He had a point there. While press coverage could be helpful in finding Bianca, it could also bring the wrath of child services down on her head. She had to strike a delicate balance here.
At least Kyle was still talking to her. Maybe he would have an idea, and if not, then she could bring up the marriage idea again with more finesse. It was outrageous, sure, but not that totally out there. She reassured herself for probably the thousandth time that this wasnt a totally crazy idea. Although she could imagine her long-dead parents wincing over her whole plan.
Shed thought this through. People got hitched in Vegas every day for far more flimsy reasons. Wedding vows meant next to nothing to most people these days.
And they would certainly mean nothing to her ever again.
She started toward him. Their cubby of space went darker as another person strode under the ivy-covered arch, snapping Phoebe back into the present. She needed to be on guard for those press people hed mentioned. Backlit, the shadowy figure was still obviously a woman.
Kyle, dear, there you are. An older blond woman stepped into the glow of the flickering light. She rested a hand on his arm, manicured nails tipped white.
His mother.
Even if Ginger Landis Renshaw werent famous for her political prowess as a former senator and then secretary of state, Phoebe would have noticed the family resemblance. Their hair color was different but their faces, their smiles, were the same.
Somewhere in her early fifties and carrying it well, Ginger smoothed a hand over her simple red Chanel evening gown, almost managing to disguise her curiosity. Our guests are beginning to ask where youve run off to.
Mom, we need to find an empty room and talk. Immediately. He stepped aside, clearing the view for the womans gaze to fall squarely on Phoebe.
Gingers blue eyes darkened from curiosity to concern. Kyle? Whats going on?
Not now, Mom, he said quietly, his voice urgent. We need to move this to a room, preferably one with a closed door.
She straightened with a take-charge efficiency that had won respect around the world during her secretary-of-state days. That political sway continued now in her tenure as ambassador to a small but politically powerful South-American country. Of course. This way.
She tucked out of their garden nook and sliced a path straight into the country club. A quick flick of her hand had the manager rushing ahead to unlock his office. Phoebe followed, unable to squelch her awe at this woman who made things happen so effortlessly.
Damn it. Forget awe. She would stand down anyone for Nina if need be. But she hoped she would find an ally in a political powerhouse.
The door clicked closed behind them, sealing them inside an office with looming dark furniture and heavy tapestry upholstery. The scent of furniture polish and fresh-cut flowers coated the air thickly.
Ginger turned toward her son but looked at Phoebe and gestured toward a wingback chair. Have a seat, dear. Even little babies can grow quite heavy when youve been holding them for too long.
Phoebe blinked back her surprise and sat. Disobeying this woman wouldnt dawn on her, and her feet were throbbing. All the same, she wouldnt relax her guard for even a second. Winning his mothers support was just as important as gaining Kyles trust.
Ginger pinned her son with a questioning stare.
He scratched the back of his neck. Mom, it appears I may have left a child behind when I went to Afghanistan.
Kyle knew one thing in this crazy, mixed-up night. Give a Landis a crisis and they start things cranking at Mach speed.
He had no more than announced the possibility of this child being his and his mom had spun into action. Shed called for her trusted assistant and gathered the rest of the family. So much for keeping things secret.
With four Landis brothers, two of whom were married, that made for quite a group packed into the country club office. His brother Sebastian sat at the sprawling wood desk, putting his legal eagle-eye and degree to work reviewing the documents. The rest of the family seemed transfixed around the wingback chair where Phoebe fed the little scrap of a kid a bottle. Kyle paced. He damn near wore a hole in the Persian rug as he moved restlessly behind his brother. Sebastian was a year younger than Kyle, but his quiet soberness had always made him seem older. They needed his calm efficiency right now.
Sebastian closed the file and glanced up somberly. Is she your daughter?
Kyle stopped in his tracks and dropped to sit on the edge of the desk, his foot twitching. Its a distinct possibility. A possibility that still sucker-punched him harder than the missile that had taken down his aircraft in Afghanistan. He pinched the bridge of his nose briefly before his hand fell away. If shes really Bianca Thompsons daughter, the timing of our, uh, week together lines up.
A week, huh? A rare hint of humor lit his normally serious brothers eyes.
Kyle wasnt in the mood to laugh. We hooked up when I was in between rotations overseas. Neither of us was interested in anything long-term.
You never are. Sebastian looked away and back at the papers.
Yeah, he wasnt known for serious relationships, but at least he understood himself, rather than sending out mixed signals. Which makes it all the more ironic that Phoebe would toss out a marriage proposal to me.
I think it makes her seem like a more logical type. Sebastian kept his voice low enough that the cluster of people a few feet away wouldnt hear. If she knows your reputation, then she has no reason to worry about you growing attached to her or the baby.
She said she only tossed it out there in desperation. That she didnt really mean it, and could I come up with something else. Still it rattled around in his head. You got any suggestions?
Sebastian scrubbed a hand over his face, a near mirror image of Kyles. I think the first order of business is finding out if shes really yours. Ive never been one who could see Great-aunt Whoevers chin on some infant, but I have to confess, she looks just like a Landis.
The uncertainty was already chewing him up inside. Any idea how long it takes for the results of a paternity test?
Gotta admit, Ive never needed one. His eyes slid over to his wife with obvious affection. Their son had been born a few months ago, a surprise pregnancy after the crushing loss of the baby daughter theyd adopted, only to have the birth mother change her mind. Jonah should know, though.
Their youngest brother had always been a hellraiser, so much so that after a while it became tough to distinguish between truth and reputation. Kyle had always understood his younger brother better than the rest of the family, although the military had helped him rein in his wilder impulses.
And yet still, somehow, he may have screwed up. The sooner we can clear this up, the better.
What do you know about her? Sebastian nodded toward Phoebe, who was lifting the baby up to burp, a hand towel from the bathroom draped over her shoulder.
Nothing at all. Kyle flipped open the manila file folder again and thumbed through the papers. Id never met her, but those photos of her with Bianca look real.
The private investigator I keep on retainer will be able to verify her story by morning. The fact that she lives and works in state makes things easier all the way around. Sebastian tapped the documents spilling out across the desk. Everything seems authentic and in order though. Well see soon.
Nothing at all. Kyle flipped open the manila file folder again and thumbed through the papers. Id never met her, but those photos of her with Bianca look real.
The private investigator I keep on retainer will be able to verify her story by morning. The fact that she lives and works in state makes things easier all the way around. Sebastian tapped the documents spilling out across the desk. Everything seems authentic and in order though. Well see soon.
Not soon enough. So, were stuck for now. Kyle lowered his voice, even though no one across the room seemed to be paying any attention to them. Either shes on the up-and-up helping out a friend, in which case she needs help, so the baby stays. Or shes a nutcase, in which case for the babys safety, she has to stay.
Be careful, my brother. Sebastian leaned closer. Theres a lot of money at stake here.
Sebastians wife glanced over her shoulder. Men are so cynical.
Damn, he could have sworn they were keeping their voices down. Could Phoebe have overheard them too? Not that theyd really said anything that mattered. She should expect they would have her investigated.
The wife of their oldest brother, Matthew, stepped aside, opening the circle as she caressed the slight curve of her stomach. Theyre right to be concerned, Ashley said. Ive seen some sad cases of how heartless people can be when it comes to the needs of a child.
Their youngest brother, Jonah, snorted, lounging on the other wingback chair, one leg draped over the armrest. Who are you condemning here? The babys mother or Phoebe?
Ginger rested a hand on the back of Phoebes chair and shot her sons a censuring stare that hadnt lost its impact over the years. Im sorry you had to hear that. My boys should be more diplomatic.
Kyle watched his mother win over Phoebe with a few well-chosen words. There was no doubting who wore the diplomatic mantle in their family.
Im not offended, Phoebe said. In fact, Im relieved that youre all being practical about this. That bodes well for Nina, and I have nothing to hide.
Jonah twitched back an overlong lock of hair from his brow. Lady, I have to confess, this all sounds a little hinky to me. You wouldnt be the first person to want a piece of the Landis lucrative pie.
Im not here for money. She patted Ninas back steadily until the baby burped, then lowered her to the crook of her arm. I only need time. I want to keep her out of foster care until we can find her mother, and if we cant, then its my hope I can adopt her.
Jonah tugged his dangling tux tie freenot that it had even been tied before they stepped back here for the family confab with Phoebe. Then let the legal system sort it out. If youre best for her, thats where shell land.
Ginger waved her rebellious youngest son up from the chair and motioned for pregnant Ashley to sit.
Ashley smiled her appreciation as she sat with a heavy sigh. Its not that cut-and-dried. I was lucky.
Phoebe smoothed her hand over the babys head with obvious affection, but her face creased with concern. Yours is a success story, then?
My foster sisters and I found a wonderful home with Aunt Libby and were better off. Claires biological mother wanted to keep her, but was too young and didnt have the money. Starrs parents were criminals who refused to relinquish custody. My parents gave me up. Quiet Ashley grew more fervent as she spoke. Not all of the girls who were placed with Aunt Libby came straight there from their biological parents, though. Most foster parents are wellmeaning, big-hearted people, but there are some She shook her head in obvious disgust.
The defender in Kyle, the military part of him that had spent the past six years of his life protecting, made him want to pluck the kid up and keep her safe from the world.
How much stronger would those feelings become if it turned out the baby was his?
Phoebe rested her cheek on Ninas head. I dont want to run any risk of Nina landing in an unloving home for even a day.
Exactly, Ashley agreed. Some people dont have choices. There are options here for little Nina.
His mother nodded. Ive already spoken with my assistant and shes scheduled a paternity test.
On a weekend?
Apparently Phoebe didnt grasp his mothers ability to move mountains.
Ginger toyed with one of her diamond stud earrings. Well have an answer before child services opens on Monday morning.
Time to test how far she was willing to go with this. He put his hands behind his back, military bearing tough to shake even with his separation papers in the works. Since you all seem so certain Nina is mine, we might as well start moving her things into my wing of the house.
Excuse me? Phoebes eyes went wide with alarm. Um, Nina and I are already settled in our hotel, but thank you.
Kyle braced a hand across the door. If theres even a chance thats my daughter, Im not letting you just walk out of here with her.
Phoebe looked around nervously, then bolstered, her arms locked around Nina. Im not leaving her behind.
I dont expect you to. Nobody was going anywhere until he had answers. Youll both be staying with me at the family compound.
Three
She didnt have a choice but to go with him, and she knew it. Sitting in the back of Kyles Mercedes sedan beside Nina in her car seat, Phoebe just wished shed foreseen this twist in the plans.
His broad shoulders, encased in the uniform jacket, spread in front of her in the drivers seat. He guided the luxury car through the security gate into the Landis family beach compound. As the gates swung closed behind them, she shifted closer to Nina, the infant asleep and drooling in her rearfacing car seat. Morning was going to come early after this late night and she needed any edge she could scavenge to soothe her already frazzled nerves.
By appealing to Kyle for help, shed also made herself vulnerable. One call from him to child services could steal her few days window to secure Ninas future. She hadnt felt so powerless since shed watched helplessly while her husband had drowned.
Her gaze skimmed nervously ahead to the beachside Hilton Head mansion owned by the Landis family. Kyle had told her that his lawyer-brother and wife had a home a few miles away, and the oldest brother, a senator, and his wife had an antebellum mansion in downtown Charleston. Kyle had kept his gear in the third-floor quarters of the mansion since hed deployed so often.
Shed rubbed elbows with plenty of affluent families at the college fund-raisers, but shed never visited anywhere nearly this opulent. In spite of insisting she didnt need money, a hotel over the weekend would have taken a chunk out of her account. She had to keep her savings intact for any legal fees she might need in adopting Nina. Staying here was the fiscally smart thing to do.
Shed seen photos from a Good Housekeeping spread when shed looked up the Landis family on Google for more details, and shed read about their diversified fortune that increased under the savvy care of each generation. But no picture could have prepared her for the breathtaking view. On prime oceanfront property, theyd built a sprawling white three-story house with Victorian peaks overlooking the Atlantic. A lengthy set of stairs stretched upward to the second-story wraparound porch that housed the main entrance.