The Billionaire’s Valiant Rescue (2 page)

“I see.”

“I mean, I don’t know who she is. I don’t know who anyone is, including me. So you, sir, are my only friend in the whole world right now.”

Flashing that smile again, he laid his hand on the clean linen and through it gave my arm a tiny squeeze. For some strange reason, the gesture sent ripples of electricity shooting up my spine. “I know what you mean.”

“Why? You’ve suffered from memory loss as well?”

A mischievous twinkle appeared in his eye. “Temporary memory loss. Induced by massive amounts of alcohol.”

“Ah.”

“Yes.” Then he seemed to realize this probably gave the wrong impression, and he hastened to add, “But that was a long time ago, Miss Harper.”

“Melanie. Apparently.”

“Jack. For sure.” He grinned. “Jack Carter.”

Once again, those dimples jumped out at me. They lent him an extreme cuteness bordering on the criminally sexy. I became aware of his hand, still draped across my arm, only a thin layer of cotton separating us. Heat pulsed through me at the thought of his naked skin on mine. Then suddenly my mind made a quantum leap and those powerful hands were all over me, tenderly exploring every curve and swell.

He must have sensed my lapse of reason, for his eyes flashed hotly, and he gave my arm another squeeze before clearing his throat. “I, erm, guess I’ll be going then. I’m glad to find you doing so well, Melanie.”

The thought of him leaving suddenly frightened me, just like before with the cop. “Jack? Could you... stay a little longer?”

If I’d expected him to balk at the odd request, I was mistaken. He smiled reassuringly. “Of course. I’ll stay as long as you like.”

And I’d just given him a smile of gratitude when the door opened again and Linda Soakes entered, accompanied by a man with an angry red scar across his brow. The sight of him froze the marrow in my bones, and before I could stop myself, I’d clasped Jack’s hand, and whispered in his ear, “Don’t let them take me, Jack. Please don’t let them take me!”

“I...” Jack quickly assessed the situation. The determined look on the face of Linda Soakes. The look of genuine fear in Melanie’s eyes. But it was Linda’s companion who decided him. The man was positively leering. Fat and balding, he looked about Linda’s age, his mouth twisted in an expression of perpetual contempt and his eyes dark and filled with quiet menace. If this was Melanie’s dad, he obviously wasn’t too happy to see her.

“Honey! I’m so glad we find you!”

Jack, whose hand was still resting on Melanie’s arm, felt a shiver of apprehension course through her slender body at these words. He remembered the nasty bump on her head and the doctor’s theory she’d been hit over the head before ending up in the river.

Though she’d lost her memory, it was obvious she was scared of these people, whether they were her parents or not. Perhaps the survival instinct that had saved her life before somehow knew she’d suffered a terrible fate at their hands.

He looked into her eyes—pleading, sunken eyes but oh so beautiful and haunting—and his resolve strengthened.

Whatever the hell was going on here, he’d be damned if he’d let any more harm come to this young woman.

He quickly rose to his feet and approached Melanie’s parents with outstretched hand. “I’m so glad you’re here. Jack Carter.”

“You’re the one who found her,” said Linda, pasting an exaggerated smile on her face.

“That’s right, ma’am.” Without breaking stride, he pushed on toward a wheelchair sitting idle in the corner of the room. He quickly rolled it next to the bed and gestured for Melanie to climb in.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to take your daughter to the second floor.” He shrugged. “X-rays. Just a precaution.”

“
You’re
taking her up? Why not the nurse?”

Jack nodded at Melanie’s father, who looked positively suspicious. “Budget cuts, I’m afraid. They’re understaffed at the moment so I offered to lend a hand. Hope you don’t mind waiting a couple of minutes? The head nurse assured me it won’t take long.”

The pair exchanged a suspicious glance, but Jack didn’t wait around for permission. Before they’d had the chance to respond, he was out the door and racing down the corridor with Melanie.

Looking back, he saw them emerge from the room, looking greatly perturbed. He held up his arm. “Take a seat! She won’t be long!”

Then he was through the swinging doors separating this ward from the next, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Melanie, who hadn’t said a word, peered back, and when she saw they’d left her parents behind, seemed to relax.

“Thanks, Jack. I-I-I don’t know what came over me, but suddenly I was scared shitless of being left alone with my parents.”

Jack frowned and voiced a thought that had taken hold of him. “If they
are
your parents, that is.”

Melanie jerked her head around. “I-I was thinking the exact same thing.”

“Let’s get you out of here.”

“Where? I have no place to go.”

“Don’t you have an apartment?”

She nodded. “I have. On Pelican Street, Bill told me. But...” She wrung her hands and gave him another pleading look.

He understood. “You can stay at my place until we figure out what the hell is going on.”

“Your place? But—”

“It’s all right. I’m one of the good guys. Trust me.”

She gave him a watery smile. “I know. I don’t know how I know, but... I do.”

Jack quickly steered the wheelchair down the corridor until he found the elevator. It seemed to take the damn thing ages to reach their floor, and both he and Melanie kept darting anxious glances in the direction they came from.

Finally the car arrived and they joined half a dozen other patients and visitors inside. An old man leaning heavily on his IV stand eyed him morosely. Then it dawned on him the man wasn’t staring at him but at Melanie. In their haste to leave the room, she hadn’t put on anything over her hospital gown, which was a lot more revealing than she probably would have wished. He stared at the soft swell of her breasts clearly visible through the flimsy gown and swallowed heavily. Dammit. She was naked underneath that thing.

He quickly hitched out of his jacket and slung it across her shoulders. Gratefully, she projected a warm smile at him.

“Thanks,” she whispered. “Again.”

He merely nodded, staring down the old lecher, who, if he was disappointed, did a great job hiding it.

Five minutes later, they were at his BMW, and he was helping her into the passenger seat. Another five minutes, and they were cruising down the road, both heaving simultaneous sighs of relief. Their eyes met, and they both laughed. He was pleased at the sound of her voice. Her smile touched her eyes, and as they lit up, he felt a familiar tug at his heart. Even in her current state of dishevelment, she was hot!

She’d tucked some straying strands of hair behind her ears, and he watched in fascination as her full lips seemed to extend an invitation. Suddenly, he felt an almost irresistible urge to lean over and worry those lips with his own. Instead, he returned her smile. “If Linda Soakes and that guy really are your parents, they’ll be pretty pissed by now.”

The smile disappeared. “The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced they’re not, Jack.”

He glanced over at her. “You sure about that?” When she nodded, he added, “Best we take you to the police then.”

“You think so?”

“The cop who interviewed you? He seems to think foul play’s involved.” He cut her a look of concern. “Someone did a pretty good number on you, Melanie.”

“I know. Bill told me.”

“Bill? Oh, right. Rattner.” He grimaced at the thought of having to see the hostile cop again, but it couldn’t be helped.

Melanie must have sensed his reluctance. “What’s the story with you and Bill? He kept asking me if I knew who you were.”

Jack gripped the wheel a little tighter. “It’s a long story.”

“I’ve got time.”

Jack shook his head. “Later. First let’s get you some help.”

He really wasn’t ready to discuss his complicated relationship with the Bill Rattners of this world.

She gave a soft whimper and he looked over. His heart skipped a beat when he found her slumped over in her seat.

“Melanie!”

Brusquely, he pulled over, almost hitting a station wagon and a utility vehicle.

He lifted her head and saw she’d passed out again. Oh, God. He should never have checked her out of the hospital. She was probably suffering from a concussion.

Checking traffic in his rearview mirror, he darted out and rounded the car to her side. Quickly easing her out of her seat, he heaved her up in his arms and carried her over to the back of the car. Her head lolled against his shoulder, and his heart pounded in his chest. He managed to open the rear door and eased her onto the back seat, making sure to properly buckle her up. As he did so, her hospital gown shifted. He froze as he caught sight of her porcelain skin, the swell of her breast squeezed against his thumb. The warmth of her flesh against his hand sent a torrent of lust raging through his groin, and he swallowed with difficulty, trying to tear his eyes away.

“Christ, Jack,” he groaned. “What are you, a fucking pervert?”

He carefully readjusted her dress, and draped his jacket over her once again, tucking it in so it wouldn’t slip.

He stared down at her for a moment, studying her frozen face. Her hair was matted to her skull, and she looked thin and gaunt, but it was clear she was beyond gorgeous. Delicate, even features and cheekbones designed to make a plastic surgeon weep in envy, she was the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on. He briefly trailed his finger along her pale cheek, then gently pressed the door shut and took out his cell.

“Robert? Jack. I need your help, buddy. Yes, right now.”

They were strangling me. Th-they were choking me! I fought as hard as I could—slung their hands away but they pinned me down. Held my hands in an iron grip and I couldn’t move—couldn’t budge—could only watch, helplessly, as they prepared the syringe.

Just before they plunged the needle into my flesh, I cried out in anguish and confusion.

“Stop! No! Not the needle!”

I opened my eyes and found myself falling into the deepest blue. A sonorous voice intoned the same words over and over again. “It’s all right, Melanie. It’s all right. You’re safe now. You’re safe.”

I looked down and saw the needle leave my arm. I wanted to scream and shout but the drug took effect immediately, and I felt its calm take possession of me. A warm relaxation seeped through my veins, and I felt my body go limp.

“Just something to help you relax,” the voice soothed.

With a quickening of the pulse I recognized the man. “Jack? Is that you?”

“It’s me. And this is a good friend of mine. Robert is a doctor.”

My gaze shifted to the man handling the needle. He stared down at me with a frown of concern etched on his bearded face. He was young, like Jack, and now that the wave of panic had subsided, I saw he had kind eyes. Doctor’s eyes.

“You suffered a nasty bump, Melanie,” he said in a soft, reassuring voice. “And if I’m not mistaken more physical abuse than your mind cares to remember.”

I swallowed, my eyes stinging with tears. “Abuse? But I thought the doctors at the hospital said nothing... sexual...” The words stuck in my throat.

Robert shook his head. “I read the report. And thank God nothing of that nature was done to you. But I did discover multiple needle marks on your arm, indicating you were sedated by whoever abducted you. And you have several bruises on your back and shoulders.” He grimaced. “Possibly sustained in a botched attempt to escape your captors.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. “Wait. Abduction? Escape attempt? What do you think happened to me?”

Robert exchanged a ponderous glance with Jack. “From my first, cursory examination I’d say you were strapped to a bed for a couple of days—”

“Three days,” I murmured.

“—and when you tried to escape they drugged you. Somehow you still managed to get away, your coordination impaired by the drugs in your system, and when you stumbled into the river you must have knocked your head going in. The cold water woke you up sufficiently to cry out for help.”

“And then Jack saved me,” I heaved, my eyes half closed.

“I can’t take all the credit. If Rufus hadn’t started barking—”

“Rufus?”

“My Alsatian. We were out for our walk when we happened upon you.”

“Thank God for Rufus, then.”

Robert closed his doctor’s kit. “I need you to rest for a couple of days, Melanie. You suffered a mild concussion. I’ve appointed Jack here your private nurse if that’s okay with you. He’ll see to it you have everything you need until you make a full recovery.”

“I really can’t accept this, Jack. Perhaps you better take me back to the hospital. I-I really don’t want to take advantage of your—”

Jack shut me up with a gesture. “I don’t mind playing nurse. Though I can’t vouch for the quality of the service. I don’t mind confessing I never finished medical school.”

“You never started medical school, ass,” said Robert with a grin.

“Well, we can’t all be geniuses, genius.”

Robert inclined his head. “That’s true.” He dodged Jack’s punch and quickly made his way to the door. “I’ll be back tomorrow to check up on you, Melanie. But if you need anything before then, just tell Jack and I’ll come running, all right?”

“Thanks for everything, Robert,” I said, touched by so much kindness.

He flashed a quick grin. “You’re welcome. It was nice to meet you.”

“Same here.”

After Robert left, there was a momentary silence. Jack, who’d taken a seat on the bed next to me, seemed perturbed. I could see why. Whoever he was, accepting responsibility for a total stranger must have greatly upset his daily routine.

“I’m sorry about all this, Jack. I’ll be out of your hair as soon as possible.”

He seemed surprised. “You don’t need to be sorry, Melanie. Whoever did this to you should. And I promise you we will get to the bottom of this.”

I was afraid to voice the question. “W-we?”