Michael (Connelly Cousins #3) Read online

  “Learning to walk again,” Stacey explained matter-of-factly. “A bad accident had me in a wheelchair for a long time, so this is like a tiptoe through the tulips to me.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to –” Bailey flushed, embarrassed.

  “Don’t sweat it, sweetie,” Stacey told her with a smile.

  It was too bad Bailey hadn’t met these two earlier. She had a feeling they might have been friends, and she definitely could have used some of those over the past few months. Unfortunately, Bailey’s nomadic lifestyle didn’t afford much opportunity for things like BFFs.

  Or boyfriends.

  Lina laid her bag down in the living room and tossed her keys on the counter. “Phone’s in there,” she said, pointing toward a small alcove next to the kitchen area. “You’re welcome to hang out here a bit if you’d like. You look like you could use a shower and a change of clothes.” Lina looked her up and down, surmising that they were relatively the same size. “I’m sure we can find something that’ll work for you.”

  “I don’t think –” Bailey started to protest, but Lina cut her off with a wave of her elegant hands.

  “Whatever. Offer stands. Did I mention there’s a hot tub?”

  Oh, now that sounded nice. Easing her aching body into hot, bubbling water and spending the rest of the day there. But like so many things, a luxury in which she would not indulge. Now a shower – preferably with some grease-cutting dishwashing liquid to dissolve the poisonous oils on her skin – that was doable.

  “Do you mind if I grab one of those?” Bailey asked, indicating the bag of Clementines Lina had just dropped on the counter. The fruit would help regulate her sugar levels, which were becoming increasingly out of whack.

  “Sure thing, hon. Help yourself.” Bailey caught the orange Stacey lobbed at her with a deft one-handed grab. Without bothering to peel it, Bailey bit into it like an apple, leaning against the counter for support. It did not go unnoticed by either woman.

  “Stace, see what we’ve got in the fridge, will you? I’m starving.”

  Stacey dutifully peered into the stainless steel side-by-side. “Hmmm. Bacon, eggs, looks like some of those biscuits you pop in the oven...”

  “Mmmmm. Yes, yes, and yes.” Lina laughed.

  “Want to join us for brunch?” Stacey asked Bailey, lining things up on the counter. “There’s enough here to feed a small army.”

  Bailey was just about to decline when her stomach growled loudly, yet another organ betraying her.

  “We’ll take that as a yes. Come on, I’ll show you where the bathroom is while Stace starts breakfast.”

  Lina walked across the kitchen, beckoning Bailey to follow. When she didn’t, Lina turned around.

  “Maybe it’s none of my business, but you look like you could use a little help right now. We’re offering you a hot shower, a change of clothes, a kick-ass breakfast – Stace is a phenomenal cook, by the way - and a place to chill for a while, no questions asked. You can take us up on it, or you can make your phone call and be on your way. Your choice.”

  Bailey was shocked at Lina’s openness. Noticing her expression, Stacey chuckled. “Yeah, she’s like that. Subtle as a Mack truck. You get used to it after a while.”

  “Why would you do all that for me?” Bailey asked with genuine curiosity. “You don’t even know me.”

  “So tell me your name.”

  Bailey bit her lip. “Bailey.”

  “Nice to meet you, Bailey. You already know our names, so that takes care of that. And as to the ‘why’ of it, well, does it really matter?”

  Bailey considered this for a moment, then a slow grin spread across her face. Why look a gift horse in the mouth? Usually people were overly curious; digging places they had no business digging. These women were offering what amounted to sanctuary, no questions asked. Too good to be true, perhaps, but it wasn’t like beggars could be choosers. Besides, by the looks of them, they were no threat to her.

  “No,” Bailey said finally. “I guess it doesn’t.”

  “Great! Glad we got that out of the way. Now come on, you are going to love the double shower heads...”

  * * *

  Lina eyed Bailey again, nodding her head when she confirmed she and Bailey were about the same size. She picked out a pair of comfortable shorts and a soft tank and left Bailey in the bathroom with everything she needed. Scooping up Bailey’s clothes with the intent of throwing them in the washer, she headed back out to the kitchen.

  Stacey held her cell phone out to her and mouthed, “It’s Michael.”

  Lina shifted the bundle and took the phone, keeping her voice low. She didn’t want to chance Bailey overhearing.

  “Yeah, we got her... She’s in the shower now ... A couple of scratches and scrapes, and a nice case of poison oak, but otherwise she looks okay...No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Give us a few hours, okay? ... Yeah, go home and get some sleep. Tell Kyle and Johnny to stay away too. We’ve got things covered... You’re welcome, Michael... Love you, too, don’t worry.”

  Stacey put a tray of rolls into the oven and closed the door. “Is she going to be okay?”

  “I don’t know. She’s like a scared rabbit or something. One slip and she’s going to bolt, I know it. I wish I knew more about what happened. I feel like I’m driving blind here.”

  “Michael didn’t tell you anything?” Stacey’s voice was unusually quiet and serious, and her eyes were locked on the bundle of clothes in Lina’s hands.

  “Just that he screwed up somehow and Bailey took off. Why?”

  Stacey’s eyes met Lina’s. “Because Bailey’s panties have blood stains on them, Lina.”

  Lina looked down and gasped. “Oh, Stace. This is so not good.”

  “Quick, put them back before she knows we saw them.”

  “Right.” Lina disappeared and returned empty handed a minute later. She saw the expression on Stacey’s face and shook her head. “No, Stace, don’t even think that. Michael would never hurt a woman intentionally. He would die first.”

  “I’m sorry, Lina, I know that. But I have to admit, hearing you say it makes me feel better. What are we going to do?”

  Lina bit her lip. “I don’t know. I do know that I’ve never seen Michael like this, which means we have to help them work this out. I guess we’ll play it by ear and see what happens.”

  * * *

  Michael sagged in relief once he hung up with Lina. Bailey was safe at the cabin and they would watch over her. As much as his gut was urging him to head up there at that moment, he knew Lina was right. He should keep his distance until Lina and Stacey worked their feminine magic and got a proper read on the situation.

  He called Kyle and Johnny to give them the update then headed back into town.

  A couple of hours, Lina had said. Hopefully enough time for him to figure out a way to fix this mess. To find some way to explain the inexcusable. “I’m sorry, I got carried away” wasn’t going to cut it, no matter how true that was. From the moment he’d entered her, he’d been lost. The sheer intensity that came from joining with his croie had been unexpected, launching a full and brutal assault on the last threads of his already-thin control.

  Now that he knew what to expect, he would make damn sure it never happened again.

  Michael sighed. Maybe he should just be honest with Bailey. Lay bare his soul and pray she was willing to listen. It had worked for Kyle, after all.

  The only thing he knew for sure was that he would fix this, because being without her was not an option.

  Chapter Ten

  “Feeling better?” Lina asked brightly when Bailey emerged from the shower a little later, wearing the clothes that had been laid out for her.

  “Yes, thanks. Um, did I hear you mention you’ve got a washer and dryer here?” Bailey held the clothes she’d been wearing earlier protectively in a tight bundle against her chest.

  “Yep. Through that pantry door, on the left. Help yourself.”

  Wh
en Bailey returned a few minutes later, she sniffed appreciatively. “That smells wonderful! Can I help?”

  “Sure,” Stacey said. “Grab those rolls out of the oven, the mitt’s on the counter there – and put them on a plate.

  They ate in relative silence, until Lina sat back and patted her belly in satisfaction. “You’re too good a cook, Stace. I feel like a total pig.”

  Stacey beamed, obviously pleased. “Glad you liked it. At least we got something in you today.”

  No sooner were the words out of her mouth than Lina pushed herself away from the table and sprinted for the bathroom.

  “Or not...” Stacey said reaching for her arm canes. Bailey beat her there, and was attempting to hold Lina’s hair behind her while she vomited violently into the toilet. When it looked like she was done, Bailey wet a washcloth and held it to Lina’s face.

  “All day morning sickness, huh?”

  “Yeah, how’d you guess?” Lina offered a weak smile. “Thanks, by the way. You saved me from having to wash my hair again today.”

  “I swear, Lina, we’re going to have to hook you up to an I.V. soon if you don’t start keeping some food down.” Stacey leaned against the doorway, concern etching her features.

  Lina reached up for the bottle of mouthwash on the sink, poured some into her hand, then swished it around in her mouth. “Lots of women have morning sickness, Stace. I refuse to be a whiner about it.”

  “Not like this, Lina. You’re supposed to be putting on weight, not losing it. How much have you lost already?”

  When Lina didn’t answer, Stacey said quietly, “What does your husband say?”

  Lina shot her a warning glance. “He’s ready to call 911 when I get a hangnail, Stacey. And compared to what you’ve gone through, this is a walk in the park. Let it go.”

  Stacey drew her lips together in a tight line but said nothing. Bailey had the impression a lot more would have been said on the subject if she hadn’t been around.

  “I’m going to see if the washer’s done yet,” she said, backing out of the room.

  “Let me call Kyle to come and get you Lina,” Stacey said quietly once Bailey had gone. “You should be at home, in bed, where he can take care of you and wait on you like the little princess you are.”

  Lina cracked a weary smile. “I’m fine. Really. Besides, we’ve got a bigger problem to deal with right now. I’ve never seen Michael like this over a woman, which means she’s probably going to become our sister-in-law – but only if we fix this. Come on. You can make me some tea and we’ll see if I can hold down a few saltines, okay?”

  The atmosphere was more subdued after that. Lina sat quietly on the sofa with her feet up, sipping tea and nibbling on saltines, while Stacey watched over her with the sharp eyes of a mother hen. Bailey curled up in the oversized armchair, tucking her legs beneath her. Now that she had showered, eaten, and slathered her arms with calamine lotion, she felt much better.

  Lina and Stacey said they’d be heading back to town later, and offered to give her a ride. After much thought, Bailey agreed to hang out until then. She felt safe here, and without cash, her only other option was hoofing it wilderness-style. Besides, it was better to conserve her energy until she could get back to her place.

  She almost squealed in delight when she saw the latest Salienne Dulcette novel on the table beside her.

  “I can’t believe it! This isn’t even in stores yet! How did you get it? It’s supposed to be her hottest one yet!”

  Lina flashed a knowing smile at Stacey. “Are you a fan?”

  “Oh, yeah, I love her books. “ Then her face clouded over. “Too bad it’s all fantasy.”

  “You don’t believe in soul mates?” Stacey leaned forward in interest.

  Bailey sighed. “I used to. But I’m getting too old to believe in fairy tales.”

  “Like what?” Stacey was really interested now.

  “Well, take all that stuff about how magical your first time is supposed to be, for example. Lies. All of it. It hurts like hell.” She bit her lip, suddenly afraid she’d said too much, but Stacey didn’t seem to think so.

  “Yes,” Stacey said slowly, drawing out the word. “It can hurt a lot. But a good man stays with you through the pain, helps you past it. But, to be fair, he can’t do that if he’s not aware of it.”

  Bailey’s eyes were intense. “But he would have to know, wouldn’t he? I mean, experienced men, like the ones in those books, always know, don’t they?”

  “Not necessarily,” Stacey said. “Especially if they let themselves get carried away.”

  “That’s true,” Lina piped in. “And some men don’t believe virgins exist past the age of twenty-one anymore. My husband didn’t, until I proved him wrong.”

  Bailey’s eyes widened. “And did it, you know, hurt a lot when you finally did?”

  Lina smiled. “Oh yeah. Of course, I don’t think it helped that my husband is ... well, there’s no delicate way to put this ... um, shall we say... hung like a horse?”

  Stacey snorted and Bailey nearly choked on her tea. “But he knew that I was, so he took a lot of extra care to make it easier for me. And that made all the difference in the world.”

  Stacey was nodding her head emphatically. “Yes! That’s it exactly! You see, it’s not the great sex that makes Salienne Dulcette’s books so well-liked. It’s the love stories behind the sex that really appeal to people.”

  “And you really believe that this stuff actually happens in real life?” Bailey waved the book in the air.

  “Yes, I do,” Stacey said, with a twinkle in her eye.

  Lina was smiling as well. “That book you are holding right now, in fact, is based on Salienne’s own personal love affair with her husband. It’s a great read. Why don’t you keep it?”

  Bailey’s mouth dropped open when she lifted the front cover and saw the inscription written there. To Lina, who never gave up on me, I love you, Salienne.

  “This is a signed first-edition dedicated to ... you?” Lina nodded. “Oh. My. God. You actually know Salienne Dulcette?”

  “Yep. We were roommates in college.”

  “Then I definitely can’t accept this. It’s made out to you.”

  “I think if I explain the situation she’d be willing to send me another. We’re quite close. ”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say you won’t give up on true love just yet,” murmured Lina.

  * * *

  Michael was so wound up, he didn’t think he’d be able to fall asleep, but the past two days had taken their toll. After grabbing something to eat and taking a long, hot shower, he stretched out on the bed. He was out shortly after his head hit the pillow. Images of Bailey filled his dreams.

  He only slept a few hours, but it was all he needed. He spotted Bailey’s backpack and thought he should at least toss the blanket in the washing machine. The camisole too. It briefly occurred to him that women’s delicates should probably be washed a bit differently than a blanket, but what the hell did he know? He’d buy her a new one if he ruined it. Probably several, in fact, because she looked so damn sexy in them.

  He pulled out the blanket and threw it in the washer along with some detergent and hit the button. Then he removed the Thermos, took it over to the sink and rinsed it out. The edge of the bag caught and it tumbled off the table, spreading the rest of its contents across the floor.

  Michael cursed softly. The last thing he needed was to break any of her stuff. He picked up a tiny bottle of saline and a contact lens case (did she wear lenses?). A brush. A kerchief. He found the cell phone where it slid under the chair and set it carefully on the table. His eyebrows raised at the sheathed blade he picked up. Removing it from its scabbard he saw that it was exquisitely carved with Celtic and Gaelic symbols. He let out a soft whistle. Serious stuff.

  A small rectangular pack caught his eye. It turned out to be a disposable syringe pre-filled with insulin. Oh, hell. She was diabetic? A quick glance at the
dosage and he could see she wasn’t a severe diabetic, but also understood that she probably had to watch her diet very carefully and maintain a steady schedule of injections.

  He grabbed his cell and called Lina at the cabin. Dusk was settling, and he was going up for her. He held the phone to his ear as he put the insulin carefully into his jacket pocket. She must be due for another dose by now. He cursed again when Lina’s cell went right to voicemail. Before he got the phone back into his pocket it rang. He snatched it up, thinking it was Lina, but heard Johnny’s voice instead.

  * * *

  Bailey must have dozed off, because the next thing she knew, the room was dim and Stacey was shaking her awake. The contact lenses stuck to her eyes, and she blinked furiously to get them hydrated again.

  “Bailey, wake up.” It took her a few moments to remember where she was.

  “Do you know how to drive a stick?”

  “What?” Bailey tried to brush away the mental cobwebs from her deep sleep.

  “Can you drive a stick shift?” Stacey repeated.

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Now listen to me carefully, because we don’t have a lot of time. Lina is sick, and I’ve got to get her to the ER. I can’t drive quite yet. I can call her husband to come get her, but we’ll save a lot of time if you can drive us to the hospital and he meets us there. Will you help us?”

  Bailey answered without hesitation. “Of course. Where is she?”

  Lina was sitting by the door, looking very pale. She held a towel by her mouth, and Bailey saw that it was spotted with blood. Lina tried to give her a weak smile. “I’m sorry, hon.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Bailey said, placing Lina’s arm around her shoulder and lifting her up. By the time Stacey made it out to the Jag, Lina was curled up in the back seat and Bailey was behind the wheel, ready to go.

  Stacey whipped out a cell phone and spoke into it as they pulled out onto the road. “Lina’s sick... We’re on our way to the ER now... No, Bailey’s driving... Get Kyle and just meet us there, okay? Right. Bye.” Stacey closed the phone but held it tightly in her hand. Her expression was strained when she turned to Bailey.