?” Gabrielle asked in an exaggerated tone. “And here I thought he was just a normal guy chasing me down like an animal because I was simply a woman who needed to be dominated!"

  They each gave her a look as if fighting the urge to roll their eyes, but then they both sighed. They weren't going to scold her for her attitude, thankfully enough.

  "We need a detailed recounting of what he said and did. It will strengthen our case. We want to ensure once he wakes up, he won't be allowed out on the streets again."

  "Well, if he escaped, it's so simple ... put him back!"

  "That's the plan. Your statement tonight will expedite and further ensure the process is followed."

  Gabrielle answered several of their questions, but then she wanted to find out what they knew about Earth Keller. “What was the name of the guy who saved me again?"

  "Um ... Keller. He's some kind of scientist or something. Do you know him?” Officer Flanders’ tone suggested he knew something was going on between them. She wasn't ready to explain how she might know Earth Keller. In a biblical sense, in fact.

  Gabrielle put on her best surprised face. “How could I possibly know him?"

  "You tell me.” His face said he didn't buy her claim.

  As if conjured from their uncomfortable conversation and her fanciful imagination, Earth Keller drifted into her hospital room, eyes searching warily around with each step he took as if afraid someone might see him. She didn't have time to warn him.

  At first, it was obvious he didn't see the two men questioning her in the room. They were tucked behind the curtain separating the two hospital beds. By the time he did see them, it was too late for him to sneak back out.

  "Well, speak of the devil! What are you doing here?” Officer Flanders asked drolly and made a show of checking his wrist watch. “Isn't it sort of late for a social call?"

  "I came to see how Gabrielle is doing.” Earth Keller walked around to the opposite side of her bed. He cocked his head to the side. “Do you typically conduct your investigations at midnight?"

  Gabrielle smiled at his snappy response and watched him closely. He looked exactly like the Keller from her wild fantasies—except for his eyes. They were light blue and not sultry silver.

  Maybe she'd seen this man somewhere around town before tonight. Her karate class was held at the college campus in the gymnasium. Perhaps she'd subconsciously imprinted his gorgeous face in her memory.

  Gabrielle didn't believe for a minute she wouldn't have stopped to take note the moment she saw him.

  Like in her fantasy where she'd accosted him immediately and repeatedly without stopping to even ask his name.

  The night shift nurse, Patsy, joined the growing party around her bed. Hands on hips, along with a disbelieving look on her face, she said, “What are ya'll doing in here?” Her smooth, southern accent made Gabrielle smile. “Visiting hours are over and have been for quite a spell now. I'm gonna have to ask y'all to come back tomorrow."

  "We're on official police business,” the detective said, flashing a badge. Gabrielle had already forgotten his name.

  "I don't care if the President himself sent you. Scoot on outta here until visiting hours. Tomorrow.” Patsy motioned the two officers away from the bed.

  "Can my boyfriend stay a minute?” Gabrielle asked, putting a hand on Keller's arm to keep him close. He turned an interested look her way at the term ‘boyfriend.’ So did the other two men.

  "I thought you said you didn't know each other.” The detective frowned.

  "I never said that. Besides, maybe he's my new boyfriend, as if it's any business of yours,” Gabrielle said hotly.

  Nurse Patsy gave Keller an appreciative once over and smiled, but then shook her head, “Sorry, Sugar, but it's late, and you need to rest. Everyone needs to go."

  "Well, can he kiss me goodbye before he goes then?” Gabrielle looked up to see his reaction. He looked embarrassed as if she'd just said ‘can he fuck me goodbye’ or something—just like Alien Keller had looked after she said ‘mouth touching,’ but he smiled anyway.

  God, he was still gorgeous.

  If his kiss sent a rocket down her body, she'd have personal proof life existed on other planets, and her alien warrior lover had come back for her. If not, then a gorgeous stranger got a free kiss, and she'd know she wasn't crazy or delusional. Win-win as far as she was concerned. She made a silent plea for the rocket ride.

  "Go for it, Sugar. If he was my boyfriend, I would.” Nurse Patsy smiled.

  Gabrielle watched as Keller leaned down and made as if only to kiss her on the cheek. Not going to happen, Keller, she thought. She grabbed his face and directed his mouth to land on hers instead and waited for her hospital-issued socks to shoot off her feet once their lips connected. His lips pressed to hers, and he even jerked slightly once they were joined, but his reaction was the only one Gabrielle felt.

  It was a good kiss. It was a worthy kiss. It was a soft and engaging kiss. But it was most assuredly not an alien-Keller-lightning-through-her-entire-being rocket kiss.

  She sighed internally. Why was she disappointed? So, she wasn't crazy and delusional. So, life didn't exist on other planets. So what? A sweet, gorgeous man saved her from a fate worse than death tonight. Even if his kiss didn't rock her world, it didn't mean she'd throw him to the curb.

  Earth Keller stopped the kiss as if keenly sensing he didn't measure up to her expectations. He pulled back and studied her face for a moment. He looked thoughtful, but then he cleared his throat and sighed deeply. His hands unclenched from her sheets on either side of her waist, leaving balled-up, wrinkled patches

  He gave her a look she couldn't identify, sadness, frustration, disappointment. No rocket for him, either? Keller patted her hand twice and stepped away from her bed. Oh, crap. She didn't want him to leave. She wanted to talk to him alone. Would he come back? Would she be able to discern if he were an alien warrior prince without speaking the words out loud?

  "Will I see you tomorrow during visiting hours ... Keller?” She was unable to hide the hope in her voice.

  "Don't you call your boyfriend by his first name?” the detective asked suspiciously.

  Gabrielle's eyes widened.
Crap! She didn't know his first name. Was this a trick?

  "No, we're funny that way. I like Keller."

  "She doesn't like the name Eric. It reminded her of a bully from her childhood,” Keller said smoothly. Great lie, Gabrielle thought. He was as quick on his feet as she was.

  "Why didn't you say you were her boyfriend at the scene?"

  Gabrielle looked at Keller and shrugged. He gave her an uneasy gaze in return. She'd already told her whopper lie for the evening to get a kiss. He was on his own.

  "Because we were meeting secretly tonight,” he said finally and glanced to see her reaction. She smiled and raised her eyebrows. She couldn't wait to hear why they were meeting secretly.

  "Why were you meeting secretly?” the officer asked.

  Again she and Keller exchanged piercing glances. She shrugged, trying to give him the go ahead to tell whatever lie he wanted. She'd support it.

  "I'm a college professor. When we met, Gabrielle was a student. I didn't want to be reported to the ethics board. I don't have tenure quiet yet,” he continued as smoothly as ever.

  Good one, Gabrielle thought approvingly.

  "Now, why don't I believe that?” Officer Flanders grunted, but he was moving towards the door.

  "You lack imagination?” Keller suggested.

  Officer Flanders stopped. “This isn't over. We'll talk again. Make yourself available."

  "As you wish.” Keller shrugged. “You know where to find me."

  * * * *

  Keller couldn't believe he'd been thwarted again and wondered if he'd ever again get a chance to talk to Gabrielle alone. He had so much to tell her, but there was always some earthling around, even at midnight in her hospital room.

  If the law enforcement twins hadn't walked him all the way out to his vehicle, he'd have snuck back inside and wrangled his way past the nurse. Now, more than ever, he wanted to speak to her. Alone.

  And then the kiss. Great stars above! The barrier he had in place protected her from the usual sensations she'd had in the past when they touched mouths. He could tell she was surprised when they'd ‘kissed’ in her room, and it hadn't had the same impact on her, but it still sent him for a wild ride. It was just like her to mouth touch him when he least expected it, and in front of other humans.

  Shocking is what she is. Exciting, though, he had to admit.

  Pleasurable on so many levels. He almost turned and entered the hospital to finish what she'd started.

  Tomorrow. He'd be back to take her home. Tomorrow. Then she would be his. He hoped, anyway. He drove out of the hospital parking lot, forming a checklist in his mind for tomorrow.

  Chapter Thirteen

  "We can release you this morning, Ms. Miller,” the harried doctor told her as he consulted his clipboard. He wasn't paying too much attention to her.

  "Why? Because my cheap-ass insurance won't pay for another overnight stay?” Gabrielle asked crossly. She felt like crap. Her whole body ached. They'd been poking and prodding and asking her the same stupid questions over and over since the butt-crack of dawn. This just added to her long list of why she hated hospitals.

  "No, it would pay if you needed it, but you don't have any broken bones or a concussion, surprisingly enough. We already gave you a booster tetanus shot for the rusty splinters we took out of your hand. You have a few additional cuts and bruises, but you're fine to go home. My advice is to take it easy for a few days. Maybe soak in a nice, warm bath tonight,” the doctor recommended then signed her discharge papers.

  Great. A prescription for a warm bath. Just what she expected from her crappy medical insurance. The doctor patted her on the arm distractedly and left her alone to dress, but more importantly, to leave. Apparently, they needed the bed since she was being released so early in the morning. They'd kept her overnight for observation due to the chloroform she'd inhaled.

  Fine. It wasn't like being here didn't make her skin crawl anyway. Besides, Gabrielle needed to get home and check on Skippy. The poor thing was probably crossing all four legs by now waiting for her to get back and let him outside to do his business. It seemed like she'd been away from home for weeks.

  Home sounded like an oasis. She wanted some time to think about Earth Keller. No, his name was Eric Keller, Earth Scientist, and luscious rescuer. Since they were releasing her way before visiting hours, she'd have to find him on her own.

  Did he want to be found? Was he planning a trip during visiting hours today, or had the lackluster kiss they shared last night turned him off?

  All night, she'd slept fitfully, and in between bouts of foolish questions so early this morning, she thought about him. Alien Keller of the rocket kiss was lost to her either in a dream if he weren't real or the betrayal of his best friend and his mother if he were.

  In the end, he and his magical lips were gone from her forever.

  Eric Keller was an entirely different story. He existed, and she had a copy of the preliminary police report to prove it. It listed his name but no address or phone number, aggravatingly enough. Rocket kiss or not, she wanted to find him. What was he doing in the middle of a desolate place, on hand to rescue her?

  Gabrielle had gotten a nurse to bring her a phone book, but of course, he wasn't listed. Of the three people with the last name Keller, and of course, she'd called every number, no one knew of any family member who had the occupation of scientist. Maybe they lied to her because she'd disturbed them so early in the morning.

  Gabrielle grabbed her purse, generously brought to her by Officer Brooks late last night before the midnight meeting around her bed. He'd found it in her abandoned car still resting upended on the passenger side floor board.

  She exited the hospital to the first rays of morning light, only to remember she didn't have a vehicle to drive home in. Her car now sat at a service station after another early call to a tow company. It wouldn't be available for at least three days while awaiting a replacement driver's side window and the repair of one life-changing, flat tire.

  She cursed under her breath, realizing she'd have to go back inside to call a cab. As she turned, Gabrielle saw a man leaning against a cement column to the side of the hospital door.

  "Keller?” She walked towards him as if in a trance.

  He was in partial shadow, but she recognized his form. Tall, muscular, great lips ... okay ... not great, but intriguing. The rest of the package was fine enough for a second and third look.

  "Hello,” he said simply and dazzled her with his smile.

  "What on earth are you doing here? I figured you were long gone by now. How did you know I got discharged early?"

  "I happened to run into the nurse from last night as she was leaving a few minutes ago. I tried to get into your room for some alone time. Well, before visiting hours,” he added roguishly.

  "Really?” She laughed.

  "Yes, I wanted to speak to you alone."

  "Difficult endeavor in a hospital room masking a three-ring circus."

  He nodded and directed a heated gaze from the top of her head to the tips of her toes and up again. “Are you okay, Gabrielle?"

  "Yeah, I'm okay. A little banged up, but no worse for wear, thanks to you,” she said, watching his mouth.

  She wanted to see how he'd react to a kiss this morning. Maybe last night was strange because others were watching.

  One percent of her still missed Alien Keller. She loved his reaction to the touching of mouths. She took a step closer, right into his personal space. He didn't move to stop her, but his lips quirked into an amused smile. She probably was pretty transparent when it came to her intentions.

  "Kiss me,” she said softly.

  "Why? What do you really want to know?"

  She shrugged. “I just want you to kiss me again."

  "I sensed the earth didn't move for you last night,” he said quietly. “Why do you want to try again?"

  "It moved enough,” she said distractedly, thinking every kiss didn't have to melt her hospital-issued socks off.


  "Liar.” He backed away from her slightly.

  "Please, Keller, don't go. Can I call you Keller?"

  "Sure, I can live with that,” he said, sobering. He lost his luscious smile. “But I can't live with tolerated kisses."

  "Trust me, I didn't tolerate it. I enjoyed it, I swear,” she lied. His dubious face reflected his disinterest in another kiss this morning.

  All around them, people were weaving and dodging them, trying to get into or out of the hospital. Gabrielle registered an aggravated look from a passerby, and for the first time, realized they were in the middle of another circus.

  "Once again, we are surrounded by people.” She laughed nervously. “Could we go get something to eat? Then we can discuss whatever you want to, and I can convince you I'd like to get to know you better."

  "All right. Perhaps we can find a quiet place with a few hundred less people around."

  Keller stuck out his arm, and she held onto him as they strolled towards the parking area. She passed by a car with the window cracked for a tail-wagging Beagle inside and remembered poor Skippy.

  "Oh, wait! Could we stop by my apartment and let my dog out first? His legs are probably crossed since I didn't make it home last night."

  "No problem.” He smiled. “We can't leave good old Skippy to suffer now, can we?"

  Gabrielle stopped in her tracks. She removed her arm from his then looked up at Eric Keller, her eyes wide.

  "How do you know my dog's name?” she asked in a harsh tone.

  "You told me.” His eyes squinted as if trying to remember something important. Then just as quickly, it registered concern, like he was busted, and he knew it, but he didn't have a reasonable lie in place to placate her with.

  "No, I didn't,” she said firmly. I only told Alien Keller, she thought wildly, trying to figure out how he knew.

  "You must have told me, Gabrielle. Otherwise, how would I know?” Right then, Eric Keller's eyes changed color right in front of her disbelieving ones. She watched it happen. It was Keller. Alien Keller with the sumptuous, sultry silver eyes and the lips to die for.

  "Keller?"

  "Yes."

  "Your eyes changed color,” she said as if this occurred every single day. “They were light blue a minute ago, and now they're ... silver."