Rescued by Dr. Rafe (14 page)

Inside was a pretty patterned box bearing the name of an exclusive skincare company. When she lifted the lid, the fresh scent was gorgeous after the dry, utilitarian smell of the hospital.

Someone had been very thoughtful. Mimi knew she looked a mess; her hair was flat and her nails needed filing and that was just the tip of the iceberg. One leg was in a cast and the other was still swollen, blistered and discoloured from the snake bites. When she'd first been allowed to go to the bathroom at the hospital, the large mirror above the basin had revealed what she'd only glimpsed in the pocket mirror the nurse had given her. Livid bruises on her face, a line of stitches and her own eyes staring back at her in shock and dismay.

She picked up a bar of soap, closed her eyes and smelled it. Her skin itched from antiseptic soap and wipes and this was just what she'd been craving. There were bottles of lotions and shampoo. Mimi picked up a tube of hand cream, squeezing a small dab on to her finger and rubbing it on to the back of her hand, still bruised from where a cannula had been inserted. It was luxurious and smelled just gorgeous.

‘Who's that from?' Charlie appeared with a plate of cakes.

‘I don't know.' Mimi looked around for a card but couldn't see one. ‘But look, Charlie. So thoughtful...'

‘Hmm.' Charlie leaned over to inspect her gift. ‘Suppose you'll be wanting to stink my bathroom out with this lot.'

‘Oh, stop. You should be so lucky. And if you lay one finger on any of these, you're dead.'

‘Hardly likely.' Charlie rummaged around amongst the torn packaging. ‘Must be a card somewhere... What's that?' He pointed at a slim package, slipped into the side of the box.

‘Don't know.' Mimi tore the tissue paper and caught her breath.

‘Very smart.' Charlie peered at the phone in her hand. ‘Top of the range. Who's it from, though?'

Suddenly she knew. Mimi pressed the power button on the phone and the screen lit up immediately. There was an unread text.

‘How do I...?' She jabbed her finger on the screen and the text appeared.

If there's anything you need, call. Hope you enjoy washing off the smell of the hospital. Love Rafe.

Dumbly, she clasped the phone in both hands, holding it to her heart.

‘When did this come, Charlie?'

‘Came by courier this morning.'

‘It's from Rafe. How did he know I was coming out of hospital today?'

‘I've been...' Charlie shrugged. ‘I've been keeping him up to date, and asking a few questions about things. You know...texts. Couple of calls.'

From the guilty look on Charlie's face, it had been more than a couple of calls.

Suddenly it was all too much. Mimi felt tears welling in her eyes and she started to cry.

‘Hey...sis...' Charlie seemed to manoeuvre almost sideways to get next to the sofa, and slid across to hug her. ‘I'm sorry... He said I should call...'

‘It's okay. I'm glad you did.' Mimi snuffled into his sweater. ‘Is he... Is he all right?'

‘He's fine. He was just worried about you and I thought...'

‘You thought right. Thank you.' Mimi dabbed at her face with a tissue, wishing that she could at least cry without something hurting. ‘Will you call him? Tell him I'm happy to be home, and that I said thank you.'

‘Of course.' Charlie hesitated. ‘Don't you want to tell him? If he sent you this, then doesn't that mean he wants
you
to call?'

It was tempting, but... ‘No. We broke up, and that was the right thing for us both.'

‘Yeah. That's what he says. But you know he'll come, don't you? If you want him to.'

‘I know. I don't want him to. We don't work that well together, me and Rafe. Never really have done.'

Charlie hugged her tight, rocking her gently in his arms, the way he had the night their parents had died. ‘You...loved him, didn't you?'

‘Of course I did. Love isn't everything, though. You've got to be able to live with someone.'

‘Well, come and live with me. I'll buy your chocolate.'

‘You might have to until I get another job.'

Charlie squeezed her hand. ‘Don't worry about that, sis. One thing at a time, eh?'

‘Yes. One thing at a time.'

She heard the doorbell ring, and Jan's quick footsteps. Then she appeared in the doorway holding another bunch of flowers.

‘They're nice.' Charlie turned to look. ‘Who are they from?'

‘From...' Jan looked at the card which was taped on to the wrappings. ‘Joe Harding and everyone at the Old Brewery. Aren't they just lovely?'

‘They're beautiful.' Mimi poked Charlie in the ribs. ‘Is there anyone you
haven't
told about my coming out of hospital today?'

‘Must be someone.' Charlie grinned, sliding back into his wheelchair. ‘Right, we'll have tea and then you can get down to some flower arranging. Then a nap...'

‘A nap? What? Am I ninety?'

‘
Then
you can have a shower.' Charlie nodded towards the box that Rafe had sent and he grinned. ‘Then we'll hang out a bit, have some dinner, and tomorrow you can start on the getting well thing. Okay?'

‘Okay. Thanks.' Charlie made it sound so easy. They both knew it wasn't, but it paled into insignificance alongside the journey she was going to have to take before she stopped missing Rafe.

It had to be done, though. All of it. Starting tomorrow.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

M
IMI
HAD
BOUGHT
a new dress. She had been exhausted by the shopping trip with Jan, but had refused point-blank to go home until she'd found what she was looking for. A pretty, dusky pink summer dress that she'd got in the sales because everyone was looking forward to the winter fashions now, but which had the advantage of covering her knees.

Tights would have gone some way towards making her leg look a little better, but she still couldn't bear to have anything touch the swollen, discoloured skin around the snake bites. The supportive brace on her other foot didn't do much for the outfit either, but at least it allowed her to walk and she opted for a pink canvas sneaker on the other foot.

She'd applied a deep conditioner to her hair, drying it carefully, and was pleased with the shine it gave. There was nothing she could do to make the scar on her face go away, but a little foundation made it less obvious.

‘Bit more cleavage, maybe...' Charlie gave her outfit a cool, assessing eye.

‘The neck doesn't go like that. Anyway, what happened to being a woman of mystery?' Mimi pulled at the lace-edged top of the dress.

‘There's something you need to learn about men, Mimi. Cleavage is always better than mystery.'

‘You think I don't know anything about men?'

Mystery was going to have to do. She had too many imperfections now to consider anything else, and Rafe was going to have to take her as she was. Mimi pulled on her coat and got to her feet.

It had been ten weeks since her accident and, now that the cast was off, it was a lot easier to get around. She couldn't walk very far and still needed elbow crutches to support her, but every day she managed a little more.

Charlie held up his hands in an expression of surrender. ‘Not getting involved, Mimi. I'm just giving you a lift.'

‘Good. Thanks. Let's get going.'

* * *

Rafe's road was a nice road. Nice houses. If he'd had to spend all this time away from her, Mimi was glad that he'd found somewhere pleasant to live. Charlie drove slowly, pulling up outside the house on the brow of the hill.

‘Oh...!'

‘Told you.' Charlie looked at the path, sloping upwards with a couple of steps along the length of it, and three more leading to the front door. ‘Not all that accessible.'

‘Well, what do you do then?'

‘I go round the back.' Charlie pointed to the concrete slope where Rafe's car was parked. There was a passageway in between the house and the garage, just wide enough to take a wheelchair.

It was bad enough turning up at his front door; the back door was out of the question. And if she could get this far, then a few steps weren't going to stand in her way. Even if they did look virtually insurmountable from here.

‘Why don't you just call him? That would be much easier.'

As if the rest of this was a walk in the park. ‘I'll manage. I'll take it slowly.'

Charlie shrugged. ‘Okay. I'll wait.'

‘It's okay. Thanks for the lift.' Mimi grabbed her handbag, looping it across her body, and got out of the car, pulling herself upright.

‘Call me when you want me to come and get you...'

Charlie waited anyway, while she laboriously made her way up the steep path. The last three steps looked pretty much impossible, but she could reach the bell from the bottom if she stretched up. Turning around, she flapped her hand at Charlie in a signal that he was going now, and the car moved off.

This was it. Charlie had mentioned more than once that there were easier ways of getting to see Rafe, but she'd been determined. It was going to be just her and Rafe. Away from the echoes of their past which haunted her own cottage, and certainly not anywhere else. What she wanted to say needed to be said in private.

She reached for the bell and rang it. No answer. Rafe's car was there and, anyway, Charlie had called to make sure he was in, on the pretext that he might drop round at some point in the morning.

Perhaps he'd gone out for a few minutes, knowing that Charlie would let himself in at the back. Maybe he'd forgotten. Or maybe there was some kind of emergency at the hospital and he'd been called in. But then he would have taken his car.

Mimi tried again, this time keeping her thumb on the bell for long enough to make sure that Rafe was out. Then she carefully made a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn and sat down on the front steps.

There was just one cloud in the sky, but it was a big one and it was coming this way. The breeze was fresh and she drew her coat around her, wishing she'd brought her umbrella. It didn't matter now. However long she had to wait, she wasn't going to call Charlie and get him to come back for her.

She waited and then saw him, turning the corner at the end of the road, the Sunday paper tucked under his arm in a thick wad. There were a few moments to appreciate his long stride, the way his dark woollen sweater mimicked the shape of his shoulders. She could just see that he hadn't bothered to shave this morning. She'd always thought that a couple of days' worth of stubble suited Rafe.

She wondered if she should stand up or remain sitting, and decided to stay where she was. The long stretch of front path seemed horribly steep from this angle and she was afraid of falling.

So very afraid of falling. But she was here now, setting herself up for whatever Rafe could dish out. Cold distance, uncertainty, outright rejection. Or the terror of hearing him say
yes.
She'd deal with it when it came. She clasped her hands together tightly, wondering if she'd know when he saw her. Maybe he'd pretend not to for a few strides, to give him time to work out how he was going to let her down easily.

He saw her. The precise moment was clear and unequivocal because he dropped his paper and started to run. When he reached the front path he slowed and suddenly stopped, his gaze on her.

‘Mimi. What...?'

‘You...you said that if there was anything...' She gulped the words out.

He took the path in long strides, stopping in front of her. ‘Come in.'

She swallowed hard, trying to remember the words that she'd rehearsed so many times. Suddenly her courage deserted her. ‘I...I can't.'

He sat down next to her on the step, one arm planted on the paving stone behind her, his face a mask of concern. He was being careful not to touch her.

‘Okay. We'll stay here, then.'

She wanted this moment to last. Even the tearing uncertainty was something she wanted to hang on to because she was here with him.

‘Mimi...?' He craned around to look into her face. ‘What is it? Why won't you come inside?'

‘Because...' Suddenly it all came tumbling out. ‘Because there's something I want you to do for me. I believe in you and I want you to believe in me...'

He opened his mouth to speak and she waved him into silence.

‘I believe that we can make it work between us, if we just trust enough to help each other change. I'm daring you to try.'

‘You...' He gasped out the word, turmoil showing in his face. ‘You're daring me?'

‘Yes.' She was twisting her fingers so tightly together that they hurt.

‘Then I dare you back, Mimi.' He was closer now, his mouth an inch from hers, his gaze all-encompassing. ‘I dare you to come inside.'

‘You might be sorry...'

‘I won't be. I'll make sure you aren't either.'

‘Then I accept.' She held out her hand to shake on the deal, and he pulled her trembling fingers to his lips.

Pulling his keys out of his pocket, he put them into her hand. Then he lifted her in his arms and turned towards the door. In a dream—no, this was far too good to be a dream—Mimi opened the door.

‘Last chance, Mimi.' He was smiling down at her. ‘If you come inside then you stay until we've seen this one through.'

‘I know.'

He stepped over the threshold and the warmth of the house tingled against her cheek. Rafe kicked the door closed and let her down, his arms around her waist, supporting her against his body. She dropped her handbag and slid her coat off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor.

‘Aren't we going to go and sit down?' He wasn't moving, just staring at her.

‘I have to do something far more important first.' He held her close, kissing her. Tender at first and then the connection between them snapped into place, something hot and wild flooding through them both.

She'd lived for this. Dreamed of it, every moment that they were apart.

Rafe was showing no sign of wanting to move and she kissed him again. Yesterday was gone and tomorrow wasn't here yet. And today was turning out to be just perfect.

‘Maybe we should...talk?'

‘Not yet.' He smiled down at her. ‘There might be a few constructive arguments along the way...'

‘I imagine so. I'm almost hoping there will be.'

‘In which case I want to remind us both how sweet it'll be when we make up.'

That sounded like an excellent plan. ‘And this is the best you can do?' She knew for sure that it wasn't.

He kissed her again and her legs started to tremble. He felt it and supported her the few steps to the stairs, sitting down before he pulled her on to his lap. ‘Better?'

‘Much.' She could feel his body against hers. Wound tight, like a coiled spring. ‘Rafe, I've missed you so much.'

‘Me too...' He grinned. ‘I'm not dreaming, am I?'

‘If you are, then we're both dreaming together.' Maybe this would shatter the dream. She had to trust him enough to believe it wouldn't.

She swung her feet up, looking at her mismatched footwear. Suddenly her swollen, discoloured leg seemed so much worse than it had looked this morning when she'd got out of bed and her fingers itched to pull her dress down and cover as much of it as she could. But being in his arms gave her courage.

‘I feel a mess, and I'm afraid that's all you'll see. I want you to be honest with me...'

‘Mimi...' His fingers brushed her cheek, almost finding the healing scar on her face and instinctively she flinched. When his gaze found hers again, tears were glistening in his eyes.

‘Mimi, please don't ever feel that you're not the most beautiful woman in my world. Please don't ever think that I'm judging you.'

‘You don't care, do you? About my leg...the scars...' Finally she could manage to say it.

His chest heaved as he sucked in a deep breath. ‘I care about them, but only because they hurt you. I love you.'

‘And love is blind?'

‘Never.' His finger was under her chin, tipping her face up towards his. ‘I see every part of you. And I love every part of you. Please don't be afraid, sweetheart, because there's nothing for you to be afraid of.'

‘And I...'

He laid his finger over her lips. ‘There's more I want to tell you. Your turn in a minute.'

She couldn't help smiling. Rafe was clearly taking this decision to change seriously and it looked as if she was going to have difficulty in shutting him up. ‘Okay.'

‘I stayed away because it was what we'd agreed, and I thought it was best to let you recover properly without having me around. I wanted to let you make this decision, but I hoped every day that you would.'

‘Yes...' It made Mimi feel so good to hear him say these things.

‘I want to love you and take care of you, but I want to let you take care of me too.'

‘Yes.'

‘When you were arguing with me, that night on the sofa when you climbed on top of me...' She felt him shudder.

‘That was a mistake. I know.'

He chuckled. ‘It was challenging. And, in or out of bed, that's the thing that excites me about you most. I want you to love me, but I
need
you to challenge me, and I need you to make me hear it.' He dropped a kiss on to her cheek.

‘Because I'm always right?' She giggled.

‘No. Because neither of us is always right. But together we've got a fighting chance.'

‘You've been thinking about this, haven't you?'

‘All the time. Every day, honey.'

He kissed her again. Rafe had always known all the right things to do to make her body crave him and to make her heart thump with longing for him. An emotion that she couldn't name shivered through her. Desire, happiness. The feeling that she was coming home... No. The knowledge that she
was
home.

This was all she needed. Everything else could take its time.

‘Maybe we should take things slowly.' She waited for his agreement.

It didn't come. ‘What? Don't you agree, Rafe?'

‘What things?'

She dug him in the ribs. ‘You know what things. Sex. Leave the gymnastics until later.'

He shrugged. ‘Yeah, I can do without the gymnastics. If you honestly want to know, then the sex is going to be a bit harder.' He kissed her cheek. ‘I'm not going to pretend that I don't want you. Mimi, I'm done with that. But I'll wait until you're ready, however long that takes.'

He was making this very hard. Mimi wanted him too, but the thought that she might disappoint him held her back. ‘I just think... Well, I get tired easily. And my legs are still weak. I can't do all the things we used to.'

‘Would it be all right if I just kissed you?'

She looked up into the warmth of his eyes, wondering how she could have lived this long without having him close. ‘Yes. It would be more than all right.'

‘Hold hands. I'd like to do that.'

She took his hand in hers, kissing his fingers. ‘How's that?'

‘Wonderful. You want to try something new?'

She grinned. ‘What sort of new?'

He kissed her cheek again, working his way round to her ear, and Mimi shivered. ‘I'll kiss you and touch you. I'll make you burn for me, the way I do for you, only I'll take it slow. Very slow. Very gentle.'