Chapter Thirty-Eight

A Knightly Encounter

The coffee pot took quite a hammering after we all got out of Kitt and went back inside to talk. It was drained and refilled more than once as we sat together around the kitchen island and drank the brew black and strong.

The only one getting any quality sleep tonight was Maria. She had long since retired to her apartment.

I envied her as I passed a hand up and around the back of my neck to ease the tension in my tired muscles. At least, the caffeine was helping to keep me awake. In the living room, the mantle clock chimed midnight. But still, none of us made a move to get up and leave.

I was glad to leave the more complex details of informing Kat about FLAG and Kitt to Devon and Michael. I knew very little about that part of my father's life and how he used to make his living.

I was still bemused by the bizarre connection Kitt had made about us. I sat beside a very tired-looking Kat and held her hand, giving her my unqualified support as she tried to make sense of all that had happened tonight.

"The acronym, FLAG, stands for the Foundation for Law and Government," Devon explained patiently to her. "It's a crime-fighting organisation dedicated to fighting criminals who thought they could operate above the law."

My father's lips thinned wryly. "We spent the better part of four years doing our best to change their minds. We had some good successes and a few drawbacks. Our main issue was always the board, who were constantly wanting us to save money through cutbacks and cost savings. The bottom line meant more to them than putting the bad guys behind bars."

"But you're not still with them, though?" Kat asked with a worried frown. "I mean, wasn't doing such work, very dangerous?" She turned to look at me with deep concern in her eyes.

My father's frowning gaze shifted to my mother's, and I saw the reflection of their deep love in them. "Yes, it had its perilous moments," he admitted. "One of the criminals we were tasked with tracking down, turned the tables on us and managed to infiltrate the fortress of FLAG headquarters where we were holding Michael and Stevie's wedding."

He shook his head as Michael placed one hand on Devon's shoulder. "He was there to kill both of us. But Carolyn saw him just in time and threw herself into the path of the bullet that was meant for me."

Kat straightened up with alarm. "You were shot?" She stared at my mother. "Oh, how awful. I didn't know." She glanced at me with worry in her eyes.

"I'll admit it wasn't the best of life's experiences," Carolyn replied with a pained look. "But that bullet finally brought me everything I have now. I couldn't have lived with Devon in that world. We both knew that."

She reached out to grasp her husband's hand. "But now, I've put it all behind me. I will be forever grateful because it changed our lives and made us finally see the truth about our relationship."

"Always…" he whispered as he raised her hand to his lips and kissed the backs of her fingers. He looked back to Kat. "And Michael and Kitt were often in far more danger than me. I had been confined to piloting a desk by then. I thought I had everything I could want or need until the day I saw Carolyn again. She was walking down an LA street with the sunshine in her hair. I thought I was seeing a ghost."

Kat's lips curved gently. "An incredible romance, as well." She sighed. "You're both so fortunate. But, please, go on with your story."

"Yeah, tell us the rest…" Danny encouraged, his face eager for more heroism. "I only knew what you told us when Mum was in the hospital."

"Maybe it's all better left in the past where it belongs," I inserted quietly. "We can talk of happier things."

"Thanks, Edward." My father sipped his coffee and then said, "But it needs to be told and then it can finally be forgotten."

He smiled at Mum before he turned back to Kat. "We're no longer in any danger because FLAG decided to part company with all of us more than a year ago. The board voted unanimously that they could do without our services. They put a man in charge who loves to cut costs even more than he enjoys kissing their collective butts."

"And don't forget what RC told you about old Senator Maggie Flynn," Michael added. "She was on the board of trustees at FLAG and had her fingers in quite a few other pies."

"Yes…" Devon nodded. "I opened a case file on her a few months before I resigned. There were some glaring irregularities in the books that had been brought to my attention. I'd intended to quiz the senator about them in person when I found the time. But she kept avoiding my phone calls and then Carolyn was shot and almost died."

He exhaled roughly. "At that moment, nothing else in my life mattered anymore. I was very pleased to be able to hand in my resignation. If I remember correctly, Maggie was extremely keen to action my notice immediately, because it took the heat off her."

Michael grimaced. "Then that new broom, Angus Jones, found your file and pushed the board to do a full investigation. Maggie Flynn's now serving a ten stretch in San Quentin. A lot of her opponents are breathing easier, including Jones."

"I see…" Kat glanced at me again with a tired smile. "Well, I'm glad. But you still haven't told me what all that strange talk was about. The idea that your father, Michael and a talking car are somehow related. Where does that come into the picture?"

She turned to study Devon. "He said that you're the father to them all." She shook her head with slow disbelief. "I don't get that bit at all. I mean, how can anyone be a parent to a car? Even an incredible, talking one."

Devon nodded. "I told Stevie before their wedding that I've always thought of Michael like a son. Despite the grey hairs he's given me over the years."

His gaze shifted to me. "And I still do. I never expected to find out I have a son of my own. But as for being Kitt's father. Surely Wilton is more the one to blame for that idea…" He shook his head as he sipped his coffee.

Michael's lips twisted wryly as he said, "In a way, it makes perfect sense when you think about it. I hadn't thought of the idea at all until Kitt decided to drop the bomb of his conclusions the other night. And Kitt is more than a car."

He took a long sip of his coffee. "The founder of FLAG was a man named Wilton Knight. He and Devon had been working in secret to build Wilton's foundation for law enforcement. Wilton died over five years ago, so Devon took over running everything. And he was very successful. For all the thanks he got from the bean counters."

"Okay, I get that," Kat acknowledged slowly. "But it still doesn't answer my question."

Michael raised a hand. "I'm getting to that part." He shrugged. "Back then, I was a restless, misfit detective lieutenant in LA called Michael Long. Wilton was a self-made billionaire with an idea. He was working on making that idea happen when he and Devon choppered in to rescue me after I was near-fatally shot in the face."

He smiled briefly. "Wilton said he'd been watching me for some time and had big plans for my future. He could see I was unhappy with what I was doing. You could say I fell into his lap when I got shot. He gave me a new identity by the extensive use of plastic surgery so the men who thought they'd killed me would never find me. And he gave me the new name of Michael Knight."

Devon nodded. "Wilton had hand-selected Michael to be the primary field agent in the pilot program of his public justice organisation. Michael never expected to nearly die to secure the new job."

He smiled wryly. "Not that he was given a choice, and he didn't want it, at first. But I managed to persuade me it was a worthy cause and in great need of his under-used skills as an investigator. And then there was Kitt."

Kat shook her head. "That sounds very complicated and extremely dangerous." She glanced at me, and I could see the deep concern in her eyes.

"Don't worry," I assured her. "That life is nothing like the one we lead now. We're all quite sedate."

Michael and I traded glances, and he shook his head. Devon noticed and frowned at us both. I knew he was wondering what secret we were keeping hidden from him.

"Then, I'm glad it all worked out for the best…" Kat returned my clasp around her fingers. "My life has never been that exciting."

"Nor mine…" Danny concurred, his eyes full of speculation. "I've missed out on a lot."

"And that's where Devon came into my life," Michael continued. "Wilton and Devon had taken my Trans Am and radically modified it without my permission. They turned it into Kitt. The Knight Industries Two Thousand that's parked out in the driveway that you met tonight."

He smiled wryly. "I'll admit, finding out my car could talk and drive itself took some serious getting used to. The very first time he spoke to me, asking what song I wanted to hear, I demanded to know what the hell was happening."

His smile widened. "Kitt tried to explain, but I thought it was some kind of crazy joke Devon was pulling on me. I sure didn't want to be seen driving around in a car that talked back to me. Then Kitt wanted to take control because he said I was still recovering from my surgery. I refused, of course. I don't give up my need for control that easily."

"Oh, this story is way too cool," Danny observed in an awed tone. "I wish I'd known you guys back then. What a gig. Gunmen and fast cars." He grinned. "And women…"

"Well, I'm glad you didn't," our mother replied severely. "I wouldn't have managed to get a wink of sleep at night for worrying about you. It was bad enough when Devon was involved and the consequences almost killed us both. We got out while we could."

"But it didn't," Devon said quietly, still holding hands with her.

"So, Kat. To finally answer your question about Devon being our father," Michael reclaimed the conversation. "Devon helped to create me in a new image just as he and Wilton Knight made Kitt over into a talking car that can do amazing things no other car can. And then there's Edward, here…"

He nodded across the island at me. "A man-made in the old man's image, for sure."

Devon shook his head. "If I'm to be cast as the father figure in this outrageous tale, then Wilton has to take his share of the blame. He gets to be dubbed Grandpa. I think he'd like that." He glanced up at the ceiling and raised his coffee mug in salute.

"Thank you." Kat nodded. "I guess, in a crazy kind of way, it does all make sense. It is an amazing tale."

I saw her pass a tired hand over her face. She sagged gently against my shoulder, and I knew the night's incredible revelations had finally caught up with her.

"And it will need to be my bedtime story…" Michael finished his coffee and stood up, stretching out his tall frame with a long sigh. "Kitt may not need to sleep but I do."

He touched two fingers to his temple. "I'll say good night to you all. Don't call me for anything today or tomorrow. Not even if the whole world catches on fire. I'm going to be totally incommunicado. I have a beautiful wife who's in desperate need of my undivided attention and I intend to give that to her." He grinned widely as he left the kitchen.

"Good night," I replied as I too got to my feet. "Come on…" I said to Kat. "You look totally done in. I'll drive you home."

"Thank you…" She nodded as she rose from her stool. "Good night, everyone. And thanks for a most interesting evening. I don't begin to understand half of it but I'm glad it all turned out for the best."

"Night…" the last remaining three of our group all replied as they made their various moves to wash up the dishes before going up to bed.

The last to leave the kitchen was Danny. "Thanks for a great night," he said. "It was way too cool."

He grinned and gave me a big thumbs up behind our mother's back before he followed Mum and Devon from the kitchen. I knew there would be more questions about FLAG and all the fantastic things Kitt could do. I could see his keen interest in becoming an operative for Knight Investigations had been taken to a whole new and exciting level.

※※※※※

I was nearly asleep by the time we arrived back at my cottage. Despite the mug of black coffee I'd consumed, I could barely keep my eyes open. It had been a long day and an incredible evening full of unbelievable revelations and amazing tales. They had exhausted me mentally and made me very sleepy.

I settled down in the passenger seat of Edward's car and felt disinclined to move. But I knew I must. I raised one denying shoulder when I felt a draft of cool night air wash over me.

"Come on, sleepyhead…" Edward murmured as he reached inside the open door and scooped me up into his arms. "You can't sleep here. Let's get you inside and put you to bed."

"Mmmmm…" I sighed as I turned my face into the broad strength of his shoulder. "I can walk, you know."

"I know…" He chuckled softly as he fished my house keys from my purse and unlocked the front door. "But I like carrying you. You hardly weigh anything."

"Thanks, I think…" I shook my head, frowning at the stubborn line of his bearded chin.

"You're welcome…" His soft chuckle rumbled through him as he pushed the door shut behind him and turned to snib the lock. The house was shrouded in shadows and streaks of moonlight, but he didn't turn any lights on as he carried me upstairs.

"What are you doing?" I asked drowsily as we reached the landing and then the hallway leading to the three bedrooms.

"Putting you to bed where you belong," he replied against my cheek as he pushed the door to my bedroom wider open with his butt. "It's what you need right now."

"Oh, okay…" I sighed, not truly grasping what he'd just said.

A fresh wave of tiredness washed over me. I didn't care about anything else right then. I felt warm, safe and deeply cared for. It was a sweet glow that I wanted to hang onto and savour. I closed my eyes as I burrowed deeper into his masculine warmth and inhaled his spicy scent. I raised one hand to pat his bearded cheek.

"Sir Galahad, the most perfect knight," I teased lightly as he carried me across the room to the bed. "Helping out a weary damsel in distress."

"Thanks, but I'm not feeling very knightly tonight," he replied in a rough tone as he laid me down gently on the cream cotton and lace bedspread.

Before I could formulate a reply to that cryptic remark, he went down on one knee beside the bed and removed my shoes and socks. His touch moved beneath the leg of my jeans to linger sensuously on the curve of my bare calf. Then he attended to my other leg in the same fashion. His long fingers splayed out to stroke along the back of my leg down to the little butterfly chain fastened around my ankle. The sensation shivered through me and made me gasp.

"What are you doing now?" I asked, opening my eyes to stare up at him.

"Taking care of you…" He sighed as he stood up. "Get in…" he urged as he turned back the covers. "Before I lose all my good intentions."

"What good intentions?" I asked feeling suddenly breathless.

With his back to the moonlight, his face was in shadow, and I couldn't see his eyes. But the simmering tension in his body told its own story. I knew I should thank him and say good night, but my voice got jammed somewhere in my throat. I was aware he was waiting for me to make some kind of decision about what happened between us tonight.

I shook my head as I remembered my previous wish that my love would become a little less honourable. I hadn't been feeling very honourable when we were last in this room. But tiredness washed over me and again I felt my courage slipping away from me when I wanted to ask for what I most desired. I didn't want that. I wanted him to stay with me.

"Please, don't leave…" I said quickly. "I… don't want to be alone."

He inhaled sharply as he stood there, looking down at me, for some time. I waited, wondering what he would finally decide. I shivered with anticipation.

"I don't want to be alone either. Go on, scoot over…" he softly encouraged me in a driven tone as he toed off his boots one at a time. "We're both beat and I don't feel like driving back home again tonight anyway."

I didn't reply or argue as I quickly made room for him in the wide softness of the bed. He pulled the covers up over us as he settled beside me, the mattress giving a little as he lay down on his back. He reached out to draw me closer to him, settling me beneath his chin. I didn't need any encouragement to tuck myself in against him and came to rest with my cheek settled over his strong and steady heartbeat.

"Go to sleep," he commanded softly, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "You're very tired. Nothing will happen tonight that you do not want to happen."

"I know…" I settled closer and closed my eyes. "But I wish…"

He lifted one hand to seal my lips with his fingers. "Go to sleep…"

"Yes, Sir…" I nodded with a tired smile as I accepted the terse command and settled even closer to him as I drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.

※※※※※

I woke up to bright sunlight and the sound of a shower running. I opened my eyes, and, for a moment, I struggled to orient myself in the strange and feminine room. And then, I remembered. I huffed a sigh.

I had been very honourable last night. 'Too honourable…'

"The Captain would be proud of me," I muttered.

Everything inside me tightened and heated at the wanton memory of holding a sleeping Kat in my arms and doing nothing about it. Of course, I wanted her to be awake and very aware when we finally took things further between us.

"Kat…" I turned my head on the pillows to frown at the framed photograph of the Captain and Emma on the nightstand beside the bed.

'Did I detect a look of disapproval in the old seaman's eyes?' "Nothing happened, guys," I said to that look. "I swear. We were both too tired."

Of course, there was no reply which didn't make me feel any easier. I grimaced as I heard the shower shut off. I thrust back the covers and got out of bed to push my feet into my boots.

I had been very honourable last night. I could be proud of the fact. I'd clung on to my good intentions and allowed her to go to sleep tucked next to me.

This morning, I wasn't feeling quite so altruistic. I was restless and needy inside my own skin. It had been too long since I'd made love with a beautiful and willing woman. The solace of my work no longer helped to distract me or made me too tired to care.

But Kat wasn't like any other woman I'd ever known. It was almost as if she was from another time. I remembered she'd called me her Sir Galahad last night. My response had been very knightly and now I was paying the price.

"Blast…" I stood up to thrust my hand into the side pocket of my jeans.

I frowned as I rediscovered the engagement ring. I rolled it between my thumb and forefinger and the diamonds were cool to my touch. I could feel fine grains of sand as I tightened my fingers around it and ran my thumb across the filigree setting.

"Okay, then. I can take a hint…" I decided I would drive into town later this morning.

I would visit the jewellers to get the ring cleaned. I knew now what I must do, and I blew my breath out slowly and evenly as my heart rate picked up. I just had to convince a shy lady that I was worth taking on, for the rest of her life and mine.

I looked up and saw that Kat had hung my Forget-Me-Not framed picture of her and Emma on the wall beside her dressing table. She would be able to look at it every morning and evening. It warmed my heart to see it there, knowing how much her good friend had meant to her.

I glanced back at the photograph beside the bed. "And maybe even beyond…"

By the time Kat finally appeared in the open doorway, I'd remade the bed and returned the room to rights. She was dressed in faded black jeans and a soft white T-shirt and she smelled heavenly. I couldn't prevent myself from inhaling her soft fragrance. 'Shalimar…'

Her dark hair was damp and swinging loose around her shoulders as she moved. I wanted to thread my fingers through the soft strands and draw her close to plunder her soft lips. Of course, I wanted to do so much more than kiss her. A whole lot more. I was damn tired of taking cold showers. I clung to my honourable intentions like a sinking life raft.

"Good morning," she said uncertainly, as she hovered in the doorway. "I… The shower's free, if you want it."

"Thanks…" I nodded quickly and tried not to smile. "I keep an overnight bag in my car. I'll go down and fetch it."

"Good…" she replied as she entered the room slowly. "I'll put out some fresh towels for you to use." She pushed her hands into the side pockets of her jeans. "Thank you… for last night. It was… it was very unexpected and lovely. I don't remember sleeping so well, or so deeply, for a very long time." She moved one shoulder and smiled at me.

Her eyes said a whole lot more than her lips. They glistened with a hunger she could not disguise. I knew then that if I made a move toward taking her back to bed, she would not deny me.

The knowledge only cemented my shaky resolve to do this the right way. I glanced at the photograph beside the bed. To do it the old-fashioned way and set about wooing a shy and beautiful lady as she deserved to be wooed.

I nodded slowly. "You're welcome." My heart swelled with my love for her. I knew she was bemused by me and my not taking full advantage of having her in my arms and her bed last night.

"Sir Galahad…" She shook her head with slow wonder. "Go down and get your bag and grab that shower while I see to some breakfast for us. I don't know about you, but I'm starving." She turned away quickly and left the room before I could say anything more.

I shrugged as I followed her through the open door. Suddenly, in the back of my mind, there was the faintest whisper of two voices. One feminine and one deep and masculine. I turned to frown at the framed photograph on the nightstand.

Of course, there were no answers to be found there. But the fine hairs on the back of my neck and arms still rose with awareness. I shook my head and continued on my way downstairs and out to my car.

※※※※※

Two ghostly apparitions appeared in the bedroom window to look down into the driveway. The dawning sunlight flowed through and around their faint outlines.

Emma shook her head. "And still, they dance around each other. But they are moving slowly closer and closer. They need to truly embrace their love and get married. Surely the gift of our ring was a broad enough hint."

" Edward is striving mightily to be an honourable man. He's wooing a shy lady as she needs to be wooed." Daniel smiled at his love. "Slowly and with great care. He showed goodly restraint last night when he had her in his arms. I was pleased to see that. Now he plans on having our ring cleaned today. That is excellent progress. He knows we're watching and approve."

" You are an incurable romantic, my love…" Emma leaned close to kiss her husband's bearded cheek as she twined her fingers through his. "He's finally coming to understand the woman who is standing in front of him. He now sees my Kat for who she truly is. The woman he's been looking for all his life without really knowing it. He needs to place our ring on her finger and finally make her his own. My Kat deserves nothing less than that."

"But first, he must do what is right and go down on one knee to ask her for her hand before she accepts the ring, my love…" Her husband's soft chuckle was a whisper through the fall leaves of the cool Montecito morning. "Still, you seek to engineer events for your own pleasure and entertainment. You approved of how Kat told our story to Carolyn for publication."

He kissed her temple. "Your touch has always been deft and sure. Carolyn was an excellent choice. I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen next in this fine romance we are helping toward its very satisfactory conclusion."

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