Once a Marine (34 page)

A lightness of being overtook Rafi. Beautiful was at his side. She loved him. Money worries had been lifted. Things were definitely looking up.

* * *

Rafi’s parents arrived that evening and were elated to see their son on the mend. Rita sighed with relief and hugged him.

BD, refreshed from a shower and a change of clothes, accepted their hugs with affection. “Why don’t Kelly and I take Chase to McDonalds so you can have some private family time?”

They wouldn’t hear of it and insisted she stay. “If there’s anything Rafael has to say for himself about his
other
life, that’s all the more reason for you to stay.” His mother tugged her arm. “I’m not as good at keeping secrets as my daughter.” With that remark she cast a tight-lipped expression in Rafi’s direction.

Sitting on the side of his bed, Rafi raised his hands in surrender. “OK, OK, guilty as charged. I’m sorry if I got Elena in trouble. I’ve intended to tell you ever since I retired from the Marines, but the right time never came.”

Rita raised her eyebrows and tilted her head, skepticism all over her face.

Tony spoke up. “You found the right time for your sister, but not for us?”

“I hate to break it to you, Mom and Dad, but Elena and I’ve had lots of secrets ever since we were old enough to speak. We’ve always known that whatever we said to each other wouldn’t be repeated. I never told her to keep it from you, but it’s a lifelong habit. We have a lot of trust between us. I didn’t see any point in worrying you about what I was doing.”

Rita sighed and turned to her husband. “Antonio, we don’t tell our children everything either, do we?”

“No, we don’t, and in any case, they’re not children. But because Elena’s our daughter I wouldn’t expect her to keep something from us. If it were a friend of yours, it would have been easier to accept.”

“Elena
is
one of my best friends, Dad.”

BD pushed herself back against Rafi’s knees. He spread them wide and put his arms around her shoulders. “My brother and I,” she nodded in Jack’s direction, “have lots of secrets we don’t share with Kelly. Right, Jack?”

Kelly feigned outrage. “Boy, do I know that. Trying to pry information from Jack is useless when it comes to his sister.” She playfully smacked Jack on the knee.

Rafi planted a kiss on BD’s head. “Time to come clean, huh? OK, find a seat, it’s a long story. You stay right where you are, Bravo Delta.”

She put her hands on his forearms and leaned into his chest while he talked.

Rafi looked around the hospital room, held Beautiful tight, and embarked on his long explanation. He recognized the conflict of his employment by Silverstone and his relationship with BD. He couldn’t have both. He knew what his priority was.

When he and Joe Brosky retired from the Marines—even though, once a Marine, always a Marine—Silverstone recruited them. As one of the world’s premier private security organizations, they always needed good men. Especially men like Rafi and Joe, with sterling military records from Special Ops.

Rafi had saved seed money to start his charter airline. Both he and Joe knew there wouldn’t be enough income for the first few years to keep it solvent without going deeply into debt. The money Silverstone offered was too good to pass up, and they liked the work.

Eliminating, disabling, and putting bad guys out of commission—busting up their nefarious operations—gave Joe, Rafi, and men like them a good measure of personal satisfaction. Most operations were lightning fast, requiring only a few days away from home.

He and Joe accepted or rejected assignments as they chose. Joe took a few more than Rafi because he wanted to buy a bigger ownership share of Cruz Aero. The two men worked well together in the Marines and out. “We’re like brothers. The Silverstone connection is lucrative and convenient.

“I’m not free to give you details of our missions. Mostly it’s rescue work and undercover stuff the government finds awkward to explain. You’ll have to trust me when I say we never do anything to hurt good people. Some might interpret our actions against the bad guys as questionable. That’s their problem.”

BD snuggled deeper into his embrace and squeezed his hands. He interpreted that as acceptance and held on tight.

Rafi directed a lot of his remarks toward his dad. Tony was former military, and Rafi suspected he would have a different understanding of where he was coming from than his mother. A few times Antonio nodded slightly, lips pressed together.

Jack and Kelly took in Rafi’s words with silence while Chase lay sleeping on his daddy’s bed.

Rafi smiled when he glanced at the little boy. “Joe’s wife, Jill, finally lowered the boom on him and said she didn’t want him to do dangerous black ops work any longer. They’re expecting a baby. She wants their child to have a dad and a mom. Joe will continue to do personal security and low-level protection work. She’s fine with it. They can use the money after Jill quits her job.”

He kissed BD on the head again. “This woman said no when I asked her to marry me, but I don’t give up easy.” He hugged her hard. “Do I, Beautiful?”

Rita took BD’s hand. “That would make us very happy. Wouldn’t it, Antonio?”

Rafi’s dad nodded in agreement. “Yes, indeed it would. You keep working on her, son, and we’ll do our best to behave and not scare her away.”

BD waved her hand and smirked. “It’s not you I’m afraid of. It’s this superhero.” She tilted her head and brushed a kiss on Rafi’s chin.

A nurse’s aide entered the room. “Sorry, folks, but it’ll be eight o’clock in ten minutes. After that we’re limited to one visitor per patient.”

Kelly carefully lifted Chase. “I’m taking this little dynamo to the hotel. I could use some sleep myself.” Holding the back of her son’s head she leaned down and kissed Jack. “Good night, honey. I’ll see you in the morning.”

BD stepped out of Rafi’s embrace, his release reluctant. “I’m going to call it a night, myself. Rita, why don’t you say you’re visiting Jack, and then both of you can stay for another hour or so.” She kissed Rafi on the lips. Stood back and mouthed
I love you.

To Rafi, those words were life-giving water to a parched traveler. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Beautiful. Jack and I are hoping to get sprung in the next day or so.”

He rolled his eyes when Rita invited BD to meet her for breakfast before they returned to Florida.

“Antonio can visit with Rafael in the morning. I think they have some man-to-man things to say to each other.”

BD agreed on a time to meet her in the hotel coffee shop, blew a kiss to Rafi and Jack, and then followed Kelly down the hall.

Rafi’s lips twisted with irony as he stared into his mother’s blue eyes. “What are you up to, Mom?”

Rita pulled back her chin. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

BD stood on tiptoe to peer around the hotel dining room. She spotted Rita and Tony waving. Tony stood and waited for BD to reach the table.

He gestured for her to take his chair. “Sit here, please. I’m on my way to the hospital.” He kissed his wife on the cheek. “I’ll see you when you get there. Don’t be late. Our flight is at eleven thirty.”

Rita smiled and gave him a little push to send him on his way. “Don’t you worry about us…we’ll be there in plenty of time.”

BD noticed there wasn’t as much as a soiled coffee cup at his place. “Didn’t he have breakfast? I don’t want to interrupt if he hasn’t had breakfast.”

Rita waved a hand. “Oh, he’s been up since five. He had breakfast an hour before I got to the restaurant.”

BD marveled at Rita’s cinnamon hair glinting in the early morning sunlight.

Rita tipped her head. “What’s that secretive little smile on your face?”

“I can’t get used to your red hair and blue eyes. Rafi doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to you.”

Rita shrugged and smiled. “I sometimes joke by telling people he’s my husband’s son by his first marriage.”

“And you’re that first marriage.”

“Right.”

They shared a chuckle.

“Tony’s out of his time zone.” BD glanced at the clock on the wall. “Maybe that’s why he was up so early.”

“He’s been an early riser as long as I’ve known him. I think it’s all those years in the Cuban Air Force.”

“Rafi’s an early riser too. Sometimes he’s up, showered, shaved, and ready to leave before I’m even awake.” Suddenly aware of what she’d said, the heat of a blush burned in her cheeks. “I mean—”

Rita put her menu down and reached across the table to touch BD’s hand. “Don’t be embarrassed. I know times have changed. Antonio and I are products of another time and place.”

BD squeezed Rita’s hand. “My mother and father would probably feel the same if they were still alive. Jack and Kelly didn’t live together before they were married. Kelly lived in her parent’s home until the day of their wedding.”

Rita nodded. “There’s room for different viewpoints in today’s world. I have no right to judge you or Rafael. You’re both past the age when you need permission from my generation on how to live your lives.” She removed her glasses. “Now—why won’t you marry my son?”

BD blinked and chuckled. “You do get right to the point, don’t you?”

They paused to give their breakfast choices to the waiter. Animated conversations filled the bright, sunlit dining room. BD sipped coffee and thought about how she would answer Rafi’s mother.

She cleared her throat. “I’m in love with Rafi. I do want to marry him, but some of what he told us last night was news to me too. I need him to be more open with me before I take that big step. I was coming off a bad relationship the very day I met Rafi. Not only that, my nutty boss was making my working life hell.”

Her cheeks warmed as she continued. “I was ready for a fling—and along came Rafi. He fit the bill perfectly. I’m pretty sure, like me, he was only looking for a diversion. There I was, ripe for the picking.”

Rita looked directly into BD’s eyes. “I’m under no illusions about my son. I know he’s been around the block, as they say, but I also know he’s never been in love with another woman.” She smiled, raised her eyebrows and nodded. “That’s a secret Elena would never have kept from me, despite what Rafael said.”

BD relaxed at Rita’s comment. “I can tell you that neither Rafi, nor I, expected more than a one-night romp. We were unprepared when it came to mean so much more to us. We connected on a deeper level. I don’t want you to think I’m the kind of woman who sleeps around, who falls into bed with every good looking man I fancy. I was with Nick for almost three years.”

Rita shook her head. “You don’t owe me any explanations. Our family loved you from the moment Rafael brought you to meet us. He needs a woman with backbone and fire. You have that. I’m pretty confident you’d never let him overwhelm you.”

BD’s lips tightened around a small smile. “He really has tried to change. I was frustrated with his frequent mysterious disappearances. I tried to pry information out of him. A blabbermouth he isn’t.”

“He takes after his father. It must be that military mindset.” She sat back in her chair. “So what
are
your plans?”

BD nodded when the waiter asked if she’d like more coffee. “He wants me to move in with him. He asked me some time ago. Now that I’m out of a job and sharing a bedroom with my two-year-old nephew, moving in with Rafi sounds more and more tempting.” She gave Rita a Cheshire cat grin. “He’s a better conversationalist than Chase.”

“In that small apartment of his?” Rita’s smile was full of wisdom. “I have a hunch that will be quite an adjustment for him, probably more difficult for Rafael than for you. He hasn’t had anyone to answer to since the Marines.”

“It’s bound to be a bumpy ride for both of us. We’ll have to see if we can tolerate each other in that tight space.” She grinned. “Especially once I take over most of his closet.”

Rita nodded her agreement. “I can’t imagine a better compatibility test. If you can put up with him for more than a month, I’d count that as a heroic achievement.”

“Don’t all mothers think their sons are too good for any female prospect they drag home?”

“I know better, having lived with his father for forty years. They’re good, strong men, cut from the same tough cloth, but they require a woman’s civilizing hand. Feel free to call me and complain anytime you like. Rafael will make a fine husband and father with the right woman.” She nodded and smiled. “I think you’re that woman.”

Maybe, maybe not. Time would tell. Rafi was worth an investment of her time. She didn’t doubt the depth of his love or hers. She wasn’t sure he was as flexible as she hoped. Once out from under Nick’s controlling ways, she’d decided she would never tolerate that kind of manipulative relationship again. And yes, she had work to do on her own flexibility.

It didn’t hurt one bit that Rafi was a magnificent physical specimen, smart, fearless, an attentive lover, liked to dance, loved kids, and owned a successful business. What the heck more could a girl want?

* * *

At nine o’clock BD and Rita entered the hospital corridor. BD was thrilled to see Jack shuffling down the hall away from them, holding Chase’s hand. Kelly stood in the doorway to their room watching, her hand covering her mouth. She spotted BD and Rita and came to greet them.

Kelly’s eyes shimmered as she turned to watch
her men
, but no tears fell. “I was so afraid I’d never see that again.” She pointed at her husband and son.

BD and Rita both reached out to her. The three women embraced.

“Don’t get me started.” Kelly gasped and smiled. “I’m through crying.”

BD stepped back from her and smiled through trembling lips. “Me too, let’s promise.” From long habit the sisters-in-law linked pinkie fingers and jerked their hands downward to seal the pact.

Wordlessly, Rita left them and went inside the semi-private room Jack James shared with her son.

Kelly drew a deep breath. “Let’s go meet them. I don’t want Jack to get too tired.” She linked arms with BD. “Great news. They’re discharging Jack and Rafi this afternoon. We’ll stay at the hotel tonight. Then I’m driving my family home.”