Chapter Forty-five.

aYES,MR.FARRELL,Mr. Wyatt is in his office. Just one moment.a Mitch.e.l.las New York a.s.sistant, Sophie Putnam, had been in the process of showing a newly hired secretary named Claire around the office. She paused in that endeavor in order to put Matt Farrellas phone call through. aMr. Wyatt, Mr. Farrell is on line one,a she told Mitch.e.l.l.

aThank you, Sophie,a he replied.

With that duty completed, Sophie returned her attention to Claire, but before she could continue, Claire glanced toward Mitch.e.l.las closed door and said, aHow long does it take before you stop noticing how incredibly handsome he is?a The new secretary had impeccable credentials, and since theirs was a small office in which everyone worked closely together, Sophie didnat think that that was an inappropriately personal question. aWhen you realize that he does not play around with his employeesa"evera"youall relax and forget his looks. In two or three years,a she joked.

aDoes he have a lot of girlfriends?a Since Claire would be involved in facets of his personal life, such as arranging for theater tickets, dinners, and looking after his penthouse apartment on the Upper East Side, Sophie felt that that question, too, was well within reason. aThe lady du jour is Kira Dunhill,a Sophie replied with a touch of pride as she named the acclaimed Hollywood actress who was costarring on Broadway with Leigh Valente in a new play scheduled to open that night. aSheas a little on the haughty side, but sheas so gorgeous and so talented, who can blame her?a aWhat about Mr. Wyatt? I imagine heas a little arrogant and temperamental at times?a aYouare wrong. Heall expect your best, and in return, he will treat you with respect. He wonat forget your birthday or patronize you or send you out to buy gifts for his girlfriends. He is also the most even-tempered man alive. He doesnat even curse,a she added, heading to Mitch.e.l.las office so that he could officially welcome Claire as the new member of their New York team.

MITCh.e.l.l BARELY MANAGEDto say a civil good-bye to Matt Farrell before he slammed the phone into its cradle. aSon of a b.i.t.c.h!a he said in English, then he said it again in French. Picking up the Steuben crystal fist that Stavros had commissioned as a gift for him, Mitch.e.l.l squeezed it in his hand hard enough to pulverize it, were it made of mere stone. He was so furious that his mind refused to accept what head just heard, and he had to keep repeating it to himself, even though it made him angrier with each repet.i.tion. . . .

Kate Donovan has a child almost two years old whoas been kidnapped, and he is the boyas father!

There is no doubt of his paternity because there is DNA proof in Gray Elliottas office!

She didnat have the decency, or the courtesy, to let him know he has a son!

She is raising his son just as he himself had been raiseda"without any idea of who his father is!

Somewhere in Chicago, a little boya"his own sona"is in danger!

Infuriated beyond all bounds, he looked at the fabulous crystal object in his hand, and in an unprecedented display of rage, he hurled it across the room just as Sophie opened the door. Claire instinctively threw her arms up to protect her head, but Sophie froze in astonishment as the ten-pound object sailed past her, smashed into the wall, crashed to the slate floor, and shattered.

aIs something wrong, Mr. Wyatt?a Sophie asked as Mitch.e.l.l bounded out of his chair, stalked around his desk, and bore down on her.

aDo I look like something isright ?a Mitch.e.l.l replied, and began snapping out instructions to her. aIam leaving for Chicago. Call Calli and tell him to pick me up downstairs immediately, and tell him heas going to Chicago with me. Find my pilots and tell them to be ready to take off in an hour. Call Pearson and Levinson in Chicago and tell them to stand by for a phone call from me in fifteen minutes.a aSir, the planeas having maintenance work done. It canat fly until tomorrow at the earliest.a aThen get two tickets on the first nonstop flight to Chicago.a aWhat if I canat get first cla.s.s?a aGet whatever you can,a Mitch.e.l.l said as he headed toward the main office door.

aYou were supposed to have dinner after the play tonight with Kira Dunhill, Leigh and Michael Valente, and Zack and Julie Benedict,a Sophie called after him.

aCall everyone and tell them an emergency has come up and I canat be there.a aMr. Wyatt?a Mitch.e.l.l turned back impatiently.

aThis is Miss Dunhillas first opening night on Broadway.a aThank you for reminding me. Send her a lot of flowers.a aFlowers? For missing her opening night?a aYouare right. That probably calls for a necklace. Please pick one out and send it over to her,a he said as he shoved the door open.

aSir?a Sophie called, craning her neck because head disappeared down the hallway. aHow much should I spend?a There was no answer. He was gone.

Chapter Forty-six.

KATE PACED SLOWLYback and forth across the living room, watching the clock on the wall tick off the seconds of each minute that pa.s.sed without a return call from Mitch.e.l.l. The second hand had made a full circle seventy-five times; one tormenting hour and fifteen minutes had pa.s.sed without a sound from the heartless man she had once thought she loved.

Her uncle, Father Donovan, had rushed over as soon as Marjorie had called him, and now he waited helplessly on one of the sofas for the phone to ring. His head was bent, his hands clasped loosely in front of him. He was praying Mitch.e.l.l would call.

Gray Elliott was sitting on a stool at the island counter that divided the kitchen area from the living room. He was Dannyas new best friend, intent on doing everything to ensure his safe return. If the darkening scowl on Grayas face was any indication, he was fantasizing about yanking Mitch.e.l.l from wherever he was, charging him with a gross lack of humanity, and throwing him in jail for life.

MacNeil was standing at the window overlooking the street in front of the restaurant, where police cars with flashing lights were parked at crazy angles. The sidewalk was packed with reporters, concerned citizens, and curiosity seekers, who were waiting and hoping for information. Kate wasnat sure what MacNeil was thinking, but he kept glancing at his cell phone as if willing it to ring. He was probably hoping for a tip, Kate thought, a lead that would send all those police cars flying away with sirens wailing to rescue Danny.

Holly had left Maui in the middle of a veterinariansa conference and was on her way back to Chicago. A task force had been set up in one of the dining rooms downstairs, and calls resulting from the amber alert were starting to come in on the newly installed phone lines. Kate had ordered the restaurant closed within minutes of learning Danny was gone, but most of the staff were still down there, keeping a silent vigil for the little blue-eyed boy with the bright grin who had long ago captured their hearts.

Childress was somewhere on the premises, Kate knew, and she supposed he was downstairs working with the task force.

MacNeilas cell phone gave out a sharp chirp, and he snapped it to his ear so swiftly that the motion was blurred. A moment later, he turned around and looked from Kate to Gray. aTwo lawyers are downstairsa"David Levinson and William Pearson. They represent Mitch.e.l.l Wyatt.a Gray Elliott had straightened sharply at the sound of the menas names, and he replied, aTell the officer at the front door to let them in and bring them up here. Hopefully they arenat here to threaten Kate with a lawsuit for claiming Wyatt is Dannyas father.a David Levinson announced the reason for their appearance as he strode swiftly into the living room, carrying a large briefcase identical to the one Pearson held. aMr. Wyatt has authorized us to transfer ten million dollars into whatever negotiable form the kidnappers demand,a he said.

Kateas arms dropped to her sides and she stared. And then she smiled. And then she wept with joy and relief.

JOEOaHARA MANEUVEREDMatt Farrellas limousine as close to the restaurant as he could get it, then looked over his shoulder and said, aDo you want me to wait for you, Mitch.e.l.l?a OaHara had been with the Farrells so long he was a member of the family; he drove like a maniac, which the Farrells overlooked, and he did not bother with little formalities, such as addressing Mitch.e.l.l as aMr. Wyatt,a which Mitch.e.l.l overlooked.

aNo, thanks,a Mitch.e.l.l said, pa.s.sing a sweeping glance over the elegant restaurant that took up most of a city block and which Kate had once described as aa little Irish pub.a aIall take a cab when Iam finished. I may leave Calli here to keep an eye on things.a aMatt said to tell you theyare expecting you to stay at their place, no matter how late it is when you get there.a aWeall see,a Mitch.e.l.l replied, thinking a hotel might be better under the circ.u.mstances. The limousineas presence was being noted by some of the reporters hanging around on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant, and Mitch.e.l.l ducked his head as he got out. Calli grabbed his suitcase when Mitch.e.l.l reached for it. aThis is my job. Besides, itall be better if the reporters think the suitcase is mine.a Two years older than Mitch.e.l.l and half a foot shorter, Giovanni Callioroso was one of the five Callioroso children whom Mitch.e.l.l had mistaken for his brothers and sisters, until he turned five and was suddenly sent away to boarding school in France.

As a youth, Calli had liked martial arts, so head thrown himself, body and soul, into becoming a world-cla.s.s contender. Five years ago, head gotten sick of it and suggested that Mitch.e.l.l hire him as a driver-bodyguard. True to Callias personality, he had to excel in his new profession. At his request, Mitch.e.l.l sent him to a special training course where sophisticated evasive maneuvers were taught to drivers of high-profile people subject to attack on the road or kidnapping.

Calli emerged as one of the finest drivers ever taught there, and head transferred all his ferocious dedication and loyalty to Mitch.e.l.l. He would have walked in front of a truck for him, Mitch.e.l.l knew. At the moment, however, Calli was uncertain about whether his loyalty to Mitch.e.l.l needed to include getting into an automobile again with Joe OaHara behind the wheel.

aWhere the h.e.l.l did he learn to drive?a he asked irritably as they crossed the street, wending their way around squad car b.u.mpers.

aThe demolition-derby circuit,a Mitch.e.l.l replied absently. aSupposedly, heas never been in an accident.a aNo? Well, he almost caused one tonight. A Jeep behind us nearly broadsided a pickup when they both tried to get out of his way.a aNo more English,a Mitch.e.l.l said in Italian as they began working their way through the crowd. aThey may not want to tell me anything, but theyall talk freely in front of you.a Some people in the crowd were holding lighted candles, and Mitch.e.l.las stomach knotted at the realization that they were doing that for a son head never seen . . . and might never have a chance to see alive. That possibility sent his anger at Kate over the boiling point.

From his post, MacNeil had watched the tall man get out of a limousine at the corner with another man and cross the street. It was dusk, but the streetlights were on, and he turned to Gray Elliott for instructions, since Dannyas mother had gone into his bedroom long ago to wait there until it was time for the ransom call at eight. aWyatt is here.a Gray exchanged a look of satisfaction with Father Donovan and said, aTell one of the uniforms to show him up here.a ONE OF THEcops stationed under the awning at the front door was on the telephone. He put the phone away and walked forward, forcing the crowd to part so Mitch.e.l.l and Calli could get through.

Reporters raised their cameras to get a shot of the new arrivals, just in case they turned out to be important figures in the kidnapping. Mitch.e.l.l ignored them and kept walking.

With a sense of unreality, he strode through a restaurant that was virtually deserted and looked nothing whatsoever like what Kate had described, but he saw Pearson and Levinson sitting at a table having something to eat, and he nodded a greeting in their direction.

The cop led him to a paneled hallway at the rear, and when he saw the staircase that was located next to an office with an open door, the physical setup seemed at least vaguely as shead described. At the top of the stairs a door was open into an apartment; he told Calli to leave his suitcase near the landing.

The first person Mitch.e.l.l saw when he stepped into the s.p.a.cious, comfortable living room was Gray Elliott. The next person he saw was the detective whoad questioned him three years before when he was a suspect in Williamas death, the same detective whoad photographed him when he was with Kate in the islands.

Disgusted, Mitch.e.l.l pointedly ignored Grayas outstretched hand, turned, and found himself the object of scrutiny from a man with green eyes and a Roman collar. aIam Kateas uncle, James Donovan,a the man said, standing and holding out his hand. aYouare Mitch.e.l.l, of course.a aOf course,a Mitch.e.l.l agreed sardonically while he shook the priestas hand. aWhere is she?a he asked bluntly, putting an end to the social niceties.

aDannyas bedroom is the first door on the right,a the priest said, nodding toward a hallway that opened off the living room.

His sonas room, Mitch.e.l.l instantly realized, was designed to delight a child and inspire his imagination. Bright jungle murals, with whimsical animals peeking out from behind trees and long gra.s.s, covered three walls. A rocking horse dominated one corner, and toy boxes lined a wall. Trucks were everywhere: red fire trucks, yellow tow trucks, moving vans, car haulers. On the inside wall, a single bed had a mock picket fence for a headboard, with bright parrots and canaries perched on the pointed slats and rabbits peeking between them. Next to the bed was a rocking chair.

Whatever Mitch.e.l.l expected to feel when he saw Kate again, it was not pity, but pity was what he felt. Clad in jeans and a bulky yellow turtleneck sweater, she was seated in the rocking chair with one foot curled beneath her. Her eyes were closed, her head was tipped back, and she was clutching a big, faded, flop-eared rabbit to her chest. The rabbit looked as if it had been dragged behind a car . . . or dragged behind a child who took it everywhere he went.

Her red hair was falling loosely about her shoulders, her russet eyelashes lying like curly fans on unnaturally pale cheeks. If she hadnat had one bare foot on the floor, gently pushing the rocker back and forth, head have thought she was asleep.

He spoke, and his voice sounded unnaturally curt. aKate?a Her entire body lurched in shock, her eyes snapped open, and she stared at him as if she didnat believe what she was seeing, then she smiled a little. aThank you,a she said formally.

aFor what?a Mitch.e.l.l said coolly, struggling with the surreal sensation of being in a bedroom that belonged to a son head never seen, talking to a woman whoad conceived his son during an unforgettable night of lovemaking that had haunted him for months afterward.

Still hugging the rabbit, she stood up as if it were an effort, but one she wanted to make on his behalf. aThank you for lending Danny and me the ransom money,a she explained. aI gave your lawyers an IOU, and I asked them to draw up an agreement transferring the restaurant to you. Iall find a way to pay you back the rest over time.a Oblivious of the muscle beginning to jerk in his jaw, Kate said, aYou didnat need to come here, thougha"a aDonat thank me, and donat dismiss me,a Mitch.e.l.l warned her. aYou and I, and our attorneys, are going to have a very long meeting, as soon as the boy is safely back here.a aDonat call him athe boya!a Kate warned fiercely. aHisa"a aWhy not?a Mitch.e.l.l bit out. aYouave made d.a.m.ned sure I donat have the right to call him my son. I didnat even know he existed until today.a aI took you off my birth-announcement mailing list when you called me an amoral b.i.t.c.h,a Kate retorted, aand youdivorced the last woman who wanted to have your son.a Her brief spurt of fortifying fury dissolved in the agony of the reality that Danny was gone. aGo away,a she whispered brokenly, turning away and burying her face in the rabbit. aMy baby is gone,a she sobbed. aTheyave taken my baby.a Mitch.e.l.l turned on his heel and walked out.

aIall wait downstairs,a he told the priest back in the living room.

aThat would be a mistake.a aWhy?a aBecause despite whatever Kate may have said to you just now, youare Dannyas father. As his father, you have a righta"and aresponsibility a"to be here and support his mother in this terrible time.a Mitch.e.l.l hesitated, walked over to a chair, and sat down.

aWhile itas on my mind,a the priest added, ahow is it that a man and woman, who only knew each other three days, could end up being so agonizingly disappointed in each other that neither of them can get over it after three years?a aI have no idea,a Mitch.e.l.l said shortly.

aI do,a Father Donovan replied, but he didnat offer an explanation, and Mitch.e.l.l didnat ask for it.

Chapter Forty-seven.

FROM HIS VANTAGEpoint in a chair facing the doorway, Mitch.e.l.l contemplated the apartment Kate had talked about in Anguilla. It was nothing like the small, dark s.p.a.ce head envisioned, but it was evident that the whole dwelling had recently undergone expansion and renovation. Everything was fresh and bright, including the woodwork and mullioned windows that marched along three sides of the apartment and were partially concealed by airy draperies that were pulled back at the sides and held in place with ties.

The floor plan was a large rectangle that occupied one entire end of the building from front to back. A modern kitchen with the latest appliances and granite countertops was separated from the living s.p.a.ce by a large island counter with four stools. The living room was s.p.a.cious enough for a pair of leather sofas, which faced each other across a coffee table and were positioned at right angles to the big easy chair in which Mitch.e.l.l was sitting. Beyond the living s.p.a.ce was a large play area with a table and chairs at a childas height, a chalkboard, and what Mitch.e.l.l a.s.sumed were long toy boxes disguised as window seats. A hallway that was parallel to the stairs led from the play area down to what Mitch.e.l.l knew were bedrooms.

Mitch.e.l.l picked up a copy ofGourmet magazine from the end table beside his chair and leafed through it, partly to avoid giving the priest an opportunity to bring up scriptures, morality, and other topics of interest to the clergy, and partly to stop himself from looking at the kitchen and trying to imagine an old wooden table there with a seven-year-old girl draped across it, as she pretended it was a piano.

The room lapsed into silence, and Mitch.e.l.l struggled against the sudden impulse to get up and go over to the play s.p.a.ce to look at his sonas things. A minute later, all that changed. MacNeil came trotting up the staircase, looking tense but excited. He went directly to Gray Elliott for a whispered conference, then nodded and hurried out of the apartment. Elliott got up and walked over to Mitch.e.l.l, and to Mitch.e.l.las initial surprise, he directed his remarks to him rather than Kateas uncle. aI think we have very good news. The parents of a young woman who is in group counseling with Billy Wyatt saw the amber alert tonight. Their daughter has been in their guesthouse today babysitting a little boy as a favor to a friend. They went to have a closer look at the little boy, and theyare sure itas Danny. We have cars on the way there right now, and weall know for certain if itas him in ten minutes or less. Until we do, I donat think we should risk raising Kateas hopes. Sheas very fragile right now. We have another hour before weare supposed to receive the ransom call. Iad like to sit tight for a few minutes with no unusual activity in here. For all we know the kidnappers are watching us through the windows from another building.a Father Donovan nodded, but Elliott waited for Mitch.e.l.las response. He was granting Mitch.e.l.l the respect and authority due an actual parent, which shocked Mitch.e.l.l, since theyad had an extremely adversarial relationship the last time theyad spoken. aThat sounds like the best plan,a Mitch.e.l.l said. Then, because he couldnat resist the temptation anymore, he got up and walked over to Dannyas play area.

He studied the scribbles on the chalkboard and concluded his son was probably not an artistic prodigy. Since no one seemed to be paying any attention to him, he leaned over and opened one of the window seats. It contained an a.s.sortment of toy trucks and cars. From that, Mitch.e.l.l concluded that Dannyas future might be in the transportation industry. He didnat realize he was hoping his son might share his love of airplanes until he looked inside the second box. There were almost a half dozen planes mixed in with other toys in that one, all of them jets rather than propeller planes or helicopters. Jets were Mitch.e.l.las favorites as a boy, and as a man.

He glanced at his watch, wondering why it was taking so long to get confirmation that the boy in the guesthouse was Danny. Fifteen minutes later there was a commotion on the stairs, and Elliott got off his stool, striding swiftly to the door. aWhy in the h.e.l.l didnat you call us?a he said, but underneath the reprimand he sounded excited, and Mitch.e.l.l automatically tensed and straightened.

When Elliott walked back into the room, he was carrying a little boy and grinning from ear to ear. Kateas uncle walked a few steps toward the bedroom hallway and called, aKate, come here right away. Thereas someone who wants to see you.a Elliott lowered the child to the floor as Kate rounded the corner from the hallway. People began crowding into the room from the stairwell, and the scene exploded with joy and motion. aDanny?a Kate cried, and the child laughed out loud at the same time his mother burst into tears and dropped to her knees in front of him. aDanny!a she whispered, running her hands over his face and chest, then dragging him into a crushing embrace, weeping while she chanted his name like a prayer. aDanny, Danny, Danny.a It was an exhibition of maternal love beyond anything Mitch.e.l.l had ever imagined, let alone witnessed. It imprinted itself on his mind and touched something deeper as he came to terms with the reality that the weeping, joyous mother who was holding her son in a fierce embrace was the same woman he had held in an even fiercer embrace in bed in St. Maarten.

She swept her son up and carried him to the doorway to show him to the crowd gathered there, and it dawned on Mitch.e.l.l that the people in the doorway were mostly dressed in white, like kitchen staff, or in black suits, like waiters.

aKate?a Father Donovan whispered. aI think Mitch.e.l.l has a right to some private time with you and Danny.a Kate stared at him blankly and slowly emerged from her mindless euphoria. aI forgot,a she said aloud, her voice filled with disbelief that she could actually have forgotten Mitch.e.l.l was there. Or that shead told him to get out of Dannyas bedroom. Or that head dispatched lawyers with ten million dollars to pay Dannyas ransom within two hours of her phone call to Matt Farrell.

Filled with shame, she searched the faces in the doorway and stairwell, looking for a hard, unsmiling face, but he wasnat there. She turned around with Danny in her arms and saw Mitch.e.l.l standing at the far end of the room, his hands thrust in his pockets, watching. Waiting to meet his son. Dannyas safe return was unquestionably the happiest moment in Kateas life. Oddly, this moment felt very much like the second happiest one. Shead never allowed herself to hope shead ever see Mitch.e.l.l again or that head want anything to do with Danny, but he was here, and he did.

With her mind on Mitch.e.l.l, Kate thanked everyone in the stairwell for their prayers and waited while her uncle followed them out. She hugged Gray Elliott as he left, promising to call her as soon as Billy Wyatt was in police custody, and she gave Detective MacNeil an impulsive kiss as he filed out. Finally, she closed the door and lowered Danny to the floor. He looked sleepy and rumpled, so she bent down and smoothed his hair and his red shirt and blue coveralls. Behind her she sensed, rather than heard, Mitch.e.l.l move forward. aBefore I introduce you to your son,a Kate told him as she stole a glance over her shoulder, actually looking at the handsome face shead barely seen through her tears in the bedroom, aI want to tell you two things.a aWhatas that?a he asked, and her heart swelled a little at the sound of his well-remembered deep voice.

aFirst, I am very sorry for the way I treated you in the bedroom. I was hurting so badly that I couldnat think or see or hear. I was in such a horrible daze that I actually forgot you were here until a moment ago.a aWhat you said was true,a he replied unemotionally.

aThe second thing I want to tell you,a Kate said as she stood up, deliberately blocking Danny from his view, ais that youare in for a bit of a shock.a aWhy is that?a Danny was sleepy but curious about the voice in the room and trying to peer around her legs. In answer to that question, Kate brushed her fingers through Dannyas curls one more time as she said, aMitch.e.l.l, this is your son, Daniel Mitch.e.l.l Donovan. I think youad recognize him even without an introduction,a she added as she took Dannyas hand in hers and stepped aside so that Mitch.e.l.l could see what she meant.

The tableau that followed was so poignant that Kate felt her throat constrict. With an expression resembling awed disbelief, Mitch.e.l.l gazed down at a miniature version of himself, while Danny tipped his head way back and stared up at Mitch.e.l.l with much the same expression. Suddenly, however, Mitch.e.l.las intense blue stare unnerved Danny, and he looked at Kate with his chin beginning to tremble. aItas okay,a Kate a.s.sured Danny. aHow about shaking hands?a To her amus.e.m.e.nt, Mitch.e.l.l thought she was rea.s.suringhim, and he nodded gratefully, stepped forward, and held out his large hand to Danny. Danny solemnly laid his small hand in Mitch.e.l.las palm, and Mitch.e.l.las fingers tightened and relaxed reflexively as if he was having trouble preventing his hand from closing too tightly.

Mitch.e.l.las lack of familiarity with children caused a momentary awkward lull that worried Kate, and then Mitch.e.l.l crouched down anda"suddenly inspireda"gave Danny a grin and confided, aI have an airplane!a aMe, too!a Danny replied, giving Mitch.e.l.l back his own grin.

Mitch.e.l.las voice dropped to a hoa.r.s.e whisper as he said, aI like jets.a aMe, too,a his son replied in a tone of wonder.

aHow many do you have?a In response, Danny held up his free hand, spread his fingers wide, and proudly proclaimed, aI have this many.a When Mitch.e.l.l seemed incapable of speech, Danny prompted, aHow many you got?a aThis many.a Mitch.e.l.l replied, holding up his forefinger.

Kate turned aside to keep her face from betraying her emotions.

Danny showed Mitch.e.l.l his toys, and Mitch.e.l.l admired each one, but it was obvious Danny was getting sleepy and needed to go to bed. aWould you like to put Danny to bed after I give him his bath?a she asked.

aThank you,a he said simply.

aWhile you do that,a she said, aIam going to take a shower and change clothes.a As she led Danny by the hand toward the bathroom, Mitch.e.l.l said, aWhat are my chances of getting something to eat after Danny is asleep?a aFairly good,a Kate replied. aThis is a restauranta"a she began, and then she stopped, a sudden chill sweeping over her. aThereas nothing good to eat up here.a The fear in her voice made Mitch.e.l.l look at her closely. aAs you said, thereas a restaurant downstairs.a aI canat leave Danny alone up here. Even if he were old enough, I wouldnat. Not after tonight.a aHe wonat be alone. I have a bodyguard downstairs whoall be with Danny until Billy Wyatt is caught and arrested, no matter how long that takes.a Kate frowned at the notion of having a bodyguard around all the time, but before she could frame her thoughts about it, Mitch.e.l.l said implacably, aThatas not up for negotiation, Kate.a

Chapter Forty-eight.

aYOUaRE IN LUCK,a Kate said. aThe lights are still on in the kitchen.a aWhy is that lucky?a Mitch.e.l.l asked, following her down the wide, oak-paneled hallway, lined with offices, at the bottom of the staircase.

aBecause it means that someone else may be preparing our meals, which means theyall be edible,a she said with a laughing glance over her shoulder.

As she spoke, she shoved open a pair of wide stainless-steel doors concealed behind an antique oak screen inlaid with ebony parquet, and Mitch.e.l.l saw a small group of men and women who, he surmised, were still celebrating Dannyas return. Rather than going in there with Kate, he retraced his steps to the hallway so that he could look at the a.s.sortment of framed photographs, plaques, and magazine and newspaper articles head noticed a moment before.

It was a very impressive display, he noticed as he looked at the various awards Donovanas had received and the articles written about it. The items were arranged in chronological order, so he didnat come to Kateas accolades until he neared the far end of the hallway. Shead enhanced the restaurantas reputation, he realized, and when he came to the last, most recent item, he felt a strange burst of pride that Kate had just been named Chicagoas Restaurateur of the Year.

She returned from the kitchen while he was still reading theTribune article, walking toward him in tan-colored jeans and a soft cashmere sweater that was the same green as her eyes, with an open cowl neck that threatened to bare her shoulders. With her long flowing red hair and her hips swaying gently as she walked, she looked feminine, regal, and s.e.xy at the same time.

Mitch.e.l.l tipped his head toward theTribune article and said, aI remember when you were terrified you wouldnat be able to keep this place open, but look what youave accomplished.a aI made a mess of things the first few months, and I would have given up back then if it hadnat been for Danny. I needed to make a success of things for both our sakes.a As she spoke, she led him to the front of the restaurant, walking past the matre das desk and through a doorway. She flipped on a light switch, and mellow lights illuminated a stylish lounge with an ornate bar lining two walls; despite its size, the room was cozy and inviting. aI asked Tony to bring our meals to us in here,a she explained, walking toward the bar. Mitch.e.l.l suddenly remembered the way shead looked presiding over a candlelit table in a villa by the sea. Now as he watched her, he understood why shead seemed so sure of herself and self-possessed that night.

From beneath her lashes Kate watched him studying the room. She couldnat believe he was actually standing just a few feet away from her. This day had begun as the worst of her life, and it was ending as one of the very best. Head taken off his tie and jacket upstairs and folded his shirtsleeves back over his forearms, and she was well aware of the subtle attraction and relaxed camaraderie springing to life between them again. She was equally aware that it was a very fragile, tenuous thing now, created out of illusion and nostalgia for Dannyas sake and carefully maintained by an unspoken agreement to avoid any discussion of the past.

aWould you like a drink?a she asked from behind the bar.

He nodded, looking around.

He drank vodka, Kate remembered very well, but she hid that knowledge behind the safe veil of pretense they were keeping up. aWhat would you like?a His gaze swung to her. aYou know the answer to that.a With those six words, he deliberately tore away the veil and shoved both of them into the treacherous quicksand that was their past. Kate was stunned. aYouare still very sure of yourself,a she chided, turning to reach for a bottle of Donovanas best vodka.

aAnd youare still very beautiful.a Kateas hand froze on the neck of the bottle, then she took it carefully down and reached for a gla.s.s. aI wasnat aware that you thought I was beautiful.a aThe h.e.l.l you werenat.a This was an entirely new tone, not one from their past at all. Kate fixed him a vodka and tonic with lime, as shead done in Anguilla, and then decideda"considering the direction he seemed to be headinga"that she ought to have something to drink, too. Painful questions were popping up in her mind, questions she didnat want to ask, with answers she didnat need to hear and probably wouldnat believe if she did. She was so grateful and happy about the things head done today . . . so amazed at the tender way head looked at his son that she wanted to freeze their emotions right where they were.

aWill you do me a favor?a she asked with a smile as she came around the bar and handed him his drink.

aThat depends,a Mitch.e.l.l said, already knowing what she was going to ask. Her eyes were candid and appealing, and part of him was willing to agree to what she was going to ask. The other part of him was adamantly opposed to doing anything of the sort. aWhatas the favor?a aWill you please not say anything at all that brings up the past?a In answer to that, he looked straight into her eyes and said bluntly, aHow in the living h.e.l.l could you ever have considered marrying an a.s.shole like Evan Bartlett?a aIs this going to be another one of those conversations we used to have, where you do all the asking and Iam the only one giving answers?a she asked darkly.

An inexplicable smile touched his lips, and his voice gentled. aNo.a aThen you go first,a she replied.

He nodded, took a sip of his drink, and leaned his right elbow on the bar. aWhatas your question?a Kate didnat want cooperation; she wanted to maintain peace between them. aI donat have one,a she lied.