Once a Marine (9 page)

He raised Rafi’s weapon to fire at the hostage family. Rafi made a clumsy grab for the much smaller man and yanked him into the dirt. They wrestled for control of the automatic handgun. Had he not been wounded, Rafi would have controlled the situation in short order. During the struggle blood gushed from his wounded leg. The pain was god-awful.

He’d never make it out of there alive.

His shirt blood-soaked, the teenage hostage grabbed a handful of dirt and flung it into the guard’s face. The kid’s courage gave Rafi time to throw a punch, smashing the face of the terrorist.

Rafi fell on his back. The ground swayed beneath him in sickening waves. He was stunned to see Bravo Delta standing at the edge of the clearing in her hot pink bikini. She shook out her wet hair and a diamond shower of water droplets formed an aura about her. Sun-dazzled rivulets coursed down her sleek body. She grinned and beckoned him. “Come here, flyboy. You owe me one.”

What the hell was she doing here?

Chapter Eight

BD daydreamed of Rafi’s strong hands and chest while Shari and Norah argued endlessly over BD’s plan to acquire Haven Designer Studio. Haven, located in New York, would complement Grayson with an eclectic collection of trendy garments with fantastic appeal to a younger age demographic. The time had come to make the acquisition while Haven was still relatively unknown on the West Coast.

Norah, up to her usual resistance to any idea put forward by Shari or especially BD, sparked the peevish argument with her daughter.

BD remained silent, her mouth pressed in a straight line of disgust. She crossed her arms and spun her chair around to stare out the window. She didn’t know how much longer she was willing to put up with these two. If Shari didn’t show some chutzpah, and shut Norah up, BD was ready to throw in the towel.

She sprang to her feet. “That’s it. This is going nowhere. I’m out of here.” She scooped up papers and shoved them into her portfolio.

Norah spoke up. “You’re out of here when I say you’re out of here, miss.” Her still beautiful face took on an unattractive twist of dogged determination.

Shari stood. “Correction, Mother. She’s out of here when I say so. Not you. BD has a personal contract with me. You just can’t stop trying to control everything, can you?”

Well. This was promising.

“We’re going to lunch, Mother. Then BD and I are flying to New York to negotiate with Haven. If you don’t like it, you can kiss my ass!” She grabbed BD’s sleeve as she brushed past her and tugged her toward the door.

BD glanced over her shoulder as they left the room. Norah sat staring, open mouthed, after them.

BD bit her lips together to hide the triumphant smirk that threatened to reveal itself on her face. Once clear of the board room, she leaned toward Shari. “About time you stood up to her. That was great.”

Shari’s face had gone white. Lips trembled on her reply. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

BD pulled her inside the executive washroom and shoved her through one of the stall doors. Just in time.

BD clamped her hands over her ears to muffle Shari’s pitiful gagging. She grimaced, waited for the flush.

Shari groaned. “It’s a good thing I’m not bulimic. I’d almost rather cut my throat than throw up. God! Hand me a wet paper towel.”

BD soaked a handful of towels, squeezed, and held them under the stall door. “Here. Shall I get some water?”

“No. All I want to do is get out of here for a couple of hours. Have Karl bring the car around to the workroom door. I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”

* * *

While finishing lunch Shari called the office and instructed the secretary to book first-class seats for them on the four o’clock flight to New York. They didn’t have much time to pick up what papers they needed from the office, go home to grab an overnight bag, and meet at the airport.

BD placed a call to Peggy Marotta, owner of Haven. She made sure the woman would be available to meet them in the morning to discuss the acquisition. “Have your lawyers on call, Peg, I think we’ll be able to come to an agreement quickly. The deal is essentially what we discussed day before yesterday.” BD formed an OK sign with her fingers. “Great. See you at ten tomorrow morning.”

Shari smiled when BD snapped off her cell phone. “Let’s get moving. I’ll have Karl drop you off at your brother’s place. I’ll meet you in the Executive Club at LAX no later than three thirty.”

When BD got out of the car at her brother’s place, her two-year-old nephew ran screaming toward her, vainly attempting to open the locked gate. “I can see why your mom keeps this locked, Chase. You’d be gone in a flash, wouldn’t you?”

She reached around with her key and unlocked the bolt as the energetic baby launched himself at her legs. “BDBDBD!” He nearly knocked her down in his happy enthusiasm. His chubby arms clutching at her brought a wave of warmth to her soul.

The front screen door flew open. BD’s sister-in-law, Kelly, stopped, put her hand to her heart, and slumped against the doorframe. “That child will be the death of me yet. I thought he got the gate open by himself.”

BD picked Chase up and carried him to the door. “He’ll be able to climb over that thing in no time. He’s a dynamic duo all by himself. You and Jack picked the perfect name for this little guy.”

Kelly reached for Chase. He immediately slumped on her shoulder with two fingers in his mouth. “What are you doing here in the middle of the day?”

“Shari and I are flying to New York in less than three hours.” She delivered the remark over her shoulder as she hurried down the hall. “I gotta pack quick.”

Kelly trailed after her. “For a minute there I thought you’d found a place of your own and came to tell me the good news.”

“Ha-ha. Be careful or I’ll sic my little brother on you.”

“Not likely. Jack’s the one who wants to get rid of you. I love having a built-in baby sitter.”

“He can relax. I might be going to New York for a few weeks after this deal is put to bed.” She hauled her small suitcase out of the closet in the bedroom she shared with Chase and dropped it on the bed. Pushing garments back and forth on the closet rod she found her black suit and a couple of silk blouses, one white and one ruby red. Her nightgown, two changes of underwear, and cosmetics would take up what space she had left.

Glancing down she decided the shoes on her feet would do for the next two days. She smiled when she thought of Shari trying to squeeze everything she “needed” into a single carry-on.

“Is it that deal you were telling Jack about?”

“That’s it. Shari finally grew a backbone and gave her mother an ultimatum. Ended up making her physically ill, but she felt pretty proud of herself after.” She headed down the hall to the bathroom they all shared. “Would you call me a cab?”

“Sure, but I can drive you if you want.”

“No thanks, by the time we got Houdini strapped down in his car seat we’d both be bathed in sweat and I’d miss my flight.”

* * *

Their plane sat on the tarmac waiting in line for clearance to take off. BD spotted a good-size Cruz Aero cargo jet taxiing on the adjacent runway. Her heart flopped in her chest and she slopped Coke on her hand.

Shari looked at her. “What? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

BD pointed to the window. “Look.”

Shari’s eyebrows went up. “Big ’n Sexy must be back in town.”

“I doubt it’s him. He’s got a pretty good-size fleet in his hangar.” She hated the thought that Rafi could be nearby and hadn’t contacted her. So what if he never contacted her? She didn’t really care.

Like hell she didn’t.

* * *

It was past midnight when they arrived at Newark airport. TSA only allowed ticketed and deplaning passengers in the arrivals lounge, so they hauled their own bags. To BD’s astonishment, Shari had packed only one. They found the chauffer whom Karl had arranged to meet them in the baggage claim area.

Shari blinked at the name “BD James” on the sign. “Karl must be having some fun with me. Either that or he thinks you’re the boss now.”

“Karl having fun? I didn’t know he had a funny bone. He’s got so much starch in his undershorts he can barely bend. It’s more likely he was protecting your privacy.”

The drive to Manhattan took less time than they’d expected. The hotel concierge met them at the door and handed Shari their keys. A nimble bellman hustled their bags away, and by the time they reached their rooms, the luggage was already inside.

“I’ll meet you in the restaurant downstairs at eight sharp tomorrow morning,” BD told Shari. “We need to go over the offer papers one more time to make sure we haven’t missed anything.”

“The lawyers went over them with a fine-toothed comb this afternoon and faxed copies to the Haven legal team. I’ll meet you at nine.” She closed her door on BD’s protest.

BD shrugged and closed the connecting door on her side, kicked off her shoes, and hung up her suit. Just as well. A good night’s sleep was what they really needed.

Instead she lay awake thinking of Rafael Cruz. Was he really the kind of man who wouldn’t bother to call? At least to say hello? She hoped not, because deep down there was nothing she wanted more than to see him again, to feel his bare skin next to hers again, to smell him and touch him again.

God, what was wrong with her? Rafi was one big complication she didn’t need in her life right now.

Chapter Nine

BD slowly zipped her large garment bag, careful not to wake Chase. The baby slept like a sweaty, red-faced, little angel, the polar opposite of when he was awake. Every second of his afternoon nap was a nice respite for his grateful mother.

BD gasped and spun around when Kelly touched her on the shoulder and beckoned her into the hallway. She held a finger to her lips and moved a few feet from the door.

BD shrugged, hands open.

“Oh my God, oh my God.” Kelly held her hand to her chest. She drew a deep breath.

“What? What’s wrong?” BD asked in an alarmed whisper.

Kelly, eyes wide, gripped BD’s shoulders. “There’s a big, gorgeous hunk of man at the front door asking for you.” She mimed a swoon. “Wow.”

BD’s throat closed and her breath caught. She blinked and took in some air. “What does he look like?” Could it be Rafi?

“Big. Tan.” Kelly made an expansive gesture. “Muscles. Black hair. Eyes like midnight. Cleft chin. Oh God, I think I’m drooling.”

Rafi!

“Sexy, scrumptious white smile. He walks with a cane.”

Cane? Not Cruz.

BD cocked her head and wrinkled her brow with confusion. “I wonder—no, it can’t be my driver. He’s not due for an hour yet.” She glanced at her watch to verify the time. “Who could he be?”

“Would you please go find out before I wet myself?”

“Does Jack know you drool over other men like this?”

“No. And you’re not going to tell him!”

“I’ll put that knowledge in a safe place. May come in handy one day.” BD touched her hair, tugged her jacket down, and went to see who the mystery man was.

He stood with his back to the screen door, facing the street. BD would recognize that back anywhere. Rafi finally made an appearance after more than six weeks of silence. She raised her hand to her throat, opened the door.

When he spun around, his grin nearly knocked her over. Dumbfounded, she couldn’t think of a thing to say. She just stood there, her mouth forming a silent O.

“How’s it goin’, sunshine?” He took a step forward with the help of a cane. “Long time no see.”

“Rafi?”

“Guilty.”

He was guilty all right.

“But, but, what are you doing here?” She hadn’t moved an inch, didn’t open the door.

“Lookin’ at you, Bravo Delta.”

Kelly cleared her throat, eyebrows raised in question.

“Oh…ah…Rafael Cruz, this is my sister-in-law, Kelly James.”

“Come in, please.” She bumped BD aside, pushed open the screen door, and extended her hand in greeting.

Rafi took Kelly’s hand, turned up the wattage on his sexiest smile, and held on a beat longer than necessary. Kelly gasped.

BD wanted to kick his gorgeous butt. The arrogant bum knew the effect he had on women. Who did he think he was? Showing up after weeks of not so much as a phone call? Why were her knees wobbling? Damn him!

“Very nice to meet you, Kelly. Ms. Grayson was kind enough to give me your address. I hope you don’t mind me dropping by without calling.” A final squeeze of Kelly’s hand before he let go.

“No, no, fine, that’s OK. Come in. Have a seat. Can I offer you anything? Lemonade? Coffee?”

“A strong cup o’ java, if you have some, would hit the spot.” He flashed that grin again.

Kelly nodded. BD almost expected her to curtsy or kiss his ring. She rushed to the kitchen to fill His Lordship’s order.

Rafi tipped his head in the direction of the sofa. “May I sit?” Without waiting for her answer he hobbled over and sat. He grinned and patted the cushion next to him. “Come here, sunshine. I’ve got something for you.”

BD crossed her arms. “You’ve got something for me? What have you got? And what happened to you? Why are you dragging yourself around with a cane?”

“All in good time, sweet thing. Come. Sit.” He patted the cushion again. “Boy, do you look good.”

BD sighed, sat, and faced him with a dozen more questions on the tip of her tongue.

Before she could say a word, Rafi pulled her into his arms and planted an enthusiastic kiss on her lips. “I’ve wanted to do that since the day I dropped you off at Grayson’s villa. You taste so tempting. Do you think you could get rid of your sister-in-law?”

BD slapped at his hands. “You jerk! You haven’t so much as called me in weeks. Then you waltz in here and expect me to jump your bones?”

He raised his eyebrows, split his face into a diabolic smile, and winked. “That’s what I hoped for anyway. You mad at me or something?”

BD sprang to her feet, gesturing her frustration. “Excuse me for a minute.” She made a beeline to the kitchen. When she opened the door, Kelly, who’d been eavesdropping, nearly fell over. BD shoved her back and closed the door. With huge eyes, she placed her hands over her mouth in an attempt to stop the growing grin. “It’s him,” came out with a squeak.