Depriving a child of her inheritance is neither imaginative nor enlightened. Its criminal.
Whats criminal, Lucas, is having a baby for the sole purpose of financial benefit. You expect any judge to believe Konrad met his soul mate and fell in love forty-eight hours after we read Granddads will? Or that normal people plan a five-hundred-guest wedding in less than a month? Or that, in this day and age of birth control, people get pregnant on their wedding night?
Lucas didnt particularly want to present the facts that way to a judge. But, yes, he believed all of those things happened with Konrad and Monica. He watched his brother fall apart after she left. He watched Konrad try anything and everything to win her back.
There wasnt a single doubt in his mind that Konrad had loved both Monica and Amelia.
Steve plunked back down in his chair. She left him, Lucas. She knew shed been used. Her sister knows the truth. Youre the only one persisting in this fairy tale.
I dont want you anywhere near the mansion, Lucas intoned. I dont want you anywhere near Devin. And I especially dont want you anywhere near Amelia.
I dont have to go anywhere near them, Steve returned. The facts will speak for themselves. I honestly dont know why I didnt think of this earlier. His eyes narrowed. Im going to win this, Lucas. Im going to win this because you have never been able to see the potential in any circumstance. Youre not Konrad. Youll plod along the safe road, following the rules, keeping everything inside the lines. He paused, curving the corners of his mouth into a slick smile. Did I tell you Im engaged? Wonderful little woman Ive been seeing for nearly six months. Expect a wedding invitation. Were planning a big family.
Lucas swore out loud.
Yeah, Steve said, grinning. It is, isnt it?
It wasnt exactly the worst mistake in the world, Lexi offered from where shed stretched out on her stomach on the blanket theyd spread on the rolling lawn in the backyard of the Demarco estate. They were up the hill from the mansion, close to an oriental garden where one of the young housekeepers named Teresa was helping Amelia feed the koi fish.
Amelia was delighted by the fish. She especially loved standing on the small stone bridge, clinging to the rail and staring down at their flashing colors. Teresa seemed endlessly patient with her, and delighted to be asked to help out. Today Devin was inclined to take advantage of the young womans assistance.
So, its the second-worst mistake? asked Devin, plucking a blade of grass from the lush lawn. She sat cross-legged on the bright blue blanket, gazing past the gardens to Puget Sound and the ships gliding past. If sleeping with Lucas came second, shed hate to think about what was first.
Do you think it was part of his grand scheme? asked Lexi.
I was the one who was supposed to use sex to learn his secrets. Devin shook her head now when she thought back to that ridiculous plan.
You told him secrets? Lexis interest perked up a notch.
I dont have any secrets.
Does he?
I dont know. Devin tore the blade of grass lengthwise. I think he does. He knows perfectly well that Konrad used Monica for his own financial ends. Im sure Lucas was part of the plot.
Devin hadnt yet decided what to do about Lucass request that she postpone the hearing. It could be another scam. Then again, she could easily believe that Steve was up to no good.
I thought you were only going to dress up and give him a few come hither looks? Lexi reminded her.
Devin felt her face heat with embarrassment. Could she have done a worse job with it? I was in jogging shorts. Well, okay, my underwear.
Lexi sat up, eyes alight. You were vamping him in your underwear? And you wonder why things went off the rails?
I was swimming in my underwear. And we were arguing. I wasnt vamping. Thats why I didnt expect
Okay, back to the underwear part in just a second. What I dont understand is why you said yes.
Excellent question. Devin wished there was a noble answer. She rolled, aimed and tossed the blade of grass onto the lawn, merely postponing the inevitable admission. Hes hot. And hes a great kisser.
Amelia squealed in delight in the distance, while Lexi just grinned. So, there was an upside to this.
Devin gave a sheepish grimace. If you mean great sex, then yeah. Theres an upside. But theres a humongous downside too.
It doesnt really change anything, Lexi pointed out.
Its embarrassing. Devin had to spend the next month with Lucas, and hed seen her naked.
And she wanted to do it again. And she was terrified that hed figure that out.
No good could come of a distracting affair with Lucas. She needed to keep her wits about her.
Beside the koi pond, Teresa held on to both of Amelias hands while Amelia began walking their way.
So, what now? asked Lexi, flicking her hair over her shoulder and readjusting her position on the blanket.
I still need a plan. I need to prove beyond any doubt that Konrad and Lucas plotted the romance with Monica to get the inheritance.
Howre you going to do that?
Wait until hes out of the house, and then snoop around. Ill hunt for evidence. Talk to witnesses. Lexi straightened. Can I help? Absolutely. When do we start?
Devin came up on her knees and moved closer to Lexi so she could lower her voice. Today. She nodded archly. Im going to let Teresa put Amelia down for her nap. Lucas is going into the office for the afternoon. And I need you to distract Byron.
Lexi frowned. I really dont like that man.
I didnt ask you to like him.
Hes smug. That yall and maam, and the slow talkin drawl. Its an act. Hes devious.
All the more reason to keep him distracted for me. Devin wasnt sure shed call Byron devious. But shed definitely bet he was more intelligent than he let on. And he seemed intensely loyal to Lucas.
Hed talked yesterday about heading home to Texas. But he was still here. And Devin couldnt afford to wait.
Lexi squared her shoulders. Where is he now?
Devin tilted her head. Over at the pool. Put on your turquoise bathing suit and go out on the floatie again. He seemed to like that.
Are you my pimp?
Do it for Amelia, Devin cajoled.
Lexi drew a breath. Okay. Fine. For the sake of our baby princess, Ill let the man ogle me for a while. She rose to her knees. I just hope that ostentatious belt buckle of his doesnt catch the sunlight and blind me forever.
Drama queen, breathed Devin.
Hey, youre not the one wholl be using sex to Lexi paused. Wait a minute Shut up, said Devin.
Lexi laughed at Devins outrage. Then she sobered. Okay.
She smoothed back her hair. Ill vamp the tall cowboy. You snoop around inside the house. Someday, this is going to make a funny story for Amelia.
With Amelia safely down for her nap, and Lexi running interference with Byron down at the pool, and Lucas gone to the office, Devin crept into Konrads silent bedroom.
It was an opulent suite on the north wing of the second floor, down the hall from Lucas. Elaborate gold and cream ceilings blended into crown molding that outlined the L-shaped room. A huge, four-poster bed was set into the alcove. A sitting area was formed by four brown leather, overstuffed armchairs that surrounded a marble fireplace and two antique, glass-topped tables. Three bay windows brought sunshine in from the ocean side, while a boxed window above the king-size bed overlooked the pool.
The thick carpet was soft under her canvas runners, and she found her gaze drawn to three massive seascapes hanging on the pale yellow walls. The scenes were calm and soothing, with whispery grasses and delicate wildflowers blooming along the shores. It wasnt what she would have expected of Konrad.
Taking a bracing breath, and telling herself she had no choice but to snoop, she started with a small desk in one corner, carefully and quietly pulling open the three drawers. The contents were impersonala pad of paper, a few gold pens, a phone book and a calculator.
Next, she moved to one of the dressers, wiping her damp palms across her blue jeans before flipping up the iron handles and pulling open the top drawer. It was Konrads underwear. Though she herself kept many precious bits and pieces in her underwear drawer, she wasnt going there. There might be a signed confession hidden beneath his boxers, but she wasnt willing to dig it out.
The remaining dresser drawers mostly held T-shirts, sweatpants and pajamas. She closed them up and moved to the closet.
There she was shocked to find some of Monicas clothes still hanging in neat rows and folded on banks of shelves. At least Devin assumed they were Monicas clothes. They were about the right size, and it was definitely Monicas wedding dress hanging in the far corner, covered in plastic film.
For a moment, Devins throat closed up with loneliness. She took a few steps closer and reached out to touch the dress.
It had been such a blissful wedding, full of excitement and promise. It was the most elegant event Devin had ever attended and, at the time, shed fully expected Monica to live happily ever after.
Monica had been radiant, and Devin herself had felt incredibly beautiful that night. Shed worn a floor-length, violet silk dress, with a spray of flowers in her hair, and a delicate diamond pendant that Monica had given her as a bridesmaid gift. Shed danced with other guests until her feet were blistered, toasted the bride with expensive champagne, nibbled on crab puffs and ate two pieces of cake.
Later, when Monica walked out on Konrad, theyd trashed her bridesmaid dress and thrown out the pictures. But Devin hadnt had the heart to get rid of the pendant.
Her sisters veil hung next to the white silk dress. The shoes on a bottom shelf. And above the shoes.
Devin crouched down. She stared intently before running her fingertips over the smooth white cover of their wedding photo album.
It had been a year since shed seen any of the wedding pictures. After only a moments hesitation, she slipped the album from the shelf and sat fully down on the thick carpet. With a deep breath, she opened the cover.
Monica was on the first page, standing alone in her wedding dress, silhouetted against the arched oak door of the stone church building. The dress was a masterpiece, several thousand seed pearls sewn into a strapless bodice with a sweetheart neckline and a full skirt, all accented with antique lace. Theyd ordered it from a famous designer in Italy. Monica had balked at the price, but Konrad had insisted.
A tear slipped from Devins eye as she turned the page. There, she saw Konrad, looking sharp in his tux. She struggled to work up some anger toward him, but all she could remember was how she and Monica laughed over a groom who owned not one, but half a dozen tuxedos. What kind of a man required half a dozen tuxes?
The next page showed Monica, Devin and the other bridesmaidstwo of Monicas college roommates. They were laughing as they displayed their bouquets of irises and white roses. The photo had been taken moments before they moved from the anteroom to the foyer of the church. On the way down the narrow hallway, Monica had nearly caused a disaster, tripping on the hem of her elaborate dress and stumbling into Devin.
Fortunately, Devin caught Monica, the bouquets survived and the wedding guests hadnt heard their burst of laughter.
Devin swiped another tear from her cheek.
Next, she came to a picture of the wedding cake. It was a decadently rich, lemon-butter pound cake, six round tiers with white Belgian chocolate ganache. A pale gold luster adorned the icing, while a colorful waterfall of fresh flowers swirled diagonally down from a top bouquet. Devin got hungry just looking at it.
She flipped another page and came to Lucas.
What are you doing in here? his voice demanded.
Devin nearly dropped the album in shock. Her gaze flew to the closet entrance to see him looming over her, dressed in a business suit instead of a tux, frowning and furious instead of smiling for the camera.
Dont do that, she cried. You scared me half to death.
What are you doing in here? he repeated, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Guilt and alarm invaded her system. I uh She swallowed over a sandpaper throat. What could she say? How could she possibly explain the fact that she was sitting on the floor of Konrads closet?
I got lost, she told him in a small voice, sticking to the only story shed crafted. Then she glanced at the album, holding it up as if it proved something. I happened to spot this, and then. well, I started looking, and remembering. She made a show of swiping her cheek with the back of her hand, hoping for the sympathy vote she supposed, since her excuse was transparently lame.
Lucas took a couple of steps into the closet. You got lost? he challenged, the skepticism all but dripping from his tone.
I, uh, took a wrong turn. She couldnt quite meet his eyes. Out there in the hall. This is a really big house.
She told herself to shut up.
His answering silence was unnerving.
After a long moment, he crouched down beside her. He cocked his head to peer at the picture on the open page.
You looked very handsome at the wedding, she offered, pointing to his image. Truth was, hed looked amazing that night and every other time shed seen him, including now.
Shed tried, but she hadnt come close to banishing her memories of last night in the pool house. Hed looked amazing then, too.
Are you trying to distract me? he asked. Of course not, she lied.
He reached out and tucked her hair behind one ear, letting his hand rest there. Then youre saying you find me attractive?
Yeess, she offered slowly, beginning to worry where he thought this might be leading.
He ran the pad of his thumb from her cheekbone to the shell of her ear, and along her jawbone.
Her pulse jumped at the intimacy of the touch. But she forced herself to keep still, torn between trepidation and arousal, with only one tiny, sane part of her brain reminding her she had to put a stop to this.
She reached up and grasped his wrist, attempting to tug his hand away.
She failed.
A lazy smile grew on his face, and his breath puffed sweetly against her cheek, even as his thumb meandered to the curve of her neck. I cant help wondering. He paused. Just how far youd be willing to go to keep me distracted.