Текст книги "Silencing Eve"

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 14 (всего у книги 23 страниц)

“Because of my time with the monks in Tibet. They taught me that nothing was certain.” He shrugged. “And this conversation is beginning to bore me. I’m sure that any granddaughter who has my genes would be exceptionally intelligent, but the idea of banking a search for Eve on those few words isn’t reasonable. Nor is there time to pursue a thread that flimsy. I prefer to go in another direction.”

“For instance?”

“I’ll let you know when I do.” He was no longer smiling. “Or maybe not. You just wander along on your path toward that mysterious driftwood graveyard. It’s a little too whimsical for me.”

“I’m not going to wander anywhere that’s more than a shout away from you. I haven’t changed my mind about your being the ace that could lead me to Doane.” Her brows rose. “Are you still trying to get rid of me?”

He was silent a moment, staring at her. “I find myself oddly reluctant at the thought of your getting in my way when I have to take care of Doane. It would probably be fatal, and I’m not accustomed to not being able to ignore that aspect of the job.”

“I’m touched,” Catherine murmured. “You’d actually be sorry if you had to remove me if I got in your way? Don’t worry, I’ll try to keep myself alive to avoid causing you any serious mental distress.” She suddenly chuckled. “And I won’t flatter myself that I’m at the root of that distress. It’s because I’m Eve’s friend, isn’t it?”

“Ridiculous.”

“I don’t think so. I’m not sure what you feel about Eve and how much it’s affecting your actions, but there’s some kind of cause and effect involved.”

“You don’t believe it’s your charm and endearing personality?” he asked with silken menace. “I don’t appreciate your thinking that I’m transparent enough for you to read me. It annoys me.”

She smothered the sudden ripple of fear. Being with Zander was like walking a tightrope. Most of the time, she felt fairly confident, but then he’d show his teeth, and the chill would come. Don’t let him see it. “I can’t read you. But you and Eve came together while she was on the run from Doane in the mountains. You couldn’t be with her for even the shortest time without realizing how special she is. She’d make her mark on you.” She forced herself to look him directly in the eye. “And Doane may be your target, but he’s not the reason you’re on the hunt. It’s Eve.”

“Really?”

“Really. You’ve gone to extraordinary lengths to assure that Doane wouldn’t kill her.”

“Extraordinary? Not likely.”

“Extraordinary,” she repeated. “For you, Zander. You’re probably in denial and perhaps don’t realize your motivation, but you want Eve to live.”

“Because she’s my daughter?” he asked mockingly.

“I don’t know. You’d have to tell me.” Her lips twisted. “And I’m not about to force that issue. I’m already in enough trouble with you.”

“And you’re clearly terrified,” he said sarcastically.

“I’m afraid of you,” she said bluntly. “You’re intimidating as hell, and I have to work my way through it. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t do it. You have to respect me, or you’d leave me behind in your dust.” She paused. “And I believe you do have your own plan to get Doane. I don’t want to be left out of it. I won’t get in your way, and you can count on me to watch your back.”

“And protect me?”

“I know that you didn’t like that.” She grinned. “Stang nearly had a heart attack.” Her smile faded. “But it’s what I have to do. You’re the prize, Zander.”

“I’ve no quarrel with that statement. It’s quite true.”

“And prizes have to be given a certain security.”

“Only if it’s a prize that’s being distributed by someone else. No one has the power to control this particular prize.” He tapped his chest. “Not you, not Quinn, not Venable. No one. I won’t be traded, bartered, or held hostage. Don’t try it, Catherine.”

“Not if I can see any other way,” Catherine said quietly. “Eve wouldn’t thank me for it. That’s why I was glad that Gallo called and gave us that info about the driftwood. I’m looking for any way out.” She grimaced. “So stop threatening me, and let’s see what we can do to find that son of a bitch that doesn’t require me giving Doane your head on a platter.”

“I really don’t believe that’s a possibility,” he said coldly. “And if you persist in—” He broke off and suddenly chuckled. “And now you’re trying to run me as you do the rest of Eve’s little army of rescuers? This is my hunt, and I’ve allowed you to come along for the ride. We’re not ‘we,’ and we have no common purpose.”

But at least he was smiling again. “Not even the common purpose of keeping you from becoming beheaded?”

“By you.”

“By me.”

She shrugged. “Why not help me, Zander? Don’t make me trail after you. As you said, there’s not much time. I’m trying to gather every bit of information I can, and we’re all having to frantically piece it together.”

“Yes, I’ve watched with fascination you trying to pull all those strings. Don’t try that with me. I’m no puppet.”

“Neither are Joe or Gallo. And Jane MacGuire is a tough cookie. We’re all just people trying to work together to keep Eve alive. If I seem to be making the effort to coordinate what’s going on, it’s because it’s so damn difficult to work through this web that Doane and his son wove years ago.” She added soberly, “And according to what Jane is telling me, Doane may not even be as terrible as his ex-wife. I told you what Harriet Weber said to Doane about not giving him the location of those nukes until he’d set you up for execution.”

“Yes, charming lady.”

“A beast, like her son, like Doane.”

“But with excellent taste in executions. She chooses the very best.”

“It’s not funny.” She shook her head. “I care about this, Zander. I care about Eve. I care about those millions of people who may die if we can’t stop Doane and that bitch from pressing that switch. Help me, dammit.”

He was silent. “No, it’s not funny. But I have problems with caring. I … think I may envy you. So much passion…”

“Help me.”

“How?”

“I don’t know.” She moistened her lips. “Venable says you’re a brilliant man. Figure some way out of this nightmare. Look, there are two objectives tied in a Gordian knot. It would be easier if we only had to worry about Eve. But there are those two nuclear devices.” She held up her index finger. “Chicago. Jane, Trevor, and Caleb will have to find them and try to disarm them. Harriet Weber is in contact with Doane, and she may be the key to finding him. She’s also the one who knows where those bombs are located and can ignite them.”

“Kill her,” Zander said coolly.

“And risk having Doane killing Eve because he would have no chance to give his son his grand funeral pyre?”

“Killing her would be Venable’s decision.”

“Not mine. I want it all. I want Eve alive.” She held up another finger. “Seattle. Find the bomb stashed here. Find Doane and save Eve. Much less complicated than Chicago.”

“You’re being simplistic. It all relies on finding Doane.”

“And it’s all linked to Harriet Weber.” She met his gaze. “That’s why I can’t pull any strings. I have to depend on other people who care about Eve.” She paused. “Like you, Zander.”

“I told you, I have problems in that area.”

“I don’t give a damn. Work your way through it. This is scary stuff, and I need a partner. You won’t let me bring in Joe or Gallo. So you’re stuck with me.”

“Am I?”

“Are you?” she whispered. “Say yes, Zander.”

His gaze held her own for a long moment. “What a Delilah you are, even when that’s not your intention. Yet you’re not really a Delilah, more like a woman from an Ayn Rand novel. I’m beginning to pity Gallo.”

“Say yes.”

He looked away from her. “Again, too simplistic. I’ll consider your proposition and see if it suits my purpose.” He leaned forward and told Stang. “Find a hotel. I need to have a meal and make a few phone calls.”

Catherine was surprised. “So soon? You only contacted one person, that Monte Slater. And you said he didn’t know anything. Maybe you should try someone else.”

“Slater has a pipeline to everything that goes on in Seattle. He’s expert at information gathering. If he doesn’t have a line on Doane, no one does. He’ll call me if he hears anything.”

“There may be someone better. You should go out on the streets and find them yourself,” she said. “Or let me go. I don’t know the city, but I know how to dig. Before I was recruited for the CIA, I made my living in Hong Kong selling information.”

“So I heard,” Zander said. “I’m sure you were extraordinary.”

She shrugged. “I was hungry. That’s who we need now. Someone who is hungry. Tell Stang to pull over and let me out. Give me my chance to find Doane.”

“Zander?” Stang asked, his gaze on the rearview mirror.

“I think not,” Zander said. “We’ll do it my way. The hotel, Stang. I wouldn’t dream of throwing Catherine out in the streets to face who knows what criminal elements.” He smiled faintly. “She might offer to act as their bodyguard.” He glanced at Catherine. “Besides, our guest needs to rest, but she won’t do it. She’ll probably spend her time investigating the area’s driftwood. Right, Catherine?”

She didn’t answer the question but looked away from him and out the window. “Say yes, Zander.”

Chicago

THE FIRST PALE STREAKS of dawn were creeping over the horizon when Margaret’s bus entered the city. Time to announce her arrival and find out where in this huge city she could find Jane, Margaret thought. She pulled out her phone and started to call Jane. Then she stopped as she glanced at the sunrise. Why wake Jane at this hour? She needed all the rest she could get. No, she could get the information from Caleb or Trevor, and she didn’t give a damn at the moment if she woke either one of them. They were both definitely in her bad graces.

She dialed Seth Caleb. “I’ve reached Chicago. Would you like to tell me where to find Jane, or do you still want to play games?”

“You’re the one who extended the play by becoming incommunicado. You know Jane would have made sure that you’d be brought here safely.”

“I had to make a point so that you wouldn’t be so stupid again.”

“Point taken,” he said dryly. “Why are you calling me instead of Jane?”

“She’s not well. I didn’t want to disturb her.”

Silence. “She’s much better now. And I, for one, wouldn’t mind if you disturbed her.”

The words were spoken without expression. Yet Margaret could sense the darkness. “I don’t go by what you mind or don’t mind, Caleb.” She paused. “But if Jane is having problems with you, I’d better know about it. Where are you?”

“Lakeside Marriott. Room 1730.”

“And Jane?”

“I didn’t ask her. Somewhere on this floor. You’ll have to find her yourself.”

Something was definitely not right. “I told you, I don’t want to wake her. I’ll come to your room.” She hung up.

She stared thoughtfully out the window. Storm clouds and an explosion on the brink. What had been happening in these last hours? Well, she would know soon. At least, he had said that Jane was better. Which might be the cause of those storm clouds. It was just as well Margaret was on the scene to act as buffer.

Lakeside Marriott. She got to her feet and weaved her way down the aisle to talk to the bus driver. His name was Harry Milton and after hours of casual conversation he probably liked her well enough to do her a favor. If she handled it right.

“Hi, Harry.” She beamed at him. “Do you know where the Lakeside Marriott is? Do you suppose it’s too far out of your way?”

CHAPTER

13

TWENTY MINUTES LATER, Margaret was knocking on the door of Room 1730.

Caleb opened the door. “That was quick.”

“The bus driver dropped me off.” She strolled into the room. “I didn’t want to waste time getting transportation from the bus station. You have to catch me up with what’s been happening since you arrived here.” She dropped down in a chair by the balcony doors. “First, Harriet Weber. Anything?”

“A telephone call from Doane.”

She stiffened. “What?”

“I thought that would make you sit up and take notice.” He sat down opposite her. “And it was something of a role reversal from what Venable thought.”

“Tell me.”

She listened closely as he described in detail the conversation between Doane and his ex-wife.

“Holy shit.” She shook her head. “Yeah, I can see the role reversal. She’s seems very dangerous. Sort of a black widow devouring her mates.”

“Trust you to compare her to one of your nature friends,” Caleb said. “Personally, I see Harriet as very human, with abundant Borgia qualities.”

“I don’t have any black widow friends,” she said absently. “I’ve tried but I can’t communicate with insects. And I wouldn’t choose a black widow anyway. It may be natural, but I can’t bear the thought that they eat their mates.” She was still thinking about Harriet. “If she’s in control, it opens an entire new view of what we might—Have you called Kendra?”

“Yes, I was designated official town crier. I called both Catherine and Kendra. Catherine was a good deal more receptive than Kendra. Oh, and she gave me some more info about where Doane might be keeping Eve. Something about a graveyard of driftwood…” He briefly filled her in on those details from Ben Hudson. “She’d already told Kendra, and Kendra was interested but impatient. She said that she was being bombarded, and she didn’t need that right now. She said between Kevin’s journal and the letters, she was going crazy.”

Margaret nodded. “She’ll be better soon. Puzzles drive her crazy. Her mind works double time until she sees the connections. But I think she’s beginning to do it.”

“How do you know?”

“I talked to her a few hours ago when I was on the road. Something suddenly occurred to her, and she brushed me off and sent me on my way. I made her promise to call me.”

“Will she do it?”

She looked at him in surprise. “Of course. She promised me. She’s like Jane. Honor and fair play mean everything to her. I’m expecting a call from her at any time.” She shrugged. “And besides, it’s the only way Kendra can participate without being on the spot. She’ll probably try to use me as her stand-in.”

“And you don’t object?”

“Not unless it interferes with my helping Jane. Kendra is very clever and won’t let that happen. She knows that’s why I’m with Jane.”

“You’ve made that crystal clear.”

She leaned back and studied him.

Darkness again, and the storm was closer. “No one can say I’m not honest.” She paused. “For instance, I don’t care about all this lust and emotional fireworks you and Trevor are obviously experiencing around Jane. I’ve never gone through it, so I can’t see what all the shouting is about. I’ve never been able to read you, but I’d guess on your part it’s probably purely animalistic, and that’s part of nature. Trevor is on a higher plane, and I think he genuinely cares about her.”

“I’m really not interested in your opinion, Margaret.”

She nodded. “Because you screwed up.”

He didn’t answer.

“You told me Jane was better. That means you probably did that blood thing that you did to her before. Right?”

He slowly nodded.

“And that you didn’t mind if I disturbed Jane. I had to think about that for a minute.”

“But I’m sure you came up with an answer.”

“You wanted her to be disturbed because she was with Trevor.” She tilted her head. “And at this time of night it’s logical to assume that they’re sleeping together.”

“Very logical.”

“So you did something she didn’t like.”

“Wrong.” He smiled recklessly. “I did something she did like … too much.”

She shook her head. “If Jane went to Trevor, it’s probably because you did something pretty bad. You might not even recognize that it would seem that bad to her. You’re two different species.” She thought about it. “No, you probably did know. But you’re one of the wild ones, and you didn’t care at that particular moment.”

“None of this is your business, Margaret. You’re annoying me.”

“I know. But Jane is my business. Mating is natural. I don’t give a damn what you and Trevor do to her as long as it’s okay with her. Maybe this time it wasn’t.” She frowned. “So, I thought I’d warn you that if you sent her running to Trevor, I’m going to help her to stay there.”

“The hell you are.”

The storm was no longer hovering but there before her. Dark eyes glittering with intensity. Lips drawn back from white teeth.

“I told you that honor and fair play mean a lot to Jane. I think that Trevor understands that. She’ll be safer with him.”

“Stay out of this, Margaret.”

“Can’t,” she said simply. “She took that bullet for me. I owe her. It’s not over until it’s over.” She smiled cheerfully. “But now that you understand my position, we can forget about it unless there’s a problem. I do find you very interesting, Caleb. Sometimes, the most unpredictable animals are the most fascinating.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “You’re incredible.” He added harshly, “And I don’t even know why I’m even listening to a half-baked kid like you.”

“Half-baked?” She thought about it. “I do have a lack of experience in some areas, but in others I’m ahead of the game. So I don’t think you can call me that. Maybe three-quarters baked?” She got to her feet. “And now I have to go to the bathroom and get a drink of water. Will you order me breakfast? Orange juice, roll, and coffee.”

“Haven’t you heard you shouldn’t eat in the hall of the enemy?” he asked sarcastically.

“Don’t be melodramatic. You’re not my enemy.” She moved across the room. “Unless you—” She stopped as her phone rang. “Kendra. I told you she’d keep her word.” She answered, “I’m already in Chicago, Kendra. You took long enough. I’m with Seth Caleb. I’m putting you on speaker.”

“Whatever,” Kendra said impatiently. “I think I’ve got it, Margaret. It was easy once I connected the dots.”

“I’ve seen you connect dots before, and there’s nothing easy about it,” Margaret said. “I don’t see the same paths that you do.”

“You have to come back to the prime realization that Harriet has always had a passion for English literature and move forward from there. She even infected her son, Kevin, with the same passion. He wanted to please her, and he knew that was the best way of doing it. It was clearly something they shared from the time he was a child.”

“Where are we going with this?”

“The setting of those explosives was the biggest thing in Kevin’s life at the time that he became involved with that al-Qaeda cell. He wanted to make Harriet a part of it.”

“Why?”

“From the comparisons Kevin made to Harriet about those poor little girls he raped and murdered, I’d guess he was trying to make up to her for the one crime for which she flatly condemned him.”

“She only disapproved because she thought it was dangerous for him.”

“But it caused her to leave him so that he’d have a safe haven if he needed it. I doubt if Kevin could be made to feel guilt, but he couldn’t stand the thought of not being perfect in her eyes. He needed to have her approval. In the case of the nuclear project, he needed to give Harriet the idea that they were on the same team. A sort of dark, macabre camaraderie.”

“Those who blow up a city together, stay together?”

“Or two cities. Yes, that’s the idea. That’s also the reason why Kevin made the journal too complicated for Doane to decipher. I believe Kevin was always playing his father off against his mother. But it was Harriet who he couldn’t bear to lose. He really meant the journal to go to Harriet, but he died before he could take it from Doane and give it to her.”

“And how did Kevin involve Harriet in setting up the explosion?”

“Why, he let her plan it. He made it an intimate game between the two of them. Harriet loved control, and he knew it. So he used the passion they both shared and let her choose how and where to pull off the explosion.”

“And it’s in that journal?”

“Nothing blatant. He wouldn’t want to give anything away to Doane. This was a precious secret between Harriet and him. Kevin teased her with it. Oblique references. There were also the same type references in the letters he wrote to her about that same time.”

“Dammit, what references, Kendra?”

“I’m getting to it. Don’t be impatient.”

“Why shouldn’t I be impatient? You’ve given me nothing but psychological mumbo jumbo about two sickos.”

“It’s not mumbo jumbo. It’s an analysis that is based on hours of—I can hear you seething, Margaret.”

“That’s impossible. But you know me well enough to realize that’s exactly what I’d do. More analysis. Now what is this intimate little charade Kevin and his mother were practicing? And what did it have to do with Harriet’s obsession with English Literature?”

“Everything.” Kendra’s voice was tense. “I think I’ve found what we’re looking for. Look, the journal was written to be read by Harriet, not Doane. We saw Doane’s house, and the man isn’t a reader. But Harriet could pick up on some fairly obscure literary references.”

“So we’re back to those literary references again. Give me an example.”

Margaret heard a rustling of papers on Kendra’s end of the phone. “Late in the journal, he gets on a rant about wanting the world to pay for its hatred against him. At one point, he says he’ll ‘see the brave day sunk in hideous night.’”

“I don’t recognize that. But, then, I’m more into Dr. Seuss than obscure English quotations.”

“I didn’t recognize it either, but I knew it didn’t seem like his own words based on everything else he’d written. It’s from a Shakespeare sonnet. Then, a bit later in the journal, Kevin writes that ‘quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace—’”

“‘… like a clock during a thunderstorm,’” Margaret finished.

Silence. “You know that line?”

“Maybe I know a few things other than Dr. Seuss. I’ve read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

“And you remember that quote? You never cease to amaze me, Margaret.”

“What about the letters? Did they help?”

“The content didn’t give me much yet. Maybe later. But the envelopes do.”

“How is that?”

“The postmarks. The dates line up with his journal entries. The postmark on one envelope tells us that he mailed a letter from Seattle on June 4, and it was stamped at a postal facility just a few blocks from the King Street Station. It’s the biggest clock tower in Seattle. And, the day that he referred to that Shakespeare sonnet rant in his journal, he mailed another letter from downtown Chicago. It was in the vicinity of two fairly notable clocks. It’s interesting what he left out in both quotes. The full Shakespeare line is ‘When I do count the clock that tells the time, and set the brave day sunk in hideous night.’ And the Stevenson line is ‘Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm.’”

Margaret inhaled sharply as the concept hit home. “Clocks…”

“Yes, the first quote was in a Kevin journal entry from Seattle. And there’s another reference here, from Osbert Sitwell. That one is from another of the letters from Kevin to Harriet, and the envelope is also stamped Chicago and dated a little before Kevin’s death.” Kendra flipped more pages. “It says, ‘Killing time is only the name for another of the multifarious ways by which Time kills us.’”

“Time kills us?”

“I think Kevin is telling us something here. No, I’m almost sure of it. You need to check the clocks in those cities.”

“Easy to say. There must be hundreds of clocks and clock towers in Chicago and Seattle.”

“But both Kevin and his mother have gigantic egos. They wouldn’t play around with small stuff. It would amuse them to go after a place that would garner headlines.”

“I assume you have a few ideas?”

“I’m e-mailing you a list of possibles. I just sent you pictures and map data for several of the most-high-profile clocks in Chicago and Seattle.” She paused. “I don’t want to influence you, but I’d zero in on the Wrigley Building downtown, next to the Chicago River. There’s a huge clock tower atop the building, but there’s also a clock at the nearby baseball field. They might have chosen either one. Or neither one.”

“And Seattle?”

“I’d go first to the King Street Station. Besides the postmark on the letter, that clock tower is one of the most recognizable structures in the entire city.” She was silent again. “All of this is just my opinion, Margaret. No proof. I’m still working on alternate—”

“Stop trying to punch holes in it,” Margaret said. “You did great work, and you know it. Try to get some sleep. We’ll take it from here.”

“Not entirely,” Kendra said dryly. “Every time I turn around, someone is throwing something else at me. I’ve got to double-check my findings on the journal, then dive into Pacific Coast driftwood.”

“I’m not going to try to talk you out of it,” Margaret said quietly. “It’s too important. All of this talk about clock towers and terrorist plots. It’s all world-shaking and horrible, but the nightmare for Jane may be what’s behind that driftwood you have to locate.”

“Or her salvation,” Kendra said. “I’ll keep on it, Margaret.” She hung up.

“She’s astonishing,” Caleb said slowly as he watched Margaret thrust her phone back into her pocket. “Jane told me about her, but I guess she’s something you have to experience.”

“You could say that,” Margaret said. “And thank God when she’s for you instead of against you. Kendra doesn’t suffer fools gladly.”

“I got that impression.”

“You were going to order me breakfast.” She checked her watch. “But that’s okay. I’ll wait until after I call Jane, and we’ll all have it together.”

“Of course, there’s the issue of disturbing Jane,” he murmured. “You’ve changed your mind about that?”

“It’s not important right now.” She looked at him impatiently. “I told you all that sex stuff doesn’t mean diddly-squat to me when you put it in the balance. Kendra worked her butt off to give us a chance to put a roadblock in the way of Harriet Weber’s plans. I’ve got to tell Jane.” She frowned. “And you said Harriet was going to pick up the detonator this morning. Maybe that will give us a clue about where they planted the device.”

“Perhaps. ‘Diddly-squat’ … what an unusual term … But, then, there’s nothing usual about you.” Caleb got to his feet. “I’ll call Jane for you and invite her to breakfast.”

She shook her head. “I’ll give her another fifteen minutes, then do it myself.” She went headed for the bathroom. “You’d enjoy it entirely too much.”

*   *   *

THE SUN WAS ALMOST OVER THE HORIZON, the amber gold streaks soft against the dark clouds. Beautiful, Jane thought drowsily, as she turned away from the window and cuddled closer to Trevor.

And he was beautiful. Strong and full of light and warmth like that sunlight.

“Awake?” he whispered in her ear. “I thought you were dozing.”

“Maybe. I don’t know. I tried not to sleep. I didn’t want to let go.” Her lips moved across his cheek. “I didn’t want to let you go.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said softly. “I’ve got you, and I’m going to keep you.” His hand gently stroked her hair back from her face. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you since I came back. You haven’t been listening, you stubborn woman.”

“I’m listening now.” She nestled closer. “I am stubborn … and scared. I think I must have loved you since the moment I saw you all those years ago. You took my breath away. All that charm and charisma and you were so damn Greek-god beautiful.”

“Beautiful?” He made a face. “Your artistic tendencies must have blinded you. I’m no Greek god.”

“No, maybe not. According to the myths, Greek gods weren’t always very kind or sane or unselfish. Not like you.”

“I’m not unselfish. Not where you’re concerned. I want to reach out and grab and hold. I hope I’m sane, but it’s easy to be kind to you, Jane.”

“Is it? You’re wrong, you know. I’m hard to love. No one ever loved me before Eve came into my life. A few of my foster parents pretended for a while, but something always happened, and they sent me away.”

“Stupid bastards.” He cleared his throat. “You were better off without them.”

“I think so, too. Because then Eve came.” She raised herself on one arm and looked down at him. “Look, I don’t feel sorry for myself. I didn’t mean that, Trevor. I’m a very good artist, and a good person, and I’ll make damn sure that we have a great life together. I just wanted you to know that I don’t have any illusions about being the easiest person in the world to live with.”

“Just so you do live with me and don’t walk away again.” His lips brushed the tip of her nose. “I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Never again, Trevor,” she whispered. She lowered her cheek to the hollow of his shoulder. “I was lying here thinking. Do you know what I want most in the world, no, the universe?”

“Whatever it is, I’ll get it for you.”

“We’ll get it together. I want to be back at the lake cottage. I want to sit in the porch swing with Eve and watch Joe making barbecue down by the lake. I want to see you strolling down to talk to him and look back at me and smile.” Her lips brushed his collarbone. “Family. And you part of it.”

“I think we can manage that. Though Joe will have to teach me to barbecue. Anything else?”

“We watch the sun go down. And then we say good night to Eve and Joe and we go home together.” She could feel a tightness in her throat. “And we talk the way we did tonight, not holding anything back.”

“Do we make love?”

She laughed huskily. “Of course, that goes without saying.”

“Oh, I think that should definitely be said. We do it so well.”

Yes, they did, she thought dreamily. They knew each other’s bodies and how to make them respond. Their passion tonight had been slow, hot, sweet, heady. Completely satisfying. “I agree. I didn’t mean to make such an important omission.”

“Understandable. It wasn’t the focus tonight.”

She had a sudden thought and raised herself to look down at him again. “Why wasn’t it the focus? Was it because of Caleb? Did what he did tonight interfere with—”

“Hush.” He kissed her and shut off the words. “It was necessary. Did I like it? Hell, no. But nothing you and Caleb could do together would interfere with what I feel for you.” She opened her lips to speak, and he put two fingers on her lips. “And the reason that sex wasn’t the focus was that it’s always there for us, and it’s always magic. The focus tonight was on the miracle.”