True Love's Fire: A Red Hot Valentine Story (Hell Yeah!) (10 page)

“You might as well leave, Reggie.” She stood and glared at the big man. “You won’t be getting any of that kind of hospitality from me.”

He didn’t move, instead he chewed the teacake slowly, deliberately, never taking his eyes off of her. She could feel his gaze sliding down her body like an oily rag. Lia shivered. He wiped the crumbs from his mouth, slowly. “Well, I’m just wondering why you’d be so generous to a stranger and not take care of a home-boy, a friend, that’s all. My money is as good as some quacks’.”

“Are you saying that you want to pay me for sex?” Lia was mortified, furious and a lot nervous. 

“Unless you’re giving it away for free?” Once more he stared at her breasts, licking his lips.

“I wouldn’t give you the time of day.” With a quick look, she grabbed a cast iron skillet from the stove. “Elvis! Help!” She had never taught him an attack command, but he could detect the panic and fear in her voice. With a snarling growl he charged, and as he did, she swung her skillet. Reggie jumped back and Elvis made a jump at him. His hands immediately went down to cover his crotch, but the look of hatred he gave her sent a lightning bolt of fear down her spine.

“Bitch!” He kicked out at Elvis, who took another lunge at him. “I’ll leave, but this isn’t over, you slut.”

“I might be a bitch, but I’m not a slut.” She tried to wave the skillet around, but it was a little too heavy, so she held it steady. “But, you, Reggie, you’re an idiot, if you think I would ever sleep with you or anyone who treated me like a hooker. I’m a good person.”

Elvis was pushing him out, advancing by inches, fangs bared and hackles raised. She walked along too, thinking to grab her phone. “Get out, Latham. I’ll call the police, I swear.”

“Do you think they’d really care, Lia? Castor Jackson would like to fuck you himself.”

“What?” Lia was shocked. “I go to the grocery store. I go to the post office. I don’t bother any of you people. Why are you doing me this way?” Thoughts of getting up in front of these people, making a speech, and accepting an award was ludicrous. At least she knew how she’d answer Mona’s request.

Maybe it was the furious, desperate look in her eye, but he finally backed up to the door, opened it and left. Lia fell on the door and slid the chain in place, gasping and crying. She slid down the door and buried her head in her arms.

The ringing of her phone caused her to jump. She looked at the caller ID and saw Dr. Scott Walker. A swamping wave of relief hit her, she pressed the button. “Scott?” Her voice was trembling – she was so thankful he’d called.

“No, this is his secretary, Susie Josephs.”

She wiped her eyes, disappointed. “What?”

“Dr. Walker asked me to contact you and let you know that the rental company will be coming for the Lexus tomorrow. He said you had the key. Is that right?”

“Yes, I have it. Could I speak to Scott?”

“I’m sorry, he’s busy.” Lia could hear the woman’s voice frost over.

He was busy. He was busy. “Oh, I see.”

“Where could they connect with you to retrieve the key? And is the car still at Windswept?”

“Yes, it’s still there.” She ran her hand through her hair. “I live way off the road. I can take the key to the Buffalo River Cabin rental office.”

“Can you do this in the morning, before ten a.m.?”

Her business-like demeanor brooked no room for extra conversation, but Lia had to try. “I can have it there, yes. Is Scott okay?”

“Oh, certainly, he is fine. He thanks you for taking care of this for him.”

“He’s...you’re welcome.” She fumbled her words.

“Good, thank you for your time and your cooperation.”

The phone went dead in her hand.

“God.” She wanted to scream. First Reggie comes in and almost threatens her and then Scott has his secretary contact her. Obviously, he hadn’t wanted to speak to her himself. Standing up, she glanced outside; making sure Reggie’s truck was gone. It was. She stood at the window and let her heated skin cool on the frosty pane.

When her dog bumped her leg, she bent to hug him. “I’m wrung out. Let me feed you and I’m going to lie down and cover up my head with a pillow.”

He followed her to the cabinet and watched her fill his bowl with food. Buzz! Another phone call. She grabbed it again, hoping against hope it was Scott. But the name on the display was Cabe Allen. Despite her heartache, a slight smile turned the corners of her lips up. “Cabe?”

“Lia, good to talk to you. What are you doing tomorrow?”

“Uh, nothing interesting.” She sat down on the couch and leaned back.

“How would you and Elvis like to join us up here for a few days? I’d like for you to hear a new spin I want to put on Crossroad Magic. Do you feel up to it?” His voice was friendly and concerned. The contrast to what she’d been enduring was so stark, she wanted to cry.

“I’d love to.” She tried to think. “I’ll have to rent a car. My truck was a victim of the polar vortex.”

“Not necessary, I’ll have a car there to pick you up at nine. You’ll be our guest. Bring some extra clothes and stay with us. We’re at a secluded lodge north of town. I had to drive down the mountain to even have cell phone service.”

“Cabe, you’ll never know how much I needed to get away. In fact, if I could leave now, I would.”

“What’s wrong?”

She didn’t want to burden this man with her problems, so she didn’t. “Nothing I can’t handle, I’m just in a mood.” She thumbed a magazine on the table. “I’ll be ready, Cabe. And thank you.”

“No problem, we’re a team. I can’t wait to hear that new song.”

“Good. I am pretty proud of my Bonnie and Clyde piece, you may want to include that one, but the one on the Alamo is lacking a bridge.”

“That’s okay, we have another two weeks of taping and then, we’re doing something different.”

“What’s that?” Sometimes this week, she needed to tell Cabe what a life-saver he was. She was finally calming down.

“I’ve talked Munro into letting me do one live song on Valentine’s, the last one. We won’t tape it, we’ll actually cut to a performance in Savannah.”

“I’m impressed, I can’t wait to hear all the details.” He gave her some more information before he hung up. But when he did, Lia stood and walked around her cabin, making sure every window and door was locked. She even put chairs under the doorknobs. Getting out of town was a blessing. For the first time, her mountain home was a sanctuary no longer.

Lia had never felt more alone. She didn’t really belong anywhere.

*  *  *

Scott was worn out. The operation on John Watkins had been a success. He’d live to philander another day. “Susie,” he talked as he walked. “I’m leaving the hospital and heading back to the main office. Give the pregnant lady a call and have her come in tomorrow.”

“Will do.”

He rubbed his eyes. The next thing he wanted to do was phone Lia. “Hey, did you get ahold of Lia about the car? If not, I’m about to call her.”

“No need, I made arrangements. She’s taking the key to the cabin rental office.”

“Good, I’ll be calling her anyway as soon as I can get somewhere I can sit down and enjoy hearing her voice.”

“Uh.” Susie hesitated. “She asked to speak to you and asked how you were.”

Scott stopped mid-stride. “What did you tell her?” 

“I gave her my usual answer for enquiring feminine minds. I told her you were fine, but you were busy.”

“Dammit!”

“Something you’re not telling me?”

“This one’s different.”

“Different how?”

“Never mind. I’ll call her.”

“Wait, hold on...shit.”

Susie’s abrupt exclamation had Scott confused. “What? What’s wrong?”

“An emergency. Just a second.”

He held the phone, waiting to see what was going on.

“Turn around and head back to the hospital. That was Aron McCoy. They’re at Breckenridge with one of their employees who’s been shot in the head.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Since you’ve been gone

Nothing is the same

I can’t make sense of anything

And you’re the one I blame

Scott ran back into the hospital, speaking to one of the residents as he came through the garage entrance. “Talk to me.”

“Do you know these people?”

“The McCoys? Yes, I haven’t known them long, but I count them as friends.”

“They’re a big, pushy bunch.” Rajesh laughed. “I’ll never get used to people who actually dress in cowboy hats and boots every day. And there’s one, the loudest one, he’s wearing a biker outfit.”

“Wait, tell me about the patient. Is he still alive?”

“Yes, she is.”

“She?”

“Her name is Doris Brown and she works for the biker at his bar, no less.”     

“I’ll be there in a second.” He pocketed the phone and jammed his hands in his pockets. It was cold. There was no snow here in Austin. And right now, he’d give a good hunk of his sizeable salary to be staring at a pile of the white stuff with Houston in his arms. Scott wanted to just cut into one of the side rooms and call her, but he couldn’t. He was a doctor and someone’s life was at stake.

When he rounded the corner, he recognized Aron McCoy who was standing by two other men who resembled him a great deal. Walking up, he stuck out his hand. “Aron. Good to see you.”

“Doctor Walker, meet my brother’s Isaac,” he pointed to a leather clad man in biker boots, “and Joseph,” another dark-haired cowboy. “Isaac had an incident in his bar.”

A nurse was standing by Rajesh and they had an anxious look on their faces.

“Take care of her, Doctor,” Isaac spoke. “She’s like a mother to me.”

“I’ll do my best.” He went to his staff. “Which room is she in?”

“She’s not in a room.” They pointed to the waiting room. “She’s having coffee.”

Scott frowned. “Shot in the head?”

Rajesh smirked. “Entrance wound in the front, right between the eyes. Exit wound in the back, hair matted. I was afraid to look too close. Smart mouth. Takes two creams and one sugar.”

Good God. “Why isn’t she in the ER?” He couldn’t keep the sharp edge out of his voice. “This is highly irregular.”

Rajesh made a circle with his finger. “All of these people are highly irregular. She insists she’s fine and she won’t press charges against the man who shot her. The sheriff of Kerr County is here too.”

“Well, we’ll see about this.” Scott went to the waiting room and was surprised to see a woman sipping coffee with a bandage around her head. She appeared to be in her late forties or early fifties. When she caught sight of him, she wiggled her fingers and smiled. “Doris?”

“Yes, are you the miracle worker everyone has been waiting on?”

“That would be me.” He smiled. “Why don’t you come with me into the examining room and let me see what’s going on.”

“I think I just need a band-aid or two.”

“I think you might need more than that.” Maybe a mortician or an exorcist, he thought.

He gave her one of his signature devastating smiles and she sighed, set her cup down and held out her hand. She had salt and pepper hair, wore tight fitting black jeans and a western shirt. When she rose and started across the tile floor with him, her cowboy boots sounded loud on the tile floor. “He didn’t mean to do it, Doc. That’s what I told the sheriff.”

“Who?”

“My husband. I gave him money for Christmas and he was just showing me the gun he’d bought. It went off accidentally.”

Scott didn’t know what to say, so he didn’t say anything. Instead, he led her into the ER and the staff got her settled on the table. When he removed the gauze, he was shocked to see exactly what Rajesh had described. A small neat entrance wound was centered between her slightly dilated eyes and in the back was a ragged exit wound. “Let’s get some x-rays and an MRI, I’ve got to know what I’m dealing with here.” He couldn’t believe she was awake, much less functioning. But when the scans came back, he could see that the bullet had projected upward, skating along the top of her skull, actually missing the brain altogether. Her skull was slightly malformed, a bit thicker than normal, which had saved her life. After treating her to prevent infection, he closed the wound with a few stitches and met with ‘the family’.

The Sheriff was still there, along with a man Scott presumed to be the husband. But it was Aron and Isaac McCoy whom he reported to. “This was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen.” He explained to them about the angle of the bullet and the thickness of the cranial bone.

Isaac bowed his head and laughed. “This isn’t funny. It scared the shit out of us all. Doris is a hoot, but she’s been good to me. Her husband has just shown back up after being gone for ten years and this happens. And now you tell me what I’ve known all along. She has a thick skull and it saved her life.” Even Aron and Scott had to join him in his laughter.

“She’ll be fine as far as I can tell. I wish all of my cases ended up like this. It’s one for the record books.

“While we’re here,” Scott looked at Aron, “did you make an appointment with Susie?”

“I did, I come in next week. But I have to tell you, I’m fine.”

Scott didn’t doubt it. “You look like you’re doing well.” He had gained a little weight. His color was good and he seemed happy. “I’d still like to do some blood work and just talk to you about your experience. It will help me, if nothing else.”

“Glad to do it,” Aron answered. Isaac excused himself to go speak to Kane Saucier, the sheriff, who was still debating whether to arrest Doris’s husband. “Are we still on for dinner?”

“Sure, I’d love to.” They made arrangements and he hung around and visited with them until Doris was ready to be released. When he finally looked at the clock, it was well past midnight. What a day! He debated calling Lia, but he knew she’d be asleep. Tomorrow was another day. All he wanted to do now was crawl in a bed and get some shut eye.

*  *  *

Scott slept till noon. His first appointment wasn’t till two. Susie knew how to juggle things when surgery and ER calls complicated his life. He’d gone home to Bella Vista and woke to the smell of roast beef and potatoes. Hazel, his housekeeper, would insist on him eating before he left. She worried about him. Rising from the bed, he showered and dressed. As he ate, he phoned Lia, unable to wait any longer. After five rings, it went to voice mail. “Lia, this is Scott. I have had a schedule you wouldn’t believe. Call me. I can’t wait to talk to you.” He wondered where she was and what she was doing. During the night, he’d dreamed of her. Her soft skin, sweet lips and how she’d felt cumming around his cock. He’d given himself release, wishing she was in his bed.

The afternoon passed quickly. He met with Angela Robbins and her husband. They were scared, as well they should be. Concern for their child outweighed Angela’s concern for herself, however. But all he could do at this point was order a biopsy. Invasion with a needle was preferable to opening her up. The tumor was located in a critical speech area. After giving them all the information he could, he sent them on to the lab. It would be several days before the results were back. Until then, all they could do was pray.

Between consultations, he continued to try and phone Lia. This pattern continued for the next day and night. By that time, Scott was worried, perturbed and horny as hell. It was time to do something about it. Phoning Susie, he told her to check with Bell and arrange another helicopter trip to Arkansas. He didn’t have time to drive up there, it would eat up too much of the weekend, but flying was a different matter.

“Do you want me to have a rental car waiting for you at that same office where they picked up the Lexus?”

“No, we won’t be needing a car. I don’t plan on leaving the bed. But you can have Bell’s pilot pick me up on Sunday, after lunch.” 

“Is she the one?”

“No questions, yet. I need some time to figure it out.”

Susie hadn’t argued with him, but the curiosity in her voice was undeniable. Scott chose not to satisfy it. What he was feeling was too new and too wonderful to share.

*  *  *

“Thank you for bringing me home.” Lia sat across from Cabe Allen and his wife in the limousine. “I enjoyed myself immensely.”

“We had a great time.” Rochelle Allen was as nice as could be. Elvis was draped over the woman’s lap like they were long lost friends. It was odd how a dog would gravitate to certain individuals. But they were impeccable judges of character, and Lia trusted him. Elvis had been very fond of Scott. As soon as he entered her mind, she pushed the thought aside. It hurt too much.

“I’ll finish working on
The Line in the Sand.
I’ll send you something in a couple of days.”

“No, problem.” Cabe assured her. His attention was captured by the view out the window. “I love it here. If I were you, I’d never want to leave.” The singer and his wife surveyed Lia’s home. “The view is amazing.”

“Yes, it is.” Normally she would be ecstatic to be home, but the specter of Reggie and his threats stole the peace she longed for.

“We want you to come to Savannah, if you can.” Rochelle patted Elvis one last time as they drove up to her house.

“I’ll let you know.” She should just say ‘yes’ now. There really was nothing to prevent her from going. Scott wouldn’t be coming back. He’d gone home and the old adage, ‘out of sight, out of mind’, had proved true. He was a playboy, he had been honest about that fact. And she was a simple mountain girl—plain and homespun.

“I’m just sorry you lost your cell phone. I know how aggravating that can be.”

Lia realized Rochelle was still talking to her. “No problem. I have all of my contact information stored on the computer. I’ll get another one soon. Until then, you have my land-line number.”

“Yes, we do.” Cade helped her out. The chauffeur had stepped to their aid too, but the singer was almost as down-home as she was. They might ride around in a limousine at times, but these two were good as gold. “Do you have your key?”

“Yes, I do, thank you.” She gave it to the chauffeur who took her bags into the house. Gazing around her yard and the surrounding woods, Lia observed. “The snow is still deep. Looks like it will be with us for a little while longer.”

“I’m glad. We haven’t had a winter like this in years. Makes for good skiing.” They stepped up to hug her. “You take care now, and we’ll be in touch.” Lia stood in place, waving goodbye as they left. Her dog scampered right and left, checking out fresh scents, eager to catch up on what he’d missed.

Heading to the porch, Lia called over her shoulder. “I’m going to leave you out for a bit. Don’t go far.” Entering her house, she unpacked her suitcase, trying not to think about how much she missed Scott or how nervous she was about being alone. All the years she’d lived here by herself since her mother and grandmother died, and never had she been so uneasy.

Elvis’s frantic barking caused her heart to jump in her throat. What if Reggie were back? She ran to the door, threw open the screen and looked out. She saw nothing. But she heard something, the whipping whirr of a helicopter. Hope flooded her soul. Could it be? As she watched, the same helicopter that had picked Scott up was dropping him off. He stepped out and spoke to the pilot. Lia couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He had come back! She covered her mouth. What did this mean? He strode toward her. Tall, dark and bad-boy handsome, with a body she knew first hand could bring a woman to her knees.

Behind him, the helicopter rose into the air. As soon as it was over the tree tops, Elvis calmed down and ran toward him. Lia watched him take the time to greet the old dog. Her heart warmed. The question of what had happened with the phone call drifted from her mind. The closer he came, the more clearly she could see his features. He was smiling, his eyes were alive with a teasing light and he looked happy. To see her. Her feet wanted to run, but she held back, literally holding onto the door facing. About twelve feet from her front porch, he stopped. The footprints he’d left in the snow behind him seemed poetic somehow. He was leaving an even more indelible mark in her heart. Dressed in all black, with a brown duffle slung over his shoulder, he made her think of an old west desperado come to town. “I hope you don’t mind a little company.”

She chewed on her lower lip. “I wasn’t expecting company.”

He looked back over his shoulder. “Well, seeing as how my ride has up and left me stranded here, do you think you could give a weary traveler a hot cup of cocoa and a warm place to nestle down for a while?”

“I have a spare room I’ll rent you.” Why was she teasing him?

“How much?” He stared at her with enough heat in his eyes to ignite a bonfire.

“Two kisses.”

“That sounds mighty cheap. If I give you more, could I maybe upgrade my accommodations to your bed?”

She still hadn’t moved. “I’ll consider it. But you’ll have to fill out a satisfaction survey.”

“Are you planning on satisfying me?”

“I’ll give it a shot.”

He took one step forward and held out his hand. “Come kiss me, Houston.”

Lia wasn’t even aware she moved. She literally flew off the porch and into his arms. “I missed you, so,” she gasped as her fingers tangled in his hair. He cradled her in his arms and she gifted him her kiss, softening her body to the hard contours of his. “How did you find me?”

“We stopped at two other places, until someone gave us directions. You’re worth searching for.” Scott took what she offered. Gratefully, he tasted her lips. Lips so soft and sweet, lips which melted at his touch, burning him with their passion. “Why didn’t you answer the phone? I was worried to death.” He was surprised he was making sense. It was hard to think with an erection pulsing between his legs.

Wrapping an arm around his waist, she coaxed him toward the house. “Let’s go in, you’re chilled.”

He hugged her to him. “Elvis, inside!” he called, as if the blue tick hound belonged to him. His attitude made Lia smile. “Answer my question, why didn’t you answer the phone?”

Opening the door, she led him inside. “I just got home. I’ve been with Cabe and Rochelle while they filmed the special. Somewhere out on the side of that mountain, I lost my cell phone.”

Scott growled. “And it didn’t cross your mind that I would worry?” He followed her to a bedroom. Seeing her things spread around, he smiled. This was obviously not the spare room.   

“Not really, not after I talked to your secretary.”

Uh-oh. Scott heard a tinge of annoyance in her voice. “I hadn’t explained the situation to Susie. I merely asked her to phone you and tell you about the key.”

“There wasn’t anything to explain.” She made room for his duffle on the wide leather stool at the foot of her bed. “I overreacted when she called. I expected to hear your voice instead of hers. Your name came up on my cell phone. I was upset about something else, or I never would have asked those questions.”

“Upset about what?” He didn’t like the idea of something upsetting her.

“Just a local thing, nothing to worry about.” Taking him by the hand, she pulled him. “Let’s get the cocoa and sit in front of the fire. I need to look at you.”

Scott chuckled. “You want to look at me?”

“Yea.” She grinned. “I can’t believe you’re here. This is an unexpected surprise.”

“Good, I’m glad. I can’t stay long. I have to go back on Sunday.”

This was Friday. She had him for two days. “I’ll take it.” She had hot cocoa K cups, but she made it with heavy cream and extra chocolate syrup. “Try this.” Lia handed it to him. “It’s luscious.”

Taking it, he helped her down beside him. Talking about luscious, she looked good enough to eat. Dressed in a dark red, tit-hugging sweater and tight jeans, with an honest to God bow in her hair, he thought she was the cutest thing he’d ever seen. He didn’t know women wore bows anymore. “What would happen if I pulled on this?” He tugged at the end of the ribbon.