Magnificent Folly (16 page)

“No.” She thought about it. “Do you know it
never occurred to me one time today that anyone I was meeting was in the least unusual? They were just nice, friendly people.”

A delighted smile lit Andrew’s face. “That’s exactly what we are. We just have a different set of problems to face than most people.”

Her eyes twinkled. “Kidnappings, foreign agents, viole—”

“That doesn’t happen all the time,” Andrew said, interrupting quickly. “Most of the time we live very peaceful lives here in Sedikhan.”

“But you obviously don’t always stay in Sedikhan,” she said drily. “For instance, what were you doing at Franklin University nine years ago? You said something about therapy.”

Andrew nodded. “Henry needed help with a patient he couldn’t reach, and sent out an SOS.”

“Is Henry a member of the Clanad?”

“No, but he believes in what we’re doing.”

“I’m not sure I do.”

Andrew stiffened and glanced sideways at her. “Why not?”

“This artificial insemination bothers me. I gather you don’t tell the mother she’ll have a telepathic surprise package a few years down the road. What if she doesn’t want a headache like that?”

“We do tell them.”

Lily’s gaze flew to his face. “What?”

“They’re told the donor has evidenced certain psychic abilities that might be inherited.” He shrugged. “But most of them were skeptical.”

“I wasn’t told anything like that.”

“I know.” Andrew’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “I was afraid you’d reject me. I persuaded Henry not to give you the usual information. I know it was a dirty trick, but—” He stopped, looking at her in astonishment.

Lily was laughing.

“You’re not angry?”

“I suppose I should be. The deck was obviously stacked against me from the beginning.” She opened the car door. “Do you know what I would have done if Henry had told me? I would have laughed in his face, just like those other women. I
wanted
a baby. As long as Henry could assure me of mental stability, I wouldn’t have cared if you’d claimed you could bend spoons at twenty paces.” She got out of the car and glanced back. “By the way, can you?”

He shook his head. “Not my cup of tea.” He got out of the driver’s seat and shut the door. “Gunner probably could, but I don’t think he’d waste his time.”

Lily started up the curving path to the front door. “Did Henry have many rejections after he told the women about the possibilities?”

“None at all.” He fell into step with her. “The possibilities intrigued them.”

“Then why were you worried about my reaction?”

“Because you were walking a very fine emotional line, and it was too important to me to take the chance.” He met her gaze.
“You
were too important.”

Her chest felt suddenly tight, and it was hard to breathe. She was conscious of the sensitivity of her nipples as they pressed against the
material of her bra; the scent of his woodsy cologne; the lean, warm strength of his body only inches away.

She hurriedly averted her gaze. “I don’t see the point in encouraging all of you to spread these psychic powers anyway. The world’s gotten along very well for centuries without them.”

“But that wasn’t the purpose at all.” Andrew’s tone was surprised. “We projected that the majority of the children born would only be latent telepaths, like Cassie.”

“Then why?”

“The intelligence expansion could be inherited, and we didn’t think it fair that we had a monopoly on it.”

Lily stopped short. “Wait a minute. I think I’ve missed something.”

He frowned. “I told you that those volunteers in Garvania had submitted to a mind-expansion chemical.”

“From which they received telepathic talents.”

“That was only the offshoot. I thought you realized that. The drug also opened approximately
another thirty percent more of their brains for use.”

“You … forgot to mention that,” Lily said blankly.

“It doesn’t make us superbrains. It only allows us to learn more.”

“A colony of bloody geniuses,” Lily said dazedly. “No wonder Said Ababa wants the Clanad back.”

Andrew looked embarrassed. “It doesn’t make us any different from anyone else.”

“The hell it doesn’t.” She was thinking quickly. “Cassie. It was perfectly natural that Cassie turned out to be a child prodigy, wasn’t it? Are the other children born from donors equally talented?”

“More or less.”

She shook her head. “I feel like Alice in Wonderland.”

“I don’t know why you’re so upset. I tell you, it’s only a change in capacity. We’re still very human. We make stupid blunders. We charge in where we shouldn’t.” He touched her cheek with
his fingers with infinite gentleness. “We fall in love with women who refuse to love us back.”

“Andrew …” She gazed at him helplessly. The additional information should have frightened and repelled her, but somehow it didn’t. There was nothing frightening about Andrew, Gunner, or any of the people she had met since she had come to Sedikhan. Andrew was perhaps more vulnerable and human than anyone she had ever met. Just looking at that lean, gentle face she felt as if something inside her were breaking up, dissolving, melting. “I should go inside.”

“In a minute.” His finger moved down her cheek, and then her throat. “It seems as if I haven’t touched you for a hundred years. Does it seem like that to you too?”

“Yes.” His touch was gossamer-light, yet left a trail of tingling electricity in its wake. He placed one finger in the hollow of her throat, and she felt the betraying pulse leap in response.

“Do you remember that first night you came to me?” A flush mantled his cheekbones, and
his eyes glittered fever-bright. “You were so tight, I was sure I was hurting you.” He smiled as he felt the throb of her heart against the pad of his finger. “But then you held me tighter and tighter, until I thought you’d drive me out of my mind.”

His touch, the erotic memories the words evoked, the sheer sensual
presence
of him were making her dizzy and weak. She could feel the muscles of her stomach clench as a tingling heat stabbed through her.

“I want it again. Now.”

“No. Cassie …”

“Tonight, then. Are you in the master bedroom?”

She nodded dumbly.

“I’ll come to you at eleven. Okay?”

Her lips were trembling as she tried to smile. “I think I’m being seduced again.”

“I’m doing my damnedest.” Andrew grinned with sudden boyishness. “A real bed, Lily. And time to lie in that bed with you and play and hold
you all night if I want. Doesn’t that sound great?”

A surge of maternal tenderness banished the last of her defenses. Sweet heaven, he was so dear. “Just great,” she said shakily. “If Mrs. Muggins permits.”

“Mrs. Muggins likes me to have what’s good for me.” He leaned forward and kissed her hard and sweet. “And you’re very good for me. I’ll send her to baby-sit Cassie.” He opened the door behind her and gave her a little push into the foyer. “Eat dinner and then have a nice restful evening. You won’t get much rest later.”

“And will you be resting too?”

He hesitated. “I have to go over to the hospital for an hour or so.”

“Therapy?” She frowned in concern. “Are you doing what you did with Cassie?”

He shook his head. “Nothing in depth. I’m just checking up on someone.” His eyes twinkled. “But I promise I’ll save plenty of energy.”

He kissed her again, turned, and strolled down the path toward the car.

•  •  •

Lily gazed at her reflection in the bathroom mirror with dissatisfaction. Was she too pale? Perhaps she should put on a little more makeup. The emerald green of the satin robe went well with her chestnut hair, but it made her look surprisingly flamboyant. Perhaps she should change before Andrew got there. She still had fifteen minutes before he—

For Pete’s sake, she was dithering like a nervous virgin, she thought in disgust. Those passionate encounters on the beach might just as well not have happened. She felt shy and scared, and yet so excited, butterflies were as active as Chinese acrobats in her stomach.

She would definitely change the robe, she decided as she turned and opened the door leading to the bedroom. The brown was more discreet, suited her personality, and she’d feel much more comfortable when—

Andrew was lying naked in the big double bed across the room, tanned and golden, his eyes
gazing at her with glowing eagerness. A slow smile lit his face. “I couldn’t wait.”

She drew a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and moved toward him. “You surprised me.”

“I thought I’d present you with a fait accompli. I was afraid you’d change your mind.” He met her gaze. “Have you?”

She moistened her lower lip with her tongue as she stopped before him. “No, but you mustn’t take this to mean more than it does. Just because I want you doesn’t mean—”

“Shhh.” He knelt on the bed, the sheet falling away to reveal the hard length of his arousal. “Stop fighting me. We both know this means more than sex. You’re taking another step toward me.” His hands untied the belt at her waist and parted her robe. “Aren’t you, love?”

He was right. No seduction had really been necessary this time. The decision to accept him in her bed had been her own, and meant more than she wanted to admit. “The lights …”

“Leave them on. I want to see you.” His teeth
were nipping teasingly at her right breast. “That flashlight didn’t cut it.” His lips compressed, pulling gently at her nipple. “You don’t mind, do you? You’re so pretty.”

Fire streaked through her, as his tongue teasingly soothed the nipple his teeth had nipped. “No.” She gasped, not even aware of what she was saying. “Anything …”

He pulled her down on the bed, entering her with one deep stroke. She gasped and clutched desperately at his shoulders.

“My sentiments exactly,” he muttered as he rotated within her. “Anything.” His thrusts escalated to a wild, fierce rhythm. “And everything.”

She heard something.

For an instant Lily stiffened, momentarily plummeted back to that terrifying moment at the beach house when Cassie had been taken.

No, Cassie was safe. This was Sedikhan, and Andrew was lying beside her, his heart still
pounding hard beneath her ear. But she had definitely heard something, and Andrew must have heard it, too, for he was stiffening against her.

“My God, she’s picking the lock.”

“Who?” Lily whispered.

“I locked the door when I came in, but she’s picking the damned lock!”

The door opened, and Mrs. Muggins glided into the room.

Lily couldn’t help it. She started to laugh.

“It’s not funny,” Andrew said. “How the hell did she pick that lock?”

Mrs. Muggins was humming an Irish lullaby as she paused beside the bed, reached down and carefully drew up the sheet, and tucked it gently but firmly around both their shoulders. Then, breaking into the chorus of “When Irish Eyes are Smiling,” she turned and rolled toward the door. “Sleep tight, now, darlin’s.”

The next instant she was gone.

Lily was laughing so hard, a stitch knifed through her left side. “Does she—” She had to
stop for a moment. “Does she always tuck you in for the night?”

“Always,” he said gloomily. “I’m going to kill Mariana.”

“I think it’s kind of sweet.” Lily kissed his shoulder and then began to chuckle again. “But, yes, I definitely do have to meet your sister.”

Mariana was dark, petite, and so charged with energy, it was like standing next to a lightning rod. She was also the frankest person Lily had ever run across.

Mariana breezed into the dining room the next morning when they were having breakfast, and immediately dominated the room.

“Hi, I’m Mariana.” She kissed Andrew on the cheek, solemnly shook hands with Cassie, and winked at Lily. “No doubt my brother’s been maligning me to you, but none of it’s true. Trust me. May I have breakfast?” She plopped herself down in the chair across from Lily, appraising her
openly. “Gosh, you’re beautiful. What great cheekbones. Mrs. Muggins!”

“Right here.” Mrs. Muggins instantly glided into the dining room from the kitchen area. “Ah, it’s wonderful Miss Mariana.”

Andrew snorted.

“Now, don’t be disrespectful darlin’,” Mrs. Muggins chided. “You know Miss Mariana is always right.”

Lily started to laugh.

Mariana smiled blandly. “Of course you know that, Andrew. Why does she have to keep reminding you?”

“You should know. It’s a little thing called programming.”

“I’ll just have toast and orange juice, Muggins,” Mariana said.

“A very wise choice.” Muggins turned and rolled out of the room.

“She made us have a full breakfast,” Andrew glowered. “Protein, fruit, vegetables.”

“But she realizes I know what’s best for me. I incorporated excellent judgment into Muggins.”
Mariana leaned back in her chair and grinned at Lily. “Do you like her?”

“I love her.” Lily chuckled. “She’s a darling. She has a real personality.”

Mariana nodded in satisfaction. “A combination Mother Macree and the quintessential electronic grandmother was what I had in mind.”

Andrew rose to his feet. “I refuse to sit here and watch you pat yourself on the back for creating the bane of my life. Are you finished, Cassie? Let’s go for a walk in the garden.”

Cassie nodded and slipped from her chair. “Then will you come to the music room? I finished the concerto. Mom heard it last night.”

“Did she?” He smiled faintly as his gaze met Lily’s. “Now, I wonder why she didn’t remember to tell me?” He took Cassie’s hand. “We’ll go to the music room first. I can’t wait.”

Mariana watched them leave the room and then turned back to Lily. “He loves you, blast it. Do you know how lucky that makes you? Why the devil are you hesitating?”

Lily stiffened. “You’re very blunt.”

“I believe in going straight for the jugular.” Mariana grinned. “Life is too short to complicate it by dithering. According to what Andrew tells me, you’ve had some rough breaks, but now it’s time to clear the decks and start fresh. Andrew’s been forced to wait too long for you as it is.”

“I never asked him to wait.”

“So what? He waited. And he’ll probably keep on waiting. He’s too tenderhearted to bulldoze the people he cares about.” She wrinkled her nose. “He even puts up with my shenanigans.”