Goodbye Secrets (The Lost & Found Series book #2) (4 page)

“How in love with you I am. Come on, baby, let’s go. You’re right. Stacey would kick my ass for staying here all night.” I get up and kiss Stacey on the cheek. “I love you, Stace. Don’t give up, give them hell! See you in a few hours.”

“All right then, love, I’m gonna go shag your best friend now and I’ll throw in an extra arse slap just for you! You better open those gorgeous eyes tomorrow. I’m not going to sit here and fucking explain how hot I look! You need to check me out for yourself! I’ll even make sure you get a great view of my fantastic arse!” Grayson teases her before he kisses her cheek. They do have a funny relationship. Of course, that was before the whole weird Ray/Stacey shit. Hmm, I wonder if Ray knows what’s happened. I won’t dare ask Grayson again. I wonder if Steve knows. I will call him tomorrow, if he still has the same number. I take Grayson’s hand and we head to the nurse’s station to let Jen know we’re leaving and to please call with any changes. A very tired Derek and Melissa follow us to our rental.

“Where are we staying?” I put the key in the ignition and start up the car. Grayson looks down at the key cards Ryan dropped off earlier.

“Taj Boston,” he says. I put the car in gear and head out. We’re there in like three minutes—because it’s three-thirty in the morning, not because of my lead foot that Grayson yells about all the time.

We head up to the Presidential Suite. “Nice touch,” I say, and tap the key. He looks down and offers a slight chuckle.

“Well, you are the president, Madame.” We step into the foyer of our suite. I inhale deeply as we walk into the comforting golds and blues of the living-and-dining-room area. There’s a bar on the left side, which I’m sure I will put to great use given the circumstances of our stay. It’s spacious and beautiful; only a small step up from the luxurious inn I run ... ahem.

“Where is everybody else staying?” I glance up as I run my hand along the fabric of the armchair.

“With the exception of the two outside our door, they are in the room connected to this one.” He grabs my hand to lead me to the bedroom.

“Well, shouldn’t they stay in the living room so they are comfortable?” I mean, sitting out in the hall? That sucks.

“I pay them very well. They are quite comfortable.” He smirks as we are greeted by a four-poster, king-sized bed. There is a balcony on the right, outside the double French doors. The blue carpet continues in here and is met by soft, golden-yellow walls. The duvet matches the walls and complements the golden pattern in the blue plush armchair in the right corner.

“Money doesn’t turn an uncomfortable table chair in the hallway into a plush couch.” I roll my eyes at him.

“It’s their job, Becca. They work for us. They are not our guests, so stop acting as if they are.”

He’s right to a point, I guess. At least we’re nice to all of them. It could be worse. They could be protecting two people who treat them like shit.

“Ugh, what, Becca?!” He takes our coats and tosses them onto the armchair.

“Nothing.” I smile. “You’re right. I was thinking that we treat them well in general, whereas another employer might not.”

“Speaking of treatment, sweetheart—”

Oh no, he’s getting
that
look.

“—your treatment of me in the airplane bathroom was completely shocking!” He pulls me to him aggressively. “I was very turned on by the whole finger incident. You are becoming quite the naughty girl, aren’t you?”

“Yes, Mr. James, thanks to you, I have become very naughty indeed.” I wrap my arms around his neck. “Take, for instance, a situation such as this, where my best friend is fighting for her life not three minutes down the road. Normally, the thought of sex wouldn’t cross my mind. But, alas, my best friend lives to hear about our kinky fuckery.” I pause for the smile he gives me at this reference. “How could I possibly go in there and tell her we went to sleep? She’d know if I lied. Therefore, I have no other choice than to be a very naughty girl with you. It just might be the thing to pull her out!” I smile at him through my tears and grab the hem of his shirt so I can pull it over his head.

“Becca, sweetheart, we don’t have to do this. I was just teasing you, love.” He cups my face and thumbs my tears away.

“I know, Grayson. I actually really just need to get lost in you. Please. Help me escape the horror of what I’ve seen tonight.” I lean up on my tippy toes and gently caress his lips with mine. He complies with my wishes and I am completely and utterly lost in him and our lovemaking for the next hour, I guess. I don’t even know what time it is anymore.

We fall asleep wrapped up in each other, in preparation for another long, hard day of waiting and praying.

GRAYSON

“Becca, sweetheart, wake up.” My fingers trace over the new welts on her bum. God, why can’t I stop doing this to her? It makes me feel so ...

“Good morning, baby,” she murmurs. “Mmm ... that feels good.” I can sense her smile as I kiss the marks.

“Becca ... I ...”

“Grayson, don’t apologize. It’s okay ... really. I’m not upset. It was delicious.” She turns to me and loses her hands in my hair. She brings her face to mine and I catch her lips.

“I’d love to stay here and revisit our earlier actions, but we should get to the hospital, love.” I hate myself for pushing my selfish tendencies away. I want her so bad, as always.

“Hmm, where is my selfish man?” She runs her hands down to my face and pulls me in for another kiss.

“Right here,” I muster, and grab her legs. I pull her body down harshly, lifting her right leg so I can situate myself and enter her. I bring her to church as quickly as I possibly can.

“Grayson, are you okay?”

I lift my head to look up at her. My breathing mirrors that of someone who’s just run the last leg of a marathon at top speed. I have a feeling her concern is not my breathing, though, so why is she asking?

“Besides the situations we’ve been finding ourselves in, I’m fine. As long as I have you, doll, everything is right with the world!” My lips play with hers as I slowly pull out. “Why do you ask?”

She just shrugs.

We get up and hit the shower. I successfully fight the urge to slap her bottom and take her again. It is quite the accomplishment on my part!

“Becca, please don’t wear those jeans anymore, darling.” I close my eyes to shake my thoughts away. Her arse looks delicious in them.

“Why?” She looks in the mirror to see what’s wrong.

“They fill my head with naughty thoughts.” This confession produces a satisfied smirk across her face.

It’s rush hour, but we arrive at Mass General in three minutes flat with Becca as our stunt driver.

“Honestly, sweetheart, you should try out for NASCAR.” I am half serious. While having her behind the wheel puts my heart in my throat, she is a very skilled, very confident, erratic driver.

“Stop it. Let’s go!” We get out and Becca instinctively puts her hand in mine. We head over to the Ellison Building and hit the number four for the Blake Twelve ICU. I bring Becca’s hand up to my lips to place several kisses as we await our destination. She leans into me for added comfort. In our relationship, we seem to always focus best when there is a crisis at hand. Sometimes, it’s “For better” I worry about. The elevator dings and we head to Stacey’s room at a quick pace. As soon as we enter, Ray jumps up.
Oh, Christ!

“Becca! Oh God, are you okay?” He grabs Becca away from me, hugs her, and kisses her face. My team is on him like a fly on shit. “What the hell? Get off of me! I’m not going to hurt her! He’s the one hurting her!” Ray yells.

“Ray, what the hell are you talking about?” Becca asks angrily through her teeth and raises her hand for Derek and Ryan to let him go.

“Baby, I got all of your messages. I’ve been trying to get to you. I had just made it to California when I found out you flew back and that Stacey was in the hospital.” I knock his hand away from Becca’s face and pull her closer to me.

“What messages, Ray? I haven’t called you, texted you, or emailed you!”

Becca is looking at him as if he has five heads. I’m also finding this story very interesting. My team tracked him all the way to California. Who is the person on the untraceable line he’s always talking to? I keep my mouth shut about what I know. I’ve got a terrible feeling, but I hope I’m wrong.

“Becca, I have all of the messages on my phone.” He pulls it out and retrieves them. We hear a woman barely saying Ray’s name and then some arsehole trying to imitate me yelling and hitting her.

“Ray, that is not me, and it’s certainly not Grayson.” Becca shakes her head.

“Abso-bloody-lutely not!” I yell. What a fucking idiot!

“It’s not?” He seems miffed. “Who would do this? Becs, I don’t understand. Who would do this to Stace?” Tears are pooling in his eyes.

“Well, we think George is behind it, and—”

I squeeze her hand, hoping she knows that means
shut the hell up!

“Well, we still haven’t found him.” She looks up at me and winks. Smart girl.

“Becs, can I talk to you for a minute?” He grabs her hand and nods toward the hallway.

“Um ...” She looks to me. I reluctantly nod. She starts to walk out with him.

“Mrs. James, your purse.” Derek pulls her bag higher on her shoulder and slips a small device into it.
A bug?
Oh man, he’s good. Big bonus check for him! They walk out after she thanks him. He gives me a Bluetooth earpiece and asks via a small speaker on his sleeve for somebody else to begin recording.

“Brilliant!” I say to him. He places his finger over his lips. Right!

“Oh, Becs, I’ve missed you, baby.”

He’s fucking kissing her! My blood boils.

“Ray, stop!”
Good girl.

“Please, just one kiss. You owe me that much after the way you treated me!” he snaps.

“Ray, I said no!” Her refusal becomes sterner. “I was going to email you back, Ray, but what I wanted to say, I felt you deserved for me to say in person. I am truly sorry for the way I acted. I led you on and I regret that. In my defense, I didn’t know I was leading you on at that time. I was very confused and scared about my feelings for Grayson. You were my known, he was my unknown. I love you, Ray. I always will. But I’m so in love with Grayson. I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I want to have his children. I’m really sorry for the way I handled this. You are my best friend and I never meant to hurt you. I was selfish and irresponsible and I hope that someday you can forgive me and we can be friends again. I want nothing but happiness for you.”

“Becca, do you regret making love to me?” He’s barely audible.

“Ray, don’t touch me like that. I regret the timing only.”

My blood pulses powerfully throughout my body. I can hear it throbbing in my head. I want to go out there and choke him. Derek keeps his hand on me.

“Becs, we were so amazing together. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of how we made love. Your sounds. Your taste. Becs, it was more than what you are saying. You know it. I know it. Your body knows it.”

He’s trying to fucking seduce her!

“Ray, stop it. I’m marrying Grayson. I love Grayson. Get out of my face!”

I see Becca pushing him away, but he grabs her hands and pins her up against the wall. I surge forward again to get to her. Derek nods toward Ryan and releases me at the same time.

“Grayson! Ryan!” she yells as we come charging. As we pull him off of her, my fist “accidentally” flies in the air and hits his face. Becca rushes into my arms. “Goddamn it, Ray!” she yells at him. Just then, Stacey’s day nurse swings by.

“This is an ICU! We can’t have this kind of behavior!” She’s stern, but you can sense her nervousness.

“I’m sorry ... Sharon.” I read her badge. “Mr. McNeil was just leaving.”

Ryan escorts him down the hall. He keeps glancing back at Becca. I’ve never seen Ray look so ... dark.

“Am I in the fucking Twilight Zone?” Becca turns back to me and asks.

“You know, sweetheart, I’ve been asking myself that a lot lately.” I hug her again and we head into Stacey’s room.

No change, with the exception of a decrease in her brain swelling. Sharon walks in to take vitals. “Sharon, I’m Becca. This is my husband, Grayson. I forgot to ask Jen this morning—is the coma from the trauma, or is it medically induced to help her body recoup?”

“No, this one is natural. We’re not sure how long it will last.” She frowns. Becca looks down and plays with her engagement ring. “That’s a gorgeous ring.” Sharon takes her hand to have a better look. Becca smiles and thanks her. “Lucky girl.” Sharon winks at her as she looks from the ring up to me and back. Becca just grins, nods, and looks at her ring again. I feel my heart bathe in warmth.

“Oh, Gracie,” Aunt Hazel gasps as she walks in and sees Stacey for the first time.

“Hazel!” Becca cries and runs to her. Aunt Hazel hugs her and kisses her head while Becca sobs into her neck. I feel a pang of guilt for keeping them apart. They go into the hallway to talk, and I sit next to Stacey.

“Stacey, c’mon now, sweetheart. Oops! I’m not allowed to call you
sweetheart
. I made Becca jealous doing that. It was the most fantastic moment!” I smile with satisfaction at the memory. “You must wake up and tell us who did this to you. It will help us put him behind bars. I’ll give you anything you want! We need you—Becca needs you!” I kiss her hand.