DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND
Mary St. Clair picked up her wine glass and took a sip, licking her lips afterward. She stared at the hunky accountant sitting opposite her. She could tell by the way he was gazing at her that he was really into her. Maybe tonight he'd join her in bed. A thrill rushed through her body, and she laughed out loud.
"Share the joke," Hale said, reaching his hand out to touch hers.
Mary grinned. "I was just thinking about how handsome you are. I can't believe you're still single."
He chuckled. "Well, I have been dating many times. It's just that you're the most beautiful girl I've ever met, and I'm stoked. Can't believe you're still single either and want to go out with me."
"Aw. You're so sweet." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
Over at the door of SAN restaurant, Ruby, Nikita, and Isabella came through. A hunky waiter greeted them as the girls began the process of taking off their scarves and gloves.
"Table for three, thanks," Ruby said.
"Of course. This way," the young waiter said, leading them to a table behind Mary and her date.
"I'm so excited for Alex," Nikita said as they took their seats. "Just can't believe the lab actually paid for her to go to a conference in New York City. Can you believe it? Now I wish I did lab science."
"I'm so jealous," Isa muttered, pouring them each a glass of water.
Mary straightened up and glanced behind her. She saw the three geeks and glared in distaste.
"Do you know them?" Hale asked curiously.
"Kind of," she replied curtly.
Behind them, Ruby said, "Did you get her e-mail?"
"Yeah," Niki replied.
"Me too," Isa put in. "She is so lucky. She said she has been to Central Park, the Met, not to mention Tiffany & Co. Can you believe it? Tiffany and Company!"
"I know, right?" Ruby commented. "I wish I could go to Tiffany's. Man! I would just love to see all the jewelry."
"Yeah. In your dreams." Niki chuckled.
"Hey, you never know," Ruby retorted. "Remember, I plan to do my big OE next year. Maybe I should put America in as one of them, even though it's only for six weeks."
"Oh yeah? And what about this hunky English guy you're seeing?" Niki asked cheekily. Is that the whole reason you're going to do this big OE of yours? Huh?"
Ruby laughed. "Don't be silly. Brian is only a friend. He's going to give me a tour when I'm in the UK."
"Yeah right," both Niki and Isa said in unison.
By this time, Mary was pissed off with the girls. She couldn't concentrate on being charming to Hale, and she wanted them to go sit somewhere else. Or better yet, go to another restaurant. But she was also itching to know what exactly they were talking about. Plain Alexandra had gone off to New York City for a conference? Surely not? She was only a lab scientist. Nothing special about that. And she had been in Tiffany's? That was surely and utterly ridiculous. No one would let her in. The doorman would take one look at her and tell her to bugger off.
She turned and said, "Hello, guys," a fat, fake smile playing on her face.
There was stunned silence all around the table, and then Ruby said, "Mary? Mary St. Clair?"
"Yeah." Mary nodded, grinning. "So how have you all been? Haven't seen you since the last year of high school. Can't remember when that was. Too long ago."
"Yeah," Isa muttered, frowning with suspicion at Mary.
"So there's always the four of you, right? Where's Alex?"
The three girls glanced at one another.
"Just curious and all. How is she? Haven't seen her at all." Mary lied, leaning forward, her brows rising in question innocently.
Knowing the other two were refusing to talk to the popular Mary, Ruby said, "She's working in the hospital. Aren't you a medical student there? Can't believe you never seen her."
"Yeah. Can't believe it," Niki added, her voice stating otherwise.
"Well, I'm busy. Med isn't just for anybody," Mary stated. "So Alex?"
"Alex is good. She's in New York City right now for a conference. She's doing very well." Ruby smiled, nodding her head with pride.
"Yes, she is doing very well," Mary remarked sourly. She wanted to add, for a plain geek. But instead she asked, "So no boyfriends?"
At this statement, the three friends looked at each other. Mary reached her hands out and touched Hale, to show them she wasn't short of a boyfriend. "Good luck, aye? So Alex? No boyfriend, too?"
Ruby glared at Mary and snapped a, "No," at the woman.
Mary grinned, enjoying herself. "Have fun, guys," she said, turning her attention to Hale and kissing him on the lips.
The three girls looked at each other. "Disgusting," Isa muttered under her breath.
* * * * *
Alex fluttered her eyes open, staring up at the ceiling, her mind blank. She blinked. Where am I? Her head hurt like hell, and it felt like a hammer was constantly banging on her skull. She searched her brain. Nothing. The harder she tried, the more painful her headache became.
"Hey," a voice said softly beside her, warm breath fanning her skin.
She turned to her right and came to face a gorgeous man smiling brightly at her. His twinkling blue eyes were deep and intense, which caused her heart to flutter. Deep down she felt as though she had known him all her life, but for the life of her, she couldn't remember who he was.
Then she realized she was lying in bed beside him, her head resting on his arm and her face snuggled against his chest, which was surprisingly comfy.
Who is he? she asked herself again. And where am I? Where is this place? She gazed up at the ceiling, lost and frustrated.
"Where am I?" she whispered, her throat dry.
"You're home," Jayden said, smoothing the strands of dark hair from her face. He knew she was still experiencing the side effects from the drug.
"Where is home?" she asked, turning to her left. She squinted her eyes against the bright sunlight. She tried to think, but there was only blankness and the continuous pounding of a dull pain.
She turned to look at him, her eyes large, as if she were begging him to help her think, to figure out where she was.
Jayden's heart nearly broke. She looked so vulnerable that it hurt him not being able to help her. At that moment, he knew he loved her more than anything else in the world. He wiped tears from her cheek with his thumb and then kissed her forehead.
"It will all come back, sweetheart," he said. "It will."
She gazed into his warm eyes. Instantly, she trusted him even though she couldn't remember him. A sense of calm settled within her, and she closed her eyes, breathing slowly and deeply. Not long afterward, she fell asleep.
Jayden pulled her close to him, kissing her now and again, stroking her hair and whispering words of love until he fell into another slumber.
It was midday when Jayden woke. He found his arm was numb and sore from pins and needles. He gently removed his arm from under Alex's head and got up. He had a shower, got dressed, and then went downstairs after making sure Alex was comfortable.
He came into the dining room, tired and hungry. Maggie took one look at him and asked, "What would you like to eat, Master Jayden?"
"Just a toasted sandwich will do, Maggie."
"Yes, of course. I will tell Chef Leon to prepare it for you."
"Would you please also tell him to make soup for Alex? She isn't well, and I don't think solid food is good for her stomach at the moment."
"Yes, Master Jayden," Maggie replied, a smile on her face.
Jay poured himself a cup of black coffee and collapsed in the chair at the head of the table. He took a sip and sighed, his mind a bit more alert.
"Hey there, Jay," Sam's voice came in from the door.
Jay glanced up. "Hey."
"You look like hell. Been up late last night saving a damsel in distress, eh?"
Jay raised a brow. He wasn't surprised Sam had found out about last night already. Kelly would have told him.
"Yeah."
"Can't believe that bastard would do such a thing," Sam muttered in disgust.
"I got what you asked for," Jayden said, taking another sip of his coffee. "Join me for lunch, and then I'll give them to you."
Sam wasn't surprised by the complete turn of the subject. "Sure." He slid into a chair next to Jayden. "An extra toasted sandwich if you please, Maggie?"
Maggie didn't miss the conversation the two men just had. "Sure thing, Master Sam," she replied.
Once the two men finished their lunch, Jayden took Sam to his study and gave the man the wedding bands.
"This is better than I expected," Sam commented, turning the bands over in his fingers.
"Yeah."
Sam replaced the bands into the blue Tiffany & Co. boxes and said, "Did you know it was Britney's idea?"
"What?"
"Sorry if I intruded in your affair, man, but I thought I should tell you. Kelly said she saw Kyle and Britney last night. She heard them talking, and it was all Britney's idea."
Jayden didn't know how to respond to that piece of information. He just shook his head in frustration and went out the door.
In the kitchen, Chef Leon was just finishing a lovely chicken soup and Maggie was placing the bowl on a silver tray to take up to Alex, when Kelly poked her head in through the door.
"Maggie!" she called out. "Where's Mom and Grandma?"
"Out in the rose garden, Miss Kelly," Maggie replied as she headed to the door.
"Thanks!" Kelly rushed out.
"Take care with that soup, Maggie. Don't drop it!" Leon muttered as he watched the housekeeper go.
"I won't. So many things going on in this house," Maggie said under her breath as she headed for the stairs. Up on the first floor, as she opened the door to Jayden's room with one hand, she wondered what that horrible groaning noise was. Inside, the bed was a mess, but Alex was nowhere in sight. That sickening groan was getting worse.
"Miss Alex?" Maggie called.
More grunting and groaning.
"Oh dear," Maggie muttered as she put the tray on the bedside table and rushed over to the bathroom. She saw Alex bending over the toilet bowl.
"Dear me." She gasped, rushing over to help the girl. "What's wrong, Miss Alex?"
Alex turned to glance at Maggie, her face ghostly white and her hair a tangled mess. "I'm sick," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Yes! Yes! I can see that," Maggie said, rubbing Alex's back.
Alex turned her face back to the toilet bowl and began coughing out more bile.
"Oh. You poor thing," Maggie whispered.
Once Alex felt better, she turned to Maggie. "Can you please help me?"
"Yes, of course." Maggie was about to help Alex up when the door burst open.
"Alex!" Jayden said. "Are you all right?" He rushed in and took her into his arms. "What's wrong?"
"She's sick," Maggie answered because Alex looked as though she were about to pass out.
"Come on. Let's get you back to bed." He scooped her into his arms, carried her back to bed, and made her comfortable. "You want something to eat, sweetheart?"
"I am hungry," Alex commented weakly, wondering why this handsome man was so nice to her. Who is he? He kept calling her sweetheart. Perhaps he's my boyfriend? My husband? The thought brought a warm feeling within her body. She couldn't believe this handsome stranger was her husband. It was simply too good to be true.
Jayden picked up the bowl of soup and brought it to her. "Can you handle this?"
"I'll try," she whispered, gazing at him, blushing.
"Good," he said and started feeding her.
"Well, I should go down and prepare afternoon tea, then," Maggie said, and when she saw Jayden nod, she left them.