Vendetta

by Ruth Ryan Langan

  “Knew what?”

  “I knew—” he drew her fully into the kiss, breathing the words inside her mouth “—I had to taste your goodness, or die trying.”

  She felt such a welling of emotion as he poured himself into the kiss. And then she was lost. Lost in the most exquisite pleasure as he showered her with long, deep kisses that had fireworks exploding behind her closed lids, and touches that sent slivers of fire and ice coursing through her veins. She was helpless to do more than sigh and cling to him as he took her on the most incredible journey of love.

  Chapter 1

  Courtney awoke and lay a minute, trying to get her bearings. It all came back to her in a rush of feelings. The night she’d spent with Blair. The things they’d done. The private little stories about their past they’d shared. She’d told him about her family. Her father, the town doctor, and the pride she felt in the way her mother carried on after his death. The love she shared with her three sisters. The deep bond of affection they all enjoyed with their grandparents. Blair had proven to be a good listener. It was so easy to tell him anything. Everything.

  But he’d shared little about his own family. There seemed to be areas of his life too painful to talk about. She understood that kind of pain and resolved to be patient. He would tell her in his own way, his own time.

  She lay back, listening to the sound of water running in the shower. She breathed in the wonderful perfume of coffee perking in the kitchen. Outside the window, a chorus of birds had begun their morning symphony.

  There was such a good feeling in this cottage. A feeling of homey comfort mixed with solid, hardworking virtues. Did these feelings have to do with Blair? Or had they been here all along, perhaps a legacy from his aunt? Whatever the source, it felt good to be here.

  He stepped from the shower, wearing a towel draped low on his hips. “’Morning.” He paused beside the bed and bent to brush a kiss over her lips. “You’re looking awfully happy about something.”

  “I was thinking how much I like your cottage. There’s a good feeling here.”

  He sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand. “You feel it, too?”

  She nodded. “There’s just something.” She shrugged. “It makes me happy.”

  He was staring into her eyes with such intensity. “The first time I felt it, I couldn’t understand. I was only eight. But each time I came back, it was here, as though waiting for me. This time I figured I was too old to feel it again, but it was still here, like an old friend, waiting all those years to greet me. Now I don’t even question it. Each day, when I walk through that door, I sense that the feeling will be here. And it is.”

  “Oh, Blair. That’s so wonderful.”

  He grinned. “Yeah. I’ve never told another soul about this. What is it about you that I can tell you things that would make other people question my sanity?”

  “Maybe because I’m as crazy as you?”

  He nodded. “That must be it.” He kissed the tip of her nose and started out of the room.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Coffee.” Minutes later he returned with two cups and handed one to her.

  “You’re spoiling me, you know.” She sat up against the cushions and breathed in the fragrance of freshly ground beans before taking her first sip.

  “Maybe I have good reason to.”

  When she lifted a brow he smiled. “I’m hoping to persuade you to come back after work tonight and give me a chance for a repeat performance.”

  “Ah.” She ducked her head and took another sip.

  When he began to dress she sat up and slipped into his robe.

  He caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. “You thinking of making the dash to your place in that?”

  She nodded. “Not too many people up and about at this hour. Those who are might think I was taking a swim.”

  “Uh-huh.” He knotted his tie, then turned and dragged her close for a long, slow kiss. “I don’t care what they think. Just so you promise you’ll let me feed you as soon as you’re through working for the day.”

  She returned the kiss. “You’re making this way too hard for me to refuse.”

  Against her temple he whispered, “That’s the plan.”

  She picked up her sea bag and stepped out into the morning mist. As she dashed across the yard and disappeared inside her apartment it occurred to her that she’d stopped fretting about the past, or worrying about the future. All that mattered was now, this day, and seeing Blair when the workday ended.

  Was this some sort of magic? Or was it just Blair? Or could it be that they were one and the same? Maybe the magic was inside Blair and it had somehow found a way to touch her, too. Whatever the answer, she wouldn’t dwell on it. She would simply relax and go with her feelings.

  “Good night, Kendra.”

  The young woman picked up her denim bag from a cupboard behind the counter and slung it over her shoulder. Instead of walking away, she paused. “I think you ought to know, Court. The police stopped Eddie and me the other night when we were out on his boat.”

  “Chief Thompson told me.”

  The girl blinked. “He did?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You didn’t say anything.” She licked her lips. “We didn’t do anything wrong, Court.”

  “I’m glad.”

  Kendra paused. “That’s it? You’re not going to fire me or anything?”

  “You just said you didn’t do anything wrong. Why would I fire you?”

  The girl stared at the toe of her thrift-shop espadrilles. “I know a lot of people in town think Eddie and I are freaks.”

  Courtney laid a hand over hers. “Kendra, you show up on time every day, you joke with my customers, and you give me a full day’s work for your pay. I can’t ask any more than that from you.

  How you dress, the color of your hair and what you and Eddie do after hours are none of my business.”

  The girl’s smile bloomed. “You know something, Court? You’re cool.” She started out the door and called over her shoulder, “’Night, See you tomorrow.”

  “Yeah.” Courtney locked the door behind her and flipped over the sign before heading up the stairs to her apartment.

  Half an hour later, dressed in a summery, ankle-skimming white gown and matching sandals, she picked up a weekend bag and headed across the backyard to Blair’s cottage.

  Before she could knock, the door was thrust open and Blair hauled her into his arms, kissing her until she could feel her head spinning.

  When at last they came up for air she managed a startled laugh. “That was some greeting, Mr.

  Colby. You’d think we’ve been apart for years instead of mere hours.”

  “Has it only been hours?” He kissed her again, thoroughly, before taking her hand and leading her inside. “Sorry. But I missed you way too much.”

  “I missed you, too.”

  “Good. I’d hate to think I was alone in this madness.”

  “An apt description.” She looked around and realized he’d set the table with fine china and crystal. “Something smells wonderful.”

  “I picked up dinner at the Harbor House. I thought about taking you there, but I couldn’t stand the thought of having to share you with all those people in that big, elegant dining room.”

  He popped the cork on a bottle of champagne and poured two frothy glasses. “So I talked the chef into making us something special that we could enjoy here instead.”

  “You must have some powers of persuasion.

  The Harbor House doesn’t do takeout.”

  “So they told me.” He handed her a glass.

  “But in the end I prevailed.”

  She laughed. “I have an idea you’re used to getting your way.”

  “Sometimes. When it’s really important.” He touched his glass to hers. “Here’s to us, Courtney.”

  “To us.” She saw the way his eyes stayed steady on hers, and felt his caress as surely as if he’d touched her.r />
  Suddenly dinner didn’t seem important. Nor did the champagne. She drank, but only to soothe the dryness in her throat. Then she set the glass aside and stepped closer to touch a hand to his cheek. “I could hardly concentrate today. All I could think about was you.”

  “Yeah.” He set aside his glass and framed her face with his hands. “Would you mind letting dinner wait?”

  Her smile wrapped itself around his heart. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  “Chef Henri’s steak and lobster was perfect.” Blair sat back on a wave of contentment and sipped his champagne.

  “The chocolate-dipped strawberries weren’t bad, either.”

  He nodded. “Henri suggeed éclairs, but I thought they’d be too heavy.”

  “The strawberries were a good choice.”

  He eyed the overnight bag that lay forgotten just inside the door. “I hope that means that you’re planning on staying the night.”

  “I am. And I didn’t want to try another dash to my place in your robe. So I brought enough clothes for tomorrow’s brunch at my grandparents’. I hope you’ll come with me.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it.” He reached across the table and caught her hand, rubbing his thumb across her wrist. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I won’t question the fates.”

  She felt a quickening of her pulse and wondered at his ability to affect her so dramatically with nothing more than a simple touch.

  She pushed away from the table. “I’ll help clear away the dishes.”

  It took only a few minutes to load the dishwasher. When they’d finished, Blair nodded toward her bag. “Want to unpack?”

  “I may as well. I didn’t bring much with me.” She picked up the bag. “Where should I put my things?”

  He led the way to his bedroom and glanced around. “The drawers in my aunt’s old desk are empty. Why don’t you use those?”

  She nodded and set the bag on his bed before opening first the smaller drawer, where she settled her lingerie, then the deeper one, where she planned to stash her purse and shoes. She stared down with a puzzled frown.

  Catching the look on her face, he paused. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. But I expected this drawer to be much deeper.” She closed it, studied the depth, then opened it and pointed. “Look. From the outside, it appears to be much bigger than the other drawer. But when you open it, there’s no more space than in the smaller one.”

  Blair studied the drawer for a moment, then reached inside and tapped it, before turning to her with a look of understanding.

  “Well, I’ll be… It has a false bottom.”

  “But why?”

  He shook his head. “Let’s find out.”

  Feeling around, he found a bit of frayed leather that appeared to be attached to the bottom of the drawer. When he gave it a hard, quick tug, the false bottom lifted up, revealing something beneath.

  For long silent moments all he could do was stare.

  Finally he lifted out a faded leather book and held it as gently as if holding a long-lost treasure.

  “Aunt Sarah’s journal.” He ran a hand over the cover, tracing the raised letters of his aunt’s name.

  “It’s been here all along.”

  As his astonishment gave way to a look of pure tenderness, Courtney felt tears well up and threaten to spill over. “You need some time alone to read“No.” He caught her hand. “Stay. We’ll read it together.”

  She shook her head firmly. “Your aunt went to a lot of trouble to keep this hidden until you could uncover it. I need to drive over to The Willows, anyway. My family had invited me to dinner, and I’d begged off. This will give me the perfect opportunity to visit with them while you read your aunt’s journal.”

  He gave her a quick, hard kiss. “An hour ought to be enough time. Then I’m going to start missing you.”

  She kissed him back. “You’d better miss me.”

  With a wave of her hand she turned away. At the door she turned back, but he was already settled into a chair and opening the first page.

  He was so engrossed in the words, he didn’t even hear her leave.

  “Courtney.” Trudy’s smoke-roughened bark had her smiling before she even walked through the doorway. “You’re in time for dessert. The folks are out on the patio. The mayor’s with them.”

  “Thanks, Trudy. No dessert. I’ve already eaten. But I’ll have some of that coffee I smell.”

  “You got it, honey.” The housekeeper led the way toward the kitchen and paused to fill a steaming cup while Courtney continued to the patio.

  “Poppie. Bert.” She paused to kiss her grandparents. “Mayor Bentley.” He stood and brushed a kiss over her cheek.

  Courtney glanced around. “Where’s Mom?”

  “Working late.” Frank patted the chair beside his. “She had a client flying in to go through the McShane estate.”

  Courtney sat beside her grandfather. “What brings you here tonight, Wade?”

  “As I explained to your grandparents, I’ve made the decision to run for state senate, and I came seeking their endorsement.”

  “As if that would carry any weight,” Frank said with a laugh.

  “You’re just being modest, Judge. You have a reputation for honesty and integrity that every politician in this state respects. Your endorsement would mean a lot to me.”

  Frank smiled. “Then you have it, Wade.” He caught Courtney’s hand. “Now tell me why my favorite granddaughter is here instead of out sailing on a night like this.”

  “No time for sailing tonight, Poppie. I had dinner with Blair Colby at his place.”

  The old man glanced at his watch with a devilish grin. “A bit early for the evening to end. Or did the two of you have some sort of spat?”

  “Nothing of the sort.” Courtney laughed. “But the most amazing thing happened. We discovered his aunt’s journal. All this time it had been hidden in plain sight.”

  “I don’t understand.” Bert leaned close. “Sarah Colby actually left a diary?”

  “So it seems. A d in her desk had a false bottom. Underneath was an old leather book that seemed to have been written in her hand. I thought I’d leave Blair alone to read it.” She turned to the mayor, who was listening in silence. “You were right all along, Wade. Sarah left something, though whether it was a personal diary or a journal of the town’s history, I can’t say.”

  “Just lying in her desk all these years, gathering dust,” he said absently.

  “Isn’t that amazing?” She turned to her grandfather. “Would you mind if I invited Blair to brunch again tomorrow?”

  “Of course I wouldn’t mind.” He patted her hand just as Trudy stepped onto the patio, rolling a serving cart laden with a silver coffee service.

  While evening fell and the sky glittered with sparkling diamonds, they sipped their coffee and talked about Devil’s Cove, its past and bright future. When the conversation turned to politics, Courtney got to her feet.

  “It’s time I got back.” She kissed her grand parents and offered her hand to Wade Bentley.

  “Good luck on your campaign.”

  “Thank you.” He turned to Frank. “I’ve taken up too much of your time, Judge. I think I should go, too.”

  “Not on your life.” Frank Brennan chuckled.

  “Let’s retire to my office, and you can tell me your campaign theme. Next to the law, there’s nothing I like better than a stimulating political debate.”

  While Bert walked her granddaughter to her car, Frank and Wade stepped inside.

  Bert chuckled in the gathering darkness.

  “Good. Now I can go upstairs and get lost in the romance I started reading earlier in the day.”

  Courtney looked surprised. “Bert, you always loved politics.”

  “And still do. But in this case, now that Wade has decided to run, it won’t even be a contest.

  With his family name and excellent credentials, all Wade has to do is get his name on the
ballot and he’s assured of a win.”

  “That’s lucky for us, I suppose.” Courtney opened her car door. “At least we know we’re getting an honest man.” She kissed her grandmother before settling herself inside and turning the ignition. “See you at brunch.”

  When she returned to Blair’s cottage, she found him sitting exactly where she’d left him, the book lying closed in his lap.

  She tried to read his expression. He seemed happy, sad, stunned.

  She crossed the room and knelt beside him, taking his hands in hers. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes. I’m…” He shook his head. “I’m not sure yet how I feel. But I can tell you this. My aunt Sarah had quite the story to tell.”

  “About herself? Or this town?”

  “Both, I suppose.” He smiled at her. “D tell your grandparents about our discovery?”

  “Yes. I hope you don’t mind. And Wade Bentley was there, too. He’s decided to run for state senate and was seeking Poppie’s endorsement. Bert thinks this is just his first step toward the U.S. Senate, and possibly higher.”

  At the crunch of tires on the driveway they both looked up. At a knock on the door, Blair heaved himself from the chair and crossed the room. When he opened the door, he gave a tired smile to his late-night caller.

  “Mayor Bentley. Come in. I’ve been expecting you.”

  Chapter 15

  Wade’s eyes grew flinty. “What do you mean, you were expecting me?”

  Behind Blair, Courtney wondered the same thing. But she was too surprised to say a word.

  “When Court told me you were at The Willows and overheard the news of our discovery, I figured you wouldn’t waste any time getting over here.”

  “Then I’m right to suspect that my family’s name appears in your aunt’s journal?”

  Blair nodded. “Prominently.”

  “I want that book, Colby.”

  At the angry tone of his voice, Courtney opened her mouth to protest. Before she could say a word Blair further confused her by handing the book over without a fight. “I want you to read it, Mayor Bentley.”