Stealing Hearts

by C. D. Samuda

  Inadvertently her hand brushed Braeden’s arm and felt that he was burning up. She touched his forehead to confirm that he did have a fever. He opened his eyes with a groan and when he noticed it was she, he tried to ease himself up while pushing her hand away.

  “Get out,” he said, his voice croaky.

  “I’d be happy to get out of your face, but seeing as you’re sick, I can’t.”

  “I can manage on my own,” he said, his head hitting the pillow.

  Shade refused to listen to him. She looked around and when she saw the bathroom door, she headed there. Once in the bathroom she took a small towel, wetting it under the tap with cool water. Squeezing out some of the water, she returned to the room and placed it on his forehead.

  Hurrying out of the room, she jogged all the way to the kitchen where she found a bowl, she then filled it with water and dropped some ice cubes in it. Upon returning to the room and she dipped the towel into the bowl, rung some water and placed it on his forehead. She repeated the process several times until she was satisfied that the temperature had reduced a little.

  “Should I call you doctor?” she asked.

  At least he’d stopped protesting and replied, “No need. I’ll be fine.”

  “I’ll be right back. Don’t remove the towel,” she instructed.

  Shade returned to the kitten and searched the cupboards. She had shopped the day before, but hadn’t picked up any honey. It would take her about forty-five minutes to get to the nearest supermarket and back given there wasn’t any traffic hindrances.

  The easiest thig would have been to call Dave, but she wasn’t quite used to him yet, so she opted to take a cab. In addition to getting the honey, she picked up extra garlic, apple cider vinegar and items to make chicken soup. As he cashed out, a memory from her childhood made her heart flutter.

  It had been a raining day and she caught a cold. Someone had made the most delicious chicken soup that when she had gotten better she insisted that she have it for dinner again. Shaking her head, Shade pushed aside the memory and picked up her bags.

  When she returned to the apartment, Braeden was asleep with spike keeping watch at the foot of the bed. She removed the towel and went back to the kitchen to prepare the medicine and the soup.

  Half hour later, she was balancing a tray with her soup. Braeden was awake and trying to sit up. He looked terrible. His handsome face red, his eyes bloodshot and his hair all messy. She set the tray on the bedside table ad began picking up tissues that lined the floor.

  “Leave them,” he said.

  “Be quiet,” she replied. “I’m now in charge since I’m stronger than you. When you get better you can order me around.”

  With the garbage in the bin, she cleansed her hands and returned to tend to the patient. She sat on the bed and took the tray and lifted a spoonful of soup.

  “I can feed myself.”

  “What did I tell you?” Shade asked. “Open wide. I’m not leaving the room until you eat your soup.”

  Rather reluctantly, he allowed her to feed him the soup. She allowed about half hour before taking him the medicine she made with the garlic, honey and apple cider.

  “What the fuck is this?” he asked between coughs, after taking the cup from her hand.

  “Medicine that’s good for you. It’s natural.”

  “You went to the grocery store, right? Why didn’t you get medicine at the pharmacy?”

  “Am I your wife that I’d run to pick up medicine for you? I only went to get some stuff because I didn’t want to leave you alone to die,” Shade replied. “I’ll leave as soon as you’re better, but I ain’t gonna poison you with no pharmacy drug. You need to let the bug run its course while you boost your immune system.”

  Braeden brought the cup to his lips and took a few sips. “It’s not that bad. Where’d you learn to do stuff like this?”

  “On the streets, where else?”

  When he was done she took the empty cup and left him alone. Next when she checked on him he was asleep. This time, Spike was lying by his side, his head resting on Braeden’s arm.

  Chapter 11

  Braeden was home for a few days where Shade cared for him. Along the way, he stopped pushing her away and accepted that she was his nurse. After the second day, he left his room and joined her for dinner where she made more chicken soup for them both.

  It was apparent that they were still uncomfortable with each other and the elephant in the room was not yet addressed. She still planned to leave as soon as he was better.

  A weekend passed during the time he was sick and the Monday morning came for him to return to work. She was holding the cat’s cage and ready to leave when he came out of the room wearing a suit. Shade’s breath caught as she cruised the breadth of his shoulders and the way the suit fitted him perfectly.

  “Where are you going?” he asked

  “I told you I was leaving as soon as you were better,” she replied. “The credit card is on the coffee table.”

  “You can’t forfeit the contract,” he replied, his voice turning hard. “Remember our deal.”

  “You don’t want me around, why are you being difficult?”

  He stepped into the lift as the doors open. “We’ll talk when we get home. Don’t make dinner, we’ll order in.”

  “What?”

  The lift doors closed and Shade was left wondering what happened. Was it because she took care of him for the last few days? Her intention was not to sweeten him, but if that worked, then fine. She really would rather not have to go to jail and she believed that Braeden would press charges if she broke the deal. The look in his eyes just now told her that.

  She spent the day cleaning the apartment, while she wondered what he wanted to talk about. The maid came in twice per week and was due the next day, but she could not just sit around and do nothing.

  At around seven she heard the lift open and came out. Braeden was loosening his tie as he set his briefcase down beside the coffee table. She said ‘hi’ and he replied rather quietly. For a moment they both stood awkwardly while she waited for him to tell her what he wanted to say that morning.

  “Get a good night’s sleep. Be ready at eight in the morning and pack yourself an overnight bag.” When she looked curiously at him he rushed to clarify in his own haughty manner. “Don’t worry,” he added, raking his eyes over her. “It’s not a honeymoon. We’re visiting my grandfather’s estate.”

  “I wouldn’t want to honeymoon with you either,” she replied, her tone icy. “You’re not my type anyway.”

  “And what’s your type?” he had the gall to ask. “Don’t answer that. I suppose it’s the ghetto type.”

  “You might be surprised Mr. Harrington,” she shot back, beginning to walk back to her room. “Don’t assume you know me.”

  “I wouldn’t make that mistake,” he replied. “You fooled me once.”

  Shade halted and whipped around to face him. “When did I fool you?”

  “At the police station, with your grease stained face and rags. You even pretended that you couldn’t read.”

  “I didn’t fool you. You jumped to the conclusion that I was an illiterate fool and maybe an ugly one at that.”

  “I never thought you were ugly.”

  “But you thought I was ordinary.”

  “Aren’t you?”

  Shade walked over to him standing so close that his body heat wrapped itself around her. She stepped back, trying not get distracted by the tantalizing feeling that enveloped her.

  “Observe me keenly, Mr. Harrington,” she murmured. “Does it look like I have an ordinary bone in my body?”

  His eyes dropped to her lips, lingering there a second, then he trailed them down to her breasts that strained against the stretchy fabric of the t-shirt she was wearing. “I suppose you don’t.”

  Their eyes shot darts at each other as an invisible force kept them rooted to the spot. The day she got married was the most bizarre moment in her life. Shade wi
shed she could take it back. She wished she could turn back the last week and tell Braeden Harrington where to stick his contract. But flashes from her past life kept appearing before her and she was determine to keep those memories buried. She was Shade Montgomery now, no longer the person she grew up to be.

  Chapter 12

  After their little argument, she’d stormed off and locked herself in her room. He’d said not to cook, so she didn’t. Now she was convinced that she was going to bed on an empty stomach. Shade was used to spending days without food, so another night with a growling stomach was nothing new.

  She was getting comfortable when a knock at the door almost startled her. When she opened the door, his eyes took in her t-shirt and shorts. He looked passed her shoulders, his nose sniffing for anything remotely smelling like cat litter. He hadn’t changed, except for the jacket and tie which held discarded. His shirttails were out and his sleeves rolled up at the forearms.

  “Come out for dinner,” he ordered.

  “I’m good,” she replied, turning to go back to bed.

  “Come out for dinner,” he insisted. “I know you haven’t eaten, so stop pretending like you’re not hungry.”

  “I didn’t say I wasn’t hungry,” she argued, stepping past him into the hallway. “I said I was good, there’s a difference.

  Braeden pulled up the bedroom rood and faced her. “Do you have to argue about everything?”

  “Getting my practice on,” she grinned. “We’re married. We should be an old married couple in no time. That’s what you wanted isn’t it?”

  “I’m beginning to regret that decision.”

  “We haven’t consummated our marriage so why not annul it now?”

  He moved passed her on his way to the living room. “That’s not an option.”

  “Why?”

  “Come eat and stop asking questions,” he replied. “Have you packed your bags yet?”

  They were now at the dining table where Braeden had set out the food. Also on the table was a bottle of red wine and two glasses. There was no way she was touching alcohol. The few times she’d touched the stuff she’d made a fool of herself.

  He pulled out her chair and allowed her to sit before taking his own seat. He then poured the wine in both glasses. She stared at the dark rick liquid, and watched as Braeden brought one of the glass to his nose and sniffled. He then twirled the glass before taking a sip.

  Her eyes were glued to him as he closed his eyes, allowed the wine to swish around his mouth, before taking his time to swallow. Her eyes followed his Adam’s apple as it gyrated. For the first time Shade took a good look at the man whose car she almost mistakenly stole. His dark hair was a little tousled. His bushy brows matched his hair perfectly. His nose was strong and his jawline angular. But it was his lips and eyes that had her heart fluttering.

  Shade blinked, drawing her attention away from him and settling it on her plate. She took her time enjoying the food, not wanting to let on just ravenous she was. It’s been so long since she’d had good food that she was also afraid that the dinner would end too soon. Without thinking she picked up the wine and took a couple of sips.

  Gosh, the food was delightful and the beautiful blend of Italian with the wine was delectable. Before she knew it, she’d finished one glass and Braeden was pouring another. Her head already started feeling light and her mood mellowed. What was one more glass anyway?

  “We’re going to my grandfather’s estate tomorrow,” Braeden was saying. “While there, we will not argue. In fact, we will act the loving couple.”

  Shade set her glass down and blinked as her eyes were beginning to separate the items before her. She stared him, his eyes narrowed, fixing on her.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  She ignored him as well as the feeling swirling around her head. She also tried to keep her voice steady. “What do you mean loving couple?”

  “We’ll pretend to be in love for the weekend.”

  “How do we do that, we hate each other,” she blurted out.

  Braeden snickered. “That’s why it called pretending.”

  Shade shrugged. “What exactly do I have to do?”

  “We’ll hold hands sometimes,” he said. “Hell, just follow my lead.”

  He rose from the table and started picking up the dishes. Shade stood and as she did, her head swam. She slumped back into the chair.

  “You’re drunk,” she heard him say as she pressed the sides of her head with her thumbs. “Go to bed.”

  “Show me now.” Her voice slightly slurred. “Show me how to be a loving wife now.”

  Shade stood and leaned into Braeden. He set the dishes back on the table and gripped her shoulders, steadying her. Their eyes met and she stared into his hazel pools, admiring the different shades they offered.

  “You got pretty eyes,” she murmured, then giggled and hiccupped. “My husband’s got the prettiest eyes. But he aint my type.”

  She twisted from his grasp and walked rather unsteadily towards the living room. She could tell that Braeden followed her.

  “Wine!” she shrieked, while twirling around, her arms stretched wide. “I want more wine. Wine makes me feel so good.”

  Shade knew she was tipsy, but she was unable to control her actions. She turned around again, and almost bumped into the coffee table. She stepped back, and stared wide eyed at the object.

  “Na…ughty,” she slurred, wagging her fingers. “You … naughty table … trying to … trip me up.”

  She backed away from the table, only to bump into what she thought was a wall. Strong arms held her and she twisted around. She was in Braeden’s arms as he held her tightly. She giggled and rested her head on his shoulder.

  “So strong…,” she sighed. “Muscles … se…xy eyes.”

  She was sinking as the room swirled and she was falling into a dark abyss. She felt when Braeden swept her up and then she was out like a light.

  He’d never seen anyone get drunk on two glasses of wine. She wasn’t kidding when she told the police she didn’t drink alcohol. Damn, this was crazy. All the homeless people he’d met were either drunks or junkies. And none of them smelled as divine as she did in that moment. None of them had that sexy huskiness she had in voice that made his pulse quicken.

  “What the hell?” Braeden cursed under his breath as he swept her up, feeling her warmth against him.

  She flung her arms around him while cradling her head in the crux of his neck. The warmth of her breath on his skin sent shivers down his spine. His heart began a slow drumming as he carried her to her room. When he set her on the bed, he had to detangle her arms from around his neck. She was mumbling in her sleep, but he couldn’t understand her.

  For a moment he stood watching her sleep, noticing the way her long lashes brushed her cheek. For someone who lived the way she did, he was surprised at how well she took care of herself. He reminded himself to take her to his doctor as soon as possible to get a checkup.

  Turning out the lights, he left the room, pulling up the door behind him. He spent the balance of the evening cleaning up the kitchen before taking out his laptop and doing some work. When he turned in for the night, he stopped by her door. She was fast asleep.

  Chapter 13

  Shade awoke with a slight headache … just a tiny one, and she knew why. The problem was that she also remembered her actions. She hadn’t been drunk enough that she’d forget, but she decided to pretend not to remember. She packed her overnight bags and get her cats ready, reminding herself to pick up Sweetie at the police station.

  When Braeden called for her, she was ready to go. She came out pulling on the small luggage she found at her door that morning, while carrying the cage with her babies. Braeden’s disapproving stare didn’t escape her as she entered the living room.

  “You’re not taking those things with you,” he stated.

  “We can’t leave them alone all weekend.”

  A frustrated growl emitted from him, prompting he
r to set the cat cage down. After a moment, he was dialing from his cell phone and she was aware that he was calling Dave.

  “Dave, I need you to come check on my wife’s cri … er… cats, twice per day. Can you do that for me?” he paused. “Good. See you in a couple of days.” He hung up the phone and looked at her. “There, it’s taken care of. Now let’s go. We have a long drive.”

  Before the last word left his mouth a buzzer went off. She hadn’t noticed it before. Braeden walked up to a panel next to the elevator where a small screen displayed the face of a man.

  “Charles?” He said, his voice displaying surprise. “What are you doing here?”

  “Your grandfather has sent me to fetch you and your guest.”

  Shade could see Braeden’s jaw tighten. “She is not a guest, she is my wife.”

  “Congratulations, Sire,” the man replied in a slight British accent. “Should I come up to fetch your luggage?”

  “That isn’t necessary Charles.”

  “I insist Master Braeden.”

  Shade giggled and Braeden shot her a heated look. She pursed her lips as he input the key to allow Charles up to the apartment. What she did note was his sudden change in mood. Something was not right about this visit from Charles and Shade was curious about what it might be.

  The lift opened and a man dressed in a butler’s suit, a chauffer’s hat, a pair of white gloves and a while flower in his lapel stood there. With his back straight, his deep grey eyes settling immediately on her, he stepped into the room.

  “Greetings Master Braeden,” he said with a slight bow before turning to her. “Pleased to make your acquaintance Madame Harrington.”

  “The pleasure is all mine,” Shade replied, amused.

  It took every bit of self-control not to burst out laughing at her husband’s sudden discomfort. Charles picked up the bags and returned to the lift while Braeden took her hand and pulled her along. Although he put a smile on his face, the way he gripped her told her that he was barely holding himself together.