BETWEEN CLOUDS AND STARS: A Sexy Standalone Romance (13 page)

“If I can’t have you, then I won’t let anyone else have you either,” John hissed.

Ben pounced on him and, with a quick swipe, cut his throat. It was a terrifying sight.

I saw blood spatter on the white wall while my own was leaking onto the beige carpet.

A black curtain fell in front of my eyes.

*     *     *

A cool breeze
ruffled my hair. Greenery. Peace. Was I in heaven? No. Heaven couldn’t be Stonehenge, which was the monument that stood majestically in front of me. I had no idea how I’d ended up there.

High wind started blowing, and the sky filled with ominous clouds. Bolts of lightning flashed, followed by loud cracks of thunder. A man dressed in jeans and a T-shirt emerged from behind one of the rocks. He was about thirty years old. My eyes were drawn to the soft features of his face. They looked strangely familiar.

Why did I have the feeling that I knew him?

He smiled and approached me. I then remembered that Kimberley, Jeremy’s mother, had shown me his picture in the family albums.

“Hey, baby girl. I’m Scott, your father. You don’t remember me… You were so small.” He reached toward me and caressed my face.

It was unfortunate that I had no memories of him, but his touch was so familiar, as if I could feel our connection over the distance of time.

“How did I get here?” I’d last been in New York, at my apartment, lying on the floor after being shot. How had I ended up in Britain? Or had I really died and was now in heaven?

“As I’m sure you know, Stonehenge is a holy place. Our family has its roots here. That’s why I decided to meet you here.”

“Where’s Mum?”

Powerful wind mussed his hair. “You’ll meet her too, when the time comes. But it’s not your time yet. You still have many years to live and experience the joy of having kids and grandkids.”

An uninvited tear dropped from my eye. My father wiped it with his fingers and asked, “Why are you sad, my child?”

I replied to his question with my own. “Doesn’t Mum want to see me?”
Doesn’t she love me? Doesn’t she miss me?

“Janet loves you more than anything in the world, child. As do I. I didn’t tell her I was going to see you, because I didn’t want to make her sad. Angels also cry, and your mother weeps for days on end when she misses you. But let this remain a secret between us.” He winked at me and smiled warmly. “Remember one thing: You’ll be very, very happy. Go now, it’s time for you to go back.”

A whirlwind appeared around me. It picked me up and threw me into the eye of the storm.

When I opened my eyes, I was lying still on a hospital bed. The room was dark. The lightness and calm I’d felt during the meeting with my father had yielded their place to pain that shot through my elbow, ribs, and head.

My eyelids became heavy, and I fell asleep.

Nick

W
hen Ben called
to tell me Estelle was lying on the floor of her apartment, having been shot, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Strong pain pressed down on my chest. As quickly as possible, I got into my fastest flying car and sped off.

Seeing her sprawled on the floor, lying in a pool of her own blood, was indescribably tough. I couldn’t and didn’t want to imagine a life without her. She’d become an integral part of my life and changed it for the better.

God, please help us. I don’t want to lose her.
My hands shaking, I dialed 911 and reported what had happened. I hoped the paramedics wouldn’t be too late.

I didn’t dare move her because I was worried she might have neck or spinal injuries. My breath stopped when I tried to find her pulse. Thank God, it was weak but steady.

Ben passed me the bloody knife he’d used to cut the throat of that monster, John Chan. As I carefully cut the rope binding her wrists, I noticed a broken bone near her elbow had pierced the skin and was pointing in the wrong direction.

I could no longer stem the flow of my tears. They started streaming down my face. I couldn’t remember ever crying, except when I’d been really young. But this horrifying sight had shaken me up to the core. I loved Estelle—she was the love of my life. A sweet and good girl like her didn’t deserve such a fate.

I repeatedly pleaded with God to keep her safe. I prayed with all my heart and soul. With every beat, my heart threatened to burst into pieces. It was like the blood in my veins had dried up.

Please, God, keep her safe!

Never before had I felt as helpless as I did at that moment, which seemed to last an eternity.

*     *     *

“Doctor, why isn’t
she waking up?”

I was in the hospital, in Estelle’s room. She’d had major surgery, and I was worried about her and the baby. It had turned out she was pregnant. The news had come as a shock to me, but after I’d had some time to quietly reflect on it, I’d understood one thing: For her entire life, Estelle had been lied to by those closest to her. Her parents had adopted her illegally and in doing so had bought her a ticket to hell.

I was engulfed by rage of a kind I’d never experienced before. If they were still alive, they would’ve paid dearly for tormenting her all those years.

As for the false claim made by her ex-husband’s sister that Estelle couldn’t have kids for the sole reason of laying the blame on my beloved and saving her brother’s ass? She’d also pay. I was going to make it my personal ambition to destroy her private practice.

I was terribly worried that Estelle might not wake up at all. My heart would occasionally skip a beat and the floor seemed to shake under my feet.

Dr. Cruz came over to me. “She and the baby are fine. Don’t worry, Mr. Frey.”

“So why isn’t she waking up, for God’s sake?”

“Baby?” Estelle’s quiet, barely audible voice made us stare at her with concern.

Taking her hand, I pressed her delicate fingers between my palms. She seemed so tiny and defenseless on the big hospital bed. Her hair was spilled across the pillow and made her face seem small and her eyes disproportionately large. But nothing could mar her beauty: high eyebrows, long eyelashes, small button nose, and wonderful lips made just for kissing.

My kisses.

A powerful sense of possession pierced my chest.

“How do you feel? Does it hurt anywhere?” the female doctor asked.

Estelle opened her beautiful eyes.

Merciful God, thank you for bringing her back to me.
I’d almost lost her.

Her face was slightly puffy on one side, and her jaw was bruised, but the bullet was out of her body and she was alive. That was the most important thing.

Alive!

A drop fell from my eye, and I quickly wiped it. I couldn’t let myself show weakness, be seen crying by others. But all the worries proved too much. I might be unyielding and hard as steel when it came to my business, but anything related to my sweet Estelle’s well-being quickly made me soft. She had an effect on me that nobody had had before.

“Where am I?” Her voice was so low I barely heard her question.

“In the hospital, but everything will be fine, my precious.” Leaning over her, I kissed her on the temple. I wanted to embrace her, hold her tight in my arms, but I refrained because I knew that would hurt her. I had to be very careful with her.

I couldn’t hold it in and immediately told her the good news. “We’re having a baby.” I had one express purpose: to see that wonderful smile on her face and make her happy.

Instead, her lips trembled and big tears started running down her pale face. “That’s impossible, Nick.”

“Of course it’s possible. You’re a healthy young woman. I want to do an ultrasound, but first tell me if you need anything. Do you have any pain? We had to surgically remove the bullet, which luckily hadn’t damaged any vital organs.” The doctor raised her index finger. “How many fingers am I holding up?”

“I want to see the baby. I don’t care about anything else,” Estelle replied and tightly gripped my hand, seeking my support.

“Answer my question first.”

“One finger. Look Doctor…” Estelle narrowed her eyes, trying to read the nametag, “…Dr. Cruz, I’m fine. I want to see the baby.”

Fine?
I knew that was a flat-out lie. After everything she’d been through, she couldn’t be fine. But I understood her concern.

The doctor pursed her lips into a straight line. “Don’t think you’ve managed to fool me. Anyway, so be it.”

In less than ten minutes, we could already hear our baby’s heartbeat through the ultrasound. The emotions and excitement elicited by this tiny creature, which still looked as a small bean, were the most wonderful ones I’d ever felt.

Estelle and I are going to be parents.
I felt like I was going mad with joy, however strange that may sound. I’d been on the edge of losing the only woman I’d truly loved. Now I was enjoying the fact that she was alive and would give me a child. I didn’t have the slightest doubt that Estelle would make me happy until the end of my life. She and I got on amazingly well. She was sweet, gentle and nice, and would make a great mother to our children. Yes, I wasn’t a father just yet, but I’d decided I wanted at least two kids, though three would be the perfect number.

Nothing threatened our future now that her ex-husband was dead. I hadn’t been in the city to protect her. But, fortunately, Ben had taken care of him, sending him to hell, where he belonged.

“Everything about the baby looks good. I’ll now have the orderly bring you something to eat.” The doctor finished the ultrasound and went out of the room, leaving us alone.

“Are you in pain?” I was very worried about her.

“A little.”

“Where exactly does it hurt?”

She removed her cover and pointed her finger at the stitched-up incision. I lifted her nightie and revealed her wonderful nude body to my eyes. I leaned over her and kissed the skin near the dressing. Estelle’s hips contracted in response to my touch. My fingers slid along her belly and she moaned. It was wrong to arouse her right now, but I couldn’t resist the temptation to touch her.

“Where else does it hurt?” My voice had become hoarse.

She pointed to the bruise on her jaw. I leaned in and very gently pressed my lips against her contused flesh. Then I slid my hot tongue along her neck. The moan she let out of her mouth made me even more aroused, but I had to control myself.

I kissed her and with my lips pressed against hers, whispered, “I love you, my love.” I wouldn’t get bored of repeating those words until the end of my days.

I’d always been an impatient person, so I decided now was as good a time as any. Kneeling by the bed, I took her hand in mine and blurted out, “I know this isn’t the most appropriate moment. But I can wait no longer. You’re my entire world. I can’t imagine living without you. I love you, Estelle Klide, and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

Her face displayed a mixture of surprise and shock. “Nick, you don’t have to do this. We can live together and raise our child without being married.”

I frowned at her reply.
Doesn’t she want me? I so want to make her Mrs. Frey.

Didn’t she realize that, even though she’d hurt my pride, her refusal was making me want her even more?

“Don’t you love me?”

“I love you more than anything in the world.” Her delicate fingers escaped from my hand and stroked my face.

“So what’s stopping you from accepting my proposal then? I don’t get it.”

“What if it turns out we’re not a good match?”

“Have you noticed anything so far to suggest that?” I felt my expression become even icier.

“Well…no.” She shrugged.

“So what is it then?”

“God, I don’t actually have anything to be afraid of,” she mumbled thoughtfully, then took a deep breath and said, “Yes, Nick. I want to be your wife.”

I stood up, leaned in and tasted her sweet-like-cherries lips.

My Estelle! My wife! Only mine!

“Oh, dear God! I can’t believe I just witnessed such an event,” a squeaky female voice said, interrupting our kiss. A short, plump woman stood at the door, tray in hand and a blush spreading across her rounded cheeks.

How hadn’t I heard the door opening? Or perhaps the doctor hadn’t actually shut it when she’d left? Naturally, I was a bit embarrassed by Estelle’s reply. Especially since I knew mine hadn’t been the most romantic of proposals. In fact, it hadn’t been romantic in the slightest. But I’d make arrangements for a trip to Paris as soon as she recovered. Hire a restaurant with a view of the Eiffel Tower, and with a ring with a huge diamond in hand, fall to my knees and propose to her again. Moments ago, I hadn’t been able to wait any longer. I’d needed to hear the words “yes, I want to be your wife” from her lips.

The woman coughed politely and, as she entered the room, said, “I’m Nurse Forrest.” She put the food tray on the retractable table attached to the hospital bed. Then she leaned toward Estelle and whispered in her ear. “You go, girl. We finally have someone who’s managed to make him settle down.” She winked at her, happy with her words. If she thought I hadn’t heard anything, she had another think coming.

While turning around, the nurse almost knocked the tray over with her rotund belly. This annoyed me, because she might’ve spilled hot soup all over Estelle. But, thank God, it didn’t get to that.

“I wonder whether I’d be paid if I told some gossip magazine I’d witnessed your marriage proposal?” As she uttered her question, the nurse’s cheeks started to burn an even brighter red.

Wow, what an unpleasant woman. I decided to find her later and give her money to keep her mouth shut. But I didn’t want my future wife to find out, so I said, “If you’d be so kind, don’t mention she initially turned me down.”

“It’s not what you think.” Estelle’s gentle voice made me turn to face her. Our gazes met, and I melted like butter at the love raging in her eyes. I’d do anything for this woman.

Embarrassed, Estelle swallowed and continued, “After everything I’ve been through, I don’t believe marriage is that important. We can be together without wedding rings. But I won’t hide it—my heart fills with great joy at the thought of becoming Mrs. Frey.”