Champagne Romance (Romance Novel) (12 page)

Swan on the other hand was rubbing her
temples trying to figure out a way to avoid the inevitable meeting
of father and son. She signed, “I’ll meet you at the Newport
Starbucks on Coast Highway in thirty minutes.”

Slater looked at his watch, “I’ll be
waiting.”

Slater had been tapping an agitated foot for
fifteen minutes. Swan was late. “She had better show,” he muttered
to himself, “or he was going to her apartment and drag her down to
the coffee shop caveman style if that is what it took to gain her
attention.”

By the time Swan appeared, Slater was in a
full-blown grumpy mood. So, he said the first thing that came to
his mind, which was, “You’re late!”

To which Swan snapped, “I don’t like your
shirt!”(It was flowered Hawaiian)--- and the war began.

As they stared daggers at each other, Swan
wanted to scream, “I was late, because YOUR son was having a
meltdown!”

The waiter interrupted their private battle
of private thoughts. The atmosphere had turned rather frosty and
even a warm cup of coffee was having little effect on the two
individuals that had both felt betrayed by the other. It was a very
strained silence as they each struggled to compose themselves.
Neither was ready to discuss or expose the wounds they carried.

Slater broke the tense silence first, “I saw
you on the cover of some magazine down at the news stand a few
months back.” He wasn’t about to tell her that he knew exactly
which magazine and that he had searched the stand weekly for any
additional ones.

Curious, she asked, “Which lay out?”

“
The one at the beach with some guy
---you looked like you were having a good time.”

Slater sounded a little annoyed. That
amused Swan as she remembered the photo shot as being a gruelingly
hot day. The sand was burning the soles of her feet and kept
blowing in her face. The gay guy model was clumsy and on top of
that had bad breath. He stepped on her toes several times. She was
beginning to wonder if he were doing it deliberately. The
photographer was a real “prick” and demanded several pictures over
and over. It had not been a real pleasant shoot, but she was paid
the big bucks to make it appear so. Apparently, the photo was
convincing. She had forgotten that the beach photo had made the
cover of
Indigo Elite
as she
was blind at the time the magazine hit the news stand. To Slater,
her small grin was a smug one. It was best he change the subject to
something more generic before he gave his feelings away and went
for her jugular.

Slater grabbed Swan‘s hand and yanked her to
her feet, “Come on, let’s go walk the beach.”

The rolling ocean had a calming effect on
both of them as they began to stroll along the wet sand. They had
each taken the time to remove their sandals, which they carried in
each hand. They walked in companionable silence both wondering
where to begin.

Slater’s hawk eyes soon spotted dolphins that
were wave jumping as they skimmed along the dark blue ocean. They
seemed to be following the many surfers that tried to catch a
breaker or two as the tide rolled in and out. They appeared to be
having so much fun that Swan was sure she could see a smile on
their faces.

Swan and Quinn often came down to the beach
to watch the dolphins and sailboats. He loved to play in the sand.
Together they would build sand castles, draw pictures, and pick up
shells. She cocked her head to one side and wondered if Slater
would enjoy building castles with their son as well. Would he
tickle him, read to him, love him? She needed to tell him soon that
he was a father---just not today.

A sand dollar washed up on the ocean beach.
It was unusual not to be broken. Swan picked it up and put it in
her pocket. She jumped over a dead jellyfish and continued to look
for seashells to take home to Quinn. She soon became absorbed in
her task and concentrated on finding the perfect shells for their
collection.

As Slater observed this unusual complex
woman, he contemplated her life since the plane accident and their
fateful time together. He wondered about her lover and if she had
married or loved him. He wondered what she had looked like pregnant
and surprised himself by fantasizing that it had been his child.
Had the father been there for the delivery? He didn’t like the
thought of her going through something like that on her own. If it
had been his child, nothing would have stood in the way of being
there with her and seeing the life that they had made together for
the first time. It might not be any of his business, but he
intended to get some answers to his questions.

The fragile truce kept each of them from
firing away with unanswered questions and the morning soon passed
quickly with only a little light tension left after a couple of
hours. It was as though they had made a silent pact to wait for a
more appropriate time when they were perhaps both in a more
congenial mood. Right now, they seemed like oil and water, totally
unmixable. Funny, how different circumstances have a way of making
a near death situation so totally affable and a familiar routine
situation completely volatile. Their relationship had not begun
easily, and yet they had pulled together. Now, there seemed to be a
deep crevice between them---only time would tell whether they would
be able to bridge the gap of the chasm that had rapidly appeared
between them and seemed to be looming over them like the dark
clouds on the mountain top.

Slater just had to ask, “Are you free this
evening?”

Swan pondered the question for a second and
replied, “No.”

Just like that she was turning him down, no
explanation, nothing!!

Swan had promised to take Quinn to a pizza
parlor with kiddy rides and entertainment this evening. It was her
quality time with her son. She wasn’t ready to share him with his
father. Although she knew that time was coming, she needed to
totally evaluate the entire situation for what would be best for
their son. Would Slater make a power play for custody? The very
thought made her shiver with terror. Somehow she did not believe
that he would sit back and not be an active parental participant or
take him from his mother. Nevertheless, he might decide to kidnap
him and disappear to another world. He certainly had the
capabilities, contacts, money, and power. The very thought of such
a nightmare gave her a migraine headache as her imagination began
running completely rampart. The doctor had told her to avoid any
stress. Well, good luck with that one was her next thought.

Slater began to analyze the situation and his
imagination also began to run awry. Just because she wasn’t married
didn’t mean that she didn’t have a live-in lover. The very thought
made him see blood red. He could just imagine her with someone
else, those long silky legs wrapped around him, stroking him,
pleasing him. That visual almost “flipped him out”!

Slater didn’t take any time to evaluate his
feelings. Swan was his once and he intended to make her his again!
He was the first one to have her and he would be the last! That was
the plan and no way was he going to make a detour from that
thought. He had led dangerous missions all over the world and had
never failed. If this little powder puff of a delicious woman
thought that she could out maneuver him, she would soon find out
that she didn’t have a chance against his charm and tactics!

“
I already know your address if that’s
your concern,” he tossed the words at her as though they were a
gantlet. She said nothing. “Do you have a lover?” he
snapped.

“
That is none of your business!” she
quipped.

Slater grabbed Swan’s arm and whipped her
around so that they stood toe to toe. “Well, I’ve got news for you,
lady, I’m making it my business!”

Swan was not up for another disagreeable
argument as her head was already throbbing. It was just easier to
give in, “No, I don’t have a lover,” was her quiet reply.

Slater tried not to grin in triumph. She was
an easy crack. He knew he could get the information from her that
he wanted. After all, he was an experienced interrogator and even
the most harden criminals would tell him their life story if asked
properly.

Swan on the other hand, knew she needed to
get home and take her medicine as her head was beginning to spin.
It had been a long time since she had seen double, she thought.
But, just before she fainted, she saw two, too many Slaters and
then total heavenly darkness.

Slater was more than a little chagrined and
alarmed over his callous grilling as Swan collapsed into his arms.
He should have known that Swan’s health could remain somewhat
fragile. As he had watched her rub her temples, he should have
realized that it was a clue. He was trained to observe and evaluate
all situations setting emotions aside. He only prayed that he had
not endangered Swan’s health in any way as he knew that it would be
his ultimate sin forever.

CHAPTER 30

A quick cell phone call to 911 soon had an
ambulance arriving and then blaring its way through the coastal
traffic onto the nearby hospital emergency entrance. Swan woke to
the bright lights of a hospital room just as she had after the
birth of Quinn. Relief at clear vision suddenly turned to anxiety
as concern of her son’s welfare intruded. She needed to contact
Maria and let her know what had happened. She needed to get home to
Quinn. She weakly sat up and swung her lanky legs over the side of
the bed trying to keep her head from swirling. She felt like she
was going to pass out and quickly laid right back down.

Swan could hear Ace’s voice as he took
complete charge and conversed with the doctor outside the room. It
sounded like a familiar routine. The door was slightly ajar.
Weakly, she called his name. She didn’t think that he could hear
her, but he suddenly appeared at her side. She was visibly upset.
She needed to talk to Maria, reassure Quinn, and go home and take
her medicine. Slater informed her that he had taken care of
everything. He had used her cell phone to call home and contact her
housekeeper. Maria had informed him of her medication and assured
him that she would take care of Quinn until Swan returned home from
the hospital. Right now, she was to rest and remain in the hospital
overnight for observation. She did not argue with him. The pass
twenty-four hours with very little sleep and the demanding Ace was
catching up. She had been given a relaxant and she soon resorted to
dreamland.

The next morning, Swan awoke to the smell of
yucky hospital food as a tray of it was being placed next to her
bed. Slater was standing nearby silently mouthing, “I’ve got
bagels,” as he held up the Einstein sack.

Slater was delighted at the way Swan’s eyes
lit up when they zeroed in on her favorite food. After the nurse
left, they drank coffee and ate in companionable silence. It wasn’t
long before a gray-haired doctor appeared in the doorway. After the
nurse had taken her vital signs, he declared her fit as a fiddle
and signed off on her release.

As the doctor sailed out the door, he said,
“Just make sure you take it easy, MRS. Slater. We don’t want to see
you in here again for anything else except babies.”

You could have heard a pin drop with the
silence that followed as Swan’s eyebrows rose questionably at
Slater. He shrugged his shoulder, “I’ve learned from the past that
I have a lot more authority if I’m a husband.”

There wasn’t time to dwell on that comment as
the dismissal staff along with the nurse entered the room. They
shuffled Slater out into the hall while they helped Swan get
dressed and stuff her in a wheel chair that Slater rolled to the
exit ramp.

Waiting at the entrance was Slater’s sleek
black jaguar with the silver cat at the end of the hood eyeing
their departure patiently and observing Slater gently lifting Swan
into the passenger seat. He slid under the wheel and started the
ignition as the glossy jag purred to life. It pulled away from the
stately hospital and headed towards Swan’s condominium.

Pulling to the entrance of Swan’s condo,
Slater clipped off orders to the doorman and helped Swan from the
car seat. Taking her by the arm, he guided her into the posh
entryway. There were five elevators for five condominiums. They
each had their own separate private entry. It was a relative quiet
place. Two people lived there year-around as did Swan. The others
were phantom tenants that only occasionally visited their swanky
summer homes.

The elevator swiftly took them directly to
the top floor. It opened onto a marble foyer that faced double
French doors. Off to the side was a private stairwell for safety
that was kept locked from the outside at all times. Slater made a
mental note to check that part of the building’s security.

Using the keypad next to the door, Swan
unlocked the entrance to her home. As the doors swung open, a
little body ran towards her with open arms. “Mommmmy,” screamed the
delighted small child. Swan automatically squatted down to greet
her only child with the same enthusiasm as he had shown her.

Watching the love between mother and son,
made Slater have a slight pang of jealously at the connection
between the two. His mother had certainly never been happy to see
him and vice versa. Swan and her son seemed to have that special
relationship that all children should experience, but all children
are not quite so fortunate. Judging from the toys that were
scattered around, he didn’t seem to lack for material things as
well.

Hovering close by, was an elderly Spanish
lady that seemed genuinely concerned about Swan. Assured that all
was well now that his mother was home, Quinn soon began squirming
in his mother’s arms. He wiggled to the cherry floor and zoomed off
to ride his tiny tot toy car. Swan then walked over to Maria to
give her a hug and thank her for taking care of Quinn. After
introductions were made and Slater was not extended an invitation
to stay any longer, he pulled Swan aside.