Mimi's Mix - A Book From Each Series! Hot Suspense & Active Spirits! (6 page)

“Awww! Don’t make me face them alone. You never know what they’ll talk me into.”

“Sorry, friend. I have a hot date with the new customer, and he takes total precedence—even over one of your mom’s meals.”

“He must be absolutely gorgeous then.”

“Oh, yeah!”

Sadie knew that Greta’s biggest wish was to find someone to marry and raise kids with… preferably someone who would take her away from the business she professed to hate. Happy for her friend, Sadie reached over to squeeze her hand. She accepted that not everyone disliked the male species. And to be a good friend was to support another’s right to be different.

But getting tied down and giving any man control over her choices—not in this lifetime. She glanced at her watch and jumped up, almost tripping on the silly fancy-dancy robe her mother had given her for Christmas. “Dam piece of silky… arrgg!” she muttered, then glared at Greta’s “tsking”.

With a final tug at the hem caught on a prickly branch, she said. “Here’s hoping your date turns out to be better than mom’s cooking. I’m off to get ready for my run. See you tomorrow to get the goods on the new dude.”

Sadie stepped into her own condo, slid the patio doors shut and locked them. Their neighborhood here in DC was pretty safe, but in this day and age anyone who didn’t lock their doors was a flaming wheel-nut.

She returned the long-spouted watering can to the utility room—the one she’d used to water the frenzied mass of flowers on her patio and snatched her newest, just-washed yoga outfit to wear for her run because all her sweats were in the laundry basket. Another chore on her never-ending to-do list.

As she passed through to get to her bedroom, her eagle eye scanned the modern pale blue and green furnishings in her open-plan area and determined that her place was in its usual tidy state. Her bedroom only took a minute to organize, and while she straightened everything, she thought of how happy the uncluttered space made her feel and how glad she was that she’d held strong on her intention of moving from the family home.

It had taken a lot of guts for her to make the “It’s time for me to move, Mommy” speech. Without Greta promising to protect her from the dangers her mother ranted about, she doubted if she’d have succeeded.

Hysterics from her mother and pleading from her sisters had all but broken her, but with the elbow periodically from her friend to strengthen her resolve, she’d held strong. Now, every day she took time to just “be in the moment” and feel the beautiful peace. I love it here, she thought, then danced a little jig. Love it, love it, love it!

In front of her mirror, she made sure that her black and turquoise stretch outfit fit properly—not too tight. She hated snug clothes that made her look fat. First she turned to the left, then the right, and picking up a small hand mirror, she checked the back. Tugging here and there, she finally gave up.

Grabbing at her soft hair, she tried unsuccessfully to clip it back. It was thick, naturally wavy, and Greta’s pride and joy, so she couldn’t cut it off as she’d constantly threatened. Finally, with some water, she managed to control it in a clip, and with a last perusal of her face, a dab of pink lip-gloss and pats on cheek for extra color, she grabbed her keys and made for the door.

Washington wasn’t too hot for a change. Instead of the mugginess that hovered many times in this famous city, there was a cool breeze. The day was perfect for running. After a warm-up of stretches and bends, her body felt loose and lovely. She started out on her favorite route where, every once in a while, she’d see children playing in their yards—mostly with their overly protective parents watching.

Kids made her wish she liked the male species—at least enough to want to procreate with one. But during her torturous earlier years as a fat girl, it was the boys who teased her the worst, called her by the meanest names and made her want to crawl under the nearest rock. No, not a rock, she corrected the thought; make that a huge boulder.

Stop thinking about that garbage today… It’s too beautiful. She shut down bad memories and got into her rhythm.

One moment she was ambling along at her unusual steady pace, in the next she registered the danger to a child chasing his ball into the street and somehow became magically jet-propelled. She never knew she could run so fast.

Immense satisfaction filled her for the split second she had him safe in her arms—before the impact. After the car hit her, the pain overrode everything—pain and shock.

Anger followed close behind. Rage at the pointlessness of the accident flooded into her scrambled brain and gave her the necessary courage not to pass out. Why some stupid fool had to show off his fancy wheels by driving like a lunatic, she’d never understand. Not only could she have been killed, but the child clutching at her might also have ended up a bloody corpse.

She hated to admit that some slick last-minute control on the driver’s part had prevented them from even worse injury, but in her heart she knew it to be true. Nevertheless, he’d been well over the speed limit; therefore she felt justified in wanting to kill the SOB.

Just then, the boy’s body jerked spasmodically, and she felt his terror. She needed to be strong. Keep him calm. Ignore the fire igniting into flames along her left side. She swallowed the blood that had pooled in her mouth from where she’d bitten her tongue and focused on keeping her voice from shaking.

Half lying, half sitting on the side of the road, she rocked her precious bundle back and forth and whispered, “It’s okay, baby. I have you safe. We’re fine.”

From the end of a long tunnel, or so it seemed, she was aware that after the screech from the brakes stopped, a car door opened. But it wasn’t until a large male rushed over and knelt beside her that she lost it.

Chapter Three

Oh god! A child! A massive adrenaline rush made breathing impossible and coherent thinking pure nonsense for Liam. Training and instinct took over.

Then just before the moment of impact, a smallish woman appeared from out of nowhere to lift the boy in her arms, swinging her back to the car to take the brunt of the blow. He’d never seen anyone move so fast—or so fluidly for that matter.

The sound of the car hitting her body tore his heart right out of him, leaving behind a gaping hole of anguished fear. Add the screech of the tires, and it would be a litany of sounds he’d never forget. Only one telling sob escaped as he bolted from the vehicle and slid to the ground next to the victims. Expecting blood and broken bodies, he wilted with relief when the mass of limbs unfolded and a very angry face pushed its way into his personal space until their noses all but came into contact.

Squeaking with fury, obviously unable to catch a full breath, the blonde doll glared and hissed like a cornered tomcat. And rightly so. He deserved whatever she could manage to push out from lips visibly trembling.

“Are you crazy? Driving—speeding lunatic—kill people.”

“I’m so sorry.” His hands reached to help.

Her visible effort to speak impressed the heck out of him. Finally she managed, “Get out of my way, you maniac.” She slapped at his hands, all the while cuddling the quivering, shocked boy against her chest. Her trembling hand ruffled the boy’s bangs and then checked his limbs. “Sweetie, are you okay. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I want my mummy.”

The wail almost broke Liam’s heart. He answered in a voice softened by shame. “Of course you do, Streak. Don’t cry, big guy. I’ll get her for you. Where do you live?”

Just then a scream devastated what was left of his nerves as a woman heavy with child raced awkwardly towards them and collapsed to her knees. “Pedro!! Mi niño, are you okay? Are you hurt? Tell mamá.”

Blondie released her hold on the boy, who was now angling and reaching in the direction of the distraught woman. “Mamá, I lost my ball.”

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll buy you another ball.” While feverishly squeezing him to her, the mother rained kisses over the child’s face and hair. “Just promise me to never run into the street like that again. Promise me.” Saying those words seemed to ignite her anger, and her voice rose. She gripped the boy’s arms and shook the sobbing, frightened child until Liam reached over and put his hands on top of hers.

“Don’t,” was all he said, but it was enough. Wails of fear and pain issued from between the mother’s lips to harmonize with the child’s as Liam wrapped his big arms around them both and hugged them back and forth before lifting them all up to their feet.

“We need to call an ambulance and take him to the hospital. A doctor should check him out, don’t you think?” Liam insisted, and then hesitated when he felt the mother withdraw.

Blondie, still crouched on the ground, looked up at the mother and talked softly. “I’m sure the car didn’t touch him, but we can’t take any chances.”

“I can drive him—” Liam broke in.

Blondie’s head whipped his way. “Like that’s going to happen. You shouldn’t be allowed behind the wheel,” she sneered.

“Right. Don’t know what I was thinking. We’ll call emergency. I’ll get my cell phone right—”

“No.” Pedro’s mother broke into their conversation. “Pedro seems to be okay. He doesn’t need to go to the hospital.” Then she leaned over and her hand went to stroke the blonde’s cheek for an instant as she looked into her eyes. “Maybe it’s you who needs medical attention, miss? Gracias—muchas gracias. God will grace you for what you did today.”

Blondie’s hand covered hers. The two women shared an intimate look that spoke from one mother’s heart to another woman’s soul. A telling look that only women can share.

“I’m fine, just catching my breath.” Blondie smiled and squeezed the other’s hand.

Clutching the toddler, whose arms were wrapped tightly around her neck, the lady with the immense stomach turned clumsily in the direction of the curb and staggered forward. Her pregnancy looked to be advanced and the weight of the child seemed to be almost more than she could handle. But handle it she did. Stoically and slowly, she’d almost reached the sidewalk before Liam got a nudge from his irate victim, who slapped his leg, gave him “the look” and pointed.

Stunned, maybe, but not being too slow, he caught on and rushed over to help. “Ma’am, let me take the boy. He’s too heavy for you.”

The child peeked up at him from where he’d hidden his face on his mom’s neck and wailed, “No.” His arms tightened and he hugged even closer to his mother.

“No need, señor. Pedro is shy.”

Driven, Liam couldn’t let it go. “Look, ma’am, you need to take my card in case there’re any problems that appear later, you know, if the boy needs to see the doctor, or for that matter, anything that might arise from this experience. I know the accident was my fault, and I want to take care of him.”

“No, mister. It wasn’t your fault. My Pedro ran in front of your car. That you stopped in time is a miracle, and the young lady who saved him is an angel. I’ll say prayers for you both.”

As if he didn’t hear her, he put the card into the pocket of her sweater, forcing her to take it. “At least tell me your name and where you live, so I can check later to make sure he’s okay.”

“I’m Isobela Ruiz. We live in the white house, just here. Upstairs in the apartment.” She nodded to the closest building, a dilapidated structure. Then she started forward again to where the stairs rose steeply.

He turned to go back to his car and began to hurry when he saw Blondie using the bumper to pull herself to her feet.

She rose slowly. White-faced, she leaned against the car.

“Help her, you idiot. She can’t carry him up those stairs. She can barely walk herself.”

Pivoting, he saw truth in her words. He sprinted back to Isobela and her son. “Let me take the boy and help you upstairs. It’s too hard for you to carry him.”

“Mama!” The baby had a loud voice and a stubborn streak. “Again he tightened his hold around his mother’s neck and hid his face in her hair.

“Thank you for offering. I’ll just go slowly.”

Liam didn’t hesitate. “Pardon me, I need to help you.” With those words, he gently lifted the pair in his arms and carried them up the crooked, badly chipped stairs to the top, where the flimsy screen door flapped in the wind. He set her down carefully and tousled the boy’s hair, then turned in time to see that Blondie seemed to be in some difficulty.

Shit!
His stomach tightened and gave him hell as he darted down the stairs to her side, just in time to catch her as she collapsed to her knees.

Chapter Four

She wrenched herself from the man’s hands, then slapped at him when he wouldn’t let go. “Don’t touch me, you nutcase. Driving like you’re racing in the frigging Indy 500.” Her face ended up two inches from his. “Damn fool. You could have killed us.”

He frowned, pulled back, and clenched his hands. “I’m sorry.” What could he say? She was right, and he hated knowing it. On the other hand, he’d never shirked his responsibilities or hesitated to be accountable for his own actions. “I was speeding.”

“Achh!” Disgustedly, she pushed him out of her space and again hung onto the car, trying to get the support she needed to rise.

“Don’t be silly. Let me help you.”

“No! I don’t want you to touch me.”

“Why are you being so stubborn? I just want to help.” Without further ado, he lifted her into his arms, over the side of the convertible, and into the front seat.

“Are you crazy? Let me out of here. I’m not going anywhere with you. You all but killed me earlier with your stupid stunt, flying through the red light—”

“It was yellow.”

“Was not.”

“Was too.” He glared at her over the side of the car and watched the sparks ignite in her cat-spitting green eyes. She crossed her arms and pushed her face closer. “Where do you think you’re taking me?”

“To the nearest hospital.”

“No way! I don’t want to go to a hospital.” A small dimple appeared on each side of her mouth as she ground her teeth.

“Tough! My car hit you. You need to see a doctor. With a slap on the door, he started around the front of the vehicle to get in at the driver’s side.

“My mother’s a nurse. She’ll check me out. Just let me sit here for a minute, and then I’ll be on my way. Hopefully never to run into you again.”