The Millionaire and the M.D. (13 page)

“Open your eyes, Rebecca.”

“What?”

“Look at me.”

She did as he asked, and saw the intensity on his face along with a deep tenderness. “Gabe—”

“Say it again,” he rasped. “Say my name,”

“Gabe—”

And she felt the shadows disappear. This was Gabe and she felt safe with him. She trusted him completely.

He nudged her onto her back, then settled himself between her thighs and slowly, gently slid into her waiting warmth. He brushed the hair off her face and kissed her tenderly. She wrapped her legs around him and lifted her hips, taking him more deeply inside. She met him thrust for thrust as he slid slowly, smoothly into her over and over again. His breathing grew faster and faster and her own matched it until her mind went brilliant and her body stilled as sensation after amazingly pleasurable sensation ripped through her. A heartbeat later, Gabe stilled above her as he groaned out his own release.

Rebecca felt all her tension drain away, leaving her limp and satisfied. Intensely relaxed, she curled into Gabe and fell deeply asleep.

Rebecca was dimly aware of someone next to her. Someone strong holding her, on top of her. Fear clawed through her. Her heart pounded. She couldn't breathe. It was happening again. He held her down and jammed his knee between her legs forcing them apart. He was pushing inside of her, hurting her.

“No,” she screamed.

She said it over and over but he wouldn't stop.

Panic knotted inside her and she pushed as hard as she could. She heard someone screaming and hands, strong hands grabbed her wrists and held them. Then a man's voice, soothing, calm.

“Rebecca, it's Gabe. Relax, honey. It's okay. Just a bad dream. You're all right…”

She opened her eyes and saw it wasn't that other man. Gabe hovered over her looking worried. And confused. Before she could identify pity, she dropped her gaze to his chest and noticed the deep, angry looking scratches. Had she done that?

She drew in a shuddering breath. “Let me go.”

Instantly he released her hands. “Are you okay?”

Not really. But that was more complicated. “I'm awake,” she answered.

He stared at her. “What's going on, Rebecca?”

“I have nightmares sometimes.” Never hurt to try a bluff.

“Sometimes? With me you're two for two. That changes sometimes to recurring. Talk to me.”

She should have known he wouldn't be put off. If he was that easy he would have left when she'd dumped him. The man didn't take no for an answer. How she wished he had.

The reality was that she was the one who'd messed up. She'd been a fool. It had been stupid to pretend that she wasn't in too deep emotionally. Otherwise she wouldn't have slept with him even once, let alone twice. He would be an idiot not to know there was something she was keeping from him. If she blew him off, he was out of there. If she told him her secret, he was out of there. Since either way he would walk, she had no choice. She couldn't help wondering if it would have hurt any less if he'd gone when she'd sent him.

“I'd like to put clothes on,” she said quietly.

He nodded and rolled away so she could get up. She slipped into fleece pants and a thick sweatshirt while he dressed. Then they went downstairs and she put on the teakettle.

Gabe sat on one of the bar stools and solemnly watched. Waiting, impatiently she suspected, for her to talk to him. She busied herself with cups and teabags, anything to not have to look at him. She hated that the guy who'd hurt her was still hurting her. She'd hoped she could hide the past, keep it buried.

Then she remembered the night she and Gabe had gone to the benefit. Trish Kendrick had said it was wrong to keep rape a secret. If that was true, she was about to right that wrong.

She turned to look at Gabe. Along with the impatience, she saw a tenderness in his eyes. She should have confided in him that night she'd freaked out. Not keeping the secret didn't mean she had to rent a billboard on Las Vegas Boulevard that said Rebecca Hamilton was sexually assaulted. But when she met someone, at the appropriate time, she needed to talk about what happened to her. Then let the chips fall where they may. She realized that now.

She poured hot water into both mugs, then walked over to Gabe, setting one on the counter in front of him and wrapped her hands around her own steaming cup.

“Are you finished procrastinating?” he asked.

“Just about.” She dunked her teabag a couple times. “Okay. I'm ready now.”

“Shoot.”

She blew out a long breath. “The thing is, Gabe, I have issues.”

One corner of his mouth quirked. “You have no idea how badly I want to say ‘duh.'”

“I'm so glad you're holding back.” Her stomach was jumping and not in a good way. “I was engaged a little over a year ago.”

Any hint of a smile disappeared. “I see.”

She knew the words were conversational, meant to encourage further communication. But it didn't help the knots inside her. For some reason it was easier to start here than at the beginning. “We didn't get married.”

“I gathered that. What happened?”

“He broke it off. Dumped me.”

He frowned. “Clearly you're better off.”

“You think?”

“Yeah, I think. The man is an idiot.”

“I'm not so sure he wasn't justified.”

“No way.”

“How can you say that?”

“Because the man who's lucky enough to be with you wouldn't be stupid enough to walk away.”

She'd felt like damaged goods for so long the words were balm to a battered soul. She let the soothing effects soak in for a moment. Maybe it would give her the courage she needed to tell the rest.

Before she did, she had to ask, “Why would a man be stupid to walk away?”

“Because he gets to be with you.”

Again her spirit soared and filled with a hope that shone as bright and beautiful as the sun on the red rocks in the canyon. She tried to smile. “I'm not so sure.”

“Did he cheat on you?” The frown turned to a glare. “I'd be happy to beat the crap out of him if you want.”

“It wasn't another woman. But I might take you up on your offer.” Here's where she had to tell him why. “Our relationship went south after I told him about my past. Some—” She swallowed and gripped her mug until her knuckles turned white. “Something happened and it was a problem for him.”

“When you love someone, it shouldn't matter. So the offer of beating him up is still on the table.”

“As a doctor I've sworn to do no harm.”

“I can see how that would be inconvenient at times.”

“No kidding.”

“Tell me what happened,” he urged.

“I want to. I think it's time. Way past time.
Need
to talk about it would be more accurate.” She stared at him without saying anything. After what happened the last time she told someone, it was hard to get the words out.

“Rebecca, I'm here for you. You can tell me. It's like a Band-Aid.”

“Excuse me?”

“It's not so bad if you just do it fast. Trust me—”

His phone rang. There was no tune of a song that gave a clue to his personality, or his taste in music. Just a no-nonsense, harsh ring that got Gabe's attention and startled her. He plucked the cell from the holster on his belt.

“Gabe Thorne—” He listened for a moment. “Calm down, Jack. What's wrong?”

Rebecca's stomach dropped. Then she reminded herself the problem could be related to his work, not hers.

“Amy's what?” He ran his fingers through his hair. “What do you mean she's out of it?”

“Let me talk to him,” Rebecca said. When he handed her the phone she said, “Jack, this is Rebecca. What's going on with Amy?”

“Rebecca, thank God—”

“Tell me about Amy.”

“She said she felt funny. That she didn't feel right. Then she just spaced out.”

“Is she conscious?”

“No. What should I do?”

“Call 911. When the paramedics get there they'll start an IV. Tell them to transport to Mercy Medical stat. She's a direct admit to Labor and Delivery. I'll meet her there. Got that?”

“Yeah.” He hung up.

Gabe looked at her. “What's wrong with my sister? Is she conscious?”

“Jack said no. I won't know anything for sure until I see her. I have to go.”

“I'll drive.”

She would have expected nothing less. No matter how badly he might want to, Gabe didn't run out on someone he loved. She didn't have time right now to dwell on the unfairness of it all.

G
abe still hated hospitals. More than ever.

He stood by the window on the second floor and looked out over the lights of the Vegas Valley. He could see The Strip from here, yet it seemed a thousand miles away, pretty far removed from Mercy Medical Center. He could pick out the distinctive green outline of the MGM Grand, the silhouette of New York, New York, and the elegance of Caesar's Palace. But no matter how glitzy and glamorous the view from this window, hospitals still scared the hell out of him.

There was no one else in the waiting room. Somewhere past the double doors Rebecca was evaluating his sister's medical condition. He'd seen the doc shy, embarrassed, teasing and in the throes of passion. But he'd never seen her worried the way she was while they'd waited for the paramedics to bring Amy in. She'd gone into action mode as soon as the gurney came off the elevator and Gabe had caught a glimpse of his sister's pale face. She hadn't looked back at him because she was still unconscious. Fear knotted in his belly.

Jack exited the elevator with two steaming cups of coffee and handed one to him. “Any news?”

“Not yet.” He looked at his friend.

“It was just dumb luck that I was with her,” Jack said. “After work I was giving her a ride home, like you asked. I hate eating alone and in spite of what you think it happens a lot. Amy and I got a bite to eat. She looked as if she was enjoying being out and I suggested a movie. When I dropped her off at the house, she said she was feeling weird, so I went in with her.” He shrugged. “You know the rest.”

“I should have been there,” Gabe said.

Jack stared at him. “Because you know so much more about emergency situations that you could have handled it better than me?”

“Of course not. You did fine.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “But she's my sister. I just should have supported her better, that's all.”

“You are supporting her, Gabe. You gave her a place to live and a job. You're helping her get on her feet. You're here. You look like you want to punch something. Or someone. But you're here. How much more could you have done if you'd been there?”

“I don't know. Made her eat right.”

“So now you're the food police?”

“Maybe. I could have spent more time with her. I should have—”

“What? Used Amy for another excuse to put your life on hold?”

“Stick to construction and leave psychoanalysis to the—”

“Psychos?” Jack asked.

He smiled through his anger. Jack had a way of making him do that. But if he was protecting himself from life, that was his own business. “She's my sister. Brothers are supposed to take care of their sisters.”

Jack's face took on a dark, brooding aspect. “And when brothers can't be there, best friends step in. Like you did with Hannah.”

“I loved her,” Gabe said simply. It didn't escape his notice that he'd used the past tense. And this wasn't the time to figure out why or how he felt about that.

“I know you did.” Jack nodded. “And I love Amy. She's the closest thing I have to a little sister.”

The other man held his hands out in a helpless gesture. “Gabe, she scared the crap out of me. I didn't know what to do.”

“You did everything right.” If only he could say the same for himself, Gabe thought. Instead of taking care of his sister, he'd been out having a good time.

Seeing Rebecca, spending time with her had seemed so important. She smoothed out his painful edges. She made him feel better with a single smile. To watch her eyes glow with teasing humor was like a drug, and every time he was with her he needed more. Was it so wrong to want to keep the darkness at bay and bask in her light?

At least because they'd been together, Rebecca had taken charge and expedited the situation by coordinating the transport and alerting the staff that she was meeting a patient here. They'd been here waiting when Amy arrived. Now he was still waiting, and he hated how much he wished he was with Rebecca instead of Jack.

Gabe took a sip of hot coffee and it burned his mouth. “Have I mentioned how grateful I am that you were with Amy?”

“Have I ever mentioned how grateful I am that you were with my sister when—” He stopped and let out a breath. “Amy and the baby are going to be fine.”

Gabe didn't say anything. He couldn't. His track record on good luck was pretty dismal. But what else was Jack supposed to say?

“So what's with you and the doc?”

He was supposed to say anything but that. Gabe shot him a look instead of answering.

Jack shrugged. “Give me a break. I'm being a friend, trying to take your mind off things.”

“You're prying into my personal life.”

“So what's your point?”

Gabe shook his head as he blew out a breath. “Heck if I know.”

“So tell me what's going on.”

Good question. There were those who would say it was a good thing he'd met someone he liked. They would be wrong. It was the worst possible scenario. As far as Gabe could tell, he was doing his damnedest to tread water. He was trying to stay afloat and not let the unwelcome feelings for Rebecca pull him in, pull him under. He never wanted to—

Before he could finish that thought, the double doors opened and Rebecca walked out. He wasn't proud of the fact that he noticed how good she looked in those shapeless green scrubs. And he didn't like how glad he was to see her. More than that, he didn't like the worried look on her face.

She stopped in front of them and smiled at Jack, then met his gaze. “Hi—

“How's Amy?” Gabe demanded.

“Not good.”

He could see her weighing her words. “What's going on?”

“She has a condition called eclampsia.”

“What's that?”

“It's a severe form of pregnancy-induced hypertension. We gave her magnesium sulfate, IV, to control it—”

He held up his hands. “Stop with the medical jargon and say it in terms I can understand.”

“Amy has high blood pressure, and it caused her to have a seizure. The medicine is to help control it.”

Gabe couldn't even wrap his mind around that. It sounded bad and all he wanted to know was how to fix it. “What do we do?”

“I need to deliver her baby now. It's a little early, but if we don't the risks to her and the infant are too high. The only treatment is to end the pregnancy. I need to do an emergency C-section.”

“But, Rebecca, you've said sometimes it's best to watch and wait. What if—”

Warmth spread through him and stemmed the tide of fear when she put her hand on his arm. “Gabe, there's absolutely no question in my mind that this is the right thing. If I don't do this now, we could lose her, the baby or both of them.”

Was this what had happened to his mother? He'd never asked. His father had never discussed it. Gabe only knew his mother went to the hospital to have a baby and he'd never seen her alive again.

“Can I see Amy?”

“She's still unconscious.”

“Just for a minute.”

Rebecca hesitated and must have seen something in his face, because she nodded. “Okay. But I really need to get her to the O.R.”

She turned abruptly, and Gabe followed her through the doors and down the hall. She took him into an exam room where Amy was still on the gurney with an IV in her arm and surrounded by equipment. A white cotton blanket covered the mound of her belly. She looked pale and impossibly young. And so still his chest went tight.

He moved beside her and took her hand. “Hi, kiddo. It's Gabe. I don't know if you can hear me or not, but I hope you know somehow that I'm here.”

“We have to take her up, Gabe.”

He glanced over his shoulder. A man and woman in scrubs waited beside Rebecca. She had her doctor face on, and he had no idea what she was thinking. Now that he was here, he didn't know what to say to his sister. What would he have told his mother if he'd had the chance?

He squeezed his sister's hand and brushed the hair back from her face. Then he kissed her forehead. “I love you, Amy.”

“Gabe—”

He looked at Rebecca and nodded, then stepped back and let the professionals do their work. They wheeled his sister out of the room and he was left alone with Rebecca.

“Take care of her,” he said.

“I will.” She met his gaze. “Gabe, you should think about calling your father.”

“What are you saying?” he demanded.

“Not that.” She held up her hand. “But this is very serious. Amy is his daughter and he should know what's going on with her.”

He had nothing to lose now because Amy couldn't run. More important, Rebecca was right.

“I'll let my dad know right away.”

“Good.” She started for the door.

“Wait—”

“What?” she asked softly.

“Here's the thing, Rebecca. I feel like I just found Amy. Or maybe she found me. I don't know. The point is that we haven't had enough time. I don't want to lose her.”

“I'll do my best.”

And her best was good because she was really smart. He'd never had more reason to be grateful for that than he was right now. After losing so much, he didn't think he could stand to lose one more person he cared about.

Thank God the C-section had gone well, Rebecca thought. It had only been several hours since she'd delivered the baby, but Amy's condition had stabilized quickly. Rebecca had gone home for a few hours and was back now, on her way to check on the teen. At the end of the hall, she noticed an older man standing outside the newborn nursery. There was something vaguely familiar about the tilt of his head, the strong stubborn chin, the tall, lean body. His khaki slacks and navy knit shirt suggested he'd just left the golf course, but not if he was who she suspected.

She stopped beside him and noticed gray at his temples. But the dark-blond hair was the same shade as his son's. “Mr. Thorne?”

“Yes.” He turned away from the window and met her gaze. “And you are?”

“Dr. Rebecca Hamilton.” She held out her hand and he shook it.

“Carleton Thorne.” After staring for several moments, he said, “You look too young to be a doctor.”

“I get that a lot.” She smiled, remembering the first time she'd seen Gabe and Amy. It was a day that had changed her life. While she cared about all the women in her care, Amy Thorne had a special place in her heart. So did Gabe.

That's why she was back here at the hospital. She needed to check on her newest mother. She'd talked to the nurses who said the teen was doing very well. Physically. But she was refusing to have anything to do with the baby. For that reason, Rebecca was happy to see this man.

“You got here fast, Mr. Thorne.”

“Gabe sent the company Gulfstream and picked me up at McCarran's Executive Terminal a little while ago.” His eyes were blue. Like his son's.

“One's own jet would certainly speed things up,” she said, nodding.

It was the middle of the night, but as the prime contractor on the hospital expansion project, Gabe had a badge with the metallic strip that would let him in and out of Mercy Medical at all hours.

“Where is he?”

“Sitting with Amy.” His polite expression changed to concern. “How is my daughter? And my grandson?” he said, glancing at the swaddled baby in the isolette on the other side of the window. Because most new mothers wanted their newborns with them, he was one of only a few babies in the nursery.

“Your grandson is approximately four to five weeks early.” That was her best guess and only Amy knew for sure if it was right. “He's just over four and a half pounds, a little small, but—” Not as small as she'd feared. Low-birth-weight babies were a problem with teenage mothers who didn't take care of themselves.

“But?”

“He's been checked out by a neonatal intensifist…specialist,” she clarified. “We'll watch him carefully, but there's no indication that he won't do well.”

“I see.” He folded his arms over his chest. “And Amy? Gabe filled me in on the medical factors and the need for an emergency C-section.”

“The initial danger is past, but she's not out of the woods for at least forty-eight hours. Hypertension can cause restricted blood flow and tends to affect the brain, liver and kidneys. We're monitoring her for any sign that they're shutting down. It's just a precaution. I'm cautiously optimistic that she'll make a full recovery.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

“You're welcome.”

He stared down the hall, pensive and brooding. Obviously, he'd wasted no time getting to his daughter after Gabe called, and yet he looked lost. Torn between the new life his daughter had brought into the world and the daughter who hadn't wanted him to know she was in trouble.