Chapter 9

T he next few weeks sped by quickly. We were constantly going back and forth between St. Louis and New York, and it was hard to remember where I was half the time when I woke up. Rafe had started taking Diamonds apart and by the end of the week, they should be in a position where they will either sink and Rafe can scoop up the company for pennies on the dollar or else they'll tap into an unknown back up, and we'll simply have to find something else to bring them down with, because now that we've started, we're not stopping the takeover bid.

It was interesting the first few days after we'd been at the club, but Rafe had called it. He knew the persona I put out there at the club was an act and we have been spending a lot of time together outside of the office. I've yet to meet his daughter but I don't know if I want to anyway. I like kids and I'm falling for Rafe so hard that I know meeting and falling for his daughter will only make me like him more.

Rafe and I are supposed to be flying back to St. Louis in the morning but I'm dreading it. The reason is twofold…one, I know I'm about to slip and sleep with him and two, my family is demanding I come see them. I know if I go, and they see me, they'll know there's someone in my life and I don't want to get into the whole dating my boss discussion.

I reach the lobby for the office when the receptionist, Gail, called out to me.

"Everything okay?" I ask.

"No one's seen Mr. Gordon…can't get him on the phone either," she answers shooting me a questioning look.

"I haven't spoken to him today," I admit as Stan heads towards us.

"Amelia…please, tell me you know where Rafe is," he states.

"Sorry, I don't. He's not answering his phone?"

"We've tried about a million times, and we've got to have an answer on the next step," Stan tells me.

"Which step?" I ask trying to figure out if it's something that we've discussed or not.

"The sectors regarding the new timeline."

"They're a go ahead," I answer knowing what he meant from his cryptic reply.

"You're positive?" he asks hesitantly.

"Completely. Look we're supposed to have a meeting with a supplier for Lemans in a couple hours. I'm going to run by his place and see if he's there so if he does stop in let him know to stay put," I say with a smile. "Don't worry Stan…if he's changed his mind since last night it'll be me that he kills, not you."

"For some reason I don't see that happening Amelia," Stan says with a laugh as he turned to head back upstairs. "You've certainly made a hell of a difference around here in just a month."

"I try," I stated before heading back out the lobby door. I grabbed a taxi and head to his place. I haven't been there, but I know the address and when I arrive, the place looks fine.

I ring the doorbell and wait, a few minutes later ringing it again. As I was reaching to ring it a third time, the door opened, and I found myself staring down at a little girl who looked exactly like Rafe but a miniature female version. "Hi there, you must be Maggie. Is your dad here?"

She didn't reply as she stared at me, and I glanced around praying that Rafe would appear. When I looked back down at her, she was moving her hands and I felt like I'd been sucker punched. It only took me a second to realize her hand movements were sign language.

I gave her another smile then repeated what I'd said in the same language, and her frantic expression changed into one of relief. She grabbed my hand, pulled me into the house, and up the stairs. It took me a moment to realize where we were once she pushed open a door but then I saw Rafe laying on the bed and I panicked.

‘He's sick,' Maggie signs to me. ‘Daddy and Lorie, my nanny, are sick…'

A sound from the hallway drew my gaze and I saw the woman standing there.

‘Maggie,' she signed heading towards us.

‘That's Lorie,' Maggie informed me, and I felt a tiny bit better. The woman was probably in her late fifties and twice my size.

‘Who is this?' Lorie inquired towards Maggie while glancing my way.

"Amelia Thorpe, I work with Rafe. We were supposed to have a meeting in a couple hours, but he wasn't answering the phone," I told her with voice and sign language not fully sure if she could hear.

"Amelia…of course," Lorie replied with her voice on top of continuing to sign. "Rafe mentioned you were working together, but not that you signed."

"He doesn't know…it doesn't matter. Let's get you back to bed," I stated ignoring her protests. "I won't let anything happen to Maggie I swear. The best thing for her is for you and Rafe to both get better."

The older woman nodded and reluctantly allowed me to help her back to her room. I went back to Rafe and Maggie after that and was shocked to see him so pale. His normally tanned skin looked sallow, and I quickly found the number for his doctor in the kitchen. He said it was most likely just the flu and to keep them both in bed and hydrated.

I knew it was going to be a long day and once I'd managed to postpone the meetings and the trip back to St. Louis, I threw myself into the new role of babysitter and nursemaid. Lorie was a decent patient, but it appeared that Rafe wasn't and as the day went on, he got harder to keep still. That's how I found myself in his bed at four a.m. praying that he'd pull through this quickly so I could get out of there with a tiny piece of myself still intact.

"Ame…" he sighed pulling me back into his arms. I resisted and instead he moved closer to me as his arms wrapped around my waist. It was torture having him hold me like this and I wondered what would happen if he weren't sick.

The next day, I kept Maggie home with me since I didn't know her routine or anything of the sort. I didn't feel comfortable just taking her to school myself while leaving Rafe and Lorie here sick.

She sent a message to her school saying she was sick, the same thing she'd done the day before and I was impressed at her ingenuity. We had a fun day together and I was completely under her spell just as I was under Rafe's. Tucking her in for bed was sweet and when she hugged my neck, my heart melted.

Lorie went to sleep, still slightly out of it and I set her up with water before going to check on Rafe. He was better than Lorie was but still feverish and I forced him to take some more Tylenol before he fell asleep. I took advantage of the quiet house to take a quick shower and threw on one of his t-shirts while I washed my clothes. Three days in the same outfit wasn't my idea of fun but I didn't dare leave them alone to go get more clothes.

I let them hang to dry as I went back up to check on the three sleeping members of the household. Maggie and Lorie were both out, but when I went to check on Rafe, putting my palm on his forehead to check his temperature, his hand snagged my arm and pulled me down beside him.

"Amelia," he groaned as his lips covered mine.

I know I should have pushed him away, if for no other reason than the fact that I'd probably come down with the flu too, but I didn't. I let him kiss me and I responded until he passed out. When I went to move his arms tightened around me and for the second night in a row, I slept in his arms.

∞∞∞

"Amelia?" I heard a voice ask as I pulled myself awake. I bolted up and found myself staring into Rafe's now clear eyes.

"Oh my god…" I gasp as everything came back to me, quieting my shock.

"What happened?" he inquired taking in my attire, or more aptly his, since it was his t-shirt.

"We couldn't find you Wednesday. I stopped by, and Maggie let me in," I admit as he glanced towards the door.

"I knew I felt like hell Tuesday night…wait…where was Lorie?" he asks pushing a hand through his hair.

"Sick…probably as bad as you were."

"I should go check on Maggie. She's probably freaking out," he states moving to the edge of the bed. "How did you…"

"Talk to her?" I ask gently. "Easily…" I answer with both words and signs. "I've been signing since I was a baby. My grandfather lost his hearing in a work accident, so we all do it."

His expression was enough to make up for the fact that I've had very little sleep the past two days and then he was looking at me again and I couldn't quite read what his eyes were saying.

"Rafe…she's okay. She sent the school a message Wednesday saying she was sick and then we sent another yesterday since I didn't know her schedule or anything like that. She's spent most of her time doing her schoolwork that was sent via their portal."

"It's not that Amelia," he sighs turning back to me. "I'm sorry baby…"

"For what? Not telling me that your daughter is different? It's fine Rafe. I hadn't expected to meet her and it's your business."

"No, for…" he says with another sigh. "I'm sorry for making our first time so bad."

"What?" I ask completely confused until a slight blush formed over his cheeks and I couldn't stop the smile that crossed my face. "Rafe we didn't…you didn't push me into anything if that's what you're worried about. The only thing that happened was you pulling me down onto the bed with you, the last two nights."

"I didn't?" he asks, reaching out and moving a hand to the side of my face.

"No. Do you really think I'd let you when you're sick as a dog?" I tease turning my head to drop a kiss on his wrist.

"No, but I'm twice your size Amelia, and…"

"And you think that I can't handle stopping something? Rafe, one you were sick as can be, so you weren't anywhere near your normal strength and two, I am a black belt. If you had tried something, I would have happily kicked your butt whether you were sick or not."

"You don't know how glad I am…the thought that I could have…"

"You didn't Rafe. You held me so if I come down with the flu it's your fault," I joke pushing at his arm with a grin, "but that's it. Don't worry I was up before Maggie was. She doesn't know I was here with you either. I should probably get up and get dressed so I can check on Lorie before making breakfast for the sickies…"

I scoot off the bed and hurry towards the door to ensure Maggie doesn't find me in here. "Rafe please take it easy. Take a shower if you really need to but you're not going to work today."

"Are you always so bossy in the morning?" he inquires with a grin.

"Absolutely…but be warned, this is the easy-going Amelia," I reply before heading downstairs. I grab my clothes and change pulling my hair back into a low bun before making a light breakfast for everyone. I was about to go upstairs to check on them when I saw Rafe, Maggie and Lorie all heading down the stairs towards me.

"I take it you're all feeling better?" I say as Maggie skips over to hug me. It was an amazing feeling, and I couldn't stop the lump that formed in my throat. Thankfully, I could ask her without voicing the words, ‘Are you hungry?'

She nodded and put her hand in mine as we went back to the kitchen.

I transferred the food to the table and let them eat while I cleaned up the mess. I am a very messy cooker…I create great food but make a horrible mess doing it.

"Come eat," Rafe says shooting me a glance that held the slightest bit of a demand.

"I will in a minute…"

"Now Amelia, please?" he adds with a smile. "We don't know what we'd have done without you the last two days."

I gave in and took a seat between him and Maggie. Breakfast was great and Lorie took Maggie off to get ready for school, calling another parent to drop her off. I went back to cleaning well aware of Rafe's gaze on me. It was getting to be a bit much and I finally gave in and looked up at him.

"What?"

"I was just trying to figure out how to thank you. Taking care of Maggie, Lorie and me…you could have simply walked away but you didn't."

"That's not who I am Rafe. Besides, it was nice being back in the company of people who sign. I missed it more than I thought."

"You have no idea how relived I was to see you sign to me this morning," he says walking over to me. "I was worried that Maggie and you had been writing everything or her trying to type what she needed. Donna refused to learn how to, said that she didn't want any custody or visitations so there was no point in it,. When we found out that Maggie couldn't hear…"

"It was as though you'd failed her somehow?" I guess.

"Yes, I already saddled her with a mother that didn't want her, and then on top of that, I was thinking that her life was going to be full of disadvantages and disabilities…I'd never known anyone that was deaf before, so I had a steep learning curve. I accepted it though, all of it, including being able to show Maggie that she had a million options no matter if she couldn't hear. But there are still obstacles for her to be able to communicate with the rest of the world, and knowing that I'd been sick, and that Lorie had…I don't know what we would have done without you."

"I'm sure you or Lorie would have come out of it long enough to find someone to help out. I just sort of showed up at the right time I guess."

"Twice now," he states as he pulls me in for a hug. "You have no idea how badly I want to kiss you right now…"

"What's stopping you?" I ask as we see Maggie and Lorie head out the front door.

"I don't want you getting sick if you can avoid it," he answers, and I knew I'd done it. I'd fallen in love with him and now I had no idea what I was going to do about it.

"Rafe, I've spent two full nights in your arms. Not to mention the fact that you kissed me quiet thoroughly last night. One little kiss isn't going to affect me anymore than I already am."

"Who says it's going to be a little kiss?" he inquires.

"You wouldn't risk Lorie walking in on anything."

"No, I wouldn't," he agrees, "but then again she's going to see her daughter and won't be home for hours."

"Meaning what?" I ask as my breath catches. "Rafe…you've been really sick…"

"And you've taken really excellent care of me, and I think you deserve a day off for that."

"Rafe, I don't know. I'm…"

"What baby?" he asks as I trail off. He lifts my chin and stares at me in wonder. "Ame, you wouldn't have stayed if you didn't care. Wouldn't have slept in my arms if you didn't want to…all you have to do is tell me to stop."

"What if I don't want you to?" I reply as he pulls me closer.

"Then I won't. I'm not going to hurt you. Not ever…"

"Never is a long time to promise Rafe."

"Not when it comes to you. Seeing you with Maggie, completely at ease with our world…that's why I don't bring people around her, why I keep my dates away from her. I don't want them to upset her or make her feel as though she's…"

"Damaged? I get it Rafe and believe me I understand. People can be really rude, and it goes both ways, but you're a dad and you were trying to do what's best for her. And you are. I just…I don't think that's me."

"That's where you're wrong Ame. I've never seen her look so happy, not even with Lorie. I don't know what you've done with her the last two days but she's a happy little girl."

"So what? You want me to stick around because I make her happy?"

"It definitely helps make the decision a million times easier to know that Maggie likes you, baby, but mostly I want you with me because you make me happy."

"What are you saying Rafe?" I ask because I'm completely at a loss right now. I don't have a clue as to what's going on inside his brain.

"I'm saying I want you to stay. Today, tomorrow, next week, next year…"

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Stay here, with us," he corrects, and my jaw drops open.

"Live with you?" I ask feeling as if I'm about to pass out.

"Marry me," he states, and I know I misheard him.