Love Never Fails (9 page)

Chapter 26  The Girls

I’m lucky to have such good friends.  After a good nap all afternoon, I definitely felt more myself.  I felt sharper and a bit angry over what happened that morning.
I just finished talking with Julia when Denise and Theresa came barreling thru the door.  They had flowers, a big Teddy bear, chocolates and a bottle of wine for them, slipping me a tiny sip to celebrate.  After they listened to me as I told them what had happened, we said a quick prayer of thanks.
“I can only imagine how Damien was standing on the deck.  Steve said he was a total mess,” said Theresa.
“Listen, I think the groveling stage is long over,” laughed Denise.  “Poor man must have gotten grey hair from this.”
“I thought about how he was when they brought me over the side of the boat.  Even I get sick over the thought but now that’s behind me and us. Where are the guys now anyway?”
“Well Steve and Tom are picking up BBQ and sneaking it into the hospital.  You don’t have diet restrictions so this calls for a celebration!” shouted Theresa.
“Did someone say a celebration!” laughed Steve as he carried in two massive bags of mouth watering BBQ.  The smell was amazing and made me realize that I was hungry and certainly not for hospital food. 
“I have the dessert,” said Tom.  I looked to the door at Damien who was just standing there staring at me.  He looked so serious when everyone was in a jovial mood.  I must have looked pathetic holding the Teddy bear in my arms when I really wanted to hold him in my arms.  Holding out my hand to him, he crossed into the room and held onto it.  I felt the electric current that seemed to go from him to me and back to him again.  Lowering his lips to mine, he clung to me desperately.  I felt wave after wave of emotion in that kiss.  Damien showed me his longing, the wanting and the almost sense of loss over what the outcome could have been.  It was just Damien and me in the room together.  The others left the room quietly to give us this time together. 
I felt his tears fall gently on my face.  This man, who was a rock in everything in his life, became so precious to me. I felt the desperation and longing in his kiss to me, the fear of almost losing me.  It shattered me.
Pulling gently away from him, I wiped away his tears that were fresh on his cheeks.
“My turn.” I gave him a watery smile.  He knew what I meant by that from when he helped me on the plane and just gave me a smile that turned my insides out.  I knew then that we were on the brink of sharing something very special between couples. Did I just think of us as a couple?  Yeah I did and it felt good.
“Damien, I’m ok, let’s put the accident behind us and figure out with Sam if this is something we need to worry about.  Right now, you and I have friends here that are probably starving and want to just celebrate with us.”
“When you get out of here, we have to talk.”
“I know.”  He bent over to give me another kiss when the door opened and Steve stuck his head in.
“Can we eat now?  The troops are getting restless.”
“Sure Steve, let’s celebrate,” said Damien.
Two hours later, the doctor came in to kick everyone out.  My nurses and aides were all in my room, really causing a commotion that the doctor wasn’t pleased about. He wasn’t worried about me but about the other patients on the floor. Tom gave him a pulled pork sandwich which softened his mood but he still kicked everyone out.  The girls insisted we were still on for shopping on Saturday and I promised them I would be there.  As everyone filed out, Damien was the last to leave.  His eyes just bored into mine until he gave me that sexy eyebrow lift and a quirky smile. 
“Yes Mr. Stone.  What are you smirking about?”
“Well good Doctor, I’m thinking about how sexy you are, even in that hospital gown and knowing you are naked underneath it.”
“Get out of here Damien.  How can you even think about that now?”
Coming closer to the bed, he put his face and lips close to mine.
“I’m thinking how good it will be when I’m in you and make you mine.  You know it’s just a matter of time before that happens Princess.”
Taking a deep breath, I reminded him that we have to talk first. 
“Yes, we will but now, you need your rest.  I’ll be here in the morning to take you to my place to recover.”
“That’s totally not necessary Damien.”
He cut me off and let me know his assistant already packed a small suitcase of clothes and toiletries. 
“Yes, you will be staying at my place.  You can recover there.  I have a housekeeper that will keep an eye on you.  Until we know what we are dealing with here, I don’t want you alone in your condo.  You are safer with me.”
How safe could I be with Damien?  My heart started racing at the thought as I knew I was already in danger of losing myself to him. 
“I’m giving you the rest of the week off.  You can do your research at my house.  I just want you safe, ok?”
“Yes Mr. Stone.”
Hearing over the loud speaker that visiting hours were over, Damien leaned over for a kiss.  I felt my heart pounding in my ears at the thought of his lips on mine.  He did not disappoint.  With his lips slanting across mine, he pulled me close to his chest.  I felt my breasts respond to his masculine hardness. I know that Damien felt this too. Before my thoughts turned towards doing things that I wasn’t ready for yet, Damien pulled back from me and gave me a sweet kiss on the lips.
“Now get some rest and I’ll see you in the morning.  If you need anything, give me a call, ok?”
“Yes Damien, thank you for everything.”
Chapter 27  She's home
I picked Selina up from the hospital as planned and got her settled into my home.  I needed to get into the office for meetings all day, one of them with my Father. It was something I certainly didn’t look forward to.
"Selina, if there is anything you need, you can call down to the front desk and they will get it for you.  Just relax, watch Netflix and work if you want.  I'll be home as soon as I can."
"I'm not sick and really can go to work."
"I'm ordering you as your Boss, to take this week. Until we know what's going on, I want you safe."
Pulling her against me, I smoothed a piece of hair away from her face and lightly tugged on her ponytail to move her face up closer to mine. I noticed that she moved closer to me as she pressed that sexy body right up next to mine.
"It's better knowing you are safe here than at your place. Besides, I like having you here."
Smiling down at her, I took her lips on mine. Hearing her whimpers of desire, I turned this kiss into something that didn't need to begin right now.  I couldn't get enough of her, couldn't get close enough to her. Her sundress and my suit separated us when all I wanted to do was make her mine.  Moving my hands under her dress to her thighs, I slowly moved the up to grasp that cute ass of hers and squeeze her. My lips trailed down her neck as I felt her arms wrap around my neck. Picking her up against me, she held on around my neck with her legs around my waist.  Pushing her up against the wall, Selina was aware of how much I wanted her.  As she tipped her head back, I enjoyed the soft texture of her skin and felt her heartbeat beneath my lips. Nipping at her collar bone, I knew this was getting out of hand. It wasn't what I would want for our first time.  She deserved more than that.  
Lowering her gently to the floor, I put my forehead to hers. 
"I have to go. God knows that I don’t want to but this isn't happening now. I don't want meetings and deadlines to stop me from enjoying you as much as I would love that right now."
Selina just nodded her head in agreement.  I touched her by her chin as I moved my thumb across her bottom lip.  
"God you are so beautiful.”  I hugged her to me as though she was my last breath. This woman had the power to destroy me.
“Ok, I have to go and will call you later.”
I hated leaving her.  DT was waiting for me at the curb to rush me into work. Just knowing Selina was safe at the condo made me relax a bit until we figured out what happened yesterday. I couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling of waiting for the other shoe to fall.  Call it my military training or just intuition but something wasn't right here. 
Going thru emails, I saw call coming in. Mom.  My Mom, who doesn't take no for an answer, insisted that she go by the house later with food for lunch and to meet Selina.  I warned her that I would disown her if she made Selina uncomfortable. 
"Now, why would I do that son, especially if she is the girl that is stealing my son's heart.  Is there something here that you need to tell me?" 
Really not wanting to share anything with her just yet, I told her in no uncertain terms no.  I could tell she didn't believe me.  Mothers have a knack of figuring when their sons are keeping something from them. I felt like I was a 10 years old again and getting into all kinds of trouble. 
"Damien love, your secret is safe with me.  It's your Father you need to worry about."
"I've been avoiding him."
"It's obvious. Just talk to him. To Hell with the Board and what they might feel about this.  In the meantime, please let Selina know I'll be at your house say around noon with a delicious lunch. God knows hospital food is not the most appetizing."  Hanging up abruptly on me so it didn't give me a chance to argue with her, I called Selina to let her know that my Mom would be by at noon.  
"No problem Damien.  I'm looking forward to meeting her. I'll start working out all the data from yesterday too do we don't lose any time."
"Ok. I'll call you later."
Chapter 28 The Meeting
"Dad how are you?" I strode forward into my office as I saw my Father standing by the windows. Standing at 6'3, we were practically identical in height and looks. Let’s just say I know what I would look like say in about twenty-five years. He still commanded respect when he walked into a room and I could tell by his stance, this was going to be a conversation I'm was not going to like.  I’m trying very hard to keep my anger in check but was slowly losing control of it.
Reaching for my phone, I called my assistant.
"Anna, please hold all calls."  Slamming the door, I turned to him and got ready for this confrontation. 
"Has Steve gotten you up to speed on what happened yesterday?"
"Yes. How is Dr. Harrison?"
"She is fine and already working on her report from her findings."
"Good. Where is she Damien?"
"She’s safe at my condo. Until we find out what Sam discovers, I felt it was best that she is protected in case this was an incident to harm her."
"Damn it Son! The Board is already buzzing with rumors that you are sleeping with the girl. You are the CEO for God's sake.  You need to set a prime example to the staff about not fraternizing in the workplace."
"First of all, I'm not sleeping with her Dad. I respect her as a colleague and for the work she has accomplished in her life.  Second, it's no one's fucking business, yours included, what goes on behind my closed doors and personal life. And third, Selina almost died out there on my watch. We are trying to determine if this was an intentional act of sabotage and attempted murder on one of our staff. So I don't need you or anyone else to dictate to me how I decide to protect one of my staff, are we clear on this?"
"Enough Damien! We can argue this shit until we are both blue in the face.  Damn it Son. I'm not going to start a fight with you over this.  You are a smart man and know how the Board can be.  I'll dispel any rumors with them as best I can and tell them what you have told me." I saw my Dad walk over to the windows as he pushed his hands thru his hair. 
"Ok Damien, now I'm speaking to you as your Dad and not one of the Board.  I want you to tread carefully.  I can see that you have feelings for this girl; God knows your Mom and I are happy about this. We never thought we would ever see the day. Just take this one day at a time and discretion please."
"Ok Dad."
"Now your Mom has plans to bring Selina lunch today and to meet her."
"That's the plan."  I couldn't help but feel put off by the fucking Board. My Dad represented them but right now, he was my Dad.  I recognized what a hard role he had to play in this. 
"Son, I want you to be happy. You deserve it after everything that you have done with your life.  She seems to be the right woman to be at your side; and maybe someone who can handle you," he chuckled. 
"Thanks Dad." Giving him a handshake and hug, I walked him to the door as he left.  Now with that behind me, I could get on with my day. 
Chapter 29 Mrs. Stone
So as noon came closer, I put the finishing touches to my appearance.  Anna brought my favorite jeans and I paired that with a cute peasant type blouse.  I kept my hair back in a pony tail as I love to keep my hair back when I work.  As for my makeup, I kept that to a minimum.  I already had a nice glow from the sun.  I wanted Mrs. Stone to like me for me.  Hearing the buzzer and seeing it was noon, I told security to please send her up.  Taking a deep breath, I opened the door to a beautiful woman.  About my height and blonde hair, Mrs. Stone was a striking figure.
“Selina, so nice to meet you.”
“It’s so nice to meet you too Mrs. Stone.” I looked behind her at the security guard as he was carrying a few bags of groceries. 
“Thank you my dear and please call me Evelyn.  None of this Mrs. Stone stuff.”
I already liked her as she was so personable.  Helping the guard with the bags of groceries, I couldn’t help but notice that this was more than lunch.
“I brought you and Damien some additional food, steaks, potatoes, veggies, yoghurt, cookies and some other things.  I know he doesn’t want you even venturing out of this condo for your own safety.  It’s scary for right now, just until Sam can weed out things.  Ok, now let me look at you.”  I felt Evelyn’s eyes take in everything about me, almost to the point of being uncomfortable.