The Tycoon′s Proposition
The Tycoon's Proposition
Rebecca Winters
When Terri Jeppson is informed that her ex-husband is desperately ill, she rushes to his aid.It's not until she gives him a therapeutic massage - on doctor's orders - that she realizes the man at her fingertips isn't her ex at all. He's an incredibly handsome, sexy…total stranger!Terri has unwittingly found herself up close and personal with international billionaire Ben Herrick. And he has one more surprise for Terri: a shocking proposal. Their unexpected encounter has certainly broken the ice between them - but should Terri take the plunge and accept Ben's proposition?
Terri picked up the lotion and squirted a mound of the cream into her palm to begin the rubdown.
But when she started to work the lotion into his skin, her hands froze.
Dear God. This man wasn’t Richard!
The burnished, hard-muscled leg did not belong to her ex-husband!
Terri began to tremble. Without hesitation she rushed to his side and bent over him so she could peer into his eyes.
A pain-filled gray gaze stared back at her between dark lashes. There was a frantic urgency in his look she could feel to her bones.
“You poor man,” she whispered in a shaky voice. “All this time everyone has thought you were my ex-husband. No wonder you’ve been so upset.”
The man let out a moan, which she took for a yes.
From boardroom…to bride and groom!
A secret romance, a forbidden affair, a thrilling attraction?
Working side by side, nine to five—and beyond… No matter how hard these couples try to keep their relationships strictly professional, romance is definitely on the agenda!
But will a date in the office diary lead to an appointment at the altar? Find out in this exciting new miniseries from Harlequin Romance
.
Look out for Rebecca’s next book,
Bride Fit for a Prince (#3740)
The Tycoon’s Proposition
Rebecca Winters
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ONE
“AREN’T you going to invite me in?”
Matt Watkins was a nice-looking divorced guy who’d recently moved to Lead, South Dakota, to manage a busy service station.
Tonight had been their first official date, but already Terri Jeppson knew she could never be interested in him. She sensed he was looking for a wife. It would be better to dash his hopes now.
“I’m sorry, Matt. I start work early in the morning and—”
“You’re still in love with your ex,” he broke in before she could finish, sounding more hurt than angry.
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him her love for Richard had died an early death during their six-year marriage. But she caught herself in time.
“Maybe I am, and it took going out with someone else to realize it,” she said. It was an excuse she felt he could live with. “Please forgive me. I really did have a wonderful time with you tonight. Thank you for dinner and the movie.”
He stared hard at her. “When you think you’re over him, let me know.”
She nodded before shutting her apartment door. Glad the evening had come to an end so she could stop feeling guilty, she walked into the kitchen and automatically turned on her answering machine.
Her job as assistant head of the chamber of commerce meant she received a lot of calls transferred to her apartment after hours. Summer was the busiest time. July was the worst in terms of the swarms of tourists wanting to see Mount Rushmore and vacation in the Black Hills.
While she waited to hear what problems needed troubleshooting tonight, she sifted through the mail she hadn’t bothered to look at earlier.
The first two calls were from her mother and sister Beth who lived in Lead with her husband Tom. Unfortunately Beth had discovered Terri was going out on a date. Her family was so eager for her to meet a man who was “worthy” of her, their interest in her nonexistent love life was transparent. They weren’t going to like it when she told them she wouldn’t be seeing Matt again.
Another message played. “Mrs. Jeppson?” it began, letting her know it had to do with business. She tossed her junk mail in the wastebasket while she listened.
“My name is Martha Shaw. I’m calling from Creighton Herrick’s office at the Herrick Corporation Headquarters in Houston, Texas. Your husband, Richard, was injured in an accident where he’s been working. We’ve been told you should come as quickly as possible. A special family emergency visa has been arranged for you to enter the country.”
Country?
“Since this won’t require you going into the jungle, you won’t need any immunizations. The company will pay for your transportation and hotel. After you hear this message, please phone me at the following number day or night so I can book your flight and make hotel accommodations for you.”
Terri stood there in shock.
She and Richard had been divorced for almost a year, and had been separated six months before that. There’d been no communication between them since their divorce had become final. She’d thought he was out of her life forever.
Why would he have lied about his marital status when she knew he was happy to be a free man with no ties?
As for working outside the U.S., she couldn’t imagine it unless a glazier could make a lot more money somewhere else.
The whole thing was a complete mystery to her, but whatever the explanation, it appeared his condition was very serious, otherwise the company wouldn’t have gotten in touch with her.
After playing back the message so she could write down the phone number, she made the call. It only rang twice before someone picked up.
“Martha Shaw speaking.”
“Hello? Ms. Shaw? This is Terri Jeppson.”
“Oh, good. I’m glad you got my message.”
“Thank you for phoning me. How serious is Richard’s condition?”
“I wish I had those particulars, but I don’t. I’m sorry. One of the staff from the Herrick office in Ecuador phoned the company here in Houston, informing us that your husband had been hurt.”
Ecuador?
“I’m afraid she couldn’t give me any specifics, but that’s not unusual when the work site is miles from the city center. The message would have been relayed through a variety of people to finally reach us.
“After you arrive in Guayaquil, you’re to phone the office there. I’ll give you the number before we hang up. By the time you reach Ecuador, I’m sure they’ll be able to give you a lot more information and tell you which hospital your husband was taken to. The important thing is to get you down there as quickly as possible.”
A few more minutes’ conversation and all Terri’s travel and hotel arrangements had been made. After thanking Ms. Shaw, Terri phoned her boss with the news that she had to take emergency leave.
Ray Gladstone, the head of the chamber of commerce, couldn’t have been nicer about it. He said he’d handle everything while she was gone and wished her a safe trip down.
Then she called her mother and explained what was happening. As much as her parent had disliked Richard for the years of pain he’d caused, her compassion for his being alone and hurt in a foreign country won out. She told Terri she and Beth would look after the apartment in her absence.
With no time to lose, Terri got busy cleaning and packing, all the while reflecting on what a difference one phone call had made. Ages ago she’d relegated Richard to the past. Now suddenly there seemed to be no choice but to fly down and be with him. As her mother had said, it was the charitable thing to do.
Terri’s mind had to stretch back a long way to remember that she’d once been in love with him. Raised in Spearfish, South Dakota, by his aunt and uncle who was a master glazier, Richard had learned the trade well.
It wasn’t until after their deaths that he’d landed a glazier’s job in Lead where he’d met Terri and they’d married. She hadn’t known about his dark side back then.
Little by little it manifested itself as his growing restlessness kept him moving from one work location to another, one state to another. He always wanted more money, a bigger job. She suspected there were other women. He had a drinking problem which he’d tried to hide around her when he came home in-between jobs.
Though she no longer thought about or missed the man who’d been unable to fulfill her as a husband, there was a part of her that would always love the memory of the twenty-two-year-old with the laughing blue eyes who’d asked her to marry him.
As it turned out, he was a man with more charm than substance.
The long separations, his inability to settle down, two devastating miscarriages when he hadn’t been home to help her through either one, all contributed to the breakup of their marriage. Somewhere along the way she’d stopped caring.
But none of that mattered now. Not when he was so far away with no aunt or uncle to comfort him.
Eighteen hours later an exhausted Terri arrived in the city of Guayaquil, populated by upwards of eight million people. The dry climate came as a big surprise. She’d expected a wall of humidity.
After checking into her room at the Ecuador Inn, she immediately rang the number Martha Shaw had given her. The receptionist put her through to one person after another. Finally someone came on the line who told her Richard had been taken to San Lorenzo Hospital. That was all the information they had available.
Terri thanked the person before she took a shower and put on a fresh skirt and blouse. At the bank in the lobby she changed some travelers’ checks into local money, then caught one of the taxis waiting in front of the hotel.
She’d been to Los Angeles and New York on different vacations, but the evening traffic here presented a completely different kind of chaos. She considered it a miracle to arrive at the hospital in one piece. When she found the floor in question, a Dr. Dominguez met her at the nursing station.
As she introduced herself to the older doctor who was doing his evening rounds, his dark gaze flicked over her face and figure with admiring male interest.
In heavily accented English he said, “Your husband will be very happy to see you. According to a local fisherman who brought him into the hospital three days ago, he called for you repeatedly before losing consciousness.
“With no identification on him, I am afraid it took the hospital authorities some time to determine he worked for the Herrick Company.”
“Are you saying he’s still in a coma?” she asked in alarm, not bothering to correct the doctor about the fact that she was no longer Richard’s wife.
“No, no. He awakened at the hospital. His worst problem is his agitation. Now that you have come, he will get the rest he needs.”
“Please, doctor—tell me about his condition.”
“There’s nothing life threatening. He has had the cuts on his face stitched. There are superficial burns on his palms which will soon heal. Once his dislocated shoulder mends, he will be fine. His most painful injury is to his throat. After the accident, he must have swallowed some contaminant in the seawater that made it burn.”
“That’s horrible.”
“Do not worry. The lining is healing nicely, but for the moment it is swollen and he cannot talk. Another few days and the swelling will be gone. Then he will be able to communicate the same as before and tell us exactly what happened to him.
“In the meantime we have swathed his face and head to protect the dressings over the stitches. He was fortunate that the cuts were at the hairline and just beneath the chin, so there will be no disfigurement.
“Depending on a number of factors, he might wish to have some minor plastic surgery done later to the scar below his chin, but I am not sure that will be necessary.”
“May I see him now?”
“Certainly. Keep in mind we’ve left the overhead light off in his room to help him rest.”
Terri nodded.
“Sister Angelica will take you to him.” He turned and spoke in rapid Spanish to the nun who led Terri down the hall to her ex-husband’s hospital room.
Terri had always been frightened of mummies, so when she peered inside and saw what looked like a mummy’s head and torso extending beyond the sheet, she let out an involuntary cry.
His head moved a trifle in Terri’s direction. The sister in her white habit put a finger to her lips as if to warn Terri not to let her emotions disturb their patient again.
Ashamed of her outburst, she nodded to the sister, then moved to the side of the bed.
His right arm was in a sling. There were needles in both arms above the wrists. As for his hands, they looked like they’d been fitted with little white gauze mitts. An oxygen mask covered the nose opening. Just looking at him made her feel as if she was going to suffocate.
“Richard?” she said in a soft voice. “It’s Terri. I flew down here as soon as I was told about the accident.”
She heard a funny little sound come out of him.
“No—don’t try to talk. The doctor said your throat will heal faster if you don’t use your vocal cords. I’m here now and I’ll sit with you as long as you want me to.”
Reaching for the chair, she placed it near the IV stand and sat down. The sister smiled approvingly before leaving the room.
Richard had played football in high school and was six feet of sturdy muscle. With all the bandages, he looked even bigger. A portion of his uninjured left shoulder was the only part of his body she could really see in the dim wall light.
Normally he worked with a shirt on, but she guessed it must have made him feel more macho to take it off. That would explain the bronzelike tan built up over months of exposure under a hot sun.
He made another muffled sound. She watched him lift his left hand from the sheet.
For a man who’d always been so restless both within and without, his suffering had to be extreme. She leaned forward and gently patted his lower leg draped by the sheet.
“The doctor said you’re going to be fine. He thinks any scarring will be so slight, you might not even have to undergo minor plastic surgery. That’s a blessing. You always were a heartthrob.”
She watched his legs stir beneath the sheet. No doubt he was in unbearable pain.
It was bad enough that they hadn’t lived together for at least a year and a half. But to have to meet her former husband under these precarious circumstances made their meeting even more difficult. What did she say to the man who was a virtual stranger to her at this point?
“Dr. Dominguez told me you called out my name several times to the fisherman who saved you. I have to admit it surprised me to learn that you’d listed me as your spouse on your work application.
“I can’t imagine why you did that when we’re divorced. I happen to know you wanted it as much as I did. But I’m not sorry to be here. You shouldn’t be alone at a time like this. My family sends their best wishes. They want you to get well as soon as possible, too.”
He lifted his left arm once more and brushed it against her arm before lowering it again. Perhaps it was his way of thanking her for coming. She didn’t really know.
“As soon as the Herrick Corporation notified me, I took emergency leave from the chamber of commerce to fly here. Ray told me not to worry about anything. He said he hoped you’d have a swift recovery.”
While she tried to think of things to say, her heart went out to him for his helpless state.
“I didn’t realize you’d taken a job in South America. Judging by your tan, it looks like you’ve been here quite a while. According to the doctor, you’ll be able to talk in a few days. Then you can tell me what you need.
“If there are friends you want me to contact, a woman you’ve been seeing, I’ll do whatever I can to help you get in touch with them.”
He made another sound in his throat and tried to lift his head. If anything, she felt as if her presence were disturbing him rather than bringing him a measure of peace.
Afraid to do something wrong that might delay his recovery, she got to her feet.
“You need to rest, Richard. I’m going to go now, but I promise I’ll be back in the morning. I’m staying at the Ecuador Inn and will leave my room number in case the hospital needs to get in touch with me about you before tomorrow.”
At that moment he moaned more distinctly than before. Worried over his reaction, she hurried from the room and rushed down the hall to the nursing station.
A minute passed before she saw the doctor come out of one of another patient’s room. He headed in her direction.
“Leaving so soon?”
“Richard seemed to be more unsettled with me there. He kept trying to talk.”
“It is the excitement of seeing his beautiful wife again.”
Hardly. If that were the case, there would never have been a divorce.
“Knowing you are here will hasten his recovery,” the other man continued.
She shook her head. “Dr. Dominguez? You don’t understand. I’m not his wife.” It was best he know the truth.
The announcement brought him up short.
“We were divorced eleven months ago,” she went on to explain. “Since then I’ve had no contact with him. I didn’t know anything of his whereabouts until the Herrick Corporation got in touch with me.
“Frankly I have no idea why he claimed to be married on his work application. When he’s recovered enough to talk, I’m sure he’ll explain. What’s important to me is that he gets well. But he keeps trying to say something to me, which couldn’t be good for his throat.
“I told him I’d be back in the morning. I’m staying at the Ecuador Inn, room 137. You can reach me there, no matter the hour.”
“Very good,” he murmured, clearly puzzled by the news.
“Doctor? Is he getting enough pain relief?”
“As much as he can tolerate. Perhaps his increased restlessness has been brought on because your presence is a reminder of your broken marriage. Maybe he regrets the divorce and that is the reason why he still claims to be married.
“Sometimes it takes losing something of great value for a man to realize what is really important after all. Have you considered this might be an opportunity for a reconciliation?”
Terri could see where the doctor was going with this, but he would be wrong about the whole situation. Richard wasn’t having second thoughts. There was an entirely different reason why he’d claimed to still be married when he’d accepted a job down here.
As for Terri, she couldn’t resurrect feelings that had been burned out of her. “Dr. Dominguez? Our marriage was over a long time ago. However I still care for him and want him to recover as soon as possible.”
“I want that, too.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She left the floor and took the elevator to the foyer where she asked the receptionist to summon a taxi.
Once back in her hotel room, she rang for room service and ordered dinner. When it arrived, she changed into her nightgown and ate in bed while she talked to her mother and Beth, updating them on Richard’s condition.
Beth suggested Richard might have lied because it was the only way he could get the job. Maybe the Herrick Corporation had a rule about their employees being married if they wanted to work outside the U.S.
It was a possibility Terri hadn’t thought of. Tomorrow she would visit Richard again, then go to the Herrick office and ask more questions. Right now what she craved was a good night’s sleep so she’d be better prepared to deal with the situation in the morning.
But even though she was exhausted, it was hard to settle down. She turned on the television and watched several news programs in Spanish. With the help of her high school Spanish, she was able to figure out some of it. Then she switched to a movie dubbed in Spanish she’d already seen in English, and promptly fell asleep. The television was still on when she awakened at nine the next morning.
Once she’d eaten breakfast in her room, she showered and dressed in another blouse and skirt. After she was ready, she left the hotel and climbed into one of the many taxis waiting out front.
To her delight the temperature outside the hotel wasn’t as high as she would have supposed for July. In fact it felt much better here than in Atlanta where she’d changed planes.
On her way to the hospital, she looked around to get better oriented. Guayaquil was a large South American port city. Its proximity to the ocean, plus the masses of dark haired people speaking Spanish made it a fascinating place to be. With so many beautiful women, she imagined Richard had been enjoying himself here. How sad to think he’d met with an accident that had almost cost him his life.
She knew he liked to fish. Maybe he’d been out in a small boat with his spinning rod when it had happened. Had he gone alone? Was anyone else hurt?
Terri was impatient for answers. But she would have to wait until his throat was healed enough to supply her with details.
Hoping they’d given him something to help him sleep so he’d had a restful night, she hurried down the hospital corridor to his room. The door was ajar. When she peeked inside, she saw a younger doctor standing at the side of the bed unraveling the bandage that was wrapped around Richard’s forehead.
He flashed her a broad smile. “Come in, Señora Jeppson. I’m Dr. Fortuna. We have been expecting you.”
She did his bidding. Evidently Dr. Dominguez hadn’t informed the staff about Richard’s divorced status yet. “If your husband could talk, I’m sure he would tell you he is glad you are here. I have been checking his stitches. The cut under his chin shows no infection.”
At that news, Terri was relieved. She sank down in the chair to watch. The bed had been raised so Richard was sitting up. His oxygen mask had been removed.
In a minute she saw the top of his head. He’d always worn his dark hair marine style, very closely cropped. Since he’d been in South America, it appeared he’d let it grow. She could tell it was at least an inch or two longer now. Maybe even more.
“Ah,” the doctor murmured with satisfaction as he removed the dressing. “Everything looks very good. No one would guess you had a cut there. Stay still while I put on a new dressing. If there’s no infection by tomorrow, you won’t have to wear the head wrap anymore.”
Just hearing those words helped Terri to breathe a little easier. She could imagine Richard felt equally relieved. Confined like that, he had to be going out of his mind. In fact he would probably have ripped off the bandages by now if he’d been able to get at the gauze.
“What about his burns, Doctor?”
“They are much better. Tomorrow we will unwrap his hands and apply a dressing which will free his fingers. I am happy to say that he is breathing at ninety-five perfect capacity and no longer needs oxygen.”
Thank goodness for that. “What about his shoulder?”
“It was an anterior dislocation which is the most common. The surgeon performed a reduction. All your husband has to do now is wear this sling for three or four weeks and he will be fine. To his credit, he is in remarkable shape. Has he always worked out?”
Richard?
“Not since he played football in high school.”
“Then he has been keeping a secret from you. You do not stay this solid without help.”
Maybe he’d been going to a gym for the last eighteen months. She had no idea.
“Is his throat really going to get better?”
“In a few days it will be like new.”
“I’m sorry I sound so impatient.”
“That’s a wife’s prerogative.”
Ignoring his comment she said, “I wish there were something I could do for him right now.”
The doctor finished rewrapping his patient’s head, then lowered the bed so Richard was lying almost flat.
“I can think of one thing.”
“What?”
“You could give his legs and feet a soothing massage with that lotion over on the table. It will relax his whole body and help him to sleep.”
“I’ll do it.”
“Excellent. I am sure your husband is looking forward to such a lovely wife ministering to his needs.”
The doctor was mistaken on that score, but she was equally certain Richard craved any relief from the pain that he could get. If a massage would help, she was only too glad to provide it.
“Tomorrow we will put him in the shower for the first time. That will make him feel really good, too.”
Terri had no doubt of it and thanked him.
“I’m impressed with the wonderful care you’re getting,” she said after the doctor had left the room. “Tomorrow you’ll be stripped of all these bandages. I know you can’t wait. Until then I’ll do as he suggested and try to bring you some comfort.”
She moved over to the table and picked up the lotion, and then walked to the end of the bed. After pulling out the sheet to expose his left leg to the knee, she squirted a mound of the cream in her palm to begin the rubdown.
But when she started to work the lotion into his skin, her hands froze.
Dear God.
This man wasn’t Richard!
The burnished, hard-muscled leg did not belong to her ex-husband! Richard’s legs were shorter, bulkier, hairier; his foot was wider, not as long.
Terri began to tremble. She removed her hands and hurried to the door to turn on the overhead light.
Without hesitation she rushed to his side and bent over him so she could peer into his eyes.
Pain-filled gray eyes stared back at her between dark lashes. There was a frantic urgency in his look she could feel to her bones.
“You poor man,” she whispered in a shaky voice. “All this time everyone has thought you were my ex-husband. No wonder you’ve been so upset.”
He let out a moan which she took for a yes.
Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry it took me this long to discover the truth. Last evening when I arrived, Dr. Dominguez told me they were keeping the light off in here so you could sleep. If I’d been able to look into your eyes, I would have known immediately you weren’t Richard.
“The fisherman who brought you in said you called out my name. That means you knew Richard. I assume you were friends or colleagues. Were you both in the accident?”
The stranger lifted his head enough to nod, but it was clearly a strain. Nevertheless it meant he understood her English.
“Lie still,” she begged. “Please don’t exert yourself. Obviously you have family and friends looking for you. They must be in agony wondering where you are.
“I’ll alert the staff right now, then I’ll leave and go straight to the police to find out if the Herrick company or someone else has put out a missing persons report for you. I suppose it’s possible Richard was taken to another hospital in the city.”
This time the stranger shook his head.
She was trying to understand. “If he’s not at a hospital, do you know where he is?”
He nodded again, but the strain on him had taken its toll. His eyelids closed. The unidentified man had to be in grueling pain. She could feel it.
“That’s all right. You sleep while I’m gone. I swear I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She covered his leg and tucked the sheet in place. Then she put the lotion on the table. After turning off the light, she grabbed her purse and tore out of the room.
To her relief the same doctor happened to be at the nursing station down the hall. She took him aside and told him what she’d discovered. He looked shocked and said he’d immediately notify the staff as well as the head of the hospital.
Within a half hour she’d told the same story to Captain Ortiz, an officer at the main police station in Guayaquil. He knew nothing about an accident at sea and proceeded to ask a lot of questions. She gave him a full description of her ex-husband. As for the stranger lying in the hospital bed, there was less to tell about him.
The captain said he would send another officer to the hospital to interview the doctors who were taking care of him. If the police could find the fisherman who’d brought him in, it would answer a lot of questions. At some point he would get back to her either at the hospital or the hotel.
Terri in turn said she would find out where her ex-husband was living. The bandaged stranger had indicated that Richard wasn’t in a hospital. That had to mean he hadn’t been badly hurt in the accident and was convalescing at his apartment or wherever it was that he lived. If she found him first, she would phone the captain right away. He agreed that it sounded like the best plan of action.
After agreeing to stay in close touch, Terri left the police station for the Herrick head office. The taxi driver knew the name and drove her to the heart of the city where he deposited her in front of a complex of buildings, one of which housed the company in question.
A Latin beauty sat at the main reception. When Terri told her she needed some information about one of the employees who worked for the Herrick Corporation, the woman told her she couldn’t give out confidential information.
However as soon as Terri mentioned Martha Shaw, Mr. Creighton Herrick’s secretary, her tone changed. The woman made a quick phone call before looking up Richard’s record on the computer. She gave Terri his address, but there was no phone number listed.
After thanking the receptionist, Terri asked her to call for a taxi. Once that was done, she went outside to wait.
When the driver pulled up in front and she showed him the address, he told her it was located twenty-five miles south of the city and would take close to an hour to get there.
Terri didn’t care about that. She climbed in the back seat and handed him fifty dollars to cover the round-trip. Then she told him to step on it.
He smiled before starting up the taxi to merge with the other cars. The drive turned out to take fifty minutes in the early-afternoon traffic. By the time they reached the city limits, she could tell that the barrios in the outskirts were more run-down.
Eventually he pulled up in front of a small three-story apartment called the Mirador. There was no landscaping to speak of, and a cluster of little children played on the stairs. She asked him to stay put while she went to the door. In case Richard wasn’t there, she needed to be sure she had a ride back into town.
The driver nodded and reached for a magazine to read.
Number ten put Richard on the second floor. She stepped past the curious children to find his apartment, then knocked. When there was no answer she knocked again.
“Richard?” she called out. “It’s Terri. If you can hear me, let me know. I heard about the accident and have flown all this way to see you.”
Still nothing.
Afraid he could be inside unable to get up and answer the door, she turned the handle, hoping he might have left it unlocked.
“Aiyee!” she heard a woman scream.
Terri didn’t know who was more frightened.
Through the opening in the door, which the chain guard allowed, she saw a woman probably much younger than Terri’s twenty-seven years. With long black hair and liquid-brown eyes, Terri could well understand her ex-husband’s attraction.
The woman stood there wearing Richard’s yellow robe, looking very pretty and very pregnant.
CHAPTER TWO
“BUENOS tardes.” Terri spoke first. “Habla Ingles?”
The other woman shook her head without the slightest hint of welcome in her expression.
At this point Terri had only her two years of Spanish to rely on. “Por favor, donde esta Richard?” Heavens! It had been so long since high school, she couldn’t remember if she was supposed to use Estar or Ser.
The woman responded too fast. Terri couldn’t follow.
She tried again. “Quiero hablar con Richard.”
There was another spate of unintelligible words before the woman shut the door in Terri’s face.
If Richard had been inside, Terri was positive he would have come out to see what was going on.
The fact that his lover seemed to be angry rather than in despair, led Terri to believe Richard had to be all right. In fact, the fiery woman was probably expecting him home later in the day and couldn’t believe some strange American woman had appeared at the door unannounced and unwanted.
Only jealousy could have prompted her to behave in such a rude manner. It was more than possible Richard had never told this woman about Terri. Certainly he’d never expected to see his ex-wife again. Especially not down here in Guayaquil, which was about as far from Lead, South Dakota, as you could get.
Terri hurried back to the taxi and they left for the city. En route she asked the driver to drop her off at an upscale department store near the San Lorenzo Hospital. She needed to make a few purchases.
Assuming for the moment Richard was out of danger, Terri’s thoughts converged on the stranger who’d been lying in a hospital bed since he’d been rescued. The painful desperation in his beautiful gray eyes would haunt her for a long time to come.
How frightening it must have been to wake up in an unfamiliar place, unable to talk while everyone around him thought he was someone else!
He probably had a wife who was out of her mind with grief because he was missing. Until a relative or friend came to claim him, Terri would stay with him and encourage him to get better. It was the least she could do.
An hour and a half later she rushed inside the hospital with her arms loaded. After taking the elevator, she hurried down the hall of his floor where various helpers were serving dinner to the patients who could eat.
She stopped at the nursing station long enough to be offered a tray of food for herself, then she breezed into his room with her packages.
“Hi!” she called out in a soft voice, not wanting to jar him. As he lifted his left hand in greeting, her dinner arrived. She put everything down on the floor, then reached for the tray and drew the chair next to him so she could be seated.
“I was gone a lot longer than I’d intended. First off I went to the police station and explained the situation. Then I took a taxi to the Herrick office. I’ve been so busy I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast. Now I’m starving.
“I hope you don’t mind my eating in front of you. If the smell makes you nauseous, put up your hand and I’ll eat out in the hall.”
He made no gesture, so she had to believe it was all right.
“Earlier when you told me you knew where Richard was, I asked the receptionist at the Herrick office to give me his address. It took a little doing, but she finally complied. From there I took another taxi out to his apartment to see if he was there, and found a woman in residence. Judging by her pregnant condition, it seems Richard’s been living with her for a long time.”
More indecipherable sounds came out of the stranger.
“She wasn’t in the least happy to see me at the door. I tried out my Spanish on her, but she spoke too fast for me to understand. Later I’ll try to get in touch with Richard through someone at the office who knows him personally. In the meantime, I’m anxious to help you in any way I can.”
The chicken and beans tasted good. So did the fruit juice which was an interesting blend of peach and something else, maybe mango.
After she’d drained the glass she said, “There’s a Captain Ortiz at the police station who’s working on your case. He hadn’t heard of any accident at sea. However with the information I’ve given him, he said he’ll come up with some answers soon and hopefully find out who you are.
“If we don’t hear from him in the next few hours, I’ll call him before I leave. In case there’s no news, I have an idea.
“Since the doctor said they’d be removing the bandages on your hands in the morning, maybe with my help you could write your name or your home phone number on a piece of paper. That is, if it doesn’t hurt too much.
“Depending on your mobility, you might even be able to write down a word that will tell me Richard’s location. One way or another we’ll unravel this mystery.”
She finished the rest of her chicken, then put the tray over on the table. Eager to do something to bring a little pleasure to the man who’d been through so much suffering, she turned to him.
“Now that I’ve eaten, I’ll give your legs that massage you’ve been waiting for.”
Not expecting an answer from the stranger, she picked up the lotion and walked over to the bed.
After squeezing lotion up and down his left leg, she began to rub it in. “When I was in junior high, we once read The Invisible Man for Halloween. That’s a holiday in the States, in case you haven’t heard of it. The children dress up in costumes and go door to door asking for candy.
“Anyway, there was this scientist who’d made himself invisible. He wrapped himself in bandages so it would outline his body. But sometimes a dog or a cat would chase after him in the streets and pull the bandages away. People would scream in terror when they couldn’t see anything underneath.
“It was a really fascinating concept. Of course I love science fiction of all kinds, so the story captured my attention right off. Anyway, when I walked in this room yesterday and saw you, I was reminded of that story.
“Thank goodness when I looked in your eyes this morning, I saw life there staring back at me,” she teased. “You’re kind of a cross between him and The Mummy.
“Maybe you don’t know about this old movie. It concerns a guard of the Pharaoh who dared to love his Egyptian queen. For his punishment the other guards turned him into a living mummy. It still gives me chills just thinking about it.”
A faint noise came out of him. It could mean most anything.
“If your feet are ticklish, I’m sorry. I’ll try not to drive you crazy.”
When she’d finished with one leg, she moved around the end of the bed and started on the other. Strange how it felt so natural doing this small service for a total stranger. The darkness of the room with just the two of them added a certain intimacy, which she enjoyed.
In truth it was much easier than if it had been Richard lying here. Too much unhappy history had passed between them to have made it an enjoyable experience.
“Do you know? I haven’t the faintest idea of your nationality. Obviously you understand English, but you could be from so many different countries besides Ecuador, your predicament has fueled my imagination.
“You’ve probably never been to South Dakota. That’s where I live in the States. A small town called Lead, gateway to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. Fresh out of college with an English degree, I started working for the local chamber of commerce.
“In the beginning it was only supposed to be a temporary job until I found a good teaching position. However the work became so interesting to me, I’ve been with them ever since.
“If you asked me what I actually do there, the answer would be a little bit of everything under the sun. Something’s always going wrong and I have to fix it. That’s why I like it so much.
“Of course my family is there. My mom and my sister Beth who married Tom three months ago. Now they’re expecting a baby. You already know my marriage to Richard failed, so that’s about it. The story of my life. No doubt I’ve bored you to tears.”
She gave his foot a final rub, then covered his legs with the sheet. “Since there’s no television in here, I’ll read you what’s on the front page of today’s newspaper. Someone left it in the room. In case you’re a native Spanish speaker, please forgive my pronunciation.”
Terri washed her hands, then put on some lotion from her own purse before placing the chair near the wall light so she could read the print.
“This is from El Telegrafo. Let’s see…
“Mediante oficio No. 19370 enviado al Presidente del Congreso, José Cordero Acosta, el Procurador General del Estado, Ramón Jiménez Carbo, senñala que su pronunciamiento sobre la inconstitucionalidad del artículo 33 del Reglamento que dispuso la prisión domiciliaria para—entre otros—los ex presidentes y ex vicepresidentes de la República, ‘tiene carácter vinculante.’”
She put the paper down. “If I knew what vinculante meant, this article would make a lot more sense. But I don’t think it would be of interest to anyone who isn’t involved in local politics. Of course, maybe you are. If so, forgive me if I don’t read further.”
To her surprise, his body appeared to be shaking. Alarmed, she jumped up from the chair and hurried over to his side.
“What’s wrong? Do you need the doctor?”
He shook his head.
“Are you cold?”
Again he made the same gesture.
After a moment of consideration, “Are you laughing?”
He nodded.
Her lips curved into a smile. “My Spanish was that awful?”
Once more he shook his head.
“Liar,” she whispered, loving their one-sided conversation more than she’d loved anything in years.
“I’m glad you can laugh, but maybe you shouldn’t, just in case it pulls at the stitches under your chin. When your wife comes rushing in, I’m sure she’ll be looking for the same attractive man she married before the accident.”
He shook his head.
“Don’t be modest. I’ve seen your eyes, remember? And you’ve got great legs.”
His body shook again.
“With that head of dark hair, something tells me there’s a real hunk hidden under all those bandages. In case you haven’t heard the word ‘hunk’ before, it means, a good-looking man. In Spanish a woman would say, muy guapo. You’ve probably been called that a lot around here.”
She left him long enough to find the packages she’d bought and had asked to be gift-wrapped.
“These are for you. I think they’ll fit. You’re probably six feet two or three. I thought you’d want to be wearing something more spectacular than a hospital gown when your family shows up.”
Terri put the packages on the chair and opened them one at a time. “I bought you these navy pajamas and matching robe. I’m sorry if they’re not your taste, but with that tan I think you’ll look sensational in them.
“I also picked up these leather sandals. They’ll fit a size eleven or twelve foot. In case that sizing doesn’t mean anything to you, be assured you’ll be able to wear them.”
She held everything up for him to see. “After your shower in the morning, you can put these on. It will make you feel more normal.”
Leaving everything on the chair, she moved it against the wall, then returned to his side.
“I’m sorry Captain Ortiz hasn’t phoned yet. I know he would have if there’d been any news. Please don’t be disheartened. Who knows? When morning comes, I might walk in here and discover you’ve got a room full of company.
“In that case, you’re going to need a good night’s sleep so I think I’d better leave. It’s getting late.”
He let out another strange sound and shook his mummy-like head.
“What’s wrong? You don’t want me to go yet?”
Again, his head moved back and forth.
“So—you want me to help you pass the time, is that it?”
His definite nod secretly pleased her. It meant her presence brought him some comfort. It felt good to be needed.
“Since your hearing hasn’t been affected, I guess I could stay for a while longer and talk to you. But don’t be surprised if one of the sisters comes around to check your vital signs and throws me out. I’ll put your new clothes in the drawer so I can sit next to you.”
In a few seconds she was seated at his side once more.
“I’ve just thought of another idea. When my sister and I were little girls, we used to print the names of movie stars on each other’s backs and try to guess who they were. The one who got the most right answers on the first round had to buy the other one a treat the next day.
“Why don’t I try printing a continent on your leg? The one you come from. You nod when I’ve stumbled onto it.”
Excited over her own idea, she uncovered his leg and started drawing the letters for Europe up his shin bone.
When she’d finished, his head remained motionless.
“Hmm. How about this?”
She wrote South America.
Still there was no gesture from him.
Next she printed the words North America.
Now she got the nod she’d been waiting for.
“American?”
Another emphatic nod.
Terri shot to her feet. “I should have played this game with you earlier.” Her voice shook. “Do you work for the Herrick Company, too?”
He gave her a nod.
She sucked in her breath. “Okay. Let’s learn your first name. I’ll start saying the alphabet. You lift your right hand slightly when I come to the right letter. A,” she began. “B.”
He lifted his hand.
“Second letter. A. B. C. D. E.”
Again, his hand moved.
She went through the alphabet a third time. When she reached N, he raised his hand.
“Your name is Ben!” she cried out. “Short for Benjamin?”
He nodded.
With her heart racing she said, “Let’s do your last name.” She went through the same process. It seemed his last name started with an H. By the time she’d been through the alphabet seven times, he’d spelled the name Herrick.
Terri blinked. “Is it a coincidence you have the same name as the company you work for?”
He shook his head.
“You mean you’re the head of the company here?”
Contact at last!
Ben nodded as he gazed into her expressive eyes. They widened in incredulity. Their heavenly blue color reminded him of Texas bluebonnets which flowered every spring at the ranch.
With her dark-blond hair cut in a kind of windswept shag, and a mouth shaped like a heart when she was pondering something serious, she looked utterably adorable to him.
“But if that’s true, how is it possible no one’s looking for you of all people? Captain Ortiz never said anything about the head of your company disappearing. It doesn’t make sense! But that doesn’t matter right now. The important thing is that you’re alive and on the road to recovery.”
He watched helplessly as she bit the soft underside of her lip. What he’d give to taste such an enticing mouth.
“I’ll call Martha Shaw and tell her you’re here so she can let your family know.”
No! Lord, no. Not Martha.
He moaned, then lifted his hand in the air. Unfortunately his blond angel of mercy wasn’t paying any attention to him.
Stunned over her discovery, Terri grabbed for her purse to get the secretary’s number. When she found the paper she’d written it on, she hurried over to the wall phone at the head of the bed.
Using her phone card, she made the call. This time it took six rings before the other woman answered.
“Martha Shaw speaking.”
“Ms. Shaw? This is Terri Jeppson.”
“Yes, Terri. How is your husband?”
“I believe he’s all right, but I haven’t seen him yet. There’s another reason I’m calling.” She struggled for breath.
“You sound upset. What’s wrong?”
“The man the hospital thought was my husband has turned out to be someone else. The trouble is, his throat was burned and he can’t talk. However I discovered a way to communicate with him. He says his name is Benjamin Herrick.”
After a long silence, “Ben is the patient?” She sounded as shaken as Terri.
“Yes. I need to inform the police, but I thought you should be told first so you can get in touch with his family and co-workers. Naturally he’s had no visitors.
“The thing is, today’s his fourth day in here. Though he’s been getting excellent treatment, it has to have been a ghastly experience for him not being able to talk or explain who he really was.”
Ben heard the tremor in Terri Jeppson’s appealing voice. The woman’s compassion for his plight—never mind the fact that she was still waiting for word about her ex-husband—touched him in places he hadn’t known existed.
“How bad is he?” Martha asked in a pain-filled whisper. “Don’t spare me.”
Terri’s hand tightened on the receiver. The other woman sounded like she’d taken the news personally, almost as if…
“Actually the doctors have assured me he’s going to be fine.” Without hesitation she told the secretary everything Dr. Fortuna had related to her.
“Thank God he wasn’t killed. I’ll let his family know at once.”
“Tell them he’s at San Lorenzo Hospital, Room W621. There’s no use anyone phoning his room. He won’t be able to use his voice for several more days. But I’m sure either Dr. Dominguez or Dr. Fortuna will be happy to discuss his condition if the family will call the sixth floor nursing station.”
“I’ll convey the message. Terri?” There was a hint of pleading in her tone. “Would you put the phone to Ben’s ear so I can say something to him before we hang up?”
The woman was in love with him. Terri could hear it in her voice.
“Yes. Of course.”
She turned in his direction.
“Mr. Herrick?”
Ben groaned. Now that Terri knew his identity, he could tell she no longer felt as free to treat him the way she had earlier when she’d believed he was alone in the world and lost… Damn the situation.
“Ms. Shaw wants to say something to you.”
Bile rose in his throat. Martha had no shame. She would use anyone to get what she wanted, but there wasn’t anything he could do about the situation right now. He nodded to Terri.
With great care she placed the hearing end of the receiver next to his ear and left it there. He saw how she purposely looked away from his eyes to give him some privacy. She did everything right. He was utterly charmed by her.
“Ben? I hope you can hear me. It’s Martha! Thank God you’re all right!” she cried in a tear-filled voice. “I’ve been trying to reach you for a week at least. When you didn’t return my calls, I knew something was wrong. But I thought it was because you were angry over the letter I wrote you a while ago.”
Repulsed would be a better word.
“As soon as we hang up, I’ll tell Creighton so he can phone your parents. When they hear what’s happened, they’ll be down to bring you back to Houston for a recuperation period. I’d give anything in the world to do it myself, but I know I don’t have that right. At least not yet.”
Yet?
“Oh, Ben,” she whispered emotionally. “I can’t wait to see you. It’s been so long. I know what a terrible mistake I made, but don’t you think I’ve been punished long enough?”
Her tears were wasted on Ben who’d become conscious of the wonderful peach scent coming from Terri’s hand as she held the phone close to his ear.
Those soft, feminine hands had brought his body so much pleasure, the endorphins they’d produced had blotted out any pain he’d been feeling. He’d never wanted her to stop.
“Please, Ben—when we see each other again, tell me we can work things out. I’ve always been in love with you. You know it’s true! There’s so much I want to say to you.”
Ben couldn’t get rid of Martha fast enough. Frustrated as hell, he lifted his left hand so Terri would realize he wanted her to hang up the phone. He had information to give her about her ex-husband.
Terrie saw his left arm go up. She imagined Ms. Shaw had said what she’d wanted to say.
Putting the phone to her own ear she said, “Ms. Shaw?”
“I wasn’t finished talking,” the other woman snapped.
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Herrick signaled me that he was tired. Perhaps if you waited until tomorrow to call again, he’ll have more strength.”
Ben nodded, letting Terri know she’d said the right thing.
“Do you think he heard me?” There was that pleading sound in Martha’s voice again. Something was going on here, but it wasn’t any of Terri’s business.
“Yes, of course.”
“Thank you for phoning me, Terri. I’ll inform everyone who needs to know. Please don’t hesitate to call if there’s any help you require with your travel plans. I hope everything’s all right with your husband.”
“Me, too. Goodbye, Ms. Shaw.”
She hung up the phone before walking around the other side of the bed to the table where she’d left her purse.
Mr. Herrick made a couple of sounds. If she didn’t miss her guess, he didn’t want her to go yet. She rushed over to his side.
“I have to get back to the hotel and phone Captain Ortiz.”
To her surprise he gave an emphatic shake of his head. Even bandaged to the hilt and out of commission, she felt his aura of authority.
“You’ve had enough excitement for one evening and need your rest now.” She put his new clothes back out on the chair so they’d be seen by the help. “I’ll tell the nursing staff who you are and leave Ms. Shaw’s number with them. Sleep well, Mr. Herrick.”
Don’t go, dammit.
He was still making sounds of frustration as she left the room.
Much as she would have loved to stay, she didn’t dare. She’d been enjoying their association far too much. In truth, she felt a bond with him that defied logic. It had happened when she’d first looked into his eyes and felt his soul reaching out to her.
Her heart whispered it would be better if she didn’t remain in his presence any longer. Otherwise she might crave it more and more. Something told her that was a no-no.
Surely a wise woman would walk away right this minute before she learned the answers to burning questions like, did he have a wife? If so, did she know his secretary was in love with him? Was he a womanizer like Richard?
The thought that this man was anything like her ex-husband left Terri feeling strangely desolate. That’s why she had to get out of his room and far away from the hospital.
Nothing about this situation had anything to do with her. There was no reason for her to visit him again. She’d done everything she could for Mr. Herrick. By tomorrow morning, he’d be receiving a surfeit of attention from the people who loved him.
The intrigue was over. Mystery solved.
As for Terri, she’d go to the place where Richard worked and see for herself that he was faring all right since his accident. Once that was accomplished, she’d fly home to Lead.
Poor Ray. She’d dumped all her work in his lap. He’d be happy to see her back on the job.
After leaving the information at the nursing station, she left the hospital and took a taxi to the hotel. When she reached her room, the first thing she did was call Captain Ortiz, but he’d turned on his voice mail.
She gave him the news about Mr. Herrick, then related a brief account of her futile attempt to find Richard at his apartment. If the captain had any information concerning her ex-husband’s whereabouts, would he please call her at the hotel, no matter the hour?
Having made the call, she hung up the receiver and got ready for bed. Before she fell asleep she phoned Beth and told her the latest developments. Her private thoughts and feelings about Mr. Herrick she kept to herself.
After asking her sister to tell their mother she’d be home within twenty-four hours, Terri hung up.
Afraid her mind would dwell on the man lying in the hospital bed, she pulled out a new bestseller she’d brought with her. But she couldn’t get into it. Finally she turned on the television and found another movie to help her fall asleep.
It worked. She didn’t waken until she heard the phone ring at eight-thirty the next morning. Reaching for the receiver, she said hello.
“Señora Jeppson? This is Captain Ortiz.”
Terri sat up in the bed. “Yes, captain.”
“Thank you for the message about Mr. Herrick. He’s a very important man. If word had leaked to the press that he was missing, there would have been a great uproar.”
Terri had figured as much.
“You’ve managed to find out more information than our own police department, and have saved us a lot of grief. Now let us get down to business. Have you talked with your ex-husband yet?”
“No. But as I told you earlier, Mr. Herrick indicated Richard wasn’t at a hospital so I’m not as worried. This morning I’m going to go to his work. If I can’t find him there maybe you could send an officer to accompany me to his apartment. I need a translator to talk to the woman staying there. I have a feeling she’ll know exactly where he is.”
“If that becomes necessary, I will drive you there myself, señora.”
“Thank you very much. I’ll stay in touch.”
Fortified with a big breakfast, Terri left the hotel for Mr. Herrick’s office. The same receptionist was on duty in the lobby of the building. When Terri explained what she wanted, the other woman shook her head.
“It’s a long way from here and difficult to locate unless you’re familiar with the area. To save you the trouble, I’ll make a phone call to find out if he reported for work this morning. If he is there, then I will give you directions. A moment, por favor.”
Terri nodded.
While she waited, she couldn’t help but wonder if Mr. Herrick had already been bombarded with visitors this morning. At least when they showed up, they would find the same man they knew. Instead of a mummy facsimile.
Terri had tried to imagine what he looked like under all those bandages. But maybe it was better she didn’t know. Better that he remain her phantom friend. The man without a face.
Except for a pair of gorgeous gray eyes.
They were the portals to the inner man with whom she felt connected in an inexplicable way. Yet if she admitted as much to her sister, Beth would tell her she was being ridiculous.
Maybe she was.
“Señora Jeppson?”
Terri turned to the receptionist whose frowning expression clearly meant more bad news.
“According to your husband’s supervisor, he hasn’t been to work for three days, and didn’t report this morning. He thinks your husband probably quit on him because there’s been some trouble with him lately.”
That sounded like Richard and didn’t surprise Terri a bit.
“Thank you for inquiring. Would you do me one more favor?”
She gave the receptionist Captain Ortiz’s number and asked her to get him on the phone. Within a few minutes he came on the line and made arrangements to pick her up in front of the office. He would drive her out to Richard’s apartment.
An hour later the captain pulled his police car to the side of the street in front of the building Terri had visited yesterday.
He turned to her. “You remain here. I will go to the door first. If I think it is necessary, I’ll come back out and signal for you to follow.”
“All right.”
Fifteen minutes passed before she saw him walk toward her. When he got back behind the wheel, he turned in her direction.
“Your ex-husband wasn’t there. The woman in question is named Juanita Rosario. She says she has been living with him for ten months, which could or could not be the truth. According to her, they met soon after he found a job down here with the Herrick Company.
“It seems he left for work four days ago and never came home from his job. At first she wasn’t worried. She said there are times when he parties with his friends and doesn’t show up until the following day. But he’s never been gone this long before.
“When you knocked on her door yesterday, she was afraid you were his wife. He’d told her he’d been trying to get a divorce from you, but you wouldn’t let him.”
Terri shook her head. It sounded like the same old Richard. Lies, lies, lies to suit his particular purpose at the moment. No one hated commitment as much as Richard did.
“I told her you were his ex-wife from America, that you had divorced him a year ago. At that point she broke down. Now she is afraid he’s gone off with some new woman for a while. But she’s certain he’ll be back because he’s excited about their baby which is going to be born next month.”
“I hope she’s right,” Terri murmured. “Unfortunately my ex-husband has a pattern of disappearing when he’s really needed. How is the woman supporting herself?”
“He’s been taking care of her.”
A groan escaped her throat. “Does she have any family who will help look after her if he has deserted her?”
“No. She came from an abusive home and boyfriend.”
“Captain? We’ve got to find Richard. If nothing else, she needs him right now.”
The other man eyed her speculatively. “At the moment it appears Mr. Herrick appears to know more about your ex-husband than anyone else.”
Her eyes closed tightly. “I’m afraid you’re right. If you’ll drop me off at the hospital, I’ll try to find out what else he knows.”
“While you do that, I’ll send some officers to the work site to make inquiries. Maybe one of his co-workers knows something of importance and isn’t aware of it.”
“Before we go, I’d like to see Juanita for a minute.” She rummaged in her purse for her wallet. “I’ll be right back.”
He looked like he was about to say something, then thought the better of it.
She jumped out of the police car and hurried into the apartment building, tiptoeing past the same children who’d been playing on the stairs yesterday. The only cash she had on her was a hundred dollars, but it might help the pregnant woman get along for a few more days.
This time when she knocked, the door opened a little wider because there was no chain guard.
“Juanita?”
“Si?” She sounded hurt as well as angry this time.
“Captain Ortiz dice que Richard no esta aqui ahora.” Undoubtedly Terri was making every language error possible, but she had to try to communicate.
The other woman glared at her.
“Tengo dinero para usted.” Terri held out several bills.
Juanita didn’t make a move to take them.
“Por favor.”
“Por que?” she bit out.
Why? Because I know exactly how you feel to be abandoned at the last moment.
Maybe if Terri said it was for the baby. “Es necessario para el nino, verdad?”
Juanita’s face closed up. She had her pride. This had probably been the wrong thing to do, but if Richard didn’t come back…
Unable to say the rest in Spanish she murmured, “In case you change your mind, I’ll leave the money here.”
She put the bills on the ground and hurried away without looking back.
The engine was idling when Terri returned to the car. Within seconds they were off.
Captain Ortiz drove a few miles before he said, “You are a kind person, but I’m afraid it was a mistake to give her money.”
“If I were in her shoes, I would hope someone would do it for me. It will buy her food for a few more days. Perhaps by then we’ll have found Richard.”
“Let us hold that thought,” he muttered, but he didn’t sound as if he believed it any more than she did.
CHAPTER THREE
AS TERRI entered Mr. Herrick’s hospital room, she could smell flowers. Obviously the word had gone out he was here because a dozen fabulous arrangements had been brought in on carts. A huge fruit basket stood near his closet door.
Which gift was from his wife? Had Martha Shaw sent one, too?
Stop it, Terri. It’s nothing to do with you.
She looked around. His room held wall-to-wall chairs. Someone had been to visit already. The clothes she’d bought him were no longer visible. As for the man in question, neither he nor the IV stand were anywhere in sight.
The door to the bathroom had been left ajar. He wasn’t in there. Anxious to know if he was all right, she rushed out of the room and down the hall to the nursing station.
But before she reached it, an animated group of people turned the corner in her direction. She would have walked right past them if she hadn’t caught sight of the dark-haired man in the center who was dressed in a navy robe and pajamas.
As Terri’s gaze flew to his, she felt the impact of his piercing eyes and her feet came to a complete standstill.
It didn’t matter that he had dressings at his hairline and beneath his strong chin. The ruggedly handsome face that went with those unforgettable gray eyes took her breath. No preconceived notion of the features she’d imagined hidden beneath the mask could live up to the vital, living presence of Benjamin Herrick.
When she realized the group’s conversation had stopped and everyone was staring at her because Mr. Herrick had refused to move on, her cheeks went hot. She knew she had to say something.
“I-I’m afraid we’re all at a disadvantage. I’m Terri Jeppson.”
“You’re the woman Martha told us about,” the older man in the Stetson interjected in a Texas accent. “If it hadn’t been for you discovering the mix-up, our family wouldn’t have known Ben was even in here. We’re indebted to you, Mrs. Jeppson.
“I’m Ben’s father, Dean.” He shook hands with her. “This is my wife, Blanche, our daughter Leah and our son Parker. Our other son Creighton and his wife are on vacation and Leah’s husband Grant couldn’t make it, otherwise they would have flown down with us.”
Everyone said hello.
Terri muttered an appropriate greeting, but relief that Leah wasn’t Ben Herrick’s wife dominated her chaotic emotions. Of course it didn’t mean he wasn’t married. Or engaged. Or living with a woman…
“I’m pleased to meet you,” Parker said with a dashing smile. He let go of the IV stand to shake Terri’s hand. His charm reminded her a little of Richard who knew he was attractive to women.
Like his father, he wore a Stetson. She thought he looked younger than his brother Ben who appeared to be in his mid-thirties. Both men bore a strong facial resemblance to their lovely mother, whereas sandy-haired Leah took after their father.
“Is your husband all right?” Mrs. Herrick asked in a compassionate tone of voice.
My ex-husband.
“I think so, but I haven’t caught up with him yet.”
Terri didn’t want to believe Richard would shirk his responsibility for his pregnant girlfriend at this late date. Hopefully he’d show up before too much longer.
Refusing to look at the silent man for fear he’d read too much feeling in her eyes, Terri said, “It’s been very nice meeting all of you, but at this point I’m sure Mr. Herrick is tired after his walk. He probably wants to lie down. Now that I know he’s with his family, I’ll go.”
“Don’t worry about Ben. He’s tough.” His father patted his son’s left shoulder. “But since the doctor said this is his first day out of bed, you may have a point.”
As Terri started to walk toward the elevator around the corner, she heard a distinct groan of protest. It was a familiar sound. Loud enough to wake the dead, but she kept on going.
Already emotionally involved in ways she wasn’t ready to examine, she knew any more time spent in his company could only backfire on her. The best thing to do was head for the hotel and stay put until she heard from Captain Ortiz.
“Mrs. Jeppson? Wait up!”
Terri had just emerged from the elevator on the main floor when Parker Herrick approached. He put a detaining hand on her arm. Then he grinned.
“You move faster than a nervous filly trying to outrun a twister.” The analogy made her chuckle. “If there hadn’t been another elevator going down, I would have missed you. My brother wants you to come back upstairs.”
“I’ll visit him again before I fly home to the States.”
He shook his head. “Not good enough. He’s more upset than I’ve ever seen him. If you don’t show, there’ll be hell to pay.”
“Tell him I’ll come by later when he doesn’t have family around. I don’t want to impose.”
Parker pushed his hat back on his head. “We’ve been here six hours and that’s longer than we’ve all been corralled together at one time in I don’t know how many years.”
In spite of her misgivings, she laughed.
His gray-blue eyes twinkled. “Knowing my brother, he was ready to throw us out ten minutes after we got here. It’ll be doing the whole family a real favor if you’d be willing to baby-sit for a while.
“You see,” he said in a confiding voice, “the hospital staff’s been singing your praises. With you here, Mom will feel like we can leave for an hour to grab a bite to eat.”
After having to fly down here at a moment’s notice, Terri could well imagine how tired and hungry they were. It would be churlish to refuse when she’d come here with every intention of trying to get more information out of Mr. Herrick about Richard.
“All right. I’ll go back with you, but I can’t stay long.”
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Rebecca Winters
When Terri Jeppson is informed that her ex-husband is desperately ill, she rushes to his aid.It's not until she gives him a therapeutic massage - on doctor's orders - that she realizes the man at her fingertips isn't her ex at all. He's an incredibly handsome, sexy…total stranger!Terri has unwittingly found herself up close and personal with international billionaire Ben Herrick. And he has one more surprise for Terri: a shocking proposal. Their unexpected encounter has certainly broken the ice between them - but should Terri take the plunge and accept Ben's proposition?
Terri picked up the lotion and squirted a mound of the cream into her palm to begin the rubdown.
But when she started to work the lotion into his skin, her hands froze.
Dear God. This man wasn’t Richard!
The burnished, hard-muscled leg did not belong to her ex-husband!
Terri began to tremble. Without hesitation she rushed to his side and bent over him so she could peer into his eyes.
A pain-filled gray gaze stared back at her between dark lashes. There was a frantic urgency in his look she could feel to her bones.
“You poor man,” she whispered in a shaky voice. “All this time everyone has thought you were my ex-husband. No wonder you’ve been so upset.”
The man let out a moan, which she took for a yes.
From boardroom…to bride and groom!
A secret romance, a forbidden affair, a thrilling attraction?
Working side by side, nine to five—and beyond… No matter how hard these couples try to keep their relationships strictly professional, romance is definitely on the agenda!
But will a date in the office diary lead to an appointment at the altar? Find out in this exciting new miniseries from Harlequin Romance
.
Look out for Rebecca’s next book,
Bride Fit for a Prince (#3740)
The Tycoon’s Proposition
Rebecca Winters
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ONE
“AREN’T you going to invite me in?”
Matt Watkins was a nice-looking divorced guy who’d recently moved to Lead, South Dakota, to manage a busy service station.
Tonight had been their first official date, but already Terri Jeppson knew she could never be interested in him. She sensed he was looking for a wife. It would be better to dash his hopes now.
“I’m sorry, Matt. I start work early in the morning and—”
“You’re still in love with your ex,” he broke in before she could finish, sounding more hurt than angry.
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him her love for Richard had died an early death during their six-year marriage. But she caught herself in time.
“Maybe I am, and it took going out with someone else to realize it,” she said. It was an excuse she felt he could live with. “Please forgive me. I really did have a wonderful time with you tonight. Thank you for dinner and the movie.”
He stared hard at her. “When you think you’re over him, let me know.”
She nodded before shutting her apartment door. Glad the evening had come to an end so she could stop feeling guilty, she walked into the kitchen and automatically turned on her answering machine.
Her job as assistant head of the chamber of commerce meant she received a lot of calls transferred to her apartment after hours. Summer was the busiest time. July was the worst in terms of the swarms of tourists wanting to see Mount Rushmore and vacation in the Black Hills.
While she waited to hear what problems needed troubleshooting tonight, she sifted through the mail she hadn’t bothered to look at earlier.
The first two calls were from her mother and sister Beth who lived in Lead with her husband Tom. Unfortunately Beth had discovered Terri was going out on a date. Her family was so eager for her to meet a man who was “worthy” of her, their interest in her nonexistent love life was transparent. They weren’t going to like it when she told them she wouldn’t be seeing Matt again.
Another message played. “Mrs. Jeppson?” it began, letting her know it had to do with business. She tossed her junk mail in the wastebasket while she listened.
“My name is Martha Shaw. I’m calling from Creighton Herrick’s office at the Herrick Corporation Headquarters in Houston, Texas. Your husband, Richard, was injured in an accident where he’s been working. We’ve been told you should come as quickly as possible. A special family emergency visa has been arranged for you to enter the country.”
Country?
“Since this won’t require you going into the jungle, you won’t need any immunizations. The company will pay for your transportation and hotel. After you hear this message, please phone me at the following number day or night so I can book your flight and make hotel accommodations for you.”
Terri stood there in shock.
She and Richard had been divorced for almost a year, and had been separated six months before that. There’d been no communication between them since their divorce had become final. She’d thought he was out of her life forever.
Why would he have lied about his marital status when she knew he was happy to be a free man with no ties?
As for working outside the U.S., she couldn’t imagine it unless a glazier could make a lot more money somewhere else.
The whole thing was a complete mystery to her, but whatever the explanation, it appeared his condition was very serious, otherwise the company wouldn’t have gotten in touch with her.
After playing back the message so she could write down the phone number, she made the call. It only rang twice before someone picked up.
“Martha Shaw speaking.”
“Hello? Ms. Shaw? This is Terri Jeppson.”
“Oh, good. I’m glad you got my message.”
“Thank you for phoning me. How serious is Richard’s condition?”
“I wish I had those particulars, but I don’t. I’m sorry. One of the staff from the Herrick office in Ecuador phoned the company here in Houston, informing us that your husband had been hurt.”
Ecuador?
“I’m afraid she couldn’t give me any specifics, but that’s not unusual when the work site is miles from the city center. The message would have been relayed through a variety of people to finally reach us.
“After you arrive in Guayaquil, you’re to phone the office there. I’ll give you the number before we hang up. By the time you reach Ecuador, I’m sure they’ll be able to give you a lot more information and tell you which hospital your husband was taken to. The important thing is to get you down there as quickly as possible.”
A few more minutes’ conversation and all Terri’s travel and hotel arrangements had been made. After thanking Ms. Shaw, Terri phoned her boss with the news that she had to take emergency leave.
Ray Gladstone, the head of the chamber of commerce, couldn’t have been nicer about it. He said he’d handle everything while she was gone and wished her a safe trip down.
Then she called her mother and explained what was happening. As much as her parent had disliked Richard for the years of pain he’d caused, her compassion for his being alone and hurt in a foreign country won out. She told Terri she and Beth would look after the apartment in her absence.
With no time to lose, Terri got busy cleaning and packing, all the while reflecting on what a difference one phone call had made. Ages ago she’d relegated Richard to the past. Now suddenly there seemed to be no choice but to fly down and be with him. As her mother had said, it was the charitable thing to do.
Terri’s mind had to stretch back a long way to remember that she’d once been in love with him. Raised in Spearfish, South Dakota, by his aunt and uncle who was a master glazier, Richard had learned the trade well.
It wasn’t until after their deaths that he’d landed a glazier’s job in Lead where he’d met Terri and they’d married. She hadn’t known about his dark side back then.
Little by little it manifested itself as his growing restlessness kept him moving from one work location to another, one state to another. He always wanted more money, a bigger job. She suspected there were other women. He had a drinking problem which he’d tried to hide around her when he came home in-between jobs.
Though she no longer thought about or missed the man who’d been unable to fulfill her as a husband, there was a part of her that would always love the memory of the twenty-two-year-old with the laughing blue eyes who’d asked her to marry him.
As it turned out, he was a man with more charm than substance.
The long separations, his inability to settle down, two devastating miscarriages when he hadn’t been home to help her through either one, all contributed to the breakup of their marriage. Somewhere along the way she’d stopped caring.
But none of that mattered now. Not when he was so far away with no aunt or uncle to comfort him.
Eighteen hours later an exhausted Terri arrived in the city of Guayaquil, populated by upwards of eight million people. The dry climate came as a big surprise. She’d expected a wall of humidity.
After checking into her room at the Ecuador Inn, she immediately rang the number Martha Shaw had given her. The receptionist put her through to one person after another. Finally someone came on the line who told her Richard had been taken to San Lorenzo Hospital. That was all the information they had available.
Terri thanked the person before she took a shower and put on a fresh skirt and blouse. At the bank in the lobby she changed some travelers’ checks into local money, then caught one of the taxis waiting in front of the hotel.
She’d been to Los Angeles and New York on different vacations, but the evening traffic here presented a completely different kind of chaos. She considered it a miracle to arrive at the hospital in one piece. When she found the floor in question, a Dr. Dominguez met her at the nursing station.
As she introduced herself to the older doctor who was doing his evening rounds, his dark gaze flicked over her face and figure with admiring male interest.
In heavily accented English he said, “Your husband will be very happy to see you. According to a local fisherman who brought him into the hospital three days ago, he called for you repeatedly before losing consciousness.
“With no identification on him, I am afraid it took the hospital authorities some time to determine he worked for the Herrick Company.”
“Are you saying he’s still in a coma?” she asked in alarm, not bothering to correct the doctor about the fact that she was no longer Richard’s wife.
“No, no. He awakened at the hospital. His worst problem is his agitation. Now that you have come, he will get the rest he needs.”
“Please, doctor—tell me about his condition.”
“There’s nothing life threatening. He has had the cuts on his face stitched. There are superficial burns on his palms which will soon heal. Once his dislocated shoulder mends, he will be fine. His most painful injury is to his throat. After the accident, he must have swallowed some contaminant in the seawater that made it burn.”
“That’s horrible.”
“Do not worry. The lining is healing nicely, but for the moment it is swollen and he cannot talk. Another few days and the swelling will be gone. Then he will be able to communicate the same as before and tell us exactly what happened to him.
“In the meantime we have swathed his face and head to protect the dressings over the stitches. He was fortunate that the cuts were at the hairline and just beneath the chin, so there will be no disfigurement.
“Depending on a number of factors, he might wish to have some minor plastic surgery done later to the scar below his chin, but I am not sure that will be necessary.”
“May I see him now?”
“Certainly. Keep in mind we’ve left the overhead light off in his room to help him rest.”
Terri nodded.
“Sister Angelica will take you to him.” He turned and spoke in rapid Spanish to the nun who led Terri down the hall to her ex-husband’s hospital room.
Terri had always been frightened of mummies, so when she peered inside and saw what looked like a mummy’s head and torso extending beyond the sheet, she let out an involuntary cry.
His head moved a trifle in Terri’s direction. The sister in her white habit put a finger to her lips as if to warn Terri not to let her emotions disturb their patient again.
Ashamed of her outburst, she nodded to the sister, then moved to the side of the bed.
His right arm was in a sling. There were needles in both arms above the wrists. As for his hands, they looked like they’d been fitted with little white gauze mitts. An oxygen mask covered the nose opening. Just looking at him made her feel as if she was going to suffocate.
“Richard?” she said in a soft voice. “It’s Terri. I flew down here as soon as I was told about the accident.”
She heard a funny little sound come out of him.
“No—don’t try to talk. The doctor said your throat will heal faster if you don’t use your vocal cords. I’m here now and I’ll sit with you as long as you want me to.”
Reaching for the chair, she placed it near the IV stand and sat down. The sister smiled approvingly before leaving the room.
Richard had played football in high school and was six feet of sturdy muscle. With all the bandages, he looked even bigger. A portion of his uninjured left shoulder was the only part of his body she could really see in the dim wall light.
Normally he worked with a shirt on, but she guessed it must have made him feel more macho to take it off. That would explain the bronzelike tan built up over months of exposure under a hot sun.
He made another muffled sound. She watched him lift his left hand from the sheet.
For a man who’d always been so restless both within and without, his suffering had to be extreme. She leaned forward and gently patted his lower leg draped by the sheet.
“The doctor said you’re going to be fine. He thinks any scarring will be so slight, you might not even have to undergo minor plastic surgery. That’s a blessing. You always were a heartthrob.”
She watched his legs stir beneath the sheet. No doubt he was in unbearable pain.
It was bad enough that they hadn’t lived together for at least a year and a half. But to have to meet her former husband under these precarious circumstances made their meeting even more difficult. What did she say to the man who was a virtual stranger to her at this point?
“Dr. Dominguez told me you called out my name several times to the fisherman who saved you. I have to admit it surprised me to learn that you’d listed me as your spouse on your work application.
“I can’t imagine why you did that when we’re divorced. I happen to know you wanted it as much as I did. But I’m not sorry to be here. You shouldn’t be alone at a time like this. My family sends their best wishes. They want you to get well as soon as possible, too.”
He lifted his left arm once more and brushed it against her arm before lowering it again. Perhaps it was his way of thanking her for coming. She didn’t really know.
“As soon as the Herrick Corporation notified me, I took emergency leave from the chamber of commerce to fly here. Ray told me not to worry about anything. He said he hoped you’d have a swift recovery.”
While she tried to think of things to say, her heart went out to him for his helpless state.
“I didn’t realize you’d taken a job in South America. Judging by your tan, it looks like you’ve been here quite a while. According to the doctor, you’ll be able to talk in a few days. Then you can tell me what you need.
“If there are friends you want me to contact, a woman you’ve been seeing, I’ll do whatever I can to help you get in touch with them.”
He made another sound in his throat and tried to lift his head. If anything, she felt as if her presence were disturbing him rather than bringing him a measure of peace.
Afraid to do something wrong that might delay his recovery, she got to her feet.
“You need to rest, Richard. I’m going to go now, but I promise I’ll be back in the morning. I’m staying at the Ecuador Inn and will leave my room number in case the hospital needs to get in touch with me about you before tomorrow.”
At that moment he moaned more distinctly than before. Worried over his reaction, she hurried from the room and rushed down the hall to the nursing station.
A minute passed before she saw the doctor come out of one of another patient’s room. He headed in her direction.
“Leaving so soon?”
“Richard seemed to be more unsettled with me there. He kept trying to talk.”
“It is the excitement of seeing his beautiful wife again.”
Hardly. If that were the case, there would never have been a divorce.
“Knowing you are here will hasten his recovery,” the other man continued.
She shook her head. “Dr. Dominguez? You don’t understand. I’m not his wife.” It was best he know the truth.
The announcement brought him up short.
“We were divorced eleven months ago,” she went on to explain. “Since then I’ve had no contact with him. I didn’t know anything of his whereabouts until the Herrick Corporation got in touch with me.
“Frankly I have no idea why he claimed to be married on his work application. When he’s recovered enough to talk, I’m sure he’ll explain. What’s important to me is that he gets well. But he keeps trying to say something to me, which couldn’t be good for his throat.
“I told him I’d be back in the morning. I’m staying at the Ecuador Inn, room 137. You can reach me there, no matter the hour.”
“Very good,” he murmured, clearly puzzled by the news.
“Doctor? Is he getting enough pain relief?”
“As much as he can tolerate. Perhaps his increased restlessness has been brought on because your presence is a reminder of your broken marriage. Maybe he regrets the divorce and that is the reason why he still claims to be married.
“Sometimes it takes losing something of great value for a man to realize what is really important after all. Have you considered this might be an opportunity for a reconciliation?”
Terri could see where the doctor was going with this, but he would be wrong about the whole situation. Richard wasn’t having second thoughts. There was an entirely different reason why he’d claimed to still be married when he’d accepted a job down here.
As for Terri, she couldn’t resurrect feelings that had been burned out of her. “Dr. Dominguez? Our marriage was over a long time ago. However I still care for him and want him to recover as soon as possible.”
“I want that, too.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She left the floor and took the elevator to the foyer where she asked the receptionist to summon a taxi.
Once back in her hotel room, she rang for room service and ordered dinner. When it arrived, she changed into her nightgown and ate in bed while she talked to her mother and Beth, updating them on Richard’s condition.
Beth suggested Richard might have lied because it was the only way he could get the job. Maybe the Herrick Corporation had a rule about their employees being married if they wanted to work outside the U.S.
It was a possibility Terri hadn’t thought of. Tomorrow she would visit Richard again, then go to the Herrick office and ask more questions. Right now what she craved was a good night’s sleep so she’d be better prepared to deal with the situation in the morning.
But even though she was exhausted, it was hard to settle down. She turned on the television and watched several news programs in Spanish. With the help of her high school Spanish, she was able to figure out some of it. Then she switched to a movie dubbed in Spanish she’d already seen in English, and promptly fell asleep. The television was still on when she awakened at nine the next morning.
Once she’d eaten breakfast in her room, she showered and dressed in another blouse and skirt. After she was ready, she left the hotel and climbed into one of the many taxis waiting out front.
To her delight the temperature outside the hotel wasn’t as high as she would have supposed for July. In fact it felt much better here than in Atlanta where she’d changed planes.
On her way to the hospital, she looked around to get better oriented. Guayaquil was a large South American port city. Its proximity to the ocean, plus the masses of dark haired people speaking Spanish made it a fascinating place to be. With so many beautiful women, she imagined Richard had been enjoying himself here. How sad to think he’d met with an accident that had almost cost him his life.
She knew he liked to fish. Maybe he’d been out in a small boat with his spinning rod when it had happened. Had he gone alone? Was anyone else hurt?
Terri was impatient for answers. But she would have to wait until his throat was healed enough to supply her with details.
Hoping they’d given him something to help him sleep so he’d had a restful night, she hurried down the hospital corridor to his room. The door was ajar. When she peeked inside, she saw a younger doctor standing at the side of the bed unraveling the bandage that was wrapped around Richard’s forehead.
He flashed her a broad smile. “Come in, Señora Jeppson. I’m Dr. Fortuna. We have been expecting you.”
She did his bidding. Evidently Dr. Dominguez hadn’t informed the staff about Richard’s divorced status yet. “If your husband could talk, I’m sure he would tell you he is glad you are here. I have been checking his stitches. The cut under his chin shows no infection.”
At that news, Terri was relieved. She sank down in the chair to watch. The bed had been raised so Richard was sitting up. His oxygen mask had been removed.
In a minute she saw the top of his head. He’d always worn his dark hair marine style, very closely cropped. Since he’d been in South America, it appeared he’d let it grow. She could tell it was at least an inch or two longer now. Maybe even more.
“Ah,” the doctor murmured with satisfaction as he removed the dressing. “Everything looks very good. No one would guess you had a cut there. Stay still while I put on a new dressing. If there’s no infection by tomorrow, you won’t have to wear the head wrap anymore.”
Just hearing those words helped Terri to breathe a little easier. She could imagine Richard felt equally relieved. Confined like that, he had to be going out of his mind. In fact he would probably have ripped off the bandages by now if he’d been able to get at the gauze.
“What about his burns, Doctor?”
“They are much better. Tomorrow we will unwrap his hands and apply a dressing which will free his fingers. I am happy to say that he is breathing at ninety-five perfect capacity and no longer needs oxygen.”
Thank goodness for that. “What about his shoulder?”
“It was an anterior dislocation which is the most common. The surgeon performed a reduction. All your husband has to do now is wear this sling for three or four weeks and he will be fine. To his credit, he is in remarkable shape. Has he always worked out?”
Richard?
“Not since he played football in high school.”
“Then he has been keeping a secret from you. You do not stay this solid without help.”
Maybe he’d been going to a gym for the last eighteen months. She had no idea.
“Is his throat really going to get better?”
“In a few days it will be like new.”
“I’m sorry I sound so impatient.”
“That’s a wife’s prerogative.”
Ignoring his comment she said, “I wish there were something I could do for him right now.”
The doctor finished rewrapping his patient’s head, then lowered the bed so Richard was lying almost flat.
“I can think of one thing.”
“What?”
“You could give his legs and feet a soothing massage with that lotion over on the table. It will relax his whole body and help him to sleep.”
“I’ll do it.”
“Excellent. I am sure your husband is looking forward to such a lovely wife ministering to his needs.”
The doctor was mistaken on that score, but she was equally certain Richard craved any relief from the pain that he could get. If a massage would help, she was only too glad to provide it.
“Tomorrow we will put him in the shower for the first time. That will make him feel really good, too.”
Terri had no doubt of it and thanked him.
“I’m impressed with the wonderful care you’re getting,” she said after the doctor had left the room. “Tomorrow you’ll be stripped of all these bandages. I know you can’t wait. Until then I’ll do as he suggested and try to bring you some comfort.”
She moved over to the table and picked up the lotion, and then walked to the end of the bed. After pulling out the sheet to expose his left leg to the knee, she squirted a mound of the cream in her palm to begin the rubdown.
But when she started to work the lotion into his skin, her hands froze.
Dear God.
This man wasn’t Richard!
The burnished, hard-muscled leg did not belong to her ex-husband! Richard’s legs were shorter, bulkier, hairier; his foot was wider, not as long.
Terri began to tremble. She removed her hands and hurried to the door to turn on the overhead light.
Without hesitation she rushed to his side and bent over him so she could peer into his eyes.
Pain-filled gray eyes stared back at her between dark lashes. There was a frantic urgency in his look she could feel to her bones.
“You poor man,” she whispered in a shaky voice. “All this time everyone has thought you were my ex-husband. No wonder you’ve been so upset.”
He let out a moan which she took for a yes.
Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry it took me this long to discover the truth. Last evening when I arrived, Dr. Dominguez told me they were keeping the light off in here so you could sleep. If I’d been able to look into your eyes, I would have known immediately you weren’t Richard.
“The fisherman who brought you in said you called out my name. That means you knew Richard. I assume you were friends or colleagues. Were you both in the accident?”
The stranger lifted his head enough to nod, but it was clearly a strain. Nevertheless it meant he understood her English.
“Lie still,” she begged. “Please don’t exert yourself. Obviously you have family and friends looking for you. They must be in agony wondering where you are.
“I’ll alert the staff right now, then I’ll leave and go straight to the police to find out if the Herrick company or someone else has put out a missing persons report for you. I suppose it’s possible Richard was taken to another hospital in the city.”
This time the stranger shook his head.
She was trying to understand. “If he’s not at a hospital, do you know where he is?”
He nodded again, but the strain on him had taken its toll. His eyelids closed. The unidentified man had to be in grueling pain. She could feel it.
“That’s all right. You sleep while I’m gone. I swear I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She covered his leg and tucked the sheet in place. Then she put the lotion on the table. After turning off the light, she grabbed her purse and tore out of the room.
To her relief the same doctor happened to be at the nursing station down the hall. She took him aside and told him what she’d discovered. He looked shocked and said he’d immediately notify the staff as well as the head of the hospital.
Within a half hour she’d told the same story to Captain Ortiz, an officer at the main police station in Guayaquil. He knew nothing about an accident at sea and proceeded to ask a lot of questions. She gave him a full description of her ex-husband. As for the stranger lying in the hospital bed, there was less to tell about him.
The captain said he would send another officer to the hospital to interview the doctors who were taking care of him. If the police could find the fisherman who’d brought him in, it would answer a lot of questions. At some point he would get back to her either at the hospital or the hotel.
Terri in turn said she would find out where her ex-husband was living. The bandaged stranger had indicated that Richard wasn’t in a hospital. That had to mean he hadn’t been badly hurt in the accident and was convalescing at his apartment or wherever it was that he lived. If she found him first, she would phone the captain right away. He agreed that it sounded like the best plan of action.
After agreeing to stay in close touch, Terri left the police station for the Herrick head office. The taxi driver knew the name and drove her to the heart of the city where he deposited her in front of a complex of buildings, one of which housed the company in question.
A Latin beauty sat at the main reception. When Terri told her she needed some information about one of the employees who worked for the Herrick Corporation, the woman told her she couldn’t give out confidential information.
However as soon as Terri mentioned Martha Shaw, Mr. Creighton Herrick’s secretary, her tone changed. The woman made a quick phone call before looking up Richard’s record on the computer. She gave Terri his address, but there was no phone number listed.
After thanking the receptionist, Terri asked her to call for a taxi. Once that was done, she went outside to wait.
When the driver pulled up in front and she showed him the address, he told her it was located twenty-five miles south of the city and would take close to an hour to get there.
Terri didn’t care about that. She climbed in the back seat and handed him fifty dollars to cover the round-trip. Then she told him to step on it.
He smiled before starting up the taxi to merge with the other cars. The drive turned out to take fifty minutes in the early-afternoon traffic. By the time they reached the city limits, she could tell that the barrios in the outskirts were more run-down.
Eventually he pulled up in front of a small three-story apartment called the Mirador. There was no landscaping to speak of, and a cluster of little children played on the stairs. She asked him to stay put while she went to the door. In case Richard wasn’t there, she needed to be sure she had a ride back into town.
The driver nodded and reached for a magazine to read.
Number ten put Richard on the second floor. She stepped past the curious children to find his apartment, then knocked. When there was no answer she knocked again.
“Richard?” she called out. “It’s Terri. If you can hear me, let me know. I heard about the accident and have flown all this way to see you.”
Still nothing.
Afraid he could be inside unable to get up and answer the door, she turned the handle, hoping he might have left it unlocked.
“Aiyee!” she heard a woman scream.
Terri didn’t know who was more frightened.
Through the opening in the door, which the chain guard allowed, she saw a woman probably much younger than Terri’s twenty-seven years. With long black hair and liquid-brown eyes, Terri could well understand her ex-husband’s attraction.
The woman stood there wearing Richard’s yellow robe, looking very pretty and very pregnant.
CHAPTER TWO
“BUENOS tardes.” Terri spoke first. “Habla Ingles?”
The other woman shook her head without the slightest hint of welcome in her expression.
At this point Terri had only her two years of Spanish to rely on. “Por favor, donde esta Richard?” Heavens! It had been so long since high school, she couldn’t remember if she was supposed to use Estar or Ser.
The woman responded too fast. Terri couldn’t follow.
She tried again. “Quiero hablar con Richard.”
There was another spate of unintelligible words before the woman shut the door in Terri’s face.
If Richard had been inside, Terri was positive he would have come out to see what was going on.
The fact that his lover seemed to be angry rather than in despair, led Terri to believe Richard had to be all right. In fact, the fiery woman was probably expecting him home later in the day and couldn’t believe some strange American woman had appeared at the door unannounced and unwanted.
Only jealousy could have prompted her to behave in such a rude manner. It was more than possible Richard had never told this woman about Terri. Certainly he’d never expected to see his ex-wife again. Especially not down here in Guayaquil, which was about as far from Lead, South Dakota, as you could get.
Terri hurried back to the taxi and they left for the city. En route she asked the driver to drop her off at an upscale department store near the San Lorenzo Hospital. She needed to make a few purchases.
Assuming for the moment Richard was out of danger, Terri’s thoughts converged on the stranger who’d been lying in a hospital bed since he’d been rescued. The painful desperation in his beautiful gray eyes would haunt her for a long time to come.
How frightening it must have been to wake up in an unfamiliar place, unable to talk while everyone around him thought he was someone else!
He probably had a wife who was out of her mind with grief because he was missing. Until a relative or friend came to claim him, Terri would stay with him and encourage him to get better. It was the least she could do.
An hour and a half later she rushed inside the hospital with her arms loaded. After taking the elevator, she hurried down the hall of his floor where various helpers were serving dinner to the patients who could eat.
She stopped at the nursing station long enough to be offered a tray of food for herself, then she breezed into his room with her packages.
“Hi!” she called out in a soft voice, not wanting to jar him. As he lifted his left hand in greeting, her dinner arrived. She put everything down on the floor, then reached for the tray and drew the chair next to him so she could be seated.
“I was gone a lot longer than I’d intended. First off I went to the police station and explained the situation. Then I took a taxi to the Herrick office. I’ve been so busy I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast. Now I’m starving.
“I hope you don’t mind my eating in front of you. If the smell makes you nauseous, put up your hand and I’ll eat out in the hall.”
He made no gesture, so she had to believe it was all right.
“Earlier when you told me you knew where Richard was, I asked the receptionist at the Herrick office to give me his address. It took a little doing, but she finally complied. From there I took another taxi out to his apartment to see if he was there, and found a woman in residence. Judging by her pregnant condition, it seems Richard’s been living with her for a long time.”
More indecipherable sounds came out of the stranger.
“She wasn’t in the least happy to see me at the door. I tried out my Spanish on her, but she spoke too fast for me to understand. Later I’ll try to get in touch with Richard through someone at the office who knows him personally. In the meantime, I’m anxious to help you in any way I can.”
The chicken and beans tasted good. So did the fruit juice which was an interesting blend of peach and something else, maybe mango.
After she’d drained the glass she said, “There’s a Captain Ortiz at the police station who’s working on your case. He hadn’t heard of any accident at sea. However with the information I’ve given him, he said he’ll come up with some answers soon and hopefully find out who you are.
“If we don’t hear from him in the next few hours, I’ll call him before I leave. In case there’s no news, I have an idea.
“Since the doctor said they’d be removing the bandages on your hands in the morning, maybe with my help you could write your name or your home phone number on a piece of paper. That is, if it doesn’t hurt too much.
“Depending on your mobility, you might even be able to write down a word that will tell me Richard’s location. One way or another we’ll unravel this mystery.”
She finished the rest of her chicken, then put the tray over on the table. Eager to do something to bring a little pleasure to the man who’d been through so much suffering, she turned to him.
“Now that I’ve eaten, I’ll give your legs that massage you’ve been waiting for.”
Not expecting an answer from the stranger, she picked up the lotion and walked over to the bed.
After squeezing lotion up and down his left leg, she began to rub it in. “When I was in junior high, we once read The Invisible Man for Halloween. That’s a holiday in the States, in case you haven’t heard of it. The children dress up in costumes and go door to door asking for candy.
“Anyway, there was this scientist who’d made himself invisible. He wrapped himself in bandages so it would outline his body. But sometimes a dog or a cat would chase after him in the streets and pull the bandages away. People would scream in terror when they couldn’t see anything underneath.
“It was a really fascinating concept. Of course I love science fiction of all kinds, so the story captured my attention right off. Anyway, when I walked in this room yesterday and saw you, I was reminded of that story.
“Thank goodness when I looked in your eyes this morning, I saw life there staring back at me,” she teased. “You’re kind of a cross between him and The Mummy.
“Maybe you don’t know about this old movie. It concerns a guard of the Pharaoh who dared to love his Egyptian queen. For his punishment the other guards turned him into a living mummy. It still gives me chills just thinking about it.”
A faint noise came out of him. It could mean most anything.
“If your feet are ticklish, I’m sorry. I’ll try not to drive you crazy.”
When she’d finished with one leg, she moved around the end of the bed and started on the other. Strange how it felt so natural doing this small service for a total stranger. The darkness of the room with just the two of them added a certain intimacy, which she enjoyed.
In truth it was much easier than if it had been Richard lying here. Too much unhappy history had passed between them to have made it an enjoyable experience.
“Do you know? I haven’t the faintest idea of your nationality. Obviously you understand English, but you could be from so many different countries besides Ecuador, your predicament has fueled my imagination.
“You’ve probably never been to South Dakota. That’s where I live in the States. A small town called Lead, gateway to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. Fresh out of college with an English degree, I started working for the local chamber of commerce.
“In the beginning it was only supposed to be a temporary job until I found a good teaching position. However the work became so interesting to me, I’ve been with them ever since.
“If you asked me what I actually do there, the answer would be a little bit of everything under the sun. Something’s always going wrong and I have to fix it. That’s why I like it so much.
“Of course my family is there. My mom and my sister Beth who married Tom three months ago. Now they’re expecting a baby. You already know my marriage to Richard failed, so that’s about it. The story of my life. No doubt I’ve bored you to tears.”
She gave his foot a final rub, then covered his legs with the sheet. “Since there’s no television in here, I’ll read you what’s on the front page of today’s newspaper. Someone left it in the room. In case you’re a native Spanish speaker, please forgive my pronunciation.”
Terri washed her hands, then put on some lotion from her own purse before placing the chair near the wall light so she could read the print.
“This is from El Telegrafo. Let’s see…
“Mediante oficio No. 19370 enviado al Presidente del Congreso, José Cordero Acosta, el Procurador General del Estado, Ramón Jiménez Carbo, senñala que su pronunciamiento sobre la inconstitucionalidad del artículo 33 del Reglamento que dispuso la prisión domiciliaria para—entre otros—los ex presidentes y ex vicepresidentes de la República, ‘tiene carácter vinculante.’”
She put the paper down. “If I knew what vinculante meant, this article would make a lot more sense. But I don’t think it would be of interest to anyone who isn’t involved in local politics. Of course, maybe you are. If so, forgive me if I don’t read further.”
To her surprise, his body appeared to be shaking. Alarmed, she jumped up from the chair and hurried over to his side.
“What’s wrong? Do you need the doctor?”
He shook his head.
“Are you cold?”
Again he made the same gesture.
After a moment of consideration, “Are you laughing?”
He nodded.
Her lips curved into a smile. “My Spanish was that awful?”
Once more he shook his head.
“Liar,” she whispered, loving their one-sided conversation more than she’d loved anything in years.
“I’m glad you can laugh, but maybe you shouldn’t, just in case it pulls at the stitches under your chin. When your wife comes rushing in, I’m sure she’ll be looking for the same attractive man she married before the accident.”
He shook his head.
“Don’t be modest. I’ve seen your eyes, remember? And you’ve got great legs.”
His body shook again.
“With that head of dark hair, something tells me there’s a real hunk hidden under all those bandages. In case you haven’t heard the word ‘hunk’ before, it means, a good-looking man. In Spanish a woman would say, muy guapo. You’ve probably been called that a lot around here.”
She left him long enough to find the packages she’d bought and had asked to be gift-wrapped.
“These are for you. I think they’ll fit. You’re probably six feet two or three. I thought you’d want to be wearing something more spectacular than a hospital gown when your family shows up.”
Terri put the packages on the chair and opened them one at a time. “I bought you these navy pajamas and matching robe. I’m sorry if they’re not your taste, but with that tan I think you’ll look sensational in them.
“I also picked up these leather sandals. They’ll fit a size eleven or twelve foot. In case that sizing doesn’t mean anything to you, be assured you’ll be able to wear them.”
She held everything up for him to see. “After your shower in the morning, you can put these on. It will make you feel more normal.”
Leaving everything on the chair, she moved it against the wall, then returned to his side.
“I’m sorry Captain Ortiz hasn’t phoned yet. I know he would have if there’d been any news. Please don’t be disheartened. Who knows? When morning comes, I might walk in here and discover you’ve got a room full of company.
“In that case, you’re going to need a good night’s sleep so I think I’d better leave. It’s getting late.”
He let out another strange sound and shook his mummy-like head.
“What’s wrong? You don’t want me to go yet?”
Again, his head moved back and forth.
“So—you want me to help you pass the time, is that it?”
His definite nod secretly pleased her. It meant her presence brought him some comfort. It felt good to be needed.
“Since your hearing hasn’t been affected, I guess I could stay for a while longer and talk to you. But don’t be surprised if one of the sisters comes around to check your vital signs and throws me out. I’ll put your new clothes in the drawer so I can sit next to you.”
In a few seconds she was seated at his side once more.
“I’ve just thought of another idea. When my sister and I were little girls, we used to print the names of movie stars on each other’s backs and try to guess who they were. The one who got the most right answers on the first round had to buy the other one a treat the next day.
“Why don’t I try printing a continent on your leg? The one you come from. You nod when I’ve stumbled onto it.”
Excited over her own idea, she uncovered his leg and started drawing the letters for Europe up his shin bone.
When she’d finished, his head remained motionless.
“Hmm. How about this?”
She wrote South America.
Still there was no gesture from him.
Next she printed the words North America.
Now she got the nod she’d been waiting for.
“American?”
Another emphatic nod.
Terri shot to her feet. “I should have played this game with you earlier.” Her voice shook. “Do you work for the Herrick Company, too?”
He gave her a nod.
She sucked in her breath. “Okay. Let’s learn your first name. I’ll start saying the alphabet. You lift your right hand slightly when I come to the right letter. A,” she began. “B.”
He lifted his hand.
“Second letter. A. B. C. D. E.”
Again, his hand moved.
She went through the alphabet a third time. When she reached N, he raised his hand.
“Your name is Ben!” she cried out. “Short for Benjamin?”
He nodded.
With her heart racing she said, “Let’s do your last name.” She went through the same process. It seemed his last name started with an H. By the time she’d been through the alphabet seven times, he’d spelled the name Herrick.
Terri blinked. “Is it a coincidence you have the same name as the company you work for?”
He shook his head.
“You mean you’re the head of the company here?”
Contact at last!
Ben nodded as he gazed into her expressive eyes. They widened in incredulity. Their heavenly blue color reminded him of Texas bluebonnets which flowered every spring at the ranch.
With her dark-blond hair cut in a kind of windswept shag, and a mouth shaped like a heart when she was pondering something serious, she looked utterably adorable to him.
“But if that’s true, how is it possible no one’s looking for you of all people? Captain Ortiz never said anything about the head of your company disappearing. It doesn’t make sense! But that doesn’t matter right now. The important thing is that you’re alive and on the road to recovery.”
He watched helplessly as she bit the soft underside of her lip. What he’d give to taste such an enticing mouth.
“I’ll call Martha Shaw and tell her you’re here so she can let your family know.”
No! Lord, no. Not Martha.
He moaned, then lifted his hand in the air. Unfortunately his blond angel of mercy wasn’t paying any attention to him.
Stunned over her discovery, Terri grabbed for her purse to get the secretary’s number. When she found the paper she’d written it on, she hurried over to the wall phone at the head of the bed.
Using her phone card, she made the call. This time it took six rings before the other woman answered.
“Martha Shaw speaking.”
“Ms. Shaw? This is Terri Jeppson.”
“Yes, Terri. How is your husband?”
“I believe he’s all right, but I haven’t seen him yet. There’s another reason I’m calling.” She struggled for breath.
“You sound upset. What’s wrong?”
“The man the hospital thought was my husband has turned out to be someone else. The trouble is, his throat was burned and he can’t talk. However I discovered a way to communicate with him. He says his name is Benjamin Herrick.”
After a long silence, “Ben is the patient?” She sounded as shaken as Terri.
“Yes. I need to inform the police, but I thought you should be told first so you can get in touch with his family and co-workers. Naturally he’s had no visitors.
“The thing is, today’s his fourth day in here. Though he’s been getting excellent treatment, it has to have been a ghastly experience for him not being able to talk or explain who he really was.”
Ben heard the tremor in Terri Jeppson’s appealing voice. The woman’s compassion for his plight—never mind the fact that she was still waiting for word about her ex-husband—touched him in places he hadn’t known existed.
“How bad is he?” Martha asked in a pain-filled whisper. “Don’t spare me.”
Terri’s hand tightened on the receiver. The other woman sounded like she’d taken the news personally, almost as if…
“Actually the doctors have assured me he’s going to be fine.” Without hesitation she told the secretary everything Dr. Fortuna had related to her.
“Thank God he wasn’t killed. I’ll let his family know at once.”
“Tell them he’s at San Lorenzo Hospital, Room W621. There’s no use anyone phoning his room. He won’t be able to use his voice for several more days. But I’m sure either Dr. Dominguez or Dr. Fortuna will be happy to discuss his condition if the family will call the sixth floor nursing station.”
“I’ll convey the message. Terri?” There was a hint of pleading in her tone. “Would you put the phone to Ben’s ear so I can say something to him before we hang up?”
The woman was in love with him. Terri could hear it in her voice.
“Yes. Of course.”
She turned in his direction.
“Mr. Herrick?”
Ben groaned. Now that Terri knew his identity, he could tell she no longer felt as free to treat him the way she had earlier when she’d believed he was alone in the world and lost… Damn the situation.
“Ms. Shaw wants to say something to you.”
Bile rose in his throat. Martha had no shame. She would use anyone to get what she wanted, but there wasn’t anything he could do about the situation right now. He nodded to Terri.
With great care she placed the hearing end of the receiver next to his ear and left it there. He saw how she purposely looked away from his eyes to give him some privacy. She did everything right. He was utterly charmed by her.
“Ben? I hope you can hear me. It’s Martha! Thank God you’re all right!” she cried in a tear-filled voice. “I’ve been trying to reach you for a week at least. When you didn’t return my calls, I knew something was wrong. But I thought it was because you were angry over the letter I wrote you a while ago.”
Repulsed would be a better word.
“As soon as we hang up, I’ll tell Creighton so he can phone your parents. When they hear what’s happened, they’ll be down to bring you back to Houston for a recuperation period. I’d give anything in the world to do it myself, but I know I don’t have that right. At least not yet.”
Yet?
“Oh, Ben,” she whispered emotionally. “I can’t wait to see you. It’s been so long. I know what a terrible mistake I made, but don’t you think I’ve been punished long enough?”
Her tears were wasted on Ben who’d become conscious of the wonderful peach scent coming from Terri’s hand as she held the phone close to his ear.
Those soft, feminine hands had brought his body so much pleasure, the endorphins they’d produced had blotted out any pain he’d been feeling. He’d never wanted her to stop.
“Please, Ben—when we see each other again, tell me we can work things out. I’ve always been in love with you. You know it’s true! There’s so much I want to say to you.”
Ben couldn’t get rid of Martha fast enough. Frustrated as hell, he lifted his left hand so Terri would realize he wanted her to hang up the phone. He had information to give her about her ex-husband.
Terrie saw his left arm go up. She imagined Ms. Shaw had said what she’d wanted to say.
Putting the phone to her own ear she said, “Ms. Shaw?”
“I wasn’t finished talking,” the other woman snapped.
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Herrick signaled me that he was tired. Perhaps if you waited until tomorrow to call again, he’ll have more strength.”
Ben nodded, letting Terri know she’d said the right thing.
“Do you think he heard me?” There was that pleading sound in Martha’s voice again. Something was going on here, but it wasn’t any of Terri’s business.
“Yes, of course.”
“Thank you for phoning me, Terri. I’ll inform everyone who needs to know. Please don’t hesitate to call if there’s any help you require with your travel plans. I hope everything’s all right with your husband.”
“Me, too. Goodbye, Ms. Shaw.”
She hung up the phone before walking around the other side of the bed to the table where she’d left her purse.
Mr. Herrick made a couple of sounds. If she didn’t miss her guess, he didn’t want her to go yet. She rushed over to his side.
“I have to get back to the hotel and phone Captain Ortiz.”
To her surprise he gave an emphatic shake of his head. Even bandaged to the hilt and out of commission, she felt his aura of authority.
“You’ve had enough excitement for one evening and need your rest now.” She put his new clothes back out on the chair so they’d be seen by the help. “I’ll tell the nursing staff who you are and leave Ms. Shaw’s number with them. Sleep well, Mr. Herrick.”
Don’t go, dammit.
He was still making sounds of frustration as she left the room.
Much as she would have loved to stay, she didn’t dare. She’d been enjoying their association far too much. In truth, she felt a bond with him that defied logic. It had happened when she’d first looked into his eyes and felt his soul reaching out to her.
Her heart whispered it would be better if she didn’t remain in his presence any longer. Otherwise she might crave it more and more. Something told her that was a no-no.
Surely a wise woman would walk away right this minute before she learned the answers to burning questions like, did he have a wife? If so, did she know his secretary was in love with him? Was he a womanizer like Richard?
The thought that this man was anything like her ex-husband left Terri feeling strangely desolate. That’s why she had to get out of his room and far away from the hospital.
Nothing about this situation had anything to do with her. There was no reason for her to visit him again. She’d done everything she could for Mr. Herrick. By tomorrow morning, he’d be receiving a surfeit of attention from the people who loved him.
The intrigue was over. Mystery solved.
As for Terri, she’d go to the place where Richard worked and see for herself that he was faring all right since his accident. Once that was accomplished, she’d fly home to Lead.
Poor Ray. She’d dumped all her work in his lap. He’d be happy to see her back on the job.
After leaving the information at the nursing station, she left the hospital and took a taxi to the hotel. When she reached her room, the first thing she did was call Captain Ortiz, but he’d turned on his voice mail.
She gave him the news about Mr. Herrick, then related a brief account of her futile attempt to find Richard at his apartment. If the captain had any information concerning her ex-husband’s whereabouts, would he please call her at the hotel, no matter the hour?
Having made the call, she hung up the receiver and got ready for bed. Before she fell asleep she phoned Beth and told her the latest developments. Her private thoughts and feelings about Mr. Herrick she kept to herself.
After asking her sister to tell their mother she’d be home within twenty-four hours, Terri hung up.
Afraid her mind would dwell on the man lying in the hospital bed, she pulled out a new bestseller she’d brought with her. But she couldn’t get into it. Finally she turned on the television and found another movie to help her fall asleep.
It worked. She didn’t waken until she heard the phone ring at eight-thirty the next morning. Reaching for the receiver, she said hello.
“Señora Jeppson? This is Captain Ortiz.”
Terri sat up in the bed. “Yes, captain.”
“Thank you for the message about Mr. Herrick. He’s a very important man. If word had leaked to the press that he was missing, there would have been a great uproar.”
Terri had figured as much.
“You’ve managed to find out more information than our own police department, and have saved us a lot of grief. Now let us get down to business. Have you talked with your ex-husband yet?”
“No. But as I told you earlier, Mr. Herrick indicated Richard wasn’t at a hospital so I’m not as worried. This morning I’m going to go to his work. If I can’t find him there maybe you could send an officer to accompany me to his apartment. I need a translator to talk to the woman staying there. I have a feeling she’ll know exactly where he is.”
“If that becomes necessary, I will drive you there myself, señora.”
“Thank you very much. I’ll stay in touch.”
Fortified with a big breakfast, Terri left the hotel for Mr. Herrick’s office. The same receptionist was on duty in the lobby of the building. When Terri explained what she wanted, the other woman shook her head.
“It’s a long way from here and difficult to locate unless you’re familiar with the area. To save you the trouble, I’ll make a phone call to find out if he reported for work this morning. If he is there, then I will give you directions. A moment, por favor.”
Terri nodded.
While she waited, she couldn’t help but wonder if Mr. Herrick had already been bombarded with visitors this morning. At least when they showed up, they would find the same man they knew. Instead of a mummy facsimile.
Terri had tried to imagine what he looked like under all those bandages. But maybe it was better she didn’t know. Better that he remain her phantom friend. The man without a face.
Except for a pair of gorgeous gray eyes.
They were the portals to the inner man with whom she felt connected in an inexplicable way. Yet if she admitted as much to her sister, Beth would tell her she was being ridiculous.
Maybe she was.
“Señora Jeppson?”
Terri turned to the receptionist whose frowning expression clearly meant more bad news.
“According to your husband’s supervisor, he hasn’t been to work for three days, and didn’t report this morning. He thinks your husband probably quit on him because there’s been some trouble with him lately.”
That sounded like Richard and didn’t surprise Terri a bit.
“Thank you for inquiring. Would you do me one more favor?”
She gave the receptionist Captain Ortiz’s number and asked her to get him on the phone. Within a few minutes he came on the line and made arrangements to pick her up in front of the office. He would drive her out to Richard’s apartment.
An hour later the captain pulled his police car to the side of the street in front of the building Terri had visited yesterday.
He turned to her. “You remain here. I will go to the door first. If I think it is necessary, I’ll come back out and signal for you to follow.”
“All right.”
Fifteen minutes passed before she saw him walk toward her. When he got back behind the wheel, he turned in her direction.
“Your ex-husband wasn’t there. The woman in question is named Juanita Rosario. She says she has been living with him for ten months, which could or could not be the truth. According to her, they met soon after he found a job down here with the Herrick Company.
“It seems he left for work four days ago and never came home from his job. At first she wasn’t worried. She said there are times when he parties with his friends and doesn’t show up until the following day. But he’s never been gone this long before.
“When you knocked on her door yesterday, she was afraid you were his wife. He’d told her he’d been trying to get a divorce from you, but you wouldn’t let him.”
Terri shook her head. It sounded like the same old Richard. Lies, lies, lies to suit his particular purpose at the moment. No one hated commitment as much as Richard did.
“I told her you were his ex-wife from America, that you had divorced him a year ago. At that point she broke down. Now she is afraid he’s gone off with some new woman for a while. But she’s certain he’ll be back because he’s excited about their baby which is going to be born next month.”
“I hope she’s right,” Terri murmured. “Unfortunately my ex-husband has a pattern of disappearing when he’s really needed. How is the woman supporting herself?”
“He’s been taking care of her.”
A groan escaped her throat. “Does she have any family who will help look after her if he has deserted her?”
“No. She came from an abusive home and boyfriend.”
“Captain? We’ve got to find Richard. If nothing else, she needs him right now.”
The other man eyed her speculatively. “At the moment it appears Mr. Herrick appears to know more about your ex-husband than anyone else.”
Her eyes closed tightly. “I’m afraid you’re right. If you’ll drop me off at the hospital, I’ll try to find out what else he knows.”
“While you do that, I’ll send some officers to the work site to make inquiries. Maybe one of his co-workers knows something of importance and isn’t aware of it.”
“Before we go, I’d like to see Juanita for a minute.” She rummaged in her purse for her wallet. “I’ll be right back.”
He looked like he was about to say something, then thought the better of it.
She jumped out of the police car and hurried into the apartment building, tiptoeing past the same children who’d been playing on the stairs yesterday. The only cash she had on her was a hundred dollars, but it might help the pregnant woman get along for a few more days.
This time when she knocked, the door opened a little wider because there was no chain guard.
“Juanita?”
“Si?” She sounded hurt as well as angry this time.
“Captain Ortiz dice que Richard no esta aqui ahora.” Undoubtedly Terri was making every language error possible, but she had to try to communicate.
The other woman glared at her.
“Tengo dinero para usted.” Terri held out several bills.
Juanita didn’t make a move to take them.
“Por favor.”
“Por que?” she bit out.
Why? Because I know exactly how you feel to be abandoned at the last moment.
Maybe if Terri said it was for the baby. “Es necessario para el nino, verdad?”
Juanita’s face closed up. She had her pride. This had probably been the wrong thing to do, but if Richard didn’t come back…
Unable to say the rest in Spanish she murmured, “In case you change your mind, I’ll leave the money here.”
She put the bills on the ground and hurried away without looking back.
The engine was idling when Terri returned to the car. Within seconds they were off.
Captain Ortiz drove a few miles before he said, “You are a kind person, but I’m afraid it was a mistake to give her money.”
“If I were in her shoes, I would hope someone would do it for me. It will buy her food for a few more days. Perhaps by then we’ll have found Richard.”
“Let us hold that thought,” he muttered, but he didn’t sound as if he believed it any more than she did.
CHAPTER THREE
AS TERRI entered Mr. Herrick’s hospital room, she could smell flowers. Obviously the word had gone out he was here because a dozen fabulous arrangements had been brought in on carts. A huge fruit basket stood near his closet door.
Which gift was from his wife? Had Martha Shaw sent one, too?
Stop it, Terri. It’s nothing to do with you.
She looked around. His room held wall-to-wall chairs. Someone had been to visit already. The clothes she’d bought him were no longer visible. As for the man in question, neither he nor the IV stand were anywhere in sight.
The door to the bathroom had been left ajar. He wasn’t in there. Anxious to know if he was all right, she rushed out of the room and down the hall to the nursing station.
But before she reached it, an animated group of people turned the corner in her direction. She would have walked right past them if she hadn’t caught sight of the dark-haired man in the center who was dressed in a navy robe and pajamas.
As Terri’s gaze flew to his, she felt the impact of his piercing eyes and her feet came to a complete standstill.
It didn’t matter that he had dressings at his hairline and beneath his strong chin. The ruggedly handsome face that went with those unforgettable gray eyes took her breath. No preconceived notion of the features she’d imagined hidden beneath the mask could live up to the vital, living presence of Benjamin Herrick.
When she realized the group’s conversation had stopped and everyone was staring at her because Mr. Herrick had refused to move on, her cheeks went hot. She knew she had to say something.
“I-I’m afraid we’re all at a disadvantage. I’m Terri Jeppson.”
“You’re the woman Martha told us about,” the older man in the Stetson interjected in a Texas accent. “If it hadn’t been for you discovering the mix-up, our family wouldn’t have known Ben was even in here. We’re indebted to you, Mrs. Jeppson.
“I’m Ben’s father, Dean.” He shook hands with her. “This is my wife, Blanche, our daughter Leah and our son Parker. Our other son Creighton and his wife are on vacation and Leah’s husband Grant couldn’t make it, otherwise they would have flown down with us.”
Everyone said hello.
Terri muttered an appropriate greeting, but relief that Leah wasn’t Ben Herrick’s wife dominated her chaotic emotions. Of course it didn’t mean he wasn’t married. Or engaged. Or living with a woman…
“I’m pleased to meet you,” Parker said with a dashing smile. He let go of the IV stand to shake Terri’s hand. His charm reminded her a little of Richard who knew he was attractive to women.
Like his father, he wore a Stetson. She thought he looked younger than his brother Ben who appeared to be in his mid-thirties. Both men bore a strong facial resemblance to their lovely mother, whereas sandy-haired Leah took after their father.
“Is your husband all right?” Mrs. Herrick asked in a compassionate tone of voice.
My ex-husband.
“I think so, but I haven’t caught up with him yet.”
Terri didn’t want to believe Richard would shirk his responsibility for his pregnant girlfriend at this late date. Hopefully he’d show up before too much longer.
Refusing to look at the silent man for fear he’d read too much feeling in her eyes, Terri said, “It’s been very nice meeting all of you, but at this point I’m sure Mr. Herrick is tired after his walk. He probably wants to lie down. Now that I know he’s with his family, I’ll go.”
“Don’t worry about Ben. He’s tough.” His father patted his son’s left shoulder. “But since the doctor said this is his first day out of bed, you may have a point.”
As Terri started to walk toward the elevator around the corner, she heard a distinct groan of protest. It was a familiar sound. Loud enough to wake the dead, but she kept on going.
Already emotionally involved in ways she wasn’t ready to examine, she knew any more time spent in his company could only backfire on her. The best thing to do was head for the hotel and stay put until she heard from Captain Ortiz.
“Mrs. Jeppson? Wait up!”
Terri had just emerged from the elevator on the main floor when Parker Herrick approached. He put a detaining hand on her arm. Then he grinned.
“You move faster than a nervous filly trying to outrun a twister.” The analogy made her chuckle. “If there hadn’t been another elevator going down, I would have missed you. My brother wants you to come back upstairs.”
“I’ll visit him again before I fly home to the States.”
He shook his head. “Not good enough. He’s more upset than I’ve ever seen him. If you don’t show, there’ll be hell to pay.”
“Tell him I’ll come by later when he doesn’t have family around. I don’t want to impose.”
Parker pushed his hat back on his head. “We’ve been here six hours and that’s longer than we’ve all been corralled together at one time in I don’t know how many years.”
In spite of her misgivings, she laughed.
His gray-blue eyes twinkled. “Knowing my brother, he was ready to throw us out ten minutes after we got here. It’ll be doing the whole family a real favor if you’d be willing to baby-sit for a while.
“You see,” he said in a confiding voice, “the hospital staff’s been singing your praises. With you here, Mom will feel like we can leave for an hour to grab a bite to eat.”
After having to fly down here at a moment’s notice, Terri could well imagine how tired and hungry they were. It would be churlish to refuse when she’d come here with every intention of trying to get more information out of Mr. Herrick about Richard.
“All right. I’ll go back with you, but I can’t stay long.”
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Rebecca Winters
Тип: электронная книга
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
Язык: на английском языке
Издательство: HarperCollins
Дата публикации: 16.04.2024
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О книге: When Terri Jeppson is informed that her ex-husband is desperately ill, she rushes to his aid.It′s not until she gives him a therapeutic massage – on doctor′s orders – that she realizes the man at her fingertips isn′t her ex at all. He′s an incredibly handsome, sexy…total stranger!Terri has unwittingly found herself up close and personal with international billionaire Ben Herrick. And he has one more surprise for Terri: a shocking proposal. Their unexpected encounter has certainly broken the ice between them – but should Terri take the plunge and accept Ben′s proposition?