Fallen Angels: Beguiled\Wanton\Uncovered (18 page)

As he said it, he leaned forward, then kissed her long and slow and deep. When he pulled away, he whispered, “I suppose I should get the rest of it over with.”

“There's more?”

“I'm afraid so.” He drew a deep breath, then blurted, “I paid off your and Grayson's medical bills.”

She should have expected it. But with all that had happened the last few days, her accumulated bills had been the last thing on her mind. In a way, it was almost a relief to be rid of that particular burden, except that she didn't want their relationship to be about what material things he could give her. She wanted more than that.

When she only narrowed her eyes at him, he continued, evidently encouraged by her silence. “I also opened an account in your name. You can add your own money to it if you like, but there's a hefty sum already deposited. Only your name is on the account, so you can do whatever you want with it. Understand, Angel, this isn't for household stuff. If you want to redecorate the house—which by the way, I was thinking Grayson's room could really use some color…”

“Dane.”

“Come on, honey, don't get all prickly on me.” He ran a hand over his head and his frustration was almost palpable, forcing her to hide a grin. “As far as I'm concerned, what I have is already yours, only you're being too pigheaded about it to let me take care of you.”

“Pigheaded? Gee, you smooth-tongued dog, you. You sure do know how to win a gal over.”

“Dammit, Angel, I am not my damn brother! You don't have to worry about any hidden motivations on my part.”

“And I'm not Anna,” she said, just as firmly. “I won't be bought off. You're trying to make sure I have money so if or when your mother offers it, I won't be tempted.”

He looked away, his entire body drawn tight, his shoulders rigid, which to Angel was as good as an admission of guilt. When he turned to face her again his eyes were diamond hard and probing. “Would you be tempted?”

“No!”
Trying to calm herself, and at the same time, sort through the words that needed to be said, she took a deep breath, and then another. It didn't help. “Dane, we need to talk. There's something I really need to tell you.”

He stiffened, as if bracing himself. “I'm listening,” he said, but his expression remained fierce.

Grayson chose that unfavorable moment to give his patented,
I'm awake and I expect some attention
yell, effectively diverting them both. Angel gave Dane one long last look before hurrying out of the kitchen. She heard his soft curse behind her.

It was almost a relief to get sidetracked. She loved him, and he deserved to know that. But he already had so much on his mind, it might be easier for him to not be burdened with her love. He wasn't marrying her for that reason, so he might not even welcome her affections.

She needed to give it more thought before she made any grand declarations. After the threats were resolved would have been ideal, but with him pushing for marriage so soon, that was no longer an option.

She changed Grayson's diaper as the baby cooed at her, impatiently waiting to be fed, then pulled up the rocking chair in his room. She had just settled the baby against her breast when Dane spoke.

“He's such a little glutton.”

Dane stood propped in the doorway, more handsome and appealing than any man had a right to be, especially now, with that boyish look of wonder on his face as he watched the baby greedily suckle. He'd put his shirt back on and had it all buttoned up, the sleeves rolled to his elbows.

At her silence, he walked the rest of the way into the room and knelt on the floor beside her chair. “I feel so much guilt, Angel, when I think about what Derek will miss.”

Angel silently watched him as he smoothed one finger over Grayson's cheek. “Aside from the way he treated you, which I really don't understand, he was a good man, and he was a damn good brother. He never gave up on me, never sided with the family against me. Most of the time when we were growing up, we were inseparable, best friends as well as brothers. I loved him a lot, but I can't help but be damn glad that I'm the one here with you and Grayson now.”

“Oh, Dane.” Angel felt tears gather in her throat. She could just imagine the hell he was putting himself through, and there was no way for her to help him.

He squeezed his eyes shut, his jaw tight. “I have to find out what happened to him. It's the very least I owe him, for having my life when his is gone, for taking over where he left off.”

“Derek chose his own paths, Dane. You can't blame yourself.”

He looked away, his face grim. “If I'd have come back instead of being so stubborn, I might have been able to help him. He might still be alive.”

And we wouldn't have found each other.
Angel shivered with the thought, then felt her own measure of gripping guilt.

The baby, recognizing Dane's voice, released Angel's nipple to turn his head. He stared at Dane, his blue eyes alert. Dane smiled, though his expression was still sad. “I love him, you know.”

Angel nodded, a lump of emotion gathering in her throat.

Dane came to his feet and dug into his pocket. “I bought you this today. At least this time you can grant me the traditional rights of the groom to spend my money.” He handed her a small black box, then gave his attention back to Grayson. The baby stared at him a moment longer before going back to his feeding. Some things were simply more important than others.

Awkwardly, Angel managed to open the small box. Her hands shook and it was difficult maneuvering with the baby in her lap. Inside the box, nestled in cream velvet, was the most beautiful diamond engagement ring she'd ever seen. It was large, but not
too
large, an oval diamond surrounded by rubies. Breathlessly, she whispered, “It's incredible.”

“Then you like it?”

“Dane…” She reached for him with her free arm and somehow he managed to embrace them both, making Grayson squirm in protest.

“Why don't you finish what you were going to tell me before I have to go out again.”

Surprised, she asked, “Where are you going now?”

Dane took the ring from her and slipped it on her finger. He seemed pleased by the snug fit. “I'm going to close out your post office box. It's too far from here to do you any good and besides—” his gaze met hers in a challenge “—with the threats against you, I want anything and everything that concerns you to come by me now, at least until things are resolved.”

Angel curled her fist tight around the ring. “That's fine. I haven't used that box in ages anyway, not since I left Aeric. Take the key from my key ring. It's hanging by the phone in the kitchen.”

Dane couldn't quite hide his satisfaction. She saw no reason to fight him on this, not when she didn't use the post office box anyway. “Now what were you going to tell me?”

She needed more time, she thought. Tonight, over dinner, without interruptions or the distractions of wedding dates or suffocating guilt, she'd tell him she loved him. But not now, not when they both felt confused and he was ready to head back out the door.

“Angel?”

“I don't want Grayson to be an only child.”

Dane blinked at her, his gaze sharpening. “What did you say?”

Heat rushed into her cheeks, but at least she was giving him a truth. “I never had any brothers or sisters and it was awful. I…I know we'll be married for practical reasons, but I want another child. I thought you deserved to know that before we marry. Just so you're…prepared.”

Dane searched her face in silence for several moments, looking more shocked than dismayed. Slowly, a smile broke over his face. He looked at Grayson and chuckled as the baby made grunting, squeaking noises while he nursed. “Nothing would make me happier, honey. As long as we wait a while so you're not overburdened. I want your leg to heal completely and I don't want Grayson to be cheated out of being a baby. Just as you had no siblings, I had one that got half of all my parents' attention. I'm not complaining, but I think there must be a happy medium. And keep in mind, you run the risk of having twins with me. Three in diapers would be a bit much for even the most determined parent.”

He hadn't refuted their reasons for marrying, but she wasn't discouraged. The practical reasons did exist, but there was also the love she felt. And tonight, she'd tell him so.

DANE STOOD BENEATH
the post office overhang while the freezing wind whistled around him, blowing open his coat, pelting his face with a dusting of snowflakes caught in the frigid gusts. Nothing could penetrate the heat of his rage.

With deliberate movements he uncurled his fist and stared again at the name on the large manila envelope. His brother had sent Angel one final message.

The overwhelming urge to tear the envelope open was difficult to resist, but Dane knew in his heart he had to bring the letter to Angel. Not only was it a violation of her privacy to look inside, but she might take it as a measure of distrust as well. It could be a love letter—or it could be the information, the missing link to the threats, that they'd been looking for.

He didn't want her hurt.

He didn't want anything his brother might have put in the letter to cause Angel more heartache. And he didn't want to suffer the sweltering jealousy he now felt that was enough to ward off even the worst winter had to offer.
Damn it.
He didn't want his brother eulogized in Angel's heart with a final farewell.

Conflicting feelings of grief, guilt and possessiveness jumbled his thoughts.

The postmaster had watched with a jaundiced eye as Dane tossed out the majority of the mail unceremoniously stuffed into the large mailbox. Dane had only briefly glimpsed the numerous sale ads and magazines and offers before Derek's letter caught his notice. Now, with stiff steps and an anxious stride, he headed for his car. He couldn't understand his own urgency; he just knew he wanted to be with Angel and Grayson. He needed to know they were okay.

It took him all of five minutes to realize he was being followed. Using his cell phone, he impatiently dialed Alec's number.

“Sharpe.”

“I'm being trailed,” Dane said, no other explanations needed.

“I'm on it.”

Over the past few days Dane had been aware of being followed. He couldn't get close enough to figure out who it was, so he'd alerted Alec to watch his back. Dane had told Angel he didn't want her out in the cold, but in truth, he wasn't willing to take the risk that whoever it was might be able to get to her. He preferred keeping her at home, safely behind locked doors and away from any threats.

This morning, he'd specifically opened the account in her name so she'd be protected financially if something happened to him. She'd accused him of not trusting her, but that was no longer true. He simply wasn't willing to leave her future to chance. Though he'd told her the sum in the account was hefty, he knew she couldn't begin to guess the amount. And he wanted it that way. Angel had a prideful tendency to fight him on every little thing he tried to give her. When she saw the bank records, she'd hit the roof. He smiled in anticipation. In some perverse way, he enjoyed arguing with her as much as he enjoyed loving her. Things would never be sedate between them, that was a certainty.

Alec shouldn't be very far behind, and now with Dane's signal, he'd close the gap and they would trap the driver between them.

“Dammit!” Dane muttered the curse into the open phone line as he saw the car swerve away.

“That him taking the entrance ramp to the highway?”

Dane watched his suspect speed away and knew, whoever the man was, he'd been on to them. “Yeah, that was him. How did he figure us?”

There was a shrug in Alec's tone. “Maybe he didn't. Maybe he was going that way all along.”

“Nope. He was following me, I know it.”

“Want me to go after him?”

Dane considered it, then shook his head to himself. “No, there's no point. I'm heading home to Angel and staying there. Though I doubt it'll do us any good, run a quick check on the plates, just in case we can get lucky for a change.” Dane didn't for a minute doubt Alec had the plates memorized. Not much ever got by him.

“I'll get right back to you.”

Less than three minutes later, Alec had his news. Both he and Dane had cultivated contacts in every facet of the police force. The information they received, and how they received it, wasn't always on the up and up. But it was generally beneficial to all, so the cops tended to work with them. “The license plate shows a newly rented car.”

“Dammit.”
Dane thumped his fist against the steering wheel, his frustration level high. “That means the name it's registered under is likely false.”

“Yeah, 'fraid so. You want me to go check into the rental agency where the car came from?”

“There's no point. Whoever it is, he's covering his ass. I doubt he'll make any mistakes this late into the game.” With an irritated sigh, Dane suggested, “You might as well take the rest of the day off. I'll let you know if anything comes up.”

“All right. I do have a few personal things to take care of.”

The line went dead before Dane could question that cryptic comment. It was the first time in the history of their acquaintance that Alec had ever alluded to a personal life. Though Dane was certain he must have one, he'd never mentioned it before.

It only took Dane another fifteen minutes before he pulled into the garage. As per his instructions, Angel kept the alarm on, and all the doors and windows locked. It was a hell of a way to live, constantly being on guard, but maybe with the help of Derek's letter they would be able to put the past, and the threats, to rest.

After turning off the car he used his remote to close the garage door. As he came in through the kitchen by the door that attached to the garage, he heard Angel laughing. Following the sound, the manila envelope still clutched in his hand, he found her sprawled on the family room carpet before the fireplace. Grayson was held over her head, and each time the baby gurgled, she laughed and lowered him for a tickling nip of his pudgy belly.

Without intruding, Dane watched their antics, a small smile on his face. Damn, but he loved her. The feeling was starting to settle in, not so scary now, more like a necessary part of him was finally working as it should. He pictured Angel with a baby girl, as well, his daughter, a child that would look like her mother, have her bright green eyes. He'd missed being a part of her pregnancy with Grayson, but this time, he'd be here.
I'm sorry, Derek. But she'll be my wife.

“When did you come in?”

Dane hadn't even realized she'd turned to him, he'd been so caught up in the comforting images of baby and home and hearth, images he'd long ago given up on. “Just a minute ago.” He strode over and sat cross-legged beside the two of them, reaching out to take Grayson into his own lap.

“What do you have there?”

Angel looked at the envelope, her expression inquiring. “It's for you, honey.” He let her know by his tone the seriousness of the envelope. “Derek evidently sent it to you. It's postmarked some time ago, from before his death. Haven't you checked your box at all?”

Angel stared at the envelope like it was poison. “There was no reason. I only used it for the information my supervisor wanted me to work on at home. Files he wanted me to prepare before he made a presentation. He didn't trust very many people, or the regular mail. He figured a locked post office box was the most secure way to go. No one knew the number except the two of us.”

“And Derek.”

She nodded. “I usually kept those files locked up. But I was…anxious to see Derek one day, so I just stuck them in a desk drawer when he called to say he was coming over. I never considered that he might go through my personal things. He must have taken the box number off the envelope.”

Dane hated hearing about her and Derek together. He didn't regret loving Angel, he couldn't, but he sometimes felt as if he'd stolen everything good from Derek. Forging his place in the family had never mattered to him, but it had been everything to Derek. Now Dane had taken Derek's place in the family, and in the office.

He'd gladly give up both those dubious perks, but he'd never give up Angel or Grayson.

He knew the night Derek stole the information from Angel was the same night he'd taken her to bed. For that reason, more than any other, Dane had hesitated to discuss it with her. The thought of Derek with her, how he'd hurt her, was almost too difficult to contemplate.

“I was asleep when Derek went through my desk,” she said, her tone flat. “We were never…intimate after that, and a month later, he dropped me.”

Several silent moments passed, then Dane tried to hand her the envelope. “Go ahead and open it.”

With a shudder, Angel pulled back. “No thanks. I'd rather you did it.”

“Are you sure?” Even as he asked it, Dane was laying Grayson aside on the blanket. The baby turned his head and directed an intent gaze at the bright flames in the fireplace. Dane slid a finger under the flap of the envelope and pulled it open.

There were several printouts inside, and Dane scanned them quickly. “These are details outlining industrial espionage at Aeric.” His blood surged with the ramifications. He lifted one paper after another, finally coming to a personal note addressed to Angel.

“What?” Angel scooted around to peer over Dane's shoulder. She picked up the discarded printouts and studied them.

Dane laid the last paper aside and stared at Angel. When she felt his gaze, she looked up.

“I'm sorry, honey.”

“What is it, Dane?”

He touched her cheek. “Derek was trying to protect you.” Dane lifted the sheaf of papers, holding them out to her. “He sent you these as an explanation of why he'd gone to so much trouble to alienate you, why he specifically did it so publicly. He wanted everyone to think your relationship was over, that you meant nothing to him. He suspected some level of danger after he'd discovered several discrepancies in various Aeric research files, shortly after stealing that information from you. He wasn't certain what was happening, but when he investigated further, small accidents started to happen to him. He was afraid you'd be in danger too, by association.” Dane touched her cheek, then forced the words out despite the tightness in his throat. “Derek had no problem doing what needed to be done for the takeover, he saw that only as good business, part of the corporate game. But he hadn't deliberately planned to hurt you in the bargain. He cared for you, honey.”

Angel squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed hard, clutching at Dane's hand. Dane knew, without asking, the regret she felt because he felt it, too.

The sound of a gun cocking seemed obscenely loud in the silence of the room. Both Angel and Dane jerked up their gazes, and there stood Raymond. The forty-five in his hand made an incongruous sight with his three-piece suit and immaculate presence. “Well, I commend your investigative skills, Dane. Of course, your damn brother pretty much spelled it out for you, didn't he? I knew he was too thorough not to have something written down. And Ms. Morris was the likely person to have the info.”

Dane quickly tried to cover his shock, to act calm and in control. He was very aware of Angel sitting frozen beside him. “So that's the reason you've been harassing her?”

Raymond shrugged. “I lost her for a while there, you know, after she moved. It was tedious finding her phone number again, but I had no idea where she'd gone. Unlike you, I don't have connections in these matters. It was rather frustrating, never knowing when she might resurface, if she'd try to discredit me with that damn information your brother put together.

“I tried to hedge my bets a bit by telling your mother, regretfully of course, what a bitch Angel was, how she'd used Derek, how she was likely to come sniffing around with blackmail in mind. I had half hoped she'd find Angel for me, but your mother is getting old and has no taste for revenge. She only hoped to avoid a scandal. Luckily for me, you're not nearly so derelict in your familial duty.” Raymond grinned. “You led me right to her.”

“Bastard.”
Dane came smoothly to his feet and deliberately stepped in front of Angel and Grayson, shielding them both with his body. “You killed Derek.”

“Now that,” he said with a shrug, “was an honest accident. I knew he'd been playing detective—funny that the two of you were even more alike than you knew. But he proved to be rather proficient at it. I tried a few minor scare tactics, and for a while there I thought they'd worked. But the bastard was just biding his time, letting months go by, waiting for me to make another move. He was careful not to call in the authorities, not wanting to scare me off.” Raymond held up two fingers, a millimeter apart. “He came that close to nailing my name to his damn discoveries after I thought the coast was clear again.”

“My brother was no idiot. And he would have taken any theft from a company he owned as a personal insult.”

Raymond laughed. “He was a wily bastard, I'll give him that.”

It almost sounded as though Raymond had respected Derek, had maybe liked him. Dane felt sick with disgust.

“Needless to say I had to up the pressure to get him to back off, but the fool didn't drive quite as well as Ms. Morris.”