by Leona Karr
She was stunned, horrified and angry at this unbelievable evidence of the invasion of her privacy. Her grandfather was the one responsible. He’d hired someone to spy on her and knew everything about her. Instead of openly admitting to their relationship, he’d been too cowardly to show himself.
She gave the photos an angry shove, spilling them all over the floor.
“Easy, easy,” Adam soothed, hiding his own astonishment that Arthur must have paid someone a bundle to keep a surveillance on Carolyn for all those years.
“My grandfather can take his blasted house and pharmaceutical firm, and… He withheld from me the only thing that mattered. He was afraid to love me for myself.” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “He had to make sure I was worthy to be a Stanford. Well, I’m not! And nothing I’ve seen or heard makes me want to be.”
She jerked away from Adam’s hand on her arm, pushed her way through the attic clutter and bounded down the attic stairs. She was consumed by an irrational urge to get as far away as she could from the pain in her heart. In her confused state, she turned the wrong way on the second floor and realized too late that she was headed for Della and Jasper’s wing.
She stopped short, swung around and bumped into Adam. Frustration brought hot tears to her eyes. She hadn’t realized he’d been behind her as she fled. Without saying anything, he put his arms around her, and her wild urge to run away faded. Adam led the way back to their rooms and firmly closed the door behind them.
As he looked at her with tender, loving concern, she realized with a start that he wasn’t judging her irrational behavior at all. She didn’t have to role-play with him, hide her true feelings, or apologize for her emotional display. It was an experience she’d never had before with anyone. Her defense mechanism had always fallen into place when she was about to reveal her inner thoughts to someone.
A muscle flicked in his cheek as he moved closer to her. “It was Arthur’s loss that he lacked the courage to claim you and love you,” he said gently. “I think your grandfather knew that when he made his new will. If he’d lived, I believe he would have eventually drawn you into his life and been rewarded by knowing what a treasure you are.”
“Thank you,” she said, her eyes moist.
“Would you like that hug now?” he asked.
She nodded. His arms went around her, holding her gently and firmly until she raised her lips to his. He searched her face before he tightened his embrace and gave her a long, exploring kiss that left them both breathless. Then he buried his lips against the quickening pulse in her neck. Carolyn gasped as the flick of his tongue on her skin fanned the fire between them. She returned his kisses with an urgency that drove all thought from her mind.
When he lifted his mouth from hers, his eyes asked if she wanted him to stop. Her answer was to lace her arms around his neck and to offer him her lips again.
She clung to him when he lifted her up and carried her to the bed. Their clothes fell away and she welcomed the hands that moved caressingly over her, heightening the pleasure of his kisses. Trembling in his arms, tracing the length of his inviting body with her hands, she matched his rising hunger.
Never had she imagined the incredible sensations she felt as they made love—giving, taking and sharing. For the first time in her life, Carolyn realized the fulfillment of an unconditional love.
And when their desire had been lovingly sated, Carolyn sighed with contentment and nestled more deeply in his loving arms.
“What was that sigh all about?” he asked as he nuzzled her cheek.
“I was just thinking that my wedding night was slow in coming,” she answered as she turned to him again. “But it was well worth the wait.”
Chapter Fourteen
They were late coming down for dinner. Lisa was the only one sitting at the dining-room table, which was set for six, and she gave them a knowing smile as if signs of their shared passion lingered on their faces.
“Some things are better than eating, right?” she teased, winking at Carolyn.
“Right,” Adam agreed, and turned to Carolyn with a smile that spoke volumes. Her eyes were soft and loving as he held out a chair for her. Carolyn. Sweet Carolyn. The past two hours had taken him into a different realm of feeling and being, fired senses with a passion he’d never known before. Although his marriage had been good, he’d never enjoyed the height of total bliss in bed that he experienced with Carolyn. He was no longer a pretend husband. He vowed that he would commit himself on every level to her happiness if she made the decision to keep him in her life.
As Lotuse began to serve dinner, Adam smiled at Lisa. “And how did you spend your Sunday?” he asked as if he had no idea where she’d been this morning and probably last night.
“Visiting a friend,” she answered without the least hesitation. “And this afternoon I played a round of golf at the club. What about you two? Don’t tell me you spent a beautiful day like this at Horizon.”
“Only part of the day,” Carolyn answered. “Didn’t Morna tell you that there was a small fire there this morning?”
“What?” Lisa set her wineglass down with a splash. “Where? How?”
Either she was a consummate actress or she really didn’t know about the fire, Adam decided as he briefly explained what had happened.
“I can’t believe it. Do Mom and Jasper know?”
“I called them,” Carolyn said. “That’s probably why they’re late.”
“I bet she’s going to be in a snit,” Lisa said with a groan. “She protects that place like a mother bear. I’d hate to be in the shoes of the nut who set it.”
“Do you have any idea who it might have been?” Carolyn asked in what she hoped was a casual tone. “I mean, has your mother said anything about a disgruntled employee or competitor, someone who might be seeking revenge?”
“She never tells me anything about the business,” Lisa replied. “I’ve offered plenty of times to try my hand at working there, but she doesn’t want me around.” The bitter note in her voice was hard to miss, but she tried to cover it with a laugh. “So I guess I’ll just go on being her pampered daughter.”
Adam tried a few more innocent questions without gleaning any helpful information.
A few minutes later, just as Lotuse was removing the soup bowls, Della and Jasper walked into the dining room. Lisa immediately began to plague her mother with questions about the fire, but it was obvious Della didn’t want to talk about it.
“Everything is under control,” she said in a tone that didn’t invite further discussion on the subject.
“The dinner table is not the place for discussing problems and indulging in unpleasant conversation,” Jasper stated in his usual unsociable manner, and his glare included Carolyn and Adam in the pronouncement.
Carolyn was surprised at their attitude. She’d have thought they’d be asking Adam and her about the fire, since they were on the scene. Did Della and Jasper know about Susan Kimble’s suicide? Should she say something or let it ride?
Adam’s thoughts were running along the same channel. Would Susan’s death mean anything more to Della than the loss of a business manager? It was becoming apparent that several people at Horizon had to be involved in the illegal packaging and shipment of drugs to black markets. If Susan had been one of those people in the chain, and if Della was orchestrating these undercover sales, she would have lost an important accomplice. What would she do now? Close up the operation? Or find a replacement?
A heavy silence settled over the dinner table, and Carolyn was sorry Buddy wasn’t there to liven things up. Lisa seemed sullen, and Carolyn wondered if the mood had anything to do with Cliff. It was all she could do to pretend ignorance when she wanted more than anything to warn Lisa not to get involved with the creep.
The expected telephone call about Susan’s suicide came just as they were finishing dessert, and Della lashed out at Morna for the interruption. “Tell them I’ll call back,” she ordered.
“It sounds importa
nt,” Morna insisted. “Something about a news release.”
“Dammit,” Jasper said. “Somebody’s been blabbing about the fire.” The pointed look he gave Carolyn and Adam made it clear who he thought was responsible.
Della lips tightened. “Morna, bring me the phone. I guess we all may as well hear what some reporter’s take is on the fire. No doubt the facts have been embellished to create a more exciting story.” Morna handed her the phone, and Della answered with a curt, “Yes.”
Adam watched the frown on her face change to one of utter dismay. Her eyes widened, and her breathing quickened as she listened. The caller must have mentioned Carolyn and Adam’s name, because her horrified gaze swung in their direction.
Her voice was strained. “Yes, thank you for calling. I didn’t know,” she said, and hung up.
“What is it, Mother? Is it Buddy? Something’s happened to Buddy, hasn’t it?” Lisa demanded fearfully.
“No, it’s not Buddy.”
“Then what?”
Della leveled her malevolent gaze at Carolyn and Adam. “Why don’t one of you tell her? Apparently you two had front-row seats.”
“Who was on the phone, Della?” Jasper demanded as the lines in his angular face deepened. “What’s this all about?”
Adam answered evenly, “I assume that the call was about Susan Kimble.”
“What about her?” Jasper demanded. “Don’t tell me she’s involved in setting the fire!”
“This isn’t about the fire,” Della snapped. “Susan committed suicide this afternoon. Carolyn and Adam found her. And they didn’t say a word about it.” Della’s eyes were fiery pinpoints. “I find it incomprehensible that they waited for someone else to tell us.”
“Is this true?” Jasper demanded. “Carolyn, may I ask why you sat here all through dinner without informing us?”
“We were honoring your dictates, Uncle Jasper,” Carolyn said, meeting his eyes unwaveringly. “If I remember rightly, you informed us that the dinner table was no place for indulging in unpleasant conversation. I find the suicide of a nice young woman very unpleasant, don’t you?”
He shoved back his dessert plate. “Your lack of judgment, Carolyn, dismays me.”
Eyes flashing, Lisa turned on Jasper as if she’d been waiting for such an opportunity to say her piece. “What gives you the right to decide what we can or cannot say at the dinner table? You’ve never been the one paying the bills. Arthur kept you just the way he kept the rest of us. And now it’s Carolyn who’s keeping us. This is her house, her food and her table. If she kicks all of us out, you’ll be the one to blame.”
“Lisa!” her mother cried. “Apologize.”
“No,” Lisa said, and shoved back her chair. “And I may as well tell you now—I have plans for moving out. I’ve found someone, and I don’t give a damn whether any of you approve of him or not.”
Carolyn’s stomach turned over. Cliff. No, Lisa, no, Carolyn pleaded silently. Don’t settle for someone who will exploit you, break your heart and dump you before you even know what happened.
Lisa stomped out of the room, and Carolyn expected her mother to follow, but she didn’t. Della acted as if her daughter’s pronouncement was nothing but a temper tantrum. She was more interested in grilling Carolyn and Adam.
“What were you doing at Susan’s house?” Della demanded. “And Nellie’s? She’s the one who called. Why are you two going behind my back? Contacting my loyal employees at their homes?”
Adam surprised Carolyn by telling Della the truth. “We thought they might know who set the fire.”
“Isn’t that the job of the police? I see no cause for you to be interfering with their investigation. And look what happened!” she said angrily. “Now media attention is centered on Horizon because of you.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” Adam asked. “Why?”
She swallowed. “Publicity of the wrong kind is never good for a company. Fires. Suicide. What’s next?”
Yes, Carolyn wondered uneasily. What’s next?
Adam was wondering the same thing as they returned to their suite. “I think I’d better work tonight,” he told Carolyn as he shut the door behind them.
“Work? What do you mean?” She searched his face. Was he regretting the afternoon’s lovemaking, finding an excuse not to go to bed with her tonight?
He must have read the question in her eyes, because he answered gently, “Darling, I’d much rather crawl into bed with you and hold you in my arms till morning.”
“Then why…?”
He kissed her forehead. “Why the urgency? The longer my investigation takes, the greater number of people who’ll be innocent victims. The only thing I’m sure of, is that someone is putting in bogus orders. It seemed reasonable that we have to be dealing with more than one person. Someone has to facilitate the orders and transport them illegally. By checking orders against shipments, I may be able to spot some discrepancies.”
“But you can’t go to Horizon at this time of night. Someone will surely tell Della, and she’ll be suspicious.”
“I know, which is why I’ve kept my hotel room. I have a computer there that can access private programs of the FDA, and I can e-mail them questions and clues for evaluation. I’ve already submitted some files I took off Arthur’s computer and asked for a check of wholesale and retail businesses that place orders with Horizon.”
“I guess there’s nothing I can do to help you.”
“No one is more essential to the success of this investigation than you are,” he assured her lovingly. “Just keep playing your role, and we’ll succeed.”
She put her arms around his neck and raised her lips to his. “What role?”
He smiled and took a few minutes to show her.
WHEN HE SETTLED DOWN to work in his hotel room, Adam made a call to the agent who’d been staking out Cliff’s apartment. The report was negative. No one had shown up by midnight when the stakeout ended.
Another disappointment was the analysis of the disks he’d sent to Angelica. Everything on Arthur’s computer records checked out. There were no inconsistencies in orders, addresses and deliveries. They were all cleared as legitimate, no bogus orders or false company addresses on the list.
Angelica wasn’t happy with the dead end when he called and told her. She was even less pleased when he told her about the fire and Susan Kimble’s suicide. “Do you think the two are connected?” she asked.
“I haven’t any evidence, but my gut says yes.” He repeated the contents of the suicide note. “Sounds like a guilty conscience to me. Of course, it might be because she was pregnant and not have anything to do with her position as business manager.”
“If your hunch is right and she was involved in handling the black-market orders, wouldn’t her being out of the picture mean the illegal operation would shut down?”
“It might. Unless someone else is ready to take her place,” he speculated.
“Then you better move fast on this.”
“Yes, ma’am, I reckon as how I should,” he replied in an exaggerated Texas drawl. “Thank y’all for reminding me.”
His sarcasm wasn’t lost on her, and her tone changed. “And how is the marriage going, cowboy?” she asked.
He hesitated a second too long.
“Adam?”
“It’s working,” he answered.
“You don’t sound too sure.”
“I’m always sure,” he lied. As long as it didn’t affect the investigation, it was really none of his boss’s business what kind of relationship had developed between him and Carolyn. At the moment he wasn’t quite certain how to deal with this wellspring of love that had burst in him. He only knew that Carolyn was the most precious thing in his life, and the responsibility of keeping her safe rested on him.
He worked until midnight, going over every known fact, every possible suspect and every aspect of recent events that could have a bearing on the case. As he laid out all the information, it became clear to him
that Susan Kimble, as business manager, could’ve been in a pivotal position. Her suicide created a lot of questions that needed to be answered. What had laid so heavily on her conscience that she was willing to kill herself and her unborn child? Who was the father? Was her personal life separate from her position at Horizon? As Adam drove back to the mansion in the misty darkness, he mulled these questions over in his mind.
Carolyn was asleep when he quietly slipped into bed, but when he saw that she was lying in the middle, instead of on her usual side, he moved closer to her. Her warmth and the faint scent of her perfume sharpened his memory of their lovemaking, and he had to exert a lot of self-discipline not to touch her when she rolled over and snuggled against him. She murmured a sigh of contentment, but did not come fully awake. Her total acceptance of his physical closeness, as she lay next to him without fear and without reservation, was a balm to his soul. As he listened to her quiet breathing, he closed his eyes, and the day’s events slid from his mind as he drifted into a contended sleep.
WHEN CAROLYN AWOKE in the morning, Adam was already dressed, and she could tell from the expression on his face that he had been waiting for her to stir.
“What is it?” she asked, sitting up and brushing back her hair. Satiated with yesterday’s lovemaking, she’d slept well, but now, looking at Adam, she regretted that she hadn’t awakened before he got out of bed. She glanced at the bedside clock.
“Only six-thirty? This early rising is getting to be a bad habit.”
He sat down on the bed and kissed her sleep-flushed face. “I know it’s early, and I wish we could spend the day here, but we can’t. We have to get to Susan’s office before anything gets moved or changed. I can’t do it by myself without stepping out of my cover, but you can. It’s your company and you have the right to examine anything you want to. We really ought to get in position before the Dragon Lady takes charge. That means we should leave now and catch some breakfast later.” He smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. “Okay, my love?”