Whats your next move? asked Byron.
Lucas had been thinking about that. Since she just matched my biggest advantage over herlegal resourcesI suppose Ill have to match her biggest advantage over me.
You going to put on a wig and an apron?
Funny.
The big man grinned. I thought so.
Amelia adores her. Lucas knew he had to make certain Amelia was comfortable with him, too.
The amused grin grew on Byrons face as they entered the softly lit room. Lucas Demarco, Uncle of the Year?
How hard can it be? Lucas paused. I mean, Ill hire a nanny for the sticky stuff. But I can read her a book, build her a castle or play catch or something.
That little gal cant even walk yet.
You know what I mean.
Byron turned thoughtful. You do know that Bernard and Botlow have had past dealings with Pacific Robotics, right?
Im aware, said Lucas, his gaze going to the bank of picture windows that looked out over the concrete terrace, the sloping lawn of the estate and the lights of the ships on Puget Sound below.
If you were to ask, the court might just declare that a conflict of interest.
Or they might consider me an obstructionist for trying to block Devins legal support.
And give little ol Devin the sympathy vote, Byron concluded.
Sweet young aunt, Lucas mused out loud, a picture of Devins fresh, girl-next-door beauty flashing in his mind as he poured himself two fingers of Macallan. Self-employed and making ends meet at a lakeshore cottage in a bucolic little community with pets and picnic tables. Im sure she attends town hall meetings and bakes cookies for good causes. Amelia clearly adores her. I tell you, the last thing we want to do is turn her into even more of a sympathetic underdog.
A sympathetic underdog? It was Devins surprisingly sharp voice.
Lucas set down the Scotch bottle and turned.
She started across the room, stride confident, shoulders squared. She wore a baggy T-shirt and some kind of clingy slacks topping white running shoes.
At least you didnt call me pathetic, she challenged.
Byron recovered first and stepped forward, extending his hand. Byron Phoenix. Pleased to meet you, maam.
Lawyer? asked Devin, eyes narrowing as she gave him a brief handshake.
Byron scoffed out a laugh. Extended family.
Devin raised her brows in an obvious question.
He was married to my mother, Lucas explained.
You have a stepfather? Devin was clearly surprised.
Byron chuckled heartily at that one.
I was twenty-two when they got married. We hardly played catch.
My mistake, said Devin.
Couldve taught you to rope steers, Byron remarked.
Care for a drink? Lucas asked Devin, his manners belatedly kicking in.
No thank you. She peered through the wall of windows and out into the yard. And I dont need the sympathy vote. Im planning to beat you fair and square. Is there someplace out there I can go for a run?
Hear that? Lucas said to Byron. Shes going jogging. The woman appears to be a paragon of all virtues. I suppose youre a vegetarian teetotaler, as well.
Devin shot him a look of disdain. Then she caught him by surprise, snagging the glass out of his hand and downing a healthy swallow. Im not a paragon of anything, she told him, handing the glass back to him, voice only slightly wheezy from the straight Scotch.
Byron couldnt seem to stop himself from chuckling. The woman definitely has spunk. Too bad there, Lucas. A shrinking wildflower would have made your life a whole lot easier.
I sleep better when I run, Devin told him. And since I dont have the luxury of my own bed, and since Amelia is likely to be up at 4:00 a.m., Id like to take a quick jog around the grounds if thats all right with you.
One of the housekeepers can get up with Amelia, Lucas offered.
Devin widened her stance and crossed her arms over her chest. Im not staffing out my niece.
I retract my earlier criticism, said Lucas, holding her gaze. Youre not a paragon, youre a purist.
Im only trying to survive. For a split second, a flash of unvarnished hurt traced through her eyes.
Lucas felt a shot of empathy. Devins sister might have broken his brothers heart, and Devin might blame Konrad for Monicas death, but theyd both suffered a terrible loss. They shared that much.
Then she blinked, and the moment was gone, and she was his adversary once more.
He downed the remains of the drink. Ill show you.
Show me what?
Where you can jog.
Just point it out. Ill find my way.
But Lucas was already on his way to change. Meet me on the pool deck. Downstairs, past the kitchen.
Devin didnt know why shed waited. It wasnt as if shed get lost on the estate. The extensive yard was well lit, and she was fairly certain it was fencednot that she was planning to go out of sight of the big mansion anyway. There were lights on all the way up to the third-floor turret. Shed probably be able to spot it for miles.
The clear water sparkled in the outdoor pool, submerged lights illuminating its beautiful blue depths. She couldnt help but admire the tiered decks and the gardens surrounding the pool. The chairs and loungers were padded with burgundy cushions. Both dining tables and occasional tables dotted the seating areas. Sun umbrellas covered many of the dining tables, while tall propane heaters were placed strategically throughout furniture groupings. It was obvious the Demarco family spent a lot of time out here.
Devin couldnt help feeling as though shes wandered into a five-star resort.
Ready? Lucass footfalls sounded on the wooden steps that led from a sundeck to the pool deck. He wore runners, a pair of lightweight black shorts and a sleeveless gray T-shirt with a Seattle Mariners team logo across the front.
I dont need a babysitter, she informed him, trying valiantly not to notice the definition of his biceps and broad shoulders. Nobody had ever accused the Demarco men of being unattractive. With dark eyes, strong chins and straight aristocratic noses, both Lucas and Konrad often graced the cover of Seattle Entrepreneur. The urbane and sexy image was what had attracted Monica to Konrad in the first place.
How could an ordinary woman be expected to resist when one of the Demarco brothers set his sights on her? Predictably, Konrad had swept Monica off her feet. It had taken her about five minutes to fall in love with him. And though shed later been angry with herself for being duped into doing so, and furious with Konrad for doing the duping, Devin also knew that Monica had never actually fallen out of love with her husband.
How far do you want to go? asked Lucas.
Devin wished the question hadnt turned into a double entendre inside her head. She wished even harder that her expression hadnt given her away.
I meant jogging, said Lucas with a knowing smirk.
I know what you meant.
But Im open to discussion.
In your dreams.
Apparently, in yours.
Get over yourself. Two miles.
Is that all?
She glared at him. Five, then. It would mean shed get to bed later, but it would be worth it to show Lucas she wasnt a wimp.
Get over yourself. Two miles.
Is that all?
She glared at him. Five, then. It would mean shed get to bed later, but it would be worth it to show Lucas she wasnt a wimp.
He shrugged easily. This way then. He pointed to a bark mulch path that wound down the sloping hill toward Puget Sound. At the same time, he gave a wave to the house behind him. It must have been some kind of a signal, because the path lit up with pot lights in front of them, highlighting an emerald lawn, bushy shrubs and fragrant flower gardens.
Okay, much as she resented the Demarcos, and resented staying here, and resented having to fight for her rights with Amelia, this was one gorgeous estate.
Devin started off slowly, letting her heart rate increase and pump oxygenated blood into her muscles.
Lucas was slightly ahead, so she increased her pace to come abreast. He lengthened his stride to stay in front, and she cursed him under her breath. The showoff.
Whats that? she asked him, nodding toward a rectangular building, half from curiosity, and half to show him she had enough breath to carry on a conversation.
A garage, he responded, dropping back to run beside her. Konrad liked antique cars.
It was an awfully big garage. Did he have a collection?
Lucas nodded. Twenty-five, I think. Oldest is a Model T, right up to a 56 Caddy. A Coupe de Ville, burgundy and cream.
And over there? Devin asked, indicating a distant building up the hill with a few lights shining from windows.
The stables, said Lucas. You ride?
Devin shook her head. Horseback riding wasnt something most middle-class urban kids learned growing up.
Go ahead and try it while youre here.
I dont plan to be here that long.
He glanced down, the ocean breeze wafting through his short dark hair. You know something I dont about the court date?
I hope they move it up. Why?
The answer was obvious. So Amelia and I can go home.
His voice went soft in the cool night air. What if I win?
She tossed her own short hair, determined to show the man nothing but confidence. The only thing youve got going for you is money.
Money helps.
It also corrupts.
The path curved, and they began a gentle uphill climb. Devin breathed deeply, determined to keep up her pace. She didnt want to show Lucas one iota of weakness, on any front.
Amelias got a whole lot of money of her own, he pointed out.
I assume thats held in trust. Devin didnt want Amelias money.
You assume right. For now. But whoever manages her shares in Pacific Robotics will also manage her money. And they had better know what theyre doing.
I can hire a business manager.
Just like I can hire a nanny.
You know the obvious solution, dont you? Devin felt compelled to ask.
I take guardianship and hire you as a nanny?
And have Amelia subject to Lucass whims and control? Not a chance. Devin turned the tables. I take guardianship and hire you as a business manager.
Never going to happen. Lucas increased his pace as they passed the horse stables. The boathouse and docks came into view far below at the shore.
Devin struggled to keep up. They were on their way back now, but the mansion was at least a mile away.
She brought herself abreast of him, but he sped up. She did it again, and he went faster still.
Her breathing was becoming erratic, and shed long since lost any semblance of her regular pace. She was running on adrenaline and frustration, in a futile attempt to keep Lucas from beating her.
You might want to save your strength, Lucas finally mused. The rat didnt even sound winded. Im fine, she gasped.
He turned around and jogged backward. Even through her humiliation that he could do it so easily, she couldnt help but be grateful that theyd slowed down.
Dont be stupid, Devin.
She let a glare do her speaking for her.
This isnt the hill to die on.
Then why do you care who wins?
He shrugged, allowing a sheepish grin. It was fun watching you try.
Rat.
Guilty. His eyes darkened. You might want to remember that.
The mansion was closer now. The pool deck a beacon spurring her burning leg muscles forward.
Why, oh, why had she waited for him? She should have set off jogging by herself, done her usual two miles, and been in the shower by now, maybe even in bed, asleep, catching a few precious hours before Amelia woke up, and she started all over again.
Her days were beyond hectic. It had been weeks since she got any decent amount of writing accomplished. Her new self-help book on setting priorities, Snarled Traffic in the Information Age, was due to her publisher in three months. And she had eight more chapters to go.
Her feet pounded on the bark mulch.
A hundred yards to go.
Fifty.
Twenty-five. Thank goodness.
She slowed to a walk, gulping air, keeping well away from Lucas in the hope that he wouldnt see how winded shed become.
Hed slowed his run, taken it down to a jog, coming to a walk when his feet hit the concrete deck.
Devin took her time joining him, feeling a rush of relief when her lungs slowed back to normal. Her legs were still rubbery, but it was much easier to hide that weakness.
As she approached Lucas, he tossed her a chilled water bottle. She caught it in midair. Obviously someone had set them out while they were away running. What a life the man led.
Devin cracked the seal and took a long, satisfying drink. Her heart rate was getting back to normal, but she knew shed have some very sore muscles in the morning. Shed give her eyeteeth for a miracle where Amelia slept until seven.
Lucas flopped down on a lounger, gesturing to a low table between it and another identical chair. Care for some fruit?
Devin realized she was famished, and the fruit platter looked delicious. The temptation to rest her weary legs was too much to resist. She took the other lounger and stretched out.
Lucas popped a grape into his mouth and munched. You have everything you need in the nursery?
Devin selected a slice of pineapple. Its a dream nursery.
It was.
From the custom-made crib to the designer sheets, to a rocking chair she could practically live in, to a state-of-the-art baby monitor, paintings, mobiles, curtains and the thickest white carpet shed ever stepped on, Amelia might as well have been a princess.
Devin nibbled the edge of the pineapple. You must have been pretty confident youd need it.
I was. He turned his head to watch her. I am. He paused. You should really give up now.
Sure. She shrugged. Why not. Who needs the grief, anyway? All those lawyers, a court date, fighting youand youre clearly a superior human being. I might as well just call it quits. She popped the rest of the pineapple into her mouth.
He grinned, and plunked his head back on the lounger, closing his eyes. Ah, Devin. Youre entertaining. Ill give you that much.
She sucked the pineapple juice from her fingertips and tried to stay angry with Lucas. It seemed like too much of an effort. Okay if we use the pool tomorrow?