Kiss Me Crazy (26 page)

Kara was sprawled across Baron when she woke up. His chest rose and fel gently, the hair on it tickling her cheek. She lifted her head and observed him while he slept. The harsh planes of his face softened in slumber and his incredible lashes threw shadows on his cheeks. She touched his nose, the scar on his chin. Would she ever see him this vulnerable again? Be able to touch him as she pleased?

Last night, he didn’t come to bed until very late and when he did, he’d murmured something about an eight-thirty flight, puled her into his arms and went right to sleep. For the first time since they came to Idaho, he hadn’t made love to her. Cal her vain or whatever but the thought that he didn’t desire her anymore had kept her up for hours.

Her reasoning seemed rather ridiculous now. One night couldn’t erase eleven days of sensual delight. Besides, Baron had enough on his plate and needed her support, not her self-pity. Her eyes went to the clock. It was after seven.

Kara shook him gently. “Come on, baby. Wake up.” He didn’t budge.

She reached up and kissed him. He stirred and within seconds, took over her mouth, her senses. He let her go and flashed a bone-melting grin. “Hey.”

“You’re going to miss your flight.”

He looked at the clock on the bedside table then turned to her. He smiled, caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.

“We’l need to talk when you come back to L.A.” Her heart thrummed with anticipation. “About?”

“Us. You and I are not done, not by a long shot.” Kara grinned. She’d been worried for nothing. “I know.”

“Good.” He planted another kiss on her lips and smacked her bare buttocks. “Now I need to get ready. The plane wil be here any minute.”

Kara scrambled off his chest. “What do you mean ‘here’?”

“I’m taking a seaplane and connecting with Lex’s people at Coeur d'Alene Airport.”

Kara slipped on her robe. “Then you need to get moving.

Do you want something to eat? Coffee?”

“Coffee would be great.” He snatched her hand before she could move, puled her closer for another dragging kiss and dispeled al her fears that he didn’t desire her. “I’m going to miss you.”

“If you keep at this, you’l never get out of here.”

“Then stop distracting me.” He ducked to the bathroom.

Laughing, Kara went to the kitchen, turned on the coffeemaker, then watched the lake water ebb and flow through the kitchen window. She’d miss this place, Baron tinkering with the boat or hauling the kayaks to the edge of the water. It wouldn’t be the same with him gone.

Sighing, she picked up the paper from last night and reread the story on the accident.
Be safe little girl.
For Baron’s sake, Kara hoped Sandra was a fighter. Kara was sipping her coffee when the sound of an approaching plane caught her attention.

“It’s here,” she caled out to Baron as she poured coffee, black just the way he liked it, into a travel mug and tightened the lid.

“Baron?”

“Coming.”

She shielded her eyes as the seaplane dropped lower and lower then landed on the water. Baron walked into the living room, an overnight bag in his hand. He took the coffee from her, circled her waist, and puled her close for a hug and a brief kiss that ended too soon.

“I’l cal you tonight. Oh, and I’ve left a check for Mrs.

Frisk beside the kitchen phone.”

Kara walked with him outside but stayed on the patio, watched him board the plane off the pier, feeling happy for him yet miserable that he was leaving. She waved as the seaplane took off, stared after it until it was a dot in the distance then let out a deep sigh and looked around. The vitality of the place left with Baron.

She couldn’t wait to go back to L.A. and join him.

***

Baron exited LAX executive terminal to find Lex waiting for him at the curb. They clasped right hands and hugged.

“Thanks, man.” He ran around the hood and slid into the passenger seat. “How’s Sandra doing?” he asked after Lex eased off the curb.

“She slipped into a coma this morning but the doctors said her vitals are good.”

“Damn.”

“Don’t worry. She’s healthy and wil pul through this.” Baron swept a hand across his face and glared into space.

Internal injuries were unpredictable. Their father never regained consciousness after his car got hit by a tanker.

“Does anyone know how the accident happened?” he asked.

Lex frowned. “Stu was driving too fast and the car roled.” How could someone be so careless with a kid in the car?

“You moved her into a private room?”

Lex nodded. “She has the best doctors at her disposal.

They both have.”

Both? “Ah, Valerie. How’s she?”

A cynical smiled touched Lex’s lips. “Valerie is doing just great. The information about the accident came from her, and I had to get her permission to talk to their doctors and move them. I caled the hospital before I left and was told she’s holding a press conference.”

“A press…why?”

“I haven’t the faintest idea.”

Silence fel in the car as Lex narrowed the distance between them and Cedars-Sinai. Baron leaned back and rotated his shoulders, trying to remove tension kinks. What was Valerie up to?

Had she learned that he’d talked to Sandra’s doctor about performing a paternity test?

He had planned to have the test done as soon as he arrived at the hospital, but it would be calous of him to try and do it now while Sandra was in a coma. There was no teling what Valerie would do if she found out, especialy if Sandra turned out to be his.

Baron glanced at his older brother. “Did you see her?

Sandra?”

“Yes. I was there when they transferred her to a private room. She’s a beautiful child. She reminded me of Jade,” Lex added with a chuckle.

Baron grinned, but the mirth disappeared the closer they got to the hospital. “Thanks, Lex.” He patted his brother’s shoulder. “I couldn’t have puled this off without you.”

“Family comes first,” Lex repeated their family motto then threw Baron an uneasy glance. “However, you have to be prepared to deal with this.”

Baron squinted at his older brother, not liking the way he’d spoken. Lex tended to speak slowly when troubled. “I am.”

“There’s a lot more going on than what is in the papers.”

“What do you mean?”

“For starters, the accident happened a few blocks from home. Valerie’s personal things and Sandra’s were in the car but not Stu’s.” He paused as though to let his words sink in. “Add the pictures of you and Valerie in the tabloid and… you know what that means.”

Baron cursed. “Stu was taking her to the mansion.”

“The paparazzi reached the same conclusion. When I left home, they were camped outside the gate. Oh, and Valerie’s sister arrived this morning.”

“Sister? Valerie’s an only child. Her parents divorced when she was young and her mother drifted from…” Baron sighed.

Valerie was a liar. She probably fabricated everything she ever told him. “Okay. Tel me.”

Lex hesitated. “Listen. I’m sorry to throw al this info at you al at once, but with Valerie’s impromptu press conference and the paparazzi at the mansion, chances that some are waiting outside the hospital are high. Better to be prepared than sorry.”

“Got it,” Baron responded, but his insides were encased with ice. If only Kara were with him. He could use some of her warmth right about now.

***

Only work could keep Baron off her mind, so Kara immersed herself in it, or tried to. By the time Mrs. Frisk arrived in the afternoon, Kara had accomplished very little and her eyes hurt from scrutinizing the artwork and staring too hard at the laptop’s silver screen. No matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept drifting to Baron, Sandra, and Valerie. Even thinking about the three of them at the same time bothered her.

“What would you like for dinner, Ms. Michaels?” Mrs.

Frisk asked, placing grocery paper bags on the counter.

Kara smiled. “Anything, I’m not picky.”

“Just no uncooked vegetables and salads or beef.”

“I hope it’s not a problem.”

The stocky woman chuckled and dismissed Kara’s comment with a brief wave. “It’s no trouble at al. Mr. Fitzgerald reminded me last night about your preferences. He said you’d be leaving on Sunday.”

Thank goodness Baron had spoken to the housekeeper.

Kara hadn’t been sure of whether or not to explain his absence.

“Yes. My flight is at eight. I’l need to return the SUV but I’m not sure where he rented it.”

“Don’t worry about that. My nephew wil take care of it.

He’l be here first thing in the morning on Sunday to drive you to the airport too.” The woman picked up the envelope Baron had left by the phone and without opening it, slipped it into her sweater pocket.

When she looked up and caught Kara’s eyes on her, Mrs. Frisk smiled. “Now you go on with your work, my dear, while I start dinner.”

Was there anything Baron hadn’t thought about? He was so meticulous and dependable he’d make a wonderful father and husband. Kara puled out her cel phone and checked to make sure it was on. He stil hadn’t caled. She hoped everything was al right.

Kara stood, intending to relax before dinner. She couldn’t bring herself to sleep on the hammock or go out to the lake. They reminded her too much of Baron. She picked a movie from the den and disappeared in the bedroom.

Kara ate without actualy tasting her food, then dragged herself to the bathroom and showered with the phone close by so she could hear it ring. Baron didn’t cal until she was under the comforter, staring at the ceiling in the dark.

“Sorry for caling late,” Baron said in a strained voice.

“It’s okay. How’s Sandra doing?”

“She slipped into a coma this morning and hasn’t come out of it.” Pain was evident in his voice.

“She’l pul through, baby, I know she wil. Did they tel you what’s wrong?”

“She had some bruising and sweling in her brain. They tried to release the pressure surgicaly but it was too late. There was some tissue damage and…” His voice faded as though he was trying to calm himself. “They say her body shut down to give it time to heal.”

How she wished she were there with him. “Are you caling from home or the hospital?”

“Hospital. I’l probably be here for a while.” That meant he’d spend the night. If she were there, she’d keep vigil with him. Was Valerie with him right now? Resentment and envy toward the woman rose like bile inside Kara.

“How’s Valerie?” She forced herself to ask.

Baron took a while answering. “Complicated. She broke her leg and cracked a few ribs, but she’s okay. They’re discharging her tomorrow. Unfortunately, Stu’s family has locked her out of her home. Stu also canceled al her credit cards before the accident and froze her accounts. She has nothing. It’s a big mess.” A foreboding feeling hovered over Kara.
Please don’t tell
me she’s going to stay with you.
Kara gripped the phone, bracing herself. “Where’s she going to stay?”

“I don’t know. Some hotel, I guess.”

With a broken leg and ribs? She knew him wel enough to know he wouldn’t let that happen. Taking care of Valerie while she convalesced was just the beginning.

“Is she…?” She shouldn’t ask. He had enough on his plate.

Kara took a deep breath then another. Baron was her man and she had a right to know.

“You aren’t thinking of letting her stay with you, are you?” Kara asked.

Another long silence folowed.

“The thought crossed my mind,” he responded.

“And?” Her hand tightened around the phone as she waited.

“I don’t want to discuss this now, Kara.”

“I need to know, Baron.” Her voice rose. She forced herself to finish calmly. “Is she moving in with you?”

“It’s just for a few weeks. Until she’s back on her feet.” Kara heart sunk. Broken leg and ribs could take weeks to heal. “Can you give me a timeline?”

“Christ, Kara, I don’t know. Four…six weeks.” Kara closed her eyes. She wanted to shut up. “It’s a bad idea, Baron. She’l mooch—”

“I can’t very wel throw her on the street. She’s the mother of my child.”

And that was the crux of the matter. Kara couldn’t trump

“mother of my child” card without coming across as a jealous bitch without a conscience. How can they have a relationship when Valerie was at his house? Baron was too emotionaly involved to see this was a terrible idea. Maybe after a few days, he’d be more amenable to reason.

“Can we discuss this when I come home?” she asked.

“Sure. Listen, I’ve got to go. The doctor’s here.” She wanted to tel him how much she missed him but instead said, “Goodnight.”

Kara put the phone aside and flopped on her back to harangue the ceiling. Maybe she was wrong to take a stand. Baron had seemed so distant, as though he knew things were over between them.
No, I need to stop imagining the worst. Baron
and I are great together.
He wouldn’t throw that away.

Her assertion was tested the next day when Baron caled, gave her a brief update on Sandra whose condition hadn’t changed, and said he had to go. Kara was left holding the phone, wondering where the man she’d spent the last few weeks with had disappeared to. He was quickly reverting to the curt and distant Baron she couldn’t stand, the man he became after Valerie left him, and Kara was helpless to stop him.

When he didn’t cal her on Saturday, she knew something was wrong.