Nights of Passion: Mendez's Mistress / Bedded for the Italian's Pleasure / The Pregnancy Affair

As it turned out, Dr Gonzales wasn’t available to speak to her that day. One of the nurses explained that he also worked at one of the hospitals in Miami itself, and unless there was an emergency he wouldn’t be in until the following day.

There was no way Rachel could class Daisy’s sudden desire to leave the hospital as an emergency, and she had the unenviable task of explaining to her daughter that Dr Gonzales’ world didn’t revolve around her.

Daisy complained, naturally, and she got herself into such a state that the nurse who came to check on her suggested Rachel should go and get some lunch and let Daisy have a rest. ‘There’s a coffee bar downstairs,’ she said pleasantly. ‘It will do you both good to have a break.’

The coffee bar was almost empty, and Rachel helped herself to a ham sandwich before ordering another coffee. Then, carrying her tray to a window table overlooking the forecourt of the clinic, she made an effort to eat. She should have been hungry, but so much had happened since her arrival she had little appetite.

Still, the sandwich was delicious, and after a few mouthfuls she realised she was hungry after all. She finished it and was enjoying sipping her coffee when someone sat down at her table. It was a man, and she was about to pick up her coffee and find somewhere else to sit when she realised it was Steve.

Looking at him, she thought she could forgive herself for not recognising him straight away. He’d lost weight and his skin was deeply tanned. He should have looked fit and healthy, but he didn’t, and she wondered if living with Lauren wasn’t quite the sinecure he’d imagined it would be.

‘Hi,’ he said flatly. ‘Daisy said I’d find you here.’ His eyes appraised her with surprising interest. ‘How are you? You look—good. Different, but good.’

‘Compliments from you?’ Rachel was sardonic ‘Gee, I wonder why?’

Steve’s jaw jutted. ‘Don’t be like that, Rache. I’m just trying to be friendly. There’s no point in you and me falling out with one another, is there?’

‘Isn’t there?’ Rachel’s look was incredulous. ‘You don’t think keeping the truth about Daisy’s injuries from me was a little thoughtless?’ She shook her head. ‘Not to say downright deceitful.’

Steve scowled. ‘You don’t think that the way you’re reacting now is why I didn’t tell you?’ he countered. ‘I knew you’d panic. You always do.’

‘I don’t panic!’ exclaimed Rachel defensively. ‘But I was worried. And I had a right to know.’

‘Why?’ Steve looked sulky now, much like Daisy did when things were not going her way. ‘So you can get the custody order changed?’

‘No.’

‘That’s what you said,’ Steve reminded her. ‘You said if anything happened to Daisy.’

‘While she was with you,’ Rachel finished for him. ‘Yes, I remember.’

‘There you go, then.’

‘Well, I suppose accidents do happen,’ said Rachel a little wearily. ‘But you do realise she should have been wearing a life jacket, don’t you?’

‘Yeah, yeah.’ Steve put both elbows on the table and ran his fingers through hair that was thinning at his temples. ‘But Lauren had said, well, how pale Daisy’s skin looked, and you don’t get a tan wearing a life jacket all the time.’

Rachel shook her head. ‘So, have you spoken to her today?’

‘Daisy? Just to ask where you were.’

‘You don’t think she’d have appreciated you showing some concern?’

‘Why?’ Steve was offhand. ‘She wants to go home, you know? I don’t think Miami has lived up to her expectations.’

You mean you haven’t, thought Rachel impatiently. ‘And you and Lauren have other plans, right?’ she suggested drily, and Steve gave her a quick look.

‘What do you mean?’

‘You’re planning a trip to New York, aren’t you?’

Steve’s arms dropped onto the table. ‘Who told you that?’ He frowned. ‘Was it Mendez?’

‘Joe?’ The word was out before she could prevent it, and she saw the familiarity hadn’t gone unnoticed. But Steve had evidently decided not to push his luck, because all he said was, ‘Yeah, Joe Mendez. I know he doesn’t approve.’

‘Doesn’t he?’ Knowing Joe as she was beginning to, that didn’t surprise her.

‘He takes too much upon himself,’ muttered Steve petulantly. ‘Spending time with Daisy. Meeting you at the airport. What was that all about?’

Rachel looked down at her coffee, hoping he wouldn’t notice the sudden colour in her face. ‘Well, you weren’t planning on meeting me,’ she pointed out quietly, and Steve made a sound of disgust.

‘It would have been all the same if I was,’ he countered aggressively. ‘Since he offered Daisy a ride in his plane, he’s done nothing but poke his nose into my affairs.’

‘I’m sure that’s not true.’

‘Isn’t it?’ Steve shrugged. ‘You don’t know him like I do. I used to think he was my friend. Now I’m not so sure.’

Rachel lifted her head. ‘Can I ask you something?’

Steve was wary. ‘What?’

‘Why did you lie about your age?’

‘Oh, yeah.’ Steve scowled at her. ‘You couldn’t wait to rat on me, could you? This is a young man’s country, Rache. Why shouldn’t I take off a few years? Plenty of women do.’

Rachel finished her coffee and put the cup aside. ‘I’d better go,’ she said. ‘Daisy will be wondering where I am. Why don’t you come with me?’

Steve made no attempt to move. ‘She wants to go home, you know,’ he said again. ‘She wants to go back with you.’

Rachel shook her head. ‘I don’t think Dr Gonzales will allow that.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘It’s too soon after the operation. She’ll probably need a few more days’ rest when she gets out of the clinic.’

‘Well, I won’t be here,’ said Steve flatly. ‘I’ve promised Lauren I’d take her to New York, and I can’t let her down.’

‘But you don’t mind letting your daughter down?’ Rachel suggested mildly. ‘I think you need to go and see Daisy, Steve. Get your priorities in order.’

She excused herself to go to the bathroom, and when she came back Steve had gone.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

DAISY was alone when Rachel went back up to her room. Apart from asking if Rachel had seen her father, she seemed indifferent to the fact that he’d apparently left without saying goodbye. Rachel guessed that this was one of the reasons why she wanted to go home. Where Steve was concerned, only Lauren seemed to deserve his undivided attention.

Daisy fell asleep soon afterwards and Rachel took the opportunity to go back to her hotel and get changed. She could hardly go out for dinner in her tank top and shorts, and she was grateful now that she’d pushed the crocheted top and skirt she’d been wearing for her date with Paul Davis into the suitcase.

Then, before taking a shower, she rang Evelyn and Howard and told them what was going on.