He yanked the parking brake, killed the engine and exited the low-slung vehicle.
The staircase was short, and it brought him to a narrow wraparound deck that most likely led to a veranda overlooking the lake. Facing the road, there was a painted, blue door. He knocked.
After a few minutes, Devin peeped through the small window, frowning before she opened the door to him.
Lucas? She glanced both ways, checking for what, he didnt know, but obviously puzzled by his presence.
What did he want? Lucas asked without preamble, hoping a strong offense would put her off balance. Excuse me?
Steve, Lucas continued, taking advantage of the small opening shed left between her body and the entry wall to barrel inside.
She took a reflexive step backward, the action opening the door wider. I have no idea what youre talking about.
Lucas turned and braced himself against the painted, yellow wall in the small entry, leaving eighteen inches or so between them. He was disappointed that shed lie outright. Then again, what did he know about her?
Steve was here, he stated.
She didnt answer.
Is that the way you want to play this? he persisted. Are you going to look me square in the eyes and lie?
Her expression faltered for a second, but she blinked her long lashes over her deep blue eyes, camouflaging her feelings. What are you doing here?
Tell me what he wanted. Did he plead his case? Try to make a deal? If Lucas understood Steves tactics, hed be in a better position to counteract them.
Youre not making sense.
He pinned her with a glare. I saw his car.
You were spying on me?
No. In point of fact, hed been spying on Steve. I was not spying on you. But I know he was here, and I want to know what he told you.
Opening a manufacturing plant in South America was not a decision to be taken lightly. Steve would have given her a rosy profit picture and glossed over all the risks. It made Lucas crazy that he had to justify his international corporate strategy to a woman whose sole business experience was in autographing her trite, self-help books for the lovelorn.
Devin gave her head a little shake, her short, wispy, brunette hair moving ever so slightly with the motion. Its none of your business.
Lucas felt his blood pressure rise. So, you admit he was here.
Thats also none of your business.
Damn it, Devin, he shouted.
A babys cry sounded from farther inside the house.
Devin smacked the palm of her hand against the end of the open door. Now see what youve done?
Lucas instantly realized Amelia was here.
Of course Amelia was here. She lived here.
Devin turned on her heel and swished into the living room on bare feet, her faded jeans clinging to a shapely rear end. Lucas ignored the view. Instead, he took the opportunity to close the door and follow her inside the house. He wasnt leaving without answers.
Devin reemerged into the living room, a red-faced, blubbering and soggy-looking Amelia tucked over one shoulder. Her hand rubbed up and down the babys back as she snarled at Lucas. Thanks tons.
I didnt know she was sleeping.
Its three in the afternoon. What did you think shed be doing?
Lucas didnt have a clue, and it seemed pointless to venture a guess. If youll just tell me what Steve said.
Amelias cries grew louder, and Devin began jiggling her. You have a lot of nerve, Lucas Demarco. Barging in here-
Steve has a lot of nerve sneaking around behind my back.
She stilled. He offered to help me.
Lucas snorted out a cold laugh. Steves never helped anybody his entire life.
Amelia shrieked, nearly piercing Lucass eardrums. He cut her an annoyed glance. Cant you do something to-
To his shock, Devin plopped the baby against his chest.
He automatically reached out to grasp the child beneath her arms, leaving her dangling out of the way of his clean suit. What the
You try, said Devin.
Amelia took one look at Lucass face and opened her mouth to bawl. Her eyes scrunched shut, tears squeezing out the corners, and her face turned brighter red as the decibels increased.
Devin headed for the kitchen.
Where are you going? Lucas cried, embarrassed by the high pitch to his voice.
To get her a bottle.
But- The baby squirmed against his grip, but he was afraid to hold her closer. Her nose was running, and shiny drool was smeared across her chin.
He was wearing a Savile Row suit, for pitys sake.
Then she suddenly stopped howling. She stiffened. Her face scrunched up, and a horrible rumble emanated from her little body. The stench that filled the air nearly made him gag. He breathed shallowly, through his mouth, glancing frantically around the room for a place to put her down.
Thankfully, Devin emerged from the kitchen.
Thats a good girl, she cooed, shooting Lucas a glare, retrieving the baby and cuddling her close, barely flinching at the smell.
Lucas took a very large step backward, silently acknowledging Devins fortitude.
Do you need a change, sweetheart? she asked the baby.
Lucas thought fumigation might be more in order. But when Devin laid Amelia on her back on the floor and reached for a bright blue diaper bag, all he could think about was escaping.
He darted toward an open window.
Would you like to change her? Devin asked sweetly.
Lucass jaw dropped open. He could probably count on one hand the number of times in his life hed been rendered speechless. But this was one of them.
Since youre going for sole custody, Devin continued, you might as well get in some practice.
Shell have a nanny, he pointed out.
Devin tugged off Amelias stretchy pink pants, revealing a white diaper. You dont plan to change her diapers?
Lucas turned away, gazing across the wooden deck and the sloped lawn to the calm waters of the lake. Devins neighbor had a dock with a sleek speedboat tied up. A few dozen houses were visible along the curve of the shoreline, front yards neatly landscaped, while evergreens covered the hillsides behind. It was actually quite beautiful here.
Lucas? Devin prompted.
I dont expect it to be necessary, he said, answering her question. There was a very good reason why nannies were invented.
Theres a girl, Devin cooed, and Lucas dared to look back to where Amelia stood on chubby bare feet, hand grasping Devins hair for balance.
Devin tucked away the change pad and handed Amelia a bottle of juice. The baby promptly plunked down on her fresh diaper and popped the bottle in her mouth.
Why do you want custody? Devin asked, coming to her feet, brushing her palms across her backside and finger-combing her hair where Amelia had mussed it. Her T-shirt was wrinkled, and several damp spots dotted its front. It was no wonder she went for plain, serviceable clothing. He could only imagine the havoc Amelia would wreak on linen and silk.
Still, the plain clothing couldnt hide her gorgeous figure. She was short, maybe five-five. And the absence of heels made her seem even shorter. But her legs were lithe and toned, her waist nipped in and breasts rounded and in perfect proportion to everything else.
He didnt know what she did for exercise, but it was working.
You dont seem particularly interested in Amelia, Devin continued.
Shes a Demarco.
So?
So, I have a responsibility-
Cant you at least be honest?
I am being honest. He owed it to his brother to keep Amelia safe. If Lucas had died with a daughter in such a vulnerable position, hed expect no less of Konrad.
You want her ten percent of Pacific Robotics, Lucas, controlling interest. You dont give one whit about Amelia as a person.
Youre dead wrong about that.
Ill do whatever you ask for the company, she pledged. I promise I wont interfere.
He wished he could believe her. What did Steve say?
I cant tell you that.
Lucas threw up his hands. I know what he said. Hed offered her a deal. If she won guardianship of Amelia, Steve would make it worth her while to support his plans for expansion into South America.
Then why ask me?
I wanted to know if I could trust you.
She moved closer. Youre lying. Youll never trust me. You wanted information to use against me.
She was close.
Hed wanted information to use against Steve. I can see this is getting us nowhere.
Im way ahead of you, Lucas. Ive known for weeks that we were going nowhere.
He gazed into her crystal blue eyes, unable to help noticing her dark lashes, prettily arched brows, small, straight nose, bow lips and creamy smooth skin. She was a beautiful woman. She was also feisty and passionate, making her a frustrating opponent.
But hed defeated frustrating opponents before. And hed win this battle, too. She might know how to change a diaper, but Amelia needed more than hugs and a fresh bottom. She was a Demarco. She would one day control a significant percentage of a corporation worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
But hed defeated frustrating opponents before. And hed win this battle, too. She might know how to change a diaper, but Amelia needed more than hugs and a fresh bottom. She was a Demarco. She would one day control a significant percentage of a corporation worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
She needed education, advice and experience, and she needed the security and savvy that went along with her future position in life. Lake Westmire might be a fine place to raise most children. But it wasnt enough for Amelia.
Two
Devin was more than pleased with the lawyer Steve had provided for the temporary custody hearing. The man made his points to the judge concisely and eloquently, describing Devins bond with Amelia, how Devin had been present during her birth and that Amelia had lived in Devins house since coming home from the hospital. He provided testimonial letters from friends and neighbors speaking of Devins parenting skills, the nursery shed outfitted for Amelia and her attention to Amelias health and well-being.
Hed then contrasted Lucass lack of parenting experience, his plans to hire a nanny instead of being hands-on himself and the fact that hed spent almost no time with Amelia since her birth. He acknowledged the security concerns around a child from such a wealthy family, but pointed out there were many options to ensure her safety.
Devin had to admit, shed never thought about the potential of someone kidnapping Amelia for ransom. Did that even still happen in America? It had been a long time since the Lindbergh case.