Behind the Shadows (19 page)

Now she knew where music came from.

She also knew she would never be the same.

He withdrew from her, rolled over. His breath was labored.

His hand took hers.

Neither of them spoke immediately. She was still trying to absorb what had happened and the ramifications. Maybe there wouldn't be any for him. She knew there would be for her.

He was an experienced lover. She knew that. Her few experiences had included precious little foreplay, or much of an effort to give her pleasure before her partner took his.

He played with her hand. “You know we just created one hell of a problem,” he finally said.

“Yes.” She wasn't going to pretend there wasn't one. Despite what had just happened, he still represented what could be an obstacle to her mother's transplant.

“Damned unethical,” he added. “I know better.”

“Me, too.”

To her surprise, he chuckled. “Will you stop agreeing with me and show some outrage?”

“Only if you stop doing what you you're doing now.”

“You were tired. I took advantage.”

“Some could say I took advantage of you.”

He put an arm under her shoulder and pulled her to him. “God, you feel good.”

She nestled in his arm. For the first time in months, she relaxed. Felt as if she wasn't alone with the world on her shoulders.

She could relish it for a few moments, anyway.

He turned and ran his free hand over her body.

She inwardly flinched and wished away a few excess pounds. She wasn't really overweight, but she sure wasn't model size, either. Not like Leigh.

Leigh's image broke the reverie. She didn't want to move. She never wanted to move, but she had to get to the hospital. Her mother would worry if she didn't appear. She also had to see how her mother was doing after the debacle last night. She'd made one call after arriving home today. The nurse said she was doing fine, but Kira didn't really trust the hospital that much.

“I have to go to the hospital,” she said reluctantly.

“I'll drive you,” he said.

“No.” Despite the fact that the last hour was probably the most spectacular in her life, she needed her independence. Especially from him. It would be so easy to yield to him.

“Yes,” he retorted, then held up his hand as she started to protest. “Just this one time. It'll be dark soon, and you're still tired. Anyone else would be comatose. I'll drive you there, wait, and then we can have supper at the Italian restaurant.”

She started to protest. He stopped her with a kiss. “We have things to talk about.”

They did. And he was right about her exhaustion. She'd had a couple of hours of sleep this afternoon but even less the night before. She knew she was near the breaking point, and she couldn't afford that. A good meal sounded like nectar from the gods.

“Okay. Thanks.”

He ran a hand through her hair. “You're sexy as hell,” he said.

She knew she looked astonished.

“Hasn't anyone told you that before?”

“No.”

“Just proves most men are fools.”

She wanted to ask him whether his other women friends were thin and fashionable, but she wasn't about ready to let him see that slice of insecurity.

Instead, she forced herself to sit when she really wanted to lie next to him. Forever. Certainly for the night.

At least he would be with her part of the evening.

And then?

Then
they would have to stay apart. She had to get a kidney for her mother. He obviously intended to protect Leigh. That could mean a possible court case if that was what it took to force Leigh to donate a kidney.

She stood. “I need a shower.”

“Me, too.”

She'd never taken a shower with a man. Now was probably not the time to start.

“After me,” she said firmly. “You are too distracting.”

He stood, obviously a lot more comfortable with his nakedness than she was with hers. “I sincerely hope so,” he replied.

He went over to her, held her easily. “This was unwise, but I don't regret it.”

The hell of it was she didn't, either.

20

Chris debated whether to call Leigh Howard or just show up.

The problem with just showing up was the gate Kira had described. He might not get any farther.

He picked up the telephone. The housekeeper answered and he asked to speak with Ms. Howard. He gave his name. Lies now would definitely be counterproductive.

To his surprise, Leigh answered.

“Ms. Howard, I'm Chris Burke.”

“Mr. Burke?” She obviously knew who he was. Her voice was like ice cubes dropping in crystal.

“I wonder if you could give me an hour of your time. I would like to explain a few things.”

“I don't think I want to hear any explanations.”

“Ms. Douglas's home was burglarized,” he said. “And someone tried to push her in front of a train.”

A pause, then, “Are you implying …”

“I'm not implying anything,” he said. “And Ms. Douglas said nothing to the police about you or the Westerfields. I just want to tell you a little about Ms. Douglas. And her mother.”

A stick and a carrot.

Another silence. Then, “You should talk to my attorney.”

“I could, but I think there are some things you should hear.” He hesitated, then added, “I realize that you're angry about the way Kira obtained your DNA. But she really did do it to avoid everyone unnecessary pain.”

“I don't accept that.”

At least she hadn't hung up on him.

“Understandable,” he said with a charm he hadn't exercised in years. “But I would very much like to talk to you.”

Another silence. He was surprised she hadn't immediately hung up. Maybe she
was
curious. “I promise not to say a word about DNA or babies or anything else you don't want to talk about.”

“All right,” she said, surprising him.

“When?”

“This afternoon. Around four.”

“I would like to take you to an early dinner.”

“I don't think so,” she said.

She would have more control at home. More confidence. That wasn't what he wanted. Still, he hadn't expected to get this far. “I'll be there.”

He hung up. He had time to clean up a bit, shave the late-afternoon shadow. Choose something to wear. He wondered whether he should call Kira, but he hoped she would be sleeping, and he didn't want to raise expectations. Maybe, just maybe, Leigh Howard had changed her mind.

He also called the police station and talked to the sergeant in the precinct near Kira's house. He told him what happened and asked him to keep an eye on the house. “Just ask the cops on duty to drive by several times during their watch.”

The sergeant agreed. Chris would have preferred something more substantial, but private cops took big bucks, and he knew she didn't have the money. He also knew how independent she was. She wouldn't take anything more from him.

At least she was aware of a threat now and would take precautions. The new security system at the house was top-of-the-line. He knew, though, he wouldn't stop worrying.

Now why had Leigh accepted his invitation? He'd thoroughly expected to be rebuffed. It had been a long shot at best. Maybe she was rethinking her decision. Maybe Leigh Howard really wanted to know more about Katy Douglas.

Or maybe she wanted to know whether she was suspected of having any part in yesterday's events.

Max wasn't sure that driving Kira to the hospital and dining with her again was a good idea.

In fact it was a damned bad one.

But he couldn't get protective personnel there until the next morning, and he sure as hell wasn't going to let her roam alone.

He'd been stunned by the lovemaking. He'd been told he was a good lover. Like everything else he did, he tried to excel, and making love was simply another skill. He'd learned what pleased women.

But tonight had not been technique. It had been pure, explosive emotion. New to him. Startling to him. Hell, terrifying to him.

He didn't know what there was about Kira Douglas that destroyed his ordinary reserve, the wall he'd carefully built around himself as a kid and reinforced through succeeding decades. He'd seen his share of destructive marriages and dysfunctional relationships. He did not intend to add to them, and he'd never been good at sharing himself with others.

He gathered his clothes after she went into the shower. He needed one as well, but joining her, he feared, would be pushing things.

He used a half bath downstairs to wash. He dressed, then waited in the living room for her. He wandered about the room. The television screen was smashed. Bookshelves empty. Broken picture frames littered a mantel over a wood-burning fireplace. He looked through them. All were photos of Katy and Kira Douglas, or Kira alone. A graduation. A beach. A wide grin over a barbecue pit made him smile. In the joint photos, they looked more like sisters than mother and daughter.

Kira joined him. The area around her eyes was still dark with fatigue, but the eyes themselves glowed from their love-making.

“Ready,” she said.

“That's fast.”

Her hair was damp and tendrils curled around her face. She wore a pair of tan linen slacks and a short-sleeved dark brown blouse that fit in all the right places. She looked delectable.

“I'm usually fast,” she said. “I've never seen the point of spending hours getting ready to go out.”

“Maybe because you don't need it.”

“Now that's one of the nicest compliments I've heard lately.”

“That's strange. Your smile lights a room.” He meant it. When he first met her, he'd liked her, but it was at supper that sparks flew between them. He hadn't understood it because at first glance she wasn't his usual type. Now he did. There was a warmth about her that drew him in, and a sprightly intelligence that challenged him. He liked that in a woman.

She looked disconcerted, but before she had a chance to answer, her cell phone rang. She looked at the number. “It's Chris,” she said. “I have to answer it.”

He moved away to give her a little privacy. Still, he heard a bit of the conversation.

“I did get some sleep. I'm going to see Mom now.”

He couldn't hear the detective's reply. He wondered how close the two were. He didn't like the unexpected jolt of resentment that struck him. He tried to ignore it.

Kira lowered her voice, but he could still hear the words. “You don't have to come. Max drove by. He said he would take me to the hospital and bring me home.”

After another pause, “Not to worry. I'll see you tomorrow.”

Jealousy tugged at him again. Stronger than before. Ridiculous, but there it was.

After she hung up, she grabbed a purse.

“Has he learned anything?” he asked.

“No,” she said simply.

He wanted to know what Burke had said, but he didn't feel he could ask. She'd been more than a little suspicious when he brought the computer. But then, considering what had happened, maybe a little suspicion was a good thing.

She reset the alarm system. He held the door open and watched as she locked the door behind him.

He put his hand on her arm as they went down the steps, and merely the touch sent new waves of heat through him. He wanted her again. He suspected he would always want her.

He tried to ignore that fact and concentrate on her safety. He glanced around. Nothing suspicious. But he wouldn't be satisfied until his protection people arrived in the morning. Until then he intended to make certain nothing else happened to her. At least from any source other than himself.

It was seven when they arrived at the hospital. Max followed her up, then gestured toward the waiting room. “I'll wait over there,” he said. “Take your time.”

She nodded, grateful for his presence even as she wanted to dismiss it as unnecessary. She had to admit she was afraid. Physically afraid. Afraid in a way that she'd never been before, and she hated that feeling.

Her mother was asleep when she walked in. Good. The more rest, the better. She doubted her mother had had an easy day after last night's disappointment.

She sat down, and her mother's eyes fluttered open as if sensing her presence. She gave Kira a tired smile, then those electric blue eyes sparked as she studied her daughter's face.

“You look different.”

Kira wondered whether her mother was well enough to notice the glow in her. It lingered, and she really didn't want to dampen it. A few minutes of bliss in a year darkened by her mother's illness.

It was breaking her heart to sit back and watch someone she loved fade away, especially when she knew there might be a way to save her.

“I have a new assignment. It's going to give me more time with you.”

Her mother's face fell. “You love city hall. I don't want you to lose it. Not for me.”

“I won't. I'm just taking a brief break. I've been assigned to do a series on transplants, Mom. The need for them. The problems involved in organ donations. Kind of like an ongoing diary. I can give a personal view that no one else can.”

“Everything?”

“Nothing that will hurt or embarrass you, I promise.”

“That's not what I meant,” Katy Douglas said with the old feistiness that Kira remembered so well. “You … can write anything you want. In fact, I hope you will. If it will help the donor program …” She started coughing, and Kira held a cup of water to her mouth as she took a sip.

Kira chewed on her tongue. A habit from childhood when she didn't want to show emotion. She put the water down and took her mother's hand. It looked so fragile. “You're my heroine, you know.”

Now her mother's eyes misted over. “The only thing … I want to see you fall in love. I want to see your children …” Her voice trailed off as if the words were too much.