“I thought you were dead.”
She smoothed his hair like he was her child. “I know. I'm sorry.”
“I've tried to watch out for our girl.”
“You were wonderful. I don't know how to thank you.”
He looked up at her, his face ravaged. “I never stopped loving you.”
He bent toward her, his intentions clear. His mouth covered hers, for a moment she hesitated, before relaxing into his embrace. Henry might not approve, but he would understand. As his hands pulled at her clothing, she stared at the ceiling, trying not to think about it. It wouldn't be the first time she'd used her body to get something. At least this time she was doing it for her daughter.
FIFTEEN
* * * *
Dorothy ran into Remy in the hallway as she headed down for breakfast. His smile was warm and she liked the feeling it gave her as they went down the stairs side by side—though she found a need to fill the silence.
“How's the speech coming?” The party elders had sprung the Friday date on him, hoping to knock him out of the running early.
His bright, curious gaze studied her. She met it with external calm, though it was getting harder and harder to hide inside now that she knew him better. His looks had attracted her in the past, when she was a more shallow pool of a person. She still liked the way he looked, but the kind of person he was interested her more, now that she was older. True safety could only be found with someone of steady character, her mother had taught her. Now she understood what her mother had meant.
“I'll admit I'm a little nervous.” He looked rueful and a bit surprised.
“It's a different venue from your radio show,” she pointed out. “It's one thing to have ratings on the line, but another to be on that line yourself. And politics are tricky. What you hope to accomplish and what you can...” She trailed off, with a rueful shrug.
Remy nodded. “I'm trying to stay grounded in reality, but I've been thinking about what needs to be done for so long, I don't know. It's harder than I expected it to be.”
“Magus always used to say, that in politics, you should aim high and keep your expectations low.”
Remy laughed, pushing open the dining room door for her. “That sounds like Magus.”
“It does indeed,” Kate said, from her spot near the middle of the table. Across from her Titus sat with a plate of eggs and bacon.
It felt like they were interrupting something, though there was no overt sign of it on their faces. There was a tension in the room, despite the fact that Titus wore his usual stone-face and Kate looked aloof. It was hard for Dorothy to process what Kate had done last night, looking at her this morning. Had she really gone to Bozo and pretended to be Emma? And admitted to murder?
Dorothy walked around them both, to the buffet where covered plates of food waited her attention, her gaze grazing them as curiosity spiked. Kate seemed almost too focused on her food and Titus—why did she have the feeling he was pleased about something?
It was a rare enough state of being for him, she took another look and his gaze landed on Remy and pleased took a powder. His antagonism was getting out of hand. Maybe she needed to send him away for a few days. Give him time to distance himself. And get him out of the way for the announcement of their engagement. He was going to hate that. With all of Magus's holdings, it would be easy to get him out of the way without him suspecting anything.
“Do you think the security staff is up to speed now,” she asked, laying the trap for him.
He straightened. “Of course.”
“Then you'd be able to take a little trip for me? I need some papers hand delivered and you're the only one I can trust to do it for me.” She kept her smile sweet and edged with anxious. What was interesting, he looked at Kate first. He realized what he'd done and adjusted his attention, but it was too late. Kate, Dorothy noticed, kept her attention on the task of spreading jelly on her toast, as if the fate of the world depended on how well she did it.
“Certainly. When did you need me to leave?” He'd managed to keep his face impassive, but he sounded unhappy. If they hadn't had an audience, he would have argued with her.
“Right away. I'll get the envelope for you right after breakfast. You can take the company jet. I'll call and set it up. Thank you.” She smiled at him more gently than normal because of guilt at her relief. When had he stopped being her support and become an oppressive presence?
“Right.” He stood up. “I'd better get ready then.”
She smiled at him again. “You can finish your breakfast.”
“I'm not hungry.” He didn't stalk out, he had too much self control, but he left an aura of unhappy in his wake.
She exchanged a quick look with Remy, who was trying not to grin. He picked up the orange juice. “Can I pour you some?”
She nodded, but looked at Kate. “You all right this morning?”
Kate twitched, as if her thoughts were far away.
“I'm fine. Was just thinking about all the things I need to do today. If you'll excuse me, I think I'll head into town. Unless you need me for something?” Her eyes twinkled with her awareness of Dorothy's subterfuge. Was there also relief in them?
“Titus hasn't been giving you a hard time, too, has he?” Dorothy asked, with a slight frown. He had no right to be rude to her guests. If he pushed her too hard, she'd have to do something about him for sure.
Kate shook her head. “No, of course not.”
“He broods,” Remy said. “He smolders. It's like sharing space with a volcano.”
Kate laughed. “Well, he does do that. But we are old friends.”
Did she hesitate before that last word? Had they been more than friends? It was an intriguing thought. Once again Dorothy was reminded of how much she didn't know about the past.
Kate stood up. “Is there anything I can do for you before I go?”
Dorothy thanked her, but being alone with Remy was what she'd been hoping for. Though she was anxious to tell Remy about last night, she still waited until they were walking away from the house. Titus had assured her he'd thoroughly swept the house for bugs, but it was hard to relax there after everything that had happened. And there was much more staff wandering around. She did not want to be overheard. She wrote a note to her personal assistant, asking him to keep Titus busy for a few days, then sealed it in an envelope with some important looking sheets of paper and handed it to Titus.
He took it, but now that they were alone, he made his pitch, as she'd expected. “I'm your bodyguard. I should be here.”
“No one has done anything to threaten me. And I promise I'll be careful.” He didn't move. She stifled a sigh of impatience. “It's only for a couple of days. And I need you to do this for me. Please?”
He did sigh. “Fine. Just...be careful.” He started toward the door, then stopped and looked back. “Do you trust Kate?
Dorothy arched her brows. “I'm not sure.”
He managed a slight smile for her. “Good. Go slow there.”
“Do you know something, Titus?”
He hesitated. “I'm just chronically suspicious.”
She nodded, but didn't believe him. Darn his hide for always treating her like a kid. She was going to have to break him of that habit. But not right now. She met Remy in the hall, feeling the claustrophobia fall away from her as they stepped outside together. Once well clear of the house, she told him what Kate had told her last night.
“Clever,” was his main comment. He stopped and looked at her. “Do you trust her?”
“That's what Titus just asked me.” Dorothy frowned. “I told him, I'm not sure. There's more going on inside her than she's sharing. I'm just not sure it matters in our current situation.” She thought about telling him her feeling about Titus, but Remy had already moved on.
“And Titus? Why did you get him out of the way?”
Dorothy smiled. “I just needed a break from his brooding. And his hovering. In this life my father left me, sometimes it's hard to breathe for all the people around. They aren't bad people. Magus did a pretty good job of picking his employees, but they all still want or need something from me. I'm an introvert and it makes me tired.” She shook her head. This time it was her fault she was surrounded, but it didn't make it any easier to endure. “Titus didn't use to press so close. I guess he's feeling threatened by everything. I don't want to lose his friendship, but he needs to let me go. He needs to realize I'm a grownup now.”
“He doesn't like me,” Remy said, though not overly concerned by it.
“I am sorry. I haven't told him we're pretending. Maybe I should?”
Remy considered this before shaking his head. “I think it will just make it harder for him to see us acting intimate. He'll think I'm taking advantage of the situation. He doesn't bother me, other than a reflexive impulse to pull his chain.” He looped an arm over her shoulder and they started walking again. He grinned at her. “I'm still working on controlling my baser self.”
She laughed, liking the warm, sweet feeling that swept through her at his undemanding touch. He offered support without asking for anything in return, and all without words. Though she hoped he wouldn't try too hard to control that baser self. She rather liked that part of him, too.
She walked for a while, then sighed. They needed to get down to business.
“Kate thinks she neutralized the Bozo threat. And she believed him when he said he wasn't involved with Vance.”
“Do you believe her?” Remy asked, lifting a branch out of her way.
“I believe she believes it—which isn't really an answer, is it? I'd be more comfortable with real proof. I wish we could figure out what Vance was trying to tell Vonda.”
“I've been looking in to that. There's no record of anyone claiming to be his mother, either visiting him or writing to him.”
“I wonder why he asked her to contact his mother then?”
“There was one visitor to him right after he was first arrested that was...interesting,” Remy said.
Dorothy stopped, turning to face him. “Who?”
“Your housekeeper, Helene Tierry.”
Dorothy felt her jaw drop, but she couldn't help it. “Helene. Our housekeeper visited him in jail?”
“That's right. I think our first visit today, ought to be to her, don't you?”
“Oh yeah!”
Dorothy was so stunned by this, she didn't notice at first that they were still stopped, still facing each other and that Remy was staring at her.
“What?” she said, feeling warmth sweep through her again at the look in his eyes.
His grin was crooked and edged with wry. “I'm trying to think of all the reasons why I shouldn't kiss you again. It's that baser self rearing its ugly head again.”
“Oh.” She looked away, then back at him. “I'm afraid I can't help you. I have my own baser self to deal with.”
“Really?” Remy's smile turned satisfied as he stepped closer to her. He touched her lightly at first, his fingers dancing up her arms, before connecting with her shoulders. He pulled her close, but not touching. Perhaps he knew, as she did, that would take them too far. She met his gaze as she waited for him to kiss her.
“How come I didn't see what you were ten years ago?”
She shrugged, fighting back the impulse to trace the line of his mouth with her tingling finger tips. “I didn't know who I was then. How could you?”
“You're too forgiving. I was an arrogant jerk.”
“If you don't quit talking and kiss me, I'll be forced to agree.”
He chuckled, sliding his hands up to cradle either side of her face. He bent her head to one side, his to the other, and brought their mouths together.
Sweet heat spread out from the point of contact, turning her limbs fluid and making her head spin. She could feel her feet lift from the ground. It felt like she was floating, possibly soaring, but when he pulled back, her feet settled once more on terra firma. Her lips missed him, even as her brain understood the need for oxygen and self control.
“That was very nice,” she said. “How come I didn't know that about you ten years ago?”
He grinned. “I didn't know it either. You have a strange effect on me.”
“I'd love to pursue that,” she said with a sigh, “but we should get going. I'm dying to talk to Helene.”
Remy traced the line of her cheek before stepping back from her. Her skin felt cold and a bit forlorn with the contact. More than anything, she wanted to turn back into his arms and stay there, but duty called. And she always did her duty.
* * * *
Bozo Luc had eluded him and Darius wasn't happy about that. He'd anticipated that Bozo would run, but underestimated how quickly. His flight had been...precipitous. It was almost as if he'd sensed the threat Darius posed to him. Bozo hadn't been afraid of him in the past. Odd that he should start now. And annoying. Now he didn't know what information he was missing, but for now, he needed time to consider what he did know.
The arrival of Emma's sister, Kate interested him very much. He needed to meet her. She must have more information to share than Bozo had let on. As if his wish gave birth to reality, his intercom buzzed. A Ms. Kate Needham to see him.
How interesting.
His blood quickened in anticipation. It was an odd feeling and a new one for him. It had only started happening since he killed Suzanne. It was as if every woman he met became a potential victim. He'd even found himself studying the help, wondering how they'd look as they died. Now two of his maids had given notice. He should modify his behavior, but it was so new and fascinating to him, he didn't want to stop. Maybe if it cost him his housekeeper.
Darius found Kate waiting in his living room. He stopped in the doorway, studying her. The room didn't suit her. It was all black and white and very cool. Despite her gray hair, she was warm and vibrant. Very much alive. Just feeling the pulse of her blood through her veins ignited that part of him that wanted to stamp out life.
She had her back to him, but she had a straight, graceful figure. Was she the older or younger sister? To his knowledge, Emma had never mentioned a sister. It had been twenty-eight years since he'd parted with Emma, but with Dorothy's arrival on the scene, it seemed like yesterday. Had he hoped this Kate would be Emma? It was possible, he supposed.