“Oh, yeah? The last time we left you alone with him, you ended up pregnant.”
The pain hit her, and she sucked in a harsh breath. Carlo took one look at her face and swore.
“I’m sorry, Sis,” he said, running a hand across the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I’m just trying to look out for you.”
That was the problem. Every second of every day, it seemed, one of her six brothers was looking out for her. She’d wished a thousand times already that they’d all marry and start families, so she could have at least five minutes’ peace. To date, though, barring her oldest brother, Roberto, they’d remained steadfastly single.
“I know you are, Carlo,” she said. “You always are. But you know what? I’m twenty-nine, not twelve. Like I’ve been telling you for years, I’m old enough to look out for myself. And when I need it, I’m quite capable of hiring somebody to protect me. You know how good Steve is. He’ll keep me safe.”
“You going to call a fingerprint team to dust this place?” Steve asked, as if the subject were settled.
“I’ll have them here in a minute,” Carlo said stiffly.
“One more thing,” Steve said.
“What’s that?”
“Can you keep this out of the papers? These nuts really thrive on publicity.”
“Don’t worry, it won’t be in the papers.” Carlo nodded across the room toward Kate. “You hurt her again, Gallagher, I’ll cut your heart out.”
He stormed out of the room. When the front door slammed shut, it rattled in its frame.
“Your brother seems to have forgotten that you were the one to leave me,” Steve remarked.
“No, Steve.” She shook her head. “You left me long before I got the courage to pack my bags and walk out the door. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to go to my office. I have a deadline to meet.”
She turned her back on him, not caring whether he followed or not.
Chapter 4
The noise made Kate’s ears ring. Never had she heard such a racket. Not even as a child, when her brothers’ stomping around the house had made a charging elephant sound light on its feet.
From the basement came the pounding of hammers as seventy-five-year-old windows were torn out and replaced by glass block. The whir of drills revealed the location of the locksmiths, who were updating what Steve had called “woefully inadequate and antiquated” locks with a keyless entry system.
A security specialist and his team of helpers shouted back and forth to one another while they busily installed window sensors. Along with the sensors, they mounted cameras above all exterior doors. This would establish what Steve had called “intrusion detection and perimeter control.” All activity would be scrutinized on the bank of television monitors that now rested atop Martha’s desk.
If possible, it was even noisier outside. A crew of men boisterously traded good-natured insults while they stationed motion-activated lights. The scream of a buzz saw split the air as another crew trimmed the branches of her lovely old maple to prevent access to the second floor. The one time Kate had gotten close enough to a window before all the curtains had been drawn, she’d seen that she was the talk of the neighborhood. Resident and visitor alike gawked at the men who swarmed over her house like bees around a hive.
To top it all off, every single one of her brothers had seen fit to pay a visit. Even Fred and Wilma hadn’t been able to resist getting into the act. They chirped delightedly and flew around their cage in the throes of ecstasy, as if all the noise were a wonderful symphony they hoped would never end. Their activity caused a shower of seed casings and colorful feathers to fall onto the column Kate was trying to edit.
“At least someone is enjoying this,” she muttered to herself as she brushed them away.
She glared across the room to where Steve sat at Martha’s desk. His cellular phone was glued to his ear as he jotted down something into an open notebook. He’d been that way for the past two hours, since the team of policemen who’d dusted her living room and basement for prints had departed. It was obvious the noise didn’t bother him the way it did her.
The speed with which he’d accomplished all this activity made Kate’s head spin. He was like the Pied Piper, and the telephone was his pipe. Once he started dialing, everyone he called came running to do his bidding.
“Why is it, whenever I need a repairman, it takes hours of time on the phone setting up the appointment, and then I have to wait weeks for him to fit me into his schedule?” she groused.
Steve set the phone aside and turned to look at her. “You talking to me?”
“Yes. Don’t you need to go home, get a change of clothes or something?”
His lips curved in the first genuine smile she’d seen all day. “Trying to get rid of me?”
Lord, but she’d forgotten what his smile could do to her. Kate felt the impact of it clear down to her toes. In response, her pulse rate shot up and her hand shook, causing a streak of red ink to zigzag across the page she was editing. She quickly placed her pen on the desk before she could do any further damage.
“You and everyone else,” she said, grateful her voice, at least, remained steady. “I’m under deadline, and I can’t work with all this noise.”
As if on cue, the hammering in the basement rose to a crescendo. Kate winced. “How much longer is this going to go on?”
“An hour or two at most. I want everything in place by dark. Liza will be bringing round the things I need in a few minutes. Do you want me to ask her to pick up a pair of earplugs for you?”
Liza, the delectable receptionist, Kate thought sourly. Just what was the woman to Steve? Trusted employee? Devoted friend? Lover? All three? Not that she cared. She was simply curious.
Liar, her inner voice chided. “No, thanks. I’ll muddle through.”
Standing, Kate stretched her arms over her head and rolled her neck to get the kinks out. When she saw the way Steve was looking at her, she stopped mid-stretch. After the police had gone, she’d changed out of her niece’s clothing into a pair of white shorts and a navy blue scoop-necked top. Now, with his gaze burning hotly on her, she found herself suddenly wishing she still wore the baggy jeans and oversize T-shirt. It made no sense, since he’d already seen much more than her figure-hugging outfit revealed. And touched. And—She brought her thoughts up short.
Their gazes met and clashed. For long, agonizing seconds, Kate held her breath while they stared wordlessly at each other. Steve looked away first
“Time for a break anyway,” he said abruptly. “We need to get a couple of things done.”
Kate let out her breath, and her arms fell to her sides. “Such as?”
“Such as scheduling your normal routine, along with anything special you have planned over the next few weeks. And making a list of everyone you come in contact with on a daily basis.”
“Why do you need to know my normal routine?”
He answered her question with one of his own. “Would you be willing to stay in this house until we discover the identity of your biggest fan?”
“Of course not. That could take weeks.” The realization that the search could be a prolonged one caused her stomach to dip. Being with Steve was turning out to be a lot harder than she’d anticipated. So much for her assertion that their past was a closed and dusty book. “I’d go stir-crazy stuck inside.”
“Which is why I need to know your normal routine, so we can vary it. Sort of like the way the Secret Service vanes the president’s jogging route. A precautionary measure to keep whoever’s watching you off guard. As for anything special you have planned, like a speaking engagement, the more advance time we have to prepare for it, the better.”
She nodded. It made sense. “But why a list of the people I come into contact with?”
He turned to a fresh page in the notebook and readied his pen. “To check them out, see if one of them is your biggest fan.”
She felt taken aback. “You think he’s someon
e I know?”
“I think it’s a good possibility.”
“Why?”
“A number of reasons, the main one being that all the letters bear a Pittsburgh postmark. They were all mailed from the post office you visit every day.”
Kate’s knees suddenly threatened to give out on her, and she sank down on her chair. After all the checking of postmarks for Bobby’s collection, how could she have missed that one significant fact? Maybe it was because she always checked the postmark without paying any attention to how the letter was addressed. Maybe it was because, until yesterday, she’d never taken the letters from her biggest fan seriously. Or maybe it was simply denial on the part of her subconscious. Because the last thing Kate wanted to believe was that her biggest fan was someone she knew.
“I didn’t notice,” she said in a small voice.
They completed her schedule for the week in roughly half the time it took to fill out her list of contacts. When it was finished, Kate was surprised at its length. Over half of the names were male.
“I never realized I knew so many people,” she said.
Steve shook his head. “You certainly are...busy. Just when do you get any work done?”
“This is a relatively small town,” she defended. “People aren’t afraid to speak to each other. Evidence to the contrary, I do spend most of my day in this chair. I’m also very productive when I sit down to write.” A staccato burst of noise from the buzz saw made her grimace. “When I have peace and quiet to do it in, that is.”
She moved to peer over his shoulder at the names on the list. “I still can’t believe any of these people would try to hurt me. They’re all so warm and friendly. A good number of them are older than my father.”
“Mental illness is an equal opportunity employer,” Steve replied. “It doesn’t care what race, religion or age you are. You’d be surprised how much warm friendliness is just a mask for a cold hatred.”
Confusion and fear balled Kate’s stomach into a hard knot. Was her biggest fan someone she knew? Shivering, she wrapped her arms around her midriff.
“Do you always expect the worst from people?” she asked in a low voice.
His gaze remained fixed on the list. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“So that when I get it, I’m never disappointed.”
“And you think that’s a good way to live?”
The tightening of his fingers around the pen he held was the only indication that her words had an impact on him. “You tell me,” he said mildly, turning to look over his shoulder at her. “You’re the one who left me. Think how that might have thrown me if I hadn’t been prepared for it.”
Kate felt her hands clench at her sides. Unable to bite back the words, she accused, “If you were so certain our relationship was doomed from the start, why’d you marry me?”
His hesitation was barely noticeable. “Because you were expecting my child.”
She flinched at the open acknowledgment of what she’d always known to be true. He’d been infatuated with her. He’d desired her. But he’d never loved her.
“Hell,” Steve muttered, dropping the pen and rising to his feet. He threaded a hand roughly through his hair. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded, Kate.”
“No.” She hardened her heart against the regret she saw in his eyes. She didn’t want his pity, couldn’t bear it. The only thing she’d ever wanted from him was his love. Lord, why did it still hurt so much? “Don’t say any more. Please.”
The ringing of the doorbell was a welcome intrusion. Steve’s gaze broke away from hers to travel to the bank of television monitors. On the far right screen, the camera mounted above her front door zoomed in on the face of a young man with red hair and freckles.
“Recognize him?” he asked, all business once again. Their conversation might never have taken place.
It took Kate a couple of heartbeats to regain control of her emotions. “He’s on the list. Vinnie Hirsh. He’s a delivery boy for the local florist.”
“Did you order flowers?”
“No.”
“Stay here. I’ll check this out.”
Kate began following him out of the room. “You can’t possibly think Vinnie’s the one who’s—”
Steve turned. “Until I learn otherwise, he’s number one on my list. Stay here, Kate.”
“But he’s just a child. He’s barely seventeen.”
Steve’s lower lip curled in contempt. “Have you listened to the news lately? Need I remind you the kind of crimes seventeen-year-olds are committing?”
His words effectively stopped her in her tracks. “Don’t forget to give him a nice tip,” she said. “His father’s on disability. Vinnie’s working to earn money for college.”
She watched on the television screen as Steve cautiously opened the front door. Though she couldn’t see his face, the way Vinnie’s bright smile died told her that her ex-husband was at his most forbidding. At least he gave Vinnie a tip before sending him on his way.
When Steve reentered the room, he was all but obscured by a huge bouquet of red roses.
“They’re beautiful,” Kate breathed. “Why, there must be at least three dozen.”
“Six,” Steve said, placing the flowers on the coffee table. The heady scent of roses filled the air.
Kate automatically reached for the card, and Steve shot out a hand to stop her. “They might be from your biggest fan,” he said in answer to the question in her eyes.
After taking a seat on her leather sofa, he wrapped a handkerchief around the tiny envelope and carefully extracted it from amid the blooms. There was an odd note in his voice when he read aloud, “‘For a lovely lady. See you at seven-thirty. David.’ ” His glance settled on her. “I don’t recall seeing a David on the list.”
“That’s because I thought we were concentrating on the people I see daily, here and in town.”
“Looks like we’ll have to amend the list.” He paused. “Hot date?”
Not really. Though they’d met numerous times at the functions of a local charity they both supported, she and David had only gone out twice. They were light-years away from being serious, although Kate could tell that David’s ultimate goal was to deepen the relationship. While she enjoyed his company, a part of her remained aloof whenever they were together. She never felt completely at ease with him. The sad truth was, she’d never felt completely at ease with any of the men she’d dated since the divorce.
“We’re having dinner at the LeMont,” she said. “With everything that’s happened today, I’d forgotten.”
“I want you to call and cancel,” Steve said.
Squaring her shoulders, she searched his face for...what? A sign that his reluctance stemmed from jealousy? What on earth was wrong with her? He’d out and out told her that he had never loved her, and still she hoped he cared? What a fool she was.
Which was precisely why she was going to keep this date.
“No. I need to see David.”
Truer words had never been spoken, Kate realized. The attempt on her life had lowered her defenses where Steve was concerned. If a mere smile had the power to make her tremble, she dreaded to think what could happen if he decided to switch on his not inconsiderable charm. Despite his open acknowledgment that he’d never loved her, that he’d only married her because she was pregnant, she was feeling terribly vulnerable to him. An evening with David would provide a welcome distraction after having to keep such close company with her ex-husband.
“It’s not safe, Kate. Public places are difficult to defend.”
Folding her arms across her middle, she leaned against her desk. “Difficult, but not impossible. Besides, I don’t think there’ll be anything to defend against. We’re having dinner at a popular restaurant. There will be a lot of people there. My biggest fan isn’t going to try something stupid with so many witnesses hanging around.”
“Oh yeah? He pushed you from a crowded sidewalk into the middle of the street,” Ste
ve reminded. “And no one saw him do it.”
“Yes,” she conceded, “but I wasn’t paying attention. And you weren’t with me. The playing board has changed.”
Impatience flickered in his eyes. “Not to me, it hasn’t.”
“Tell me,” she challenged. “When you guard a politician on the campaign trail or a celebrity when he’s on tour, do you insist they stay locked up in their rooms?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why should I be any different? You yourself said you didn’t expect me to stay cooped up inside twenty-four hours a day.”
Leaning forward, he placed his elbows on his knees and eyed her speculatively. “You tell me something, Kate. Is this hot date of yours so important you’re willing to risk your life for it?”
She’d had time to think this through when they were married, and she’d realized there was a possibility his job could place her in danger. “I was willing to risk it for you.”
He seemed taken aback. “What do you mean?”
“You forget, I grew up in a family of cops. Even if you would never talk about it, I knew what it meant for you to work undercover. The whole time we were married, I was aware there was a chance someone might come after me to get at you. It never happened, but I knew what I was going to do if it had.”
“Which was?”
“The same thing you did. Nothing. You never let the threat get in the way of your job, and I wasn’t going to let it get in the way of my life. I’m not going to let this guy drive me underground like a mole. If I do that, he wins. He’s the one in control, not me.”
“He might take offense to you being out with another man, you know. This could spur him into making another attempt on your life.”
“I realize that.”
“Doesn’t that scare you?”
She met his gaze head-on. “It terrifies me. Look, I’m not trying to make your job difficult. I simply refuse to let fear dictate the way I live my life.”
A nerve throbbed in his cheek. “This Donald means so much to you?” he asked quietly.
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