Chapter Seventeen

Return To Montecito

I felt Carolyn's body relax against me as she tried to let go of her indignation at being so poorly treated by her crude ex-husband. I held her close for several more heartbeats before I sat back slowly to look down at her and saw the shadows of hurt that still haunted her green eyes.

I put my forefinger beneath her chin, tipping her face up. "Bridges only said those things to hurt you. They're completely untrue. His pride was wounded, and he needed to salvage something for such a very public humiliation."

"Yes, I know…" Carolyn nodded. "When we were first married, we used to get on all right as long as I allowed him to have his way. In those early days, if he'd ever discovered he wasn't Edward's real father…"

Her pensive face paled, and I felt her move against me with discontent. "Now he finally knows the truth and I'm glad." She kissed my cheek. "I'm only sorry I didn't have the courage to throw him out years ago."

"Staying was easier than leaving…" I whispered against her hair. "You were not alone. Your children always had to come first."

"Yes, they always have," she admitted. "But I sometimes wonder if we would have been better off without Ian and his moods."

"You must do your best to forget him," I advised as I saw our waitress tentatively approaching us with our menus in her hands. "We will enjoy our meal and then I am taking you home." I left the rest unsaid, but she knew what I meant.

"I really like the sound of that," Carolyn whispered as she took the menu our waitress held out to her. "I'll always adore going home with you." Her sensuous smile said more than words.

※※※※※

"Devon…" I said slowly after the gaily dressed waitress had left us alone with our fragrant food and a large jug of margaritas.

"Yes?" Devon replied as he poured our drinks. "What is it? What do you want to know?"

"Is it that obvious?" I smiled and accepted the glass he pushed toward me. "All right. For some time now, I've been wondering about FLAG. About how you ended up in charge of such a large and secret organisation."

I shook my head. "I do remember you had a deep distaste for those men who were put in charge of our operations in London."

"I guess it was all a matter of timing." Devon's wide shoulders lifted as he gazed back into the past. "Our masters knew I could speak French like a native. In the last days of the war, they sent me on a very delicate mission into France ahead of the D-Day landings to help spread disinformation. I was very young and green, eager for adventure and I certainly found it."

I watched the conflicting emotions that moved across his frowning expression as he continued to look back into another time. "They told me my Paris contact was an American named Wilton Knight. He'd been undercover for some time and could also pass himself off as a native. He was some years older than me but just as eager for adventure. We certainly found it."

"Ah…" I nodded finally seeing the mysterious connection that had been eluding me. "Knight Enterprises and now Knight Investigations. So, is Michael his son then? They have the same last name."

"Ah, no…" Devon shook his head slowly with a wry smile. "I'm afraid that part of FLAG is rather more complicated than that. Michael joined our organisation some years later when we needed an investigator, and he came highly recommended. And Kitt needed a competent driver. It was a match that was always meant to be, even though Michael insisted on giving me grey hairs with his often cavalier attitude toward the most expensive car in the world."

He took a long drink of his margarita. "You see, after you—" He frowned at me, his blue eyes full of regret. "After we both died, I gave the service another year before I quit. I had no ties left in England, so I decided to emigrate to the States. I became a citizen and was put to work for the State Department."

He sighed ruefully. "The work wasn't stimulating, and I was on the point of quitting again. Then I happened to meet Wilton while I was on a fact-finding mission to LA and he immediately offered me a way out. Once he explained his dream of having a private, federal type of organisation, I jumped at his offer to run FLAG for him. I never knew my good friend was also a self-made billionaire. He was glad to have me in charge because his health had been failing for some time."

He grimaced sadly. "Wilton died five years ago and I think about him often. He would have loved you. I did tell him all about you one night. Wilton understood because he too lost the woman he loved in mysterious circumstances."

He looked deep into my eyes. "We were kindred spirits in many ways. But, after his death, the board of trustees in charge of FLAG began to interfere with my role as chairman and were determined to take it somewhere Wilton never wanted it to go. They were keen to be rid of me and they finally succeeded."

"You must miss Wilton very much," I replied, covering his hand with mine.

"Yes, but not as much as I missed you, my Luciana," he replied softly. "You saved me from myself."

He lifted my hand to his lips before he let me go. "FLAG served its purpose during all those years of loneliness. But that's enough of the past. It doesn't pay to dwell on what cannot be changed. Now, we'd better eat before all this delicious food gets cold."

"Yes…" I nodded, not wishing to cause him any more pain.

But further questions still swirled inside my mind. I knew there was more to that complicated story than he was willing to tell.

※※※※※

Much later that evening, after an excellent meal and several rounds of drinks, we walked slowly back to Carolyn's house, hand in hand. I tried not to be obvious as I kept a careful watch for any further signs of Ian Bridges. The man was a craven coward, but I was aware he could also be dangerous if provoked. And he still had friends in the city who could cause some trouble.

Carolyn must have guessed my intentions because she slipped her hands around my upper arm and stayed close to my side as we walked. "Thank you," she whispered. "But I'm sure he's gone for good. You made sure of that."

"Once we're settled in Montecito, we can forget all about him," I reassured her. "And Michael can find out everything he can about Ian's business dealings. I doubt the man isn't above doing shady dealings if they suited his needs."

"Yes, but whatever he may have done, he's in my past for good. I'm not going to think about him anymore because I don't wish it to make me sad," Carolyn replied with a sigh. "But my children are another matter. I must tell them of our plans. It's only fair. Not for their approval, but I would love to have their blessing and understanding."

"Of course," I replied immediately, knowing I would not have it any other way. "Do you want me to talk to Edward?"

She shook her head. "No, not right now, but thank you. I'll need to talk to him first. I'll telephone them all tomorrow."

"All right…" I nodded. "I understand."

She smiled as she laid her cheek against my shoulder, showing to anyone who cared to look that we were a couple. As she'd made it obvious that memorable night back at the hotel restaurant in Sedona when she'd put her hand on my arm as I held her chair. A silent statement of fact that made my throat tighten with gratitude.

"Coffee?" she offered when we were finally back inside her home without incident. "We need to talk and I'm not sleepy." She took care to make sure the door was locked and bolted.

"Mmmm, yes, thank you," I replied, as I walked into the living room to look out at the view.

I had to admit Santa Fe was an attractive city. The multi-coloured spangling of streetlights spread out in all directions beneath an inky black sky full of stars. In my mind, I'd already begun to frame up the shots I would take if we were staying here.

I knew then we would be coming back here on vacation. Carolyn loved the city, and it wouldn't be right to cut her off completely from her more recent past. I would not make that foolish mistake even if I did want her all to myself.

But I missed the wide blue Pacific and its contrary moods. Some people believed that the seemingly limitless ocean had no memory. It seemed fitting somehow.

"Here we are…" Carolyn reappeared with a tray holding a coffee pot and two cups. "I went and checked in on Maria. She's taken her medication and she's sound asleep. It's the best thing for her."

"Good," I replied as I walked to sit beside her on the couch.

I watched as she poured the coffee for us. She handed me a cup with a thoughtful expression. "I've been thinking…" she began to say.

"So have I," I interrupted her quickly. "About many things."

"Okay…" Carolyn sat back with her coffee. "Go ahead and tell me your thoughts."

I smiled at her readiness to discuss the facts of our renewed relationship. It cemented the rightness of it all inside my heart and mind as I began to lay out my ideas for our immediate future together.

After taking some time and thought to discuss her options, Carolyn finally agreed that it was better if she kept her house in Santa Fe. If she was willing, Maria could continue living there to look after it as she'd been doing for the last twenty-five years.

"It will be hard to leave when I've made it how I want it to be," she said. "But we will come back."

"Yes…" I nodded, putting aside my empty coffee cup next to hers. "Michael is compiling a list of houses for me to consider back in Montecito," I continued, as I took her hand. "I would need you with me to help me decide." I looked around the colourful room. "You have excellent taste."

"You said you could only stay for a few more days," she replied slowly, kicking off her sandals before turning on the couch to tuck her legs beneath her long floral skirt. "I would love to go to Montecito with you..." She hesitated and I could see her mind working again.

"Talk to me, Luciana," I encouraged, shaking her hand gently. "Never be afraid to speak your mind with me. I will always want to know what you're thinking and feeling. I can't if you don't open up to me."

"All right…" She drew a long breath and exhaled it slowly. "What happens when you have to fly out to London? For your new exhibition. What then?"

"You'll come with me, of course…" I took her chin in my free hand and turned her face to me. "If you want to. I cannot see any future for myself without you in it."

"I want to, very much," she replied softly.

I could see the relief in her eyes. I sensed she didn't ever want to appear needy or demanding. I lifted her hand to my lips and kissed it. Then I turned it over and played the tips of my fingers across that tiny betraying pulse beating so fast within her inner wrist. It gave away the secret of her emotional state easier than anything spoken. I felt and saw her shiver with desire.

"Carolyn…" My mind went back to the lodge and that bearskin rug before the fireplace.

I shook my head. This room also had a huge stone fireplace and a thickly woven, multicoloured Mexican rug spread out before it. But I sensed Carolyn preferred the comfort of a bed to the hardness of a tiled floor. My lips curved with the sensual memory as I shook my head.

"Talk to me…" she said then, taking my chin in her hand and turning my face back to hers. "Don't leave me wondering about what you're thinking. I want to know everything. No more secrets. We're done with them."

"That's turning my own words back on me, Cuisle mo chroí…" I chided gently.

"Then tell me what you're thinking," she replied, drawing closer to me. "And keep talking to me just like that…"

I sighed deeply. "Right now, I'm thinking I want to make love with you more than breathing." I looked again at the rug in front of the fire. "But not here. You did say Maria had taken her pills and she's sound asleep. What if we're very, very quiet…" I tried not to sound too desperate, but I couldn't help it.

Her soft smile trembled, and her eyes gleamed with unshed tears. "I thought you would never ask…" She moved sideways into my lap, and I held her slight weight easily. "And I doubt Maria would mind at all even if we did wake her up. She would say it's about time we got around to getting on with it."

Her quiet laughter was smothered by my lips taking hers in a deep, drugging kiss. She turned in my lap, pushing her legs on either side of my waist. I held her close against me as I stood up and she wrapped her legs fully around me.

"I never want to be left alone in the dark, ever again," she whispered in my ear as I carried her down the hallway to her bedroom.

"I have no intention of ever leaving you behind again," I reassured her as she opened the door to allow me to carry her through into the darkened room beyond. "And afterwards, we will talk all about Montecito and then London."

"Thank you…" She slipped from my grasp, her bare feet landing lightly on the floor as she turned to snib on the door lock.

Then, to my deep delight and pleasure, she flipped the light switch beside the door frame, illuminating the large room with several well-placed lamps and banishing the shadows. She turned to look at me.

"It's past time there were no more secrets between us…" she said, lifting her chin as she walked toward me and reached up to draw my mouth down to hers.

※※※※※

"I'm going to miss you both," Maria told us the next morning. "But it's the new beginning the pair of you deserve. And if that Ian ever dares to show his face here again…" She grinned and shook one clenched fist.

We were eating a late breakfast together at the kitchen table. None of us had risen early. I glanced at Devon and shook my head. I'd already told Maria about our unwelcome encounter with Ian at the restaurant the previous night. I'd made light of the unfortunate encounter, not wanting to worry her.

"I doubt he will trouble us again," Devon replied evenly. "He got the message last night that Carolyn is no longer any of his business."

"Well, I say, good for you," Maria approved as she poured another cup of coffee. "That man needed taking down a peg or two. And you're the man to do just that."

"Are you sure you'll be all right here on your own?" I asked anxiously. "It's a big house for one person."

"Oh, I'll have one of my grandchildren over to stay for a couple of weeks if that will stop you worrying about me," Maria replied reassuringly. "But I do enjoy my own company. I'll be fine now that I'm almost recovered. You two get on with your packing and don't give me another thought."

She grimaced as she adjusted her left arm in its sling. "As soon as I lose this thing, I'm going to spring clean this place from top to bottom. My girls will all help."

"Please don't overdo it," I urged. "Promise me that."

"I promise," Maria said, a shade too quickly. "I've been idle for far too long. I like to be busy, and spring will come soon enough."

I was forced to leave the argument there when she got up to collect the used dishes and carried them to the sink. After that, she refused to discuss it as she helped me pack my suitcases for the new adventure ahead. Devon and I would be leaving early the next morning.

I'd already telephoned, Sean Cornell, my publisher to inform him of my upcoming change of address. It hadn't been a long conversation because I was still short on details.

My final and most important task before I left Santa Fe for my new life in Montecito was to telephone my children to tell them my news. I reminded Devon and he immediately asked if I needed him.

I shook my head slowly and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, but I'll talk to Lucy first since she's the furthest away. Then I'll tell the boys. Edward may want to talk to you. I hope he does."

I kissed him again before pulling back to look up at him. "I won't mention our unfortunate encounter with Ian from last night. He doesn't deserve that. They all know how I feel about him and the reasons why I ordered him to leave."

"That's your decision and I respect that," Devon replied, kissing my forehead.

"Thank you…" I nodded as I went into my office and shut the door, bracing myself for the conversations to come.

I was so glad to find I needn't have worried. Lucy's response was immediately positive and fulsome. "Oh, Mum, I'm so glad. You deserve the very best of everything after all you've been through with Dad. I want to meet this man of yours, the moment I'm Stateside again. I can't wait. And Montecito is really beautiful. You'll see. Somewhere else you've never travelled." I could hear the tears in the loving tone of her voice.

"Thank you, I'm sure it is," I replied, wiping my hand across my moist eyes. "You don't know how much that means to me. I want you all to be happy for me."

"Well, Edward and Danny now know the score and they're fine with it all. I told them when you were in Sedona. It's all worked out so well. Keep me posted. I want to know everything."

"I will…" I inhaled deeply. "Goodbye, dear."

"Bye, Mum. Have a safe trip. We'll talk again when I get back home."

I replaced the receiver carefully in the cradle and sat looking at it for some time. Then I inhaled deeply as I picked it up again to dial Edward's office number in Boston. I knew he would give me his blessing once he understood everything, but I wanted his approval as well.

"You know I only want the best for you, Mum," he replied immediately to my confession. "You do deserve to be happy and if Devon is the man to do that for you, then I would never stand in your way."

"I am happy," I stated simply. "Very happy."

"Then I don't need to hear any more," Devon's son replied, reminding me so much of him right then. "That is all we've ever wanted for you."

"Devon told me you two have already talked," I said then. "He confessed because we agreed there would be no more secrets between us."

Edward sighed. "I'm glad. I hated not being able to tell you when we all got together for Christmas. But it was all still so new and raw. I didn't want you to be hurt all over again by dragging up the past."

"And I love you for that. But everything could not be more right now. Devon and I have thirty-five years to make up for."

"Then you'd better be getting on with it." Edward's smiling tone warmed me. "I'll look forward to coming out to Montecito when I can get away. And Devon promised to come and see me here in Boston as soon as he can arrange it after his trip to London. It will be great to see both of you."

He paused. "You'd better leave Danny to me. I'll tell him when he gets back. He's away on some crazy off-road adventure with some of his petrol-head friends. They've gone off-grid and will be out of range until the end of next week."

"Thank you, I'll leave it to you then. Give him my love." I paused. "Do you want to talk to Devon? He's here. We're all packed and ready to leave first thing tomorrow morning."

Edward paused for the briefest of moments, then said, "I think I would like that." He cleared his throat. "We're all faced with new beginnings."

"Yes, we are…" I replied quickly as I got out of my chair. "Hang on, I'll go and get him. Then I'll leave the two of you alone to talk."

"I might just ask him what his intentions are for my mother beyond running away with her," Edward teased lightly.

I didn't reply as I walked to the door and opened it. I didn't tell my son I was thinking the same thing. What more could there be in our new future together? I was so happy with what we had already.

※※※※※

The beauty of Butterfly Beach in Montecito took my breath away. I'd seen the gorgeous prints of Devon's photographs in his portfolio, but the reality was even more spectacular. The sun was warm and there was colour everywhere.

After having lived for so many years in a desert city in the middle of New Mexico, the vast blue expanse of the Pacific Ocean looked amazing and slightly intimidating. A solitary white yacht floated on the azure waters in the foreground while the far horizon was consumed by a darker blue haze that spoke of infinity.

Devon glanced at me when he heard me sigh. "Are you all right? We're almost there. You must be tired."

"No, I'm all right," I replied quickly. "Truly I'm fine. It's all so amazing. So much water."

"I'm glad you like it," Devon observed as he turned the steering wheel of my jeep when we came to an intersection, and we climbed up the hill away from the rugged cliffs and the beach below.

He turned between two massive stone pillars surmounted by lions and through an open, wrought-iron gate into a private driveway. He drew the vehicle to a halt in the broad cobbled-stoned courtyard of an impressive, two-storied, red-tiled, Spanish colonial house. He cut the engine and there was nothing but the soft sounds of the restless ocean along with the cries of wheeling gulls.

"It is very beautiful," I said as I removed my sunglasses to look all around.

"But it's only the beginning of our adventures," Devon reassured me as he opened his door and got out.

He circled the hood and came to open my door. I took his hand and got out to stand beside him in the warm afternoon sunshine. The sharp tang of salty ozone filled the air and I breathed it in.

"Welcome to Montecito, Carolyn," a very familiar voice commented from behind us. "And welcome back, Devon. It's so good to see you two again. I trust you both had a safe trip."

"Hello, Kitt," I said, turning to smile at the Trans Am which had moved up silently. "And yes, we did, thank you. It's good to see you again, too."

"Excellent." His single red eye gleamed with satisfaction as it moved from side to side in his hood. "Michael has taken Stevie down to the hospital for her latest check-up. But Bonnie is here to welcome you and see to it that you're settled in by the time they get back."

As he spoke, Bonnie walked out of the house, crossing the courtyard to throw her arms around Devon and hug him tightly. "Hi, Devon. It's great to see you again."

Then she turned to me with a wide welcoming smile. "I'm so glad you two are back together." She shook her head. "What happened to you, Carolyn, was just awful. We were all so worried about you. I felt so helpless."

"But it's now all firmly in the past," I reassured her quickly. "It was no one's fault except Durant's, and he will pay dearly for his crimes."

"Yes, he will…" Bonnie nodded. "Well, then. Come on inside out of the heat and I'll show you to your rooms. RC promised to come over as soon as he's finished with our latest case."

She smiled as she took my arm before linking her free hand through Devon's. "I think a few pre-dinner drinks around the pool are in order. Michael and Stevie won't be too long now. Then we can catch up on all your news. I want to know everything that's happened since we last saw each other."

"That could take a while," Devon commented wryly as we walked inside.

I smiled at him and shook my head. Some details of the last few weeks were very private and would not be relayed. But I did have a renewed sense that everything was going to be all right.

※※※※※

"Oh, Carolyn…" Stevie hugged Carolyn tightly and kissed her cheek soundly. "You don't know how glad we are to see you again. It's been far too long. I was so pleased when Devon telephoned us to say he was bringing you back with him. I can't tell you how sorry we are for everything that happened to you because of us and our dealings with FLAG."

"I know. But we will not dwell on the past," Carolyn replied firmly, taking the younger woman's hands in hers. "I am really happy to be here with all of you."

"It's been an interesting few weeks…" I smiled as I shook Michael's hand and clasped his shoulder. They'd arrived back from Stevie's medical appointment just as we were settling down around the pool.

"Yeah…" Michael pumped my hand as he looked me over. "I can see Sedona suited you well." He grinned. "Very well indeed. You look… relaxed." He winked. "Kitt told me how you two met out there. That you decided to rent a private house for just the two of you." His dark eyebrows rose.

"I thought he might…" I nodded, knowing Carolyn's instinct to return Kitt to Michael had been for the best. The car was an excellent and caring friend, but he wasn't programmed to keep a secret if asked a direct question.

"Well, we've got plenty of work around here to keep you busy the moment you say the word," Michael assured me. "The books will take some whipping into shape, but I'm sure you're up to it." He grinned cheekily as he punched me lightly in the shoulder. "Carolyn can't have you all of the time."

"I'll look forward to that," I replied, shaking my head.

"Well, I'll look forward to being slim again. I just know I look as big as a house now," Stevie complained with a groan, turning around slowly to show off the rounded curves of her body beneath her pretty floral sundress. "My gynaecologist tried to reassure me everything's coming along as it should and I'm not to worry. But I do feel so big and ungainly."

I shook my head but wisely kept my own counsel. To me, Stevie looked beautiful, but I feared she would take my comment the wrong way.

I tried to imagine Carolyn when she had been heavily pregnant with our child, and I felt the keen loss of a unique part of my life. Ian had been given that right and I resented the man all over again. And those who'd forced us apart thirty-five years ago.

"You look exactly as you should in your final trimester," Carolyn said gently as she stepped into the breach immediately. "You are blossoming and very beautiful."

"You truly think so?" Stevie arched her brows, looking at each of us in turn. "My doctor did say I could be early. My baby has already turned…" She sighed. "My mother told me she was very early with me…"

"I've been trying all day to tell you how beautiful you are to me…" Michael sighed, kissing his wife. "And that you're not to worry. It's not good for you. Right, Carolyn?"

"Yes, that's right…" Carolyn nodded quickly.

She took Stevie's hand and neatly changed the subject to the house and all the things women liked to talk about. It was a welcome distraction.

Michael's shoulders sagged with relief. He shook his head at me. "Come on, I need a drink."

We both walked away toward the outdoor kitchen bar and the heartfelt relief of not being asked to involve ourselves in a discussion we men knew nothing about. We left that to Carolyn and Bonnie to say the right words of comfort and allay Stevie's fears.

※※※※※