Heat Vol. 5 (Heat: Master Chefs #5) Read online

  My eyes filled with tears. Rial had spent most of his adult life looking for me, never having stopped loving me since childhood. It was a misunderstanding and lack of communication that caused him to blame my father for my disappearance, but in the end, it was those men and the crime organization they worked for that created the rift between our families and led to our break up. I had to make sure he understand it won’t happen again.

  Maybe I could make a quick run to Rial’s and come back before Bobby stirred. After all, I had a brand new car of my own.

  I grabbed my jacket and keys, and hurried out the door. As promised, I found the keys to the Mercedes in my mailbox and let out a little squeal of delight.

  Walking out to the curb, I couldn’t believe Rial would lavish such an extravagant gift on me. The car was perfect in every way; the lines were sexy and aerodynamic, the interior was comfortable and elegant, and when I slipped in the key and turned the ignition, the motor purred to life while the radio played one of my favorite love songs, a song I’d fallen in love with so many years ago. Struck by the coincidence, I looked at the radio and realized it was a CD playing; one that Rial had surely inserted himself. He was so thoughtful, and I was in heaven.

  The drive out to the chateau was all too short behind the wheel of the sporty little car that hugged the curves and sailed over the few bumps in the road as smooth as could be. I didn’t want the ride to end, but as I pulled up to the gate and brought the car up the long drive to the main entrance, I was suddenly eager to leave the new gift behind and find Rial.

  I entered the chateau without knocking, a habit I’d acquired during my time with Rial. More than once he’d made it clear that I was to feel at home, just as I had as a girl.

  “Rial,” I called out.

  “Hello, Mademoiselle Lilly,” the butler said as he rounded the corner. “Milles excuses. I didn’t hear you ring.”

  “I do apologize. It’s my fault. I barged in. Do you know where Rial is?”

  “Monsieur Rial is out in the garden. Would you like me to call him?”

  “No. That’s all right. I’ll go out and find him. Merci.” I headed straight to the French doors that led out the back and stepped out onto the stone terrace. In the distance I saw him, his face tilted up to the dangling limbs of an enormous weeping willow.

  Just as I was about to call out to him, I realized he was speaking to someone. The conversation seemed animated and amicable, and throughout the murmurings I could hear the distinct sound of friendly laughter. I couldn’t imagine who he could be speaking to.

  Errol had mentioned talking to the police, and I would imagine they wanted to speak to Rial as well, but surely they weren’t out in the garden discussing my ordeal… and certainly not in such lighthearted tones.

  I took a step down towards the garden, then another, straining to catch a glimpse of the mysterious visitor who now had Rial in stitches. I couldn’t remember ever seeing Rial laugh quite so cheerfully.

  A few more steps and I was down at the garden level, the murmur of their voices reaching me a little more clearly. For a shocked moment I listened as the visitor’s voice registered.

  “Dad?” I whispered to myself then quickly shook my head. It couldn’t be. Rial hated my father for all that had happened. If anything, he probably blamed him for my kidnapping as well.

  But as I took a few more steps closer, my initial suspicions were confirmed. It was indeed my father who had Rial so completely engaged in a lively conversation.

  “I don’t know if you remember,” Eugene said, “but you actually used to hate this garden. You hated flowers and thought they weren’t very masculine.”

  “That’s not so,” Rial said.

  “Oh, maybe you didn’t hate the entire garden, but you definitely had an aversion to the roses.”

  “Ah, yes,” Rial said as if remembering a time long ago. “The beautiful blossoms with the distinctive scent and those unforgiving thorns.”

  Eugene laughed as he stepped closer to the rose bushes and came into view. “Lilly had led you off on one of her wild goose chases, and you ended up diving into the rose bushes thinking she was hiding there.”

  “Needless to say, the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.”

  “You were so scratched up, it took over an hour to clean you up and get you bandaged up.”

  I threw my hands over my mouth to stifle a girlish giggle. I remembered that day so perfectly. I’d initially been thrilled that I’d managed to throw Rial off my trail so easily, but had subsequently cried when I’d realized just how hurt he was.

  “And I never wanted to set foot in the garden again,” Rial said.

  “Yep.” Eugene shoved his hands deep in his pockets as he rocked on his heels. “That’s why I’m so surprised to see how magnificent this garden is. It’s almost identical to how I remember it, but even better. You cleared a few of the higher limbs on that tree allowing a lot more sunlight. That’s genius. I’d never even thought of that. All I did was gripe about the lack of sun.”

  “I guess you had a lot of other things on your mind. But, if you look a little more closely, you’ll probably notice that there aren’t nearly as many rose bushes as you had in the day.”

  Rial seemed in extraordinary good spirits and I was thrilled to see my father was responsible for it.

  Eugene patted Rial on the shoulder and looked at him with pride and admiration. “You did a great job here, Rial. Really a great job. When I had to abandon the place and learned that it was just sitting empty, left to rot, I feared it would never regain its glory. If anything, you’ve made the chateau even more comfortable and more lavish than before. The front gate is spectacular, the new coffered ceilings are quite handsome and the marble work in the en suite is pure elegance.”

  “Thank you. I’m happy to see you approve of the few changes I’ve made.”

  “You have a startlingly accurate eye for details. It’s amazing. It’s no wonder you became such a successful young man. I knew you had it in you.” Eugene looked around and took in a long, fragrant breath. “I have to admit, I’m happy you were able to restore the maze. You and Lilly spent so many hours chasing each other around in there.”

  “It’d become a dense jungle by the time I got my hands on the chateau, but I was determined to have that maze back. I had far too many fond memories of it. You know the very first time I saw Lilly was in the garden. Right away she sped off and ran to the maze, giggling and shouting ‘catch me if you can’ all the way. Of course I thought she was childish, and since she was only eight years old, I thought she was far too young. I didn’t even entertain the thought of ever having a relationship with her. But then, there was something so lively, so enticing about her, I found that I had no choice but to chase after her. I think I’ve been chasing after her ever since.” Rial smiled and coyly looked at my father.

  “You're really in love with her, aren’t you?”

  “I am, sir, even more than I ever thought I could be.”

  “I thought whatever affection you might have had for her would fade with time. I almost wished it, for your sake, but I’m happy to see that love is still alive.”

  “It is, and that’s why I wanted to let you know just how strongly I feel for Lilly. The boyhood infatuation I may have had has grown into full-fledged love and adoration.” Rial slowly turned around, his hands aloft as if embracing his surroundings. “All this, it means nothing to me if Lilly isn’t here to share it with me. This chateau, the garden, the maze, it’s all for her. It’s always been for her.” He returned to face Eugene. “I asked you to come here so that you could witness for yourself the success I’ve made of my life, and the beauty and richness I’ve brought to my home, a home I want to share with Lilly. I wanted you to see what I can provide for her… the life of a princess.”

  “What are you saying, Rial? Are you asking me for her hand in marriage?”

  “Our engagement was settled years ago and you’ve already promised me her hand. What I want now is you
r blessing.”

  My father grasped his chest as he suddenly struggled for air.

  “Eugene,” Rial said, alarmed. “Are you okay? What’s happening?”

  “I’m fine. I’m fine,” he said as he reached out to accept Rial’s proffered hand. “I’m sorry. You caught me off guard. I… I didn’t expect that of you.”

  “You had to know the subject of my marrying Lilly would come up.”

  “Yes, but I didn’t think you would ask for my blessing. To tell you the truth, I thought you didn’t care less what I thought of this marriage. After all that has happened, all the suffering, the pain I caused you… I can’t imagine you would…”

  “I’ll admit that a few days ago, I didn’t care what you thought. I was angry and was only too pleased to openly blame everything on you. But the fact is, you’re the father of the woman I love, and she loves you. Besides, I realize now that there was more to the story that I knew at the time.”

  Eugene shook his head. “Yes, even more than I was aware of, it seems. To think that such devoted and trusted employees were behind the failure of my company. I should have never blamed your father for what happened. I should have never accused him of embezzlement. I should have given him the benefit of the doubt. I should have…”

  “You could go on all night with the ‘should have’. Truth is, you were duped. But the important thing is the men responsible for all that have been caught and they’re going to spend a long, long time paying for what they did… to you, to your company… to Lilly.”

  “And to you,” Eugene added.

  “And to me,” Rial echoed softly. “I’ve spent so much of my life being angry… angry at you.”

  He looked up at my father with so much emotion, it touched my heart.

  “But you suffered just as much as I did throughout the ordeal they put you through,” Rial went on. “Because of them you lost everything… Lilly, your business, this grand chateau…”

  “I also lost you.” Eugene’s eyes glistened with tears. “You were like a son to me, Rial. You still are. It broke my heart to have to…” He fell forward and went limp in Rial’s arms.

  Alarmed, I ran up to them. “Dad. Dad. What’s happening?”

  Rial lowered him gently to the ground and I join him as he knelt down before my father.

  “Lilly,” my father whispered. “I’m so sorry for everything I’ve put you through. All of it. I should have suspected Godfrey instead of Rial’s father. He always was a little too greedy; always with a devious plan or another. I should have seen it. I was blinded. I was stupid. I was hard-headed.”

  “Dad, stop talking such nonsense.”

  “No, Lilly. I want you to know… I want you to know just how much it pained me to leave you at that convent, and how I prayed for you every night. I want you to know I only did it to protect you. It was the only way I could think of. If there’d been another way...”

  “I know all that now, Dad, and I don’t blame you for what happened. I know you did your best, and I love you.” Tears blurred my vision and when I glanced up at Rial, I could see the tears in his eyes as well.

  “And, now I want you to relax until we can get help out here.”

  He sat up and looked at me with tenderness as he pulled me into an embrace. “All the help I need is right here, my darling daughter. Help me up.”

  I gave him a tug, and with Rial’s help we got him on his feet, but he still clung to me. I held onto him, remembering all the nights I’d longed for a hug, a goodnight kiss and the comfort of knowing he was in the next room.

  “After all these years,” he said. “How wonderful it is to finally have you back in my life, Lilly.” He looked to Rial. “And, son, you have my blessing. You always have… of course, that is, if Lilly will have you.”

  Chapter 6

  “What a beautiful and charming couple you two make,” Eugene said as he pulled away from our embrace and straightened his shoulders in a show of pride and strength. “Hopefully you won’t wait too long before giving me beautiful grandkids. I’d love to spoil a little Lilly or Rial while I still have the chance.”

  Rial and I smiled at each other, and I could feel the rush of a blush redden my face.

  “And, on that note,” he went on. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds and head out to visit the stables. I hear you’ve got some magnificent beasts out there.”

  “Want me to show you the…?” Rial started.

  “No. I can find my way on my own. It might take a long time since I’ve strolled the grounds, but I think I remember how to get around.” Eugene turned and scurried away faster than I would have thought him capable of.

  Rial wrapped his arm around my shoulder and turned me to the terrace. “I think we’d better get to work on those grandkids. I’d hate to disappoint your father.”

  I laughed and leaned into him. “I’m happy to see you and my father getting along so well.

  “I thought it would please you, though that’s not my sole motivation.” His touched was gentle and loving as he guided me back inside. “I needed that reconciliation as well. It was long overdue.” Inside the grand chateau, he led me up the stairs and turned down the hall that led to the bedroom, our bedroom.

  “Where are you taking me exactly?”

  He grinned. “You heard what your father said.”

  “I’m far from ready to offer him a grandchild.”

  “Fine, but there’s no harm in practicing.”

  I stopped at the threshold. “I guess I do owe you a debt of gratitude. The car is wonderful.”

  “Oh, you like it? I wasn’t certain if you’d go for something small and sporty, or something grand and elegant.”

  “It’s perfect. I’d almost think you had it custom built for me.”

  He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the bedroom. “Well then, by all means, pay your debt, my love.”

  He leaned in to kiss me, and as he pulled back, his eyes grew dark and solemn.

  “Are you all right, Rial?” I knew the distress of the events of the past days had taken its toll on him. I could see the strain in his back and shoulders, as well as feel the tension.

  Transfixed, he stared at me a long while, as if fearing I’d disappear if he so much as blinked.

  “A part of me died when those men took you away,” he finally said. His voice shook, and when he pulled in a long, shuddering breath, I knew the extent of the pain he suffered during my ordeal. “Those first few hours before we were able to get a signal indicating your location, I thought I’d go mad. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.” He grasped my shoulders and pulled me to him. “I couldn’t live. I’d lost the only thing that mattered to me.”

  “But that’s all over, Rial.”

  “Is it?” he said with a shake of his head. “Even as we arrived at that packing plant and I saw you were safe, I feared for your mental condition. I could only imagine what those men forced you to endure.” He pulled away and looked at me. “The last time you saw those men, you were traumatized for years.”

  “I’m not traumatized, not at all.” Running my hand down his cheek, I was stunned by the pain in his eyes. “I’d say you were more affected by what happened than I was. I can only imagine how it must have been for you.”

  “It was insane… for all of us.” He shrugged, trying to shake off the emotions that still haunted him. “Your father collapsed not long after you were taken away. We’d been asking him questions about the men; did he know them? Who were they? Where could they have taken you? I think it was all too much, and for a minute I thought he’d have a heart attack.”

  I pulled away from his embrace and turned to head to the window, looking out at the great expanse of the grounds. It was so beautiful; almost surreal. But in my mind’s eye, all I could see were the faces of Horace, Godfrey and Constantine. “I’d seen those men before… when I was little.”

  “Yes, that’s what we came to suspect… that they were the same men who’d taken you as a child. It’s difficult to fa
thom… that they would come after you after all these years. The only good thing to come out of this is my view of your father. It was a relief to find out that your father hadn’t simply and coldheartedly kept you away from me, but that he’d had a very good reason for hiding you away. Those men… He knew they were after you.” He shook his head. “All these years they’ve been waiting to get their hands on you. You should have seen your father, so guilt ridden. He was a demolished man. All for the greed of money, those men brought pain and suffering to all of us.”

  For a moment, I considered telling him what I’d heard Godfrey say. Should I warn him that this might not be over, that Godfrey intended to end the Cooke bloodline with me?

  I turned to Rial and saw the love in his eyes, love that mingled with lust and hunger, and the savage desire to tear me apart. My body responded, eager to shake off the remnants of my ordeal and put them behind me for good. I needed him; needed him to erase the bad and replace it with something good.

  He came to me. “I never want to lose you again. Never.” He tenderly laid his lips over mine, soft… so soft… almost too soft. His kisses lacked the determined passion I’d become accustomed to and were filled with a gentleness that bordered on overly cautious.

  I pressed against him, urging him to kiss me with the passion his eyes had promised. Still, he remained cautious, his hand soft as it ran down my arm and his lips barely touching mine.

  “I want you to ravage me like I know you can,” I said.

  “I want to make love to you. I want to show you just how much I love you.”

  I pulled away, eager to break him out of his cautious mood. “Then tie me up, Rial.”

  His eyes grew dark with concern. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I mean, after what you’ve been through. I wouldn’t want to…”

  “Traumatize me?”

  “Lilly, I just want to be sure you're strong enough. I don’t want to risk…”

  “I am strong enough. Rial, I’m not going to let those men dictate how I live my life, not this time. They destroyed me once, but I won’t let it happen again. I’ve always loved how you’ve ravaged me, fucked me like a man possessed, and that’s what I want you to do.”