There were few things that ticked off Lila Novak more than busybodies. And when said busybodies were making her life difficult, that really chapped her ass.
She sat at the district office, having been summoned from Mimosa High School by the superintendent of schools, and while she waited she saw a parade of people enter the conference room. Her principal, the vice principal, the personnel director, and her department chair were all part of the group that was going to see her. This wasn’t good.
Nothing like kicking a girl when she was down.
Her department chair, Mary Chavez, poked her head out and motioned to Lila. “We’re ready for you. Don’t let them upset you, and don’t lose your temper.”
Mary was a sweet woman, a joy to work for. Because of her, the math department at Mimosa was a fun place to be. Her colleagues were friendly, and unlike some departments, they all liked each other. However, Mary knew Lila could have a smart mouth, and this wasn’t the time for wit. Even if some people deserved her wit shoved up their butts.
The superintendent sat at the far end of the table, and the other administrators flanked him left and right. This wasn’t going to be easy.
Lila stood at the other end of the large oval table. Alone.
“Lila, have a seat,” the big guy said.
“Thank you,” she replied. That was a load of shit. She had no reason to thank them.
“So,” he began. “We hear you’ve gotten yourself in a bad spot.”
This was really making him uncomfortable, and based on the scowls from a few others in the room, she was in more than a bad spot.
“Sir, I am pregnant, yes.” Lila took a deep breath before continuing. “I’ve tried to keep it private, but that’s hard to do in such a…close knit community.” It’s full of nosy women with nothing else to do, is what she wanted to say. But Lila held her tongue, knowing that sassing the superintendent and his minions wouldn’t help her cause. “While I’m sure it might make some people uncomfortable, it isn’t something I want to talk about.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not an option,” the personnel director broke in. She was new to the district, and Lila didn’t catch her first name, but her last name was Smith. “You have to talk about it. There is a clause in your contract regarding morality…”
Bile stuck in her throat. Sweet baby jeebus. A morality clause. It was the 21st century, wasn’t it? “I don’t understand.”
“We hold our teachers in very high regard,” the woman drawled. “And we’ve gotten a number of complaints about the situation. Parents are extremely upset about having an unwed, pregnant teacher in front of the classroom.”
A knot formed in Lila’s chest. Crushing breathlessness made her audibly suck in air, but she didn’t cry. No, she wouldn’t give this pit of vipers the satisfaction, but there was no hiding how this was affecting her.
No one seemed to care that she was in distress. They were all sitting very still, apparently awaiting Lila’s response.
“I see y’all staring at me, but I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“We thought you could offer some clarification, or explanation, so we can better understand how this all came about,” the nameless personnel director shot at her.
“Ma’am, if you want an explanation for my pregnancy, may I suggest you speak to a health teacher.” Yep. She just snapped at someone who held her fate in her hands.
“There’s no need to get snippy, young lady.”
“I’m sorry, but I believe there is.” Lila wasn’t going to be intimidated. “This is a private matter.”
“Who is the baby’s father?” Ms. Smith blurted out.
BOOM. There it was. That’s what they were driving at. There had been an ugly rumor about her and the father of one of her students. He’d made some unwanted advances in a bar. It didn’t matter that Lila had told him to buzz off; people had talked.
“I haven’t told the baby’s father yet, and I’m not comfortable telling you before I tell him.”
“Lila,” her chair began, “taking a hard line here isn’t going to help.”
“I’m sorry, but he’s overseas on assignment.” That was all Lila could come up with, and it might or might not have been true. She didn’t know where Nick DeMarco was. She hadn’t heard from him in months. “That’s all I can say.”
When she said he was overseas, everyone came to attention.
“Is he in the service of our country?” the superintendent asked.
Lila nodded. She didn’t know what Nick was doing, but he did work for the government. “I think I should tell him first, don’t you?”
“Lila, I don’t like this any more than you do, but something must be done. I have parents calling for your job.”
“Well, sir, with all due respect, you can tell them this is none of their business. I’m sure you’re aware that I am a very good teacher. My students are engaged and do very well.”
“I am. Your reputation in the classroom is excellent, but regardless of how accepting society has become of single parents, our teachers are held to a different standard. Parents are very upset.”
“Am I being dismissed?” There was no use in beating around the bush. If the decision had already been made, the time would be better spent polishing her resumé.
“I don’t want to do that, but I am in a difficult position.”
Of course. His contract was up for renewal. The last thing he needed was a bunch of parents complaining that he wasn’t responsive. If they started calling for his head, who knew how the board of education would respond? Lila didn’t know what she was expected to do. The baby was already in the picture.
“I guess you’ll let me know if I have a job, then?”
She started to get up from the chair when her department chair came to her defense. “Lila is one of our best teachers. Surely there’s a way for this to work out.”
Silence settled over the room, because no one seemed to have any answers. They were looking everywhere but at each other. Glancing off into space or keeping their eyes trained at the table. Except for Ms. Smith, who was staring at Lila. Now she didn’t know if she should leave or stay.
“Lila?” Her principal, Joe Alex, broke the quiet. “How is the clean-up from the fire going?”
That got everyone’s attention. The reminder about the fire that destroyed her condo was nicely timed. Being a pity case wasn’t her first choice, but Lila would take it. She couldn’t be without a job. Especially not now.
The superintendent’s face dropped. He wasn’t a bad person, but he was a puppet. Now his conscience was getting to him. Lila just hoped it worked in her favor. “I’ll be in touch,” he said flatly. Then he stood and left the room, leaving Lila in the same place as she’d been before, without any answers.
“Motherfucker, that hurts.” Over the course of his career, Nick had been shot, stabbed, beaten, and thrown off the roof of the building. But the searing pain from the injection into his injured shoulder was like nothing he’d ever felt. Of course, he’d been unconscious after the stabbing, and the shooting, and during the beating he managed to throw a few punches himself. Getting thrown off a building? Not something he would recommend.
But he’d recovered from every injury. He’d come back to duty stronger than ever, almost like he had to prove himself. Rumor was some people wondered if he was even human. Nick had to laugh at that. Of course he was human, he just took his work seriously. There were a lot of bad people out in the world, and it was Nick’s job to make sure they didn’t hurt anyone.
This time, however, his shoulder had been almost completely ripped out of the socket. The damage had been repaired as much as it could be, but for the first time in his career, Nick didn’t know if he was going to be able to do his job like he had before.
There had been mutterings about a desk job. A fucking desk job. He couldn’t see himself settling into a regular routine, making assignments, even if it did carry a promotion. He was an adrenaline junkie, pure and simple, and if he wasn’t out in the field chasing bad guys, he didn’t know what he was going to do.
“So will the cortisone fix what ails me?”
The doctor shrugged. It was another resident, another no-name who didn’t know anything about him. To the guy in the scrubs, Nick was just another case. He didn’t understand that Nick’s life as he knew it was on the line.
“Dr. O’Neill will be in in a minute. He has more details about your next step.” Without another word, the drone doc left the room. At least he would get to talk to the guy who did the surgery. Maybe he would finally give Nick a straight answer.
His cell phone beeped, and he glanced at the screen. His sister. The text was short. Are you alive?
Nick smiled. Josie, as always, got to the point. This time, he answered. Sent back a simple: yes. But that was all she was gonna get for now.
He was still figuring out how he felt about her relationship with Tony. Never in his life had he suspected his best friend and his sister had been having an affair. Now, Josie was going to be a queen. An honest to God, crown-wearing, scepter-wielding queen. Okay, maybe that was too dramatic. But she would have a crown. His little sister would have a crown.
Nick lay back on the table, knees bent, arm folded over his eyes. Jesus. What if he couldn’t go back in the field? He’d never thought about life after fieldwork, but now it was the only thing on his mind.
He tried to focus on something good, something positive, and immediately Lila Novak’s face flashed in his memory. Talk about secrets. The four days he’d spent in bed with Josie’s best friend had been just what he needed. The woman was a contradiction; on one hand she was full of piss and vinegar, but on the other she was beautiful, smart, sweet, and the sex had been a friggin’ miracle. Nick thought about her a lot, probably too much.
Still, he wanted to see her. He figured whatever the doctor said, he’d head to Florida for some R&R. His grandparents’ house was empty, and while he was there he was sure he could get Lila to see him. As long as she wasn’t too pissed off. He’d left without saying goodbye, and in his experience women really hated that.
He expected Lila was no different.
The door burst open and Dr. O’Neill entered the space. A big man, career Army, Nick peeked out from under his arm and the doctor tossed a wry grin in his direction.
“Hiding, Colonel?”
Colonel. He wasn’t used to being called by his rank. “Just trying to figure out what kind of bullshit you’ll be feeding me about my shoulder.”
“No bullshit,” the doctor said. “Truth only. Your shoulder was a hot mess. I was able to do some repair on the ligaments and tendons, but at this point it’s not stable. I can’t recommend you be allowed to go back to fieldwork at this time.”
“So, I’m going to be a desk jockey? I can’t do that. I’ll go crazy.” Nick’s fear of desk work was what drove him to volunteer for a special covert ops unit. He went where he was needed, working sometimes for the CIA, the NSA, or different branches of the military. When people asked what he did, he said he was a “security consultant”. It wasn’t a lie.
“You can stay in the Corps,” the doctor reassured him. “There are plenty of things a man with your knowledge and talents can do. You’re just not going to be swinging from trees or jumping off buildings anymore.”
“Should I retire? I mean, if I can’t do the work…”
“I didn’t say never, but not now. There’s a lot you can still do. Hell, with all your experience, you’ll be running the Joint Chiefs inside of six months. But you aren’t indestructible. You may recover enough to get back to the insanity you call a job, but I don’t recommend it.”
That particular statement made him think—and the conclusion wasn’t good. Lately, every injury meant a tougher recovery. He knew he was getting older, but his body was finally telling him what that meant. “Shit.”
The doctor took a seat across from him. “Nick, I’ve treated your last two orthopedic injuries. Your missions are more dangerous because that’s the way of the world right now, but even you have limits; you’re almost forty.”
“Thanks for the reminder.” Forty was still a couple of years away, but one thing Nick couldn’t deny was that he was feeling it.
Nick wasn’t a quitter, but he also wasn’t stupid. He knew when there was no point in arguing. He placed his feet solidly on the floor, stood, and extended his hand to O’Neill. “Thanks, Doc. I appreciate it.”
Shaking his hand, the older man wore an expression that told Nick he wasn’t the first to possibly have his career cut short and he wouldn’t be the last. But it still sucked.
Leaving the exam room, he took the stairs five flights down. He didn’t talk to anyone; it was raining, but he didn’t hail a cab, hoping the walk would clear his head. Finally, soaked to the bone, Nick jumped on the Metro. He was sure he looked sketchy, but he didn’t care. It would keep people away. He got off in Foggy Bottom, walked past the White House and down the mall, ending up on the steps of The Capitol. A security guard gave him the eye, suspicious. As he should be.
Nick was a dangerous man.
He was lighter—leaner—than he’d been before the injury. Not surprising, and probably a good thing.
It was pouring now, reminding him of an op that had dropped his team in the middle of a South American jungle.
God, what he wouldn’t give to be back there again.
Looking up, he felt like the heavens were taunting him.
He had to get out of town. He had a couple of options. He could head to an island and decompress in a tiki hut over a lagoon in Fiji. He had a friend with a chalet in the Alps. It was beautiful and secluded, but there would be no skiing or climbing.
The last idea was the one that really appealed to him. Barefoot Bay. He’d head to his grandparents’ house in Florida to regroup and figure out what to do next.
Sure, people knew him, but most of them wouldn’t ask questions, and the tiny coastal island of Mimosa Key was about as far away from work as he could possibly get. Sure, there might be nosy neighbors, but no one would be shooting at him.
And he’d try to see Lila. If she was still speaking to him.
Yeah, no doubt about it. Thoughts of Lila alone made Florida a very good idea.
* * *
“You’re going to love it here.”
“I’m sure I will. You know I love this house. Thank you for letting me move in until the details are settled with the insurance.” Lila hugged her best friend, Josie DeMarco, thankful she had a place to go after the fire that had destroyed her condo.
“Don’t be silly. I’m glad someone will be in the house. Don’t even think about finding someplace else. As far as I’m concerned, this is your place now.”
Josie was engaged to marry Anton, the King of Marinbourg, a small European country on the northwest coast of Europe. Since the engagement, she’d been spending most of her time at the palace learning what it meant to be a queen. Her house in Barefoot Bay was empty now that she’d moved to the other side of the ocean, and she’d generously let Lila move in after her life had been turned upside down.
“Josie, I can’t be here indefinitely,” Lila replied. “It’s your house. Your family house.”
“Exactly. It’s my house. And I say you can stay as long as you need.”
Lila breathed out. She knew she was lucky to have a place to go after she lost everything, but she couldn’t take advantage. Insurance allowed her to replace her things, but the condo she’d been living in for the past five years was the place she’d been able to put down roots, and she’d miss it. Josie’s house was beautiful and right on the beach, but it wasn’t hers.
And it brought memories of Nick. Hot, sweaty, sexy memories of Josie’s brother, who had taken her on a passionate side trip when he visited a few months ago. Anton had just proposed and whisked Josie off to Marinbourg to meet his family.
Nick wasn’t happy about it. Anton was his best friend, and Nick had found out in the most unceremonious way possible that his best friend and his sister had been together behind his back. The man grumbled, and Lila, being the nurturer that she was, comforted him.
A lot. She comforted him a lot.
And the comforting could be broken down to one thing: they had wild sex for four days.
In her defense, Nick was much happier when they parted just shy of a week later. He was off on another secret assignment. He’d left her that morning to make a quick run to the Super Min, and never returned. All she got was a short text that said he had to leave and he’d see her when he got back in town.
She’d waited and waited, and now, four months later, none of them had heard from him. Josie was worried he’d miss her wedding next month. Anton wasn’t really concerned, saying Nick wouldn’t let them down, and Lila couldn’t identify exactly what she was feeling, but fear was definitely in there someplace.
Their time together had started out as a diversion, but it became more intense as the days wore on. Lila knew how she felt. She’d fallen for him and fallen hard. Nick, for his part, hadn’t acted like they were just casual.
That was how it ended. She hadn’t told Josie about it, but she would eventually. Especially since the baby in her belly would make her best friend an aunt.
“You’re going to need more space when the baby comes,” Josie said, “and the house is perfect for that. I’ll even spring for all the furniture.”
“Y’all are nuts. You’re not buying me furniture.”
“Is she still arguing with you, darling?” Entering the room and heading straight for his bride-to-be was Tony, or as he was known in formal circles, King Anton Edward of Marinbourg.
“Endlessly.”
“Lila, you should give up the fight. She’s never going to let you leave.”
Lila knew Josie could be stubborn, but living in her house when she was lying to her best friend was making Lila feel guiltier than ever. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say thank you,” Anton grinned. “That’s all.”
“Thank you.” Her voice cracked, overcome with emotion.
“Just keep one of the rooms free for Nick. As soon as he resurfaces, I’ll tell him you’ve moved in.”
“Right. Nick. How is he?”
She shouldn’t have asked that.
Josie twisted her fingers. “I don’t know. He’s been gone a long time, even for him.”
Nick was a man of mystery. It was a big joke, but the truth was he was away often and couldn’t really talk about his work. There was no doubt it was dangerous. Lila had seen more than a few scars on his body.
“He’s fine,” Anton said. “We’ve gone months without hearing from him.”
Lila knew that was true, but the concern on Josie’s face was palpable. That made her nervous—for her friend, for herself, and most especially, for Nick.
Walking through the house, Lila thought about how much her life was changing, and how much it was going to change. There was a good possibility she could lose her teaching job. And even if she didn’t, there were people in town who would make things uncomfortable for a single, pregnant teacher. Softly, she placed her hand on her belly, letting it linger, and thinking about the life growing inside her.
Lila wasn’t overly sentimental. At least, she kept telling herself that. She should be thinking about all the trouble this pregnancy could cause, but in truth, over the past few months, that mattered less and less. All she could think about was the baby. Regardless of what Nick or Josie or Anton thought, this child was her family, and that made her very, very happy.
She’d be a good mother. For Lila, no job in the world was more important. It was probably because she never had a mother of her own. Her daddy tried to do it all, but to Lila, that just made it more obvious that something was missing. A mother’s presence was without measure.
Sitting on the bed in what used to be Josie’s room, she stared out at the gulf. The water was calm, clear, and blue. She would be starting her baby off in paradise. And somehow she’d find a way to repay Josie for her kindness, but she wasn’t going to stay indefinitely.
“I won’t let you down, sweetie,” she said laying a hand on her belly. “I promise.”
“Like you could ever let anyone down.” Josie stepped into the room. “I don’t think for one second this child will want for anything, but most especially he or she will have all the love in the world. You aren’t capable of anything less, Lila.”
“Do you think so? There aren’t a lot of great mothers in my family history.”
“Maybe not, but your father adored you. You learned how to be a good parent from watching him. And from what you’ve told me, your mother had her strengths, even if she wasn’t ideal. You’re going to be fine.”
Josie’s arm looped around Lila’s shoulder, and the love and faith her friend held in her heart seeped right into Lila. Everyone needed a friend like this—someone who gave without question, without conditions, and without expectations. Someone who didn’t judge.
That’s why it felt so wrong not telling her friend the whole truth. But in her head, she knew she had to tell Nick first. Wherever he was, whatever he was doing, he deserved to know about his child before his sister or his best friend.
Unfortunately, at the rate things were going, it could be a while before Nick DiMarco walked back in her life. And that was a problem, because sooner or later, she was going to have to tell Josie and Anton that her baby was part of their family.