Theyd taken a helicopter from the estate to the airport, leaving reporters at the front gate unaware of who had left the estate and who was still inside. Not that anyone expected a reporter to follow them from Seattle to Dallas. Still, it was nice to know their journey was all but untraceable.
On the downside, Lucas had remained aloof throughout the trip and throughout the evening after theyd arrived. Devin wasnt sure what shed expected. But after theyd made love a second time, and seemed to have come to a temporary truce, she hadnt expected him to use every excuse in the book to keep from speaking with her.
And it proved easy for him to keep his distance. Byrons homestead was more of a town that a house. Set on a grassy hillside a few hundred feet up from the picturesque Lake Hope, the complex consisted of a sprawling main house, with nearly a dozen other houses facing the lake. Two rows of smaller cottages sat farther up the hillside, and she was told they housed the ranch staff.
Teresa had come along to help with Amelia, while Devin assumed Lexi simply wanted to avoid the reporters who seemed likely to have staked out Devins house. The three women and Amelia were given rooms on the second floor of the main house, while Lucas had taken what he referred to as his usual house next door. Byron was in a massive master suite down the hall from the living room.
In true ranch style, the house was paneled in polished cedar, with hardwood floors, thick, patterned throw rugs and overstuffed leather furniture. The tables were pine, while the lamps bounced soft, yellow light to every corner of the rooms. The houses oil paintings had one theme-horses. Byron had ridden in rodeos in his late teens and twenties, and he had an obvious admiration for the animals.
This morning, Lexi had declared a desire to learn to ride, and the two of them had headed for the barns. Teresa had taken Amelia to check out the duck pond, while Lucas had announced he had phone calls to make back at his house.
Devin was left alone with her anger and frustration. Now that they were out of harms way, she was furious with Steve. Hed thrown both her and Amelia to the wolves. Theyd been defenseless against the press onslaught. Amelias face was undoubtedly plastered in the newspapers, while Devin and Lucass reputations would be dragged through the mud.
That wasnt even counting the physical danger hed put Amelia in. She could have been trampled in the rush. Thank goodness Lucas had been there to save her.
Devin knew she should be working on her book. She even took out her laptop, settling herself in a corner of the living room, in a big comfy chair, with a warm breeze blowing through the screened windows against her bare arms and legs. But there were too many things on her mind. She simply couldnt focus on writing.
She wanted to rant about Steve. And she wanted to ask Lucas where he got off making sweet love to her one day, then pretending she wasnt even alive the next.
It wasnt as though they had nothing to discuss. They didnt have a nanny. And they were supposed to be united in fighting Steve. Shouldnt they be strategizing? Maybe investigating? Information gathering? Filling out forms?
After an hours frustration, Devin set aside her laptop and rose deliberately from the chair. She wasnt about to spend any more time in here sitting on her hands.
She stuffed her feet into a pair of sandals and straightened the short denim skirt that shed paired with a violet tank top for the scorching summer day. Then she left through the front door, crossed a long porch and followed the wooden walkway that led to Lucass house.
She knocked sharply, but there was no answer.
She waited, knocked again and finally decided to circle the house in search of him.
She followed a set of cement stepping stones that wound their way across the lawn. Once she cleared the building, she was rewarded. She heard Lucass voice and tracked it over a small knoll, where she spotted him at the duck pond.
Dressed in blue jeans and a plain gray T-shirt, he sat on the ground, knees up, with Amelia clinging to his shoulder as a duck waddled toward the two of them.
Teresa was nowhere in sight.
Lucas tossed some crumbs, and the duck came closer.
Amelia squealed in delight, causing the duck to scoot away in fear.
She speed-crawled a few feet after it, and Devin found her steps slowing down to take in the astonishing sight. Lucas was playing with Amelia. They were all alone. And the two of them looked happy.
Something squeezed her heart. But she wasnt sure if it was joy or dismay. Shed have to admit Lucas would be the closest thing Amelia would ever have to a father. She shouldnt be anything but happy to see that relationship develop. Still, from an emotional standpoint, she loved Amelia so dearly, she didnt want to lose anything about her to Lucas.
While Devin watched, Amelia pushed herself to a wobbly standing position. Then she opened her hand and flung whatever she was holding at the duck. Devin couldnt tell from this vantage point if Lucas had given her bread crumbs or not. Apparently, neither could the duck. It waddled closer to investigate, fanning its wings and shaking its glossy green head while it scoured the ground.
Amelia made another throwing motion, then she turned to grin at Lucas, obviously seeking his approval.
Clever girl, he cooed, with a deep threaded chuckle.
Amelia turned and took a step toward him, then another, and another. She walked until she was wrapped in Lucass arms, laughing with pride at her accomplishment.
Devin swallowed a thick, burning emotion.
Amelias first steps.
And they were to Lucas, not Devin.
Just then, he caught sight of her, and his expression sobered as he met her eyes.
Amelia wiggled out of his arms, and Devin pasted a bright smile on her face, crossing the remainder of the distance to the pair. Devin told herself there would be lots of steps in Amelias life, and plenty of other firsts, and she intended to be around for all of them. And it wasnt as if she hadnt witnessed the first steps. Shed simply seen it from a distance, was all.
She seems to like the ducks, Devin offered to break the silence.
Amelia crawled over and grabbed Devins leg. Devin sat down so Amelia could get into her lap. The physical contact made her feel better.
Wheres Teresa? she asked Lucas.
She went riding.
With Lexi and Byron?
Lucas gazed off in the distance, while the ducks bustled around, searching for every last crumb. Sarcasm put an edge in his voice. I dont think so.
Devin wasnt sure how to respond. The silence stretched.
Lucas finally spoke. Byron and Lexi are on a date, and Teresa is checking out the cowboys more than shes checking out the horses.
Byrons attracted to Lexi? Devin had to admit, Lexi seemed less frustrated with Byron the past few days, but a date? That was a stretch.
Lexis a beautiful woman. There was a definite rebuke in Lucass voice.
I know that. Devin hadnt meant to imply she was surprised that Byron was attracted to Lexi. She loved Lexi, and Lucas was behaving like a jerk.
She watched the dozen ducks glide back out into the pond and decided it was best to change the subject.
I came to ask you whats next, she told Lucas, helping Amelia to her feet as she held tight to her anger at Steve and her determination to support Amelia. She leaned back to balance on her arms, stretching her bare legs out in front. Other than hiding out here, what do I do to help?
He turned to gaze at her, anger coalescing in the pinpoints of his black pupils. You can start by not reading my private emails.
The breath whooshed out of Devin, and a chill prickled her skin.
He knew.
He knew.
How on earth could she explain? I didnt-
Didnt what? he sneered. Didnt break into my email account, or didnt have sex with me to cover it up?
A pounding echoed in Devins ears. Several of the ducks took flight, while Amelia tugged at a clump of grass.
I have to admire your tenacity, he continued conversationally. A lesser woman might have confessed she was spying, or maybe faked a headache, or just plain said no to sex, but not you, Devin, you stepped right on up-
Stop it! She couldnt stand to hear him talking that way.
Stop what? Stop telling the truth? Stop catching you in your little spy games?
I didnt She hesitated. What could she tell him? That shed wanted to sleep with him a second time? That shed missed his touch? That the minute hed kissed her, shed forgotten all about the emails and everything else in the world? Or maybe that shed lain awake at night, having fantasies about the two of them making long, drawn-out, sexy love?
Hed never believe her. And she wouldnt want him to know. It would be beyond humiliating.
Hed never believe her. And she wouldnt want him to know. It would be beyond humiliating.
She straightened up, squared her shoulders and held her chin in the air. Just tell me how I can help Amelia.
He glared a moment longer, but she firmly held her ground.
You can help Amelia by not fighting me, he said.
Fine, she agreed shortly.
I need a letter, from you to the judge whos reviewing the will. I need you to support Amelias legitimacy as Granddads heir.
In other words, you need me to lie. To a judge. She supposed it was always going to come down to this.
No, he barked. I need you to stop convincing yourself Konrad was dishonest. Quit looking for evidence that doesnt exist. He loved Amelia, and he loved Monica, and she broke his heart when she left him.
Was Devin simply supposed to ignore reality? What about the corporate shares? she demanded. What about that conversation? What about Konrad telling you that hed thwarted Steve by having Amelia?
Monica misunderstood.
Thats your story?
Did Monica love Konrad?
The question took Devin by surprise.
Lucas spoke again, his voice staccato. Dont lie to me, Devin. Did Monica love Konrad?
Yes, Devin admitted. She believed her sister had loved Konrad with all her heart. Thats what made his betrayal so reprehensible.
Lucass voice softened. And how do you know that?
Because I know my sister. I lived with her through the whole thing. I saw what he did to her.
And I know my brother. And I watched what it did to him. But thats a moot point. You need to write that Monica loved Konrad. Tell the judge they had a baby because they wanted to become parents. And tell him you have absolutely no evidence-