His daughter wrinkled her nose at him, but obediently turned her attention to a little girl. “Thanks for coming.”
“I had so much fun!”
The two hugged. He hoped some of these new friends would take the place of the ones she’d left behind.
“Oh, honestly!” Sabrina glared at Alec. “You’re such a spoilsport. And who’s this sourpuss?” She indicated Patty.
A blink was her only reaction to the insult. “I’m the new nanny.”
Alec couldn’t help noting how different the two women were, despite their similar heights. Sabrina was exotic and high-strung, Patty warm and down-to-earth. Sabrina had all the media-admired photogenic qualities.
Patty had all the soul.
“Where do you find these nannies? You should let me do the hiring,” his ex said.
She didn’t ask what had happened to the last one. But then, she didn’t have to, Alec reflected, if she was the caller who’d scared Tatum away.
Having handed out the last bag of treats, Darlene joined them. “Patty was my choice. I’ve known her for years. Are you questioning my judgment?”
Sabrina had the sense to keep her mouth shut. She’d ruined many a holiday gathering for his long-suffering parents with her rudeness, temper tantrums and whining. Through it all, Darlene had attempted to keep the peace. But after Sabrina had left Fiona unattended in the car, Darlene had refused to speak to her outside the courtroom except to say, “You are unworthy of my son and undeserving of your daughter.”
Apparently Sabrina wasn’t eager to hear that opinion repeated in front of Eduardo. Instead, she searched about for another topic of conversation, and fixed on Fiona’s stuffed bunny. “You still have Hoppity? Well…that’s nice. I’ve missed my little bunny.” Turning to her fiancé, she added, “See how cute she is?”
“Precious.” Eduardo smiled at the child pleasantly, but with no real interest. “I hope we aren’t the reason your guests have fled.”
Alec checked his watch. “It’s nearly three. That’s when the party’s supposed to end.” He saw appreciatively that Bailey and Tina Torres were bundling the last of the trash into plastic bags. “Guys, we appreciate your help.”
“It was fun!” After tying up the bag, the nurse retrieved her purse.
“Thanks for inviting us.” Tina and her daughter departed with a wave.
“Good timing,” Sabrina said brightly. “Now we’re going to take Fiona to the Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pits, where they have the dinosaurs.”
“Saber-toothed tigers and mammoths, not dinosaurs,” Darlene interjected.
Her ex-daughter-in-law ignored the correction. “You can’t possibly object, Alec. It’s educational, and Eduardo can supervise. Dr. Tartikoff did phone you about him, didn’t he?”
“I assure you, she’ll be in excellent hands,” the Argentinean added, as Sabrina caught her daughter’s arm.
“You aren’t taking her anywhere.” As Alec moved to block them, anger flashed across Eduardo’s face. So much for the show of international goodwill. Perhaps this had been the point of all that friendliness—to put him off his guard. And it came with the veiled threat of making trouble with his boss.
This scene appeared on the verge of turning ugly and, Alec registered with a rush of concern, his little girl was right in the middle of it.
Chapter Sixteen
For Patty, it was a relief to take action. She swooped in, lifted Fiona from her mother’s arms and announced, “Anyone can see she’s exhausted.”
Gratitude shone in Alec’s eyes as he moved between Patty and his ex-wife, cutting off her attempt to reclaim their daughter. “Sabrina, why don’t you help my mother pack the rest of the presents and refreshments? We’ll all feel a lot more comfortable upstairs at my place.”
“I do not understand.” Eduardo gazed from one to another. “What is the objection to a mother being with her daughter? It is only natural.”
“It’s a violation of the court’s custody order,” Alec told him. “After Sabrina left Fiona alone in a car for an hour, the court gave me full custody and limited her to supervised visits. She didn’t tell you?”
Obviously not, Patty mused, judging by the frown creasing Eduardo’s well-shaped forehead. “Is this so?”
Sabrina shrugged. “It was blown out of proportion. I love my baby! She belongs with me.”
“I assure you, I intended no impropriety,” Eduardo told Alec. To Sabrina, he said soothingly, “It is better this way, darling. The child is tired, and we have the consul general’s party tonight.”
That would be in Los Angeles, Alec presumed. Clearly, this trip had multiple purposes for Eduardo. Presumably he intended to make valuable West Coast trade connections through the Argentine consulate. So his desire to tour the lab might be genuine, after all.
Sabrina started to pout, but seeing her fiancé’s raised eyebrow, twisted it into a smile. “All right. We’ll visit for a bit today, and tomorrow I’ll take my little girl shopping. If someone can be bothered to supervise us.”
“We’ll work it out,” Alec said.
Patty was glad to see the tension lifting. Alec was no longer braced as if ready to tackle someone, and Darlene had gone to pack the remaining gifts. After a brief hesitation, Sabrina made a show of going over to help her.
The immediate threat, if that’s what it had been, was over. So why did Patty’s gut keep insisting she’d overlooked something?
Outside, Mike had sent the patrolmen away. He came in to check on them. “Everything under control?”
“We’re fine,” Alec said. Patty nodded.
“If it’s all right with you, Mr. Denny, I’ll swing around the parking lot,” Mike continued.
“That will be fine. Thanks.”
Patty transferred a drooping Fiona onto Alec’s shoulder. “Let me go into the condo first,” she murmured, and hurried to catch Mike before he vanished. “Text me an all clear from the parking lot.”
“Will do.” On the clubhouse steps, he regarded her thoughtfully. “Are you picking up something I missed?”
“Call it instinct.” Or was she simply worried because she cared about these people so much?
The stairwell and elevator were clear, and the security camera appeared to be in good condition, Patty noted as the small group followed in her wake. She strode upstairs, letting the others take the elevator. After opening the condo door cautiously, she deactivated the alarm.
A brief tour of the premises showed nothing amiss, and from the balcony she watched Mike inspect the parking lot. Although the row of carports offered spots where someone could hide, she trusted his thoroughness. Plus there were cameras, monitored remotely by the condo’s security firm.
Alec brought in Fiona and lowered her to the couch. Sabrina fluttered in with Eduardo, who carried two shopping bags no doubt filled with gifts and refreshments.
“My mother decided not to join us. She’s worn-out,” Alec told Patty. “How’re you doing?”
“Fine.” She could feel Sabrina’s gaze boring into her, so she said nothing more. Instead, she busied herself putting away a leftover bottle of punch and a plastic container of cupcakes. Apparently all the pizza had been consumed. For once, though, she wasn’t interested in eating.
She noted Eduardo watching her. He’d probably figured out she wasn’t simply a nanny. What was he up to? She tried to put the pieces together, but they didn’t fit any particular pattern. The guy struck her as intelligent and well aware of his position as a wealthy businessman, yet not arrogant. She almost wanted to trust him.
Never underestimate your opponent.
“Anyone care for coffee?” Patty asked, noticing the half-full pot. Although it wasn’t her job to serve people, she wanted an excuse to stay in the middle of things.
“I’ll pass. But thanks.” Alec, who was sticking close to his daughter, shot her an appreciative look.
For today, they’d become a team, coordinating to protect his child. But Patty didn’t dare bask in co
ntentment. Instead, she scanned the readout on her phone from Mike: All clear. Still here. It was good that he planned to stick around, because her gut hadn’t stopped flashing the warning light.
“No coffee for me.” Sabrina took a seat beside Fiona, whose lids were sinking shut. “Honey, aren’t you going to open your gift?”
The little girl blinked hard and yawned. “Okay.”
“You’ll love it!” Sabrina went to the bag and extracted the pink box.
“I would like coffee, please.” Eduardo, taking no interest in the proceedings, strolled into the kitchen.
“Coming right up.” While Patty heated a mugful in the microwave, he walked to the glass doors that led to the patio, and stood gazing toward the ocean. “Magnificent view.”
“It is terrific, isn’t it?”
Patty kept her eye on him, although it was hard to picture this gentleman suddenly using karate moves on her. But he could pull a gun.
Behind her, she heard paper ripping. A glance showed Fiona pulling a darling party dress from a nest of multicolored tissue paper and holding it up. It was clearly made for a younger child.
“It’s too small,” she told her mother.
“You’ve grown! We’ve been apart so long, I don’t know my own daughter’s dress size.” Sabrina tapped the shiny box. “I think they have a branch around here. We can exchange it tomorrow, all right?”
Eduardo accepted his coffee, waving away the offer of cream or sugar. “Tomorrow Alec and I will be touring the lab,” he pointed out, rejoining his fiancée.
“Darlene can come with us,” Sabrina wheedled, turning to Alec. “Honestly, what do you think we’re going to do?”
Alec considered, clearly torn. Patty wasn’t thrilled about the idea of taking Fiona to such a public place, with or without Sabrina, but she shrugged and left the decision to him.
“All right, if my mother’s willing,” he said at last. “And Patty will go along, as well.”
Sabrina rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
“Mommy! Come see my room.” Fiona jumped up, energized again, and pulled her mother with her. Patty trailed them, trying to keep alert to what was happening in the living room, should anything go amiss there.
But Eduardo merely talked shop, from what she could hear, inquiring how Alec chose his suppliers, and setting up a time to meet the following day. As for Sabrina, she sat on Fiona’s bed and made admiring comments about each toy and picture her daughter showed her. Although it was obvious to Patty that the woman was losing interest, the little girl seemed satisfied.
Finally, Fiona gave a big yawn. “I’m sleepy.”
“Why don’t you take a nap, dear?” Sabrina helped her remove her shoes and curl under the covers. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay, Mommy. I love you.”
“Me, too.” Sabrina kissed her on the cheek.
There was no denying the bond between mother and daughter. Patty supposed they would always be connected. Yet there had to be a vital flaw in the woman’s character, for her to have endangered Fiona even once.
After a stop in the bathroom, Sabrina emerged with freshened makeup and hair. Scarcely sparing Patty a glance, she went to the living room.
Eduardo’s welcoming smile bore admiration for his beautiful fiancée, but he quickly returned his attention to Alec. “In the morning, we will arrive at eleven. You can be ready by then, Sabrina, yes?”
“Sure. Now let’s go get ready for the party. What do you think I should wear? The blue sheath or the scarlet silk?” Linking her arm through his, she wiggled her fingers at Alec and sauntered out the door.
“Whatever you wear, my darling, you will look splendid.” He spoke with courtesy but, to Patty’s ear, not much passion.
When they were gone, Alec locked the door and leaned against it. “Why was that so exhausting? It’s not as if anything went wrong.”
“Nothing drains you like watching and waiting.” Patty would rather lift weights, run a marathon and duke it out with a bad guy than stand around squinting at shadows. “’Scuse me. One more job to do.” She took out her phone and called to inform Mike of the couple’s departure.
He confirmed his intent to follow them to their hotel, to make sure they didn’t double back. “After that, I’m going off duty. Condo security promised to call at any sign of trouble.”
“Sounds good. We’ll talk tomorrow.” Mike deserved his rest, but for Patty, the decision to stay here at night had been the right one. Despite how smoothly things had gone today, she wouldn’t sleep tonight if she left.
She wasn’t sure she’d sleep, anyway. But there was no reason for Alec to stand around fidgeting or stay awake, rigid with tension. “Sit,” Patty commanded, and pointed to a chair.
He gave her a questioning look, but obeyed.
Positioning herself behind him, she began massaging his shoulders. They felt stiff and knotted, as she’d expected. “You’re holding on to all that tension. You’re not used to being on the alert this way.”
“And you are.” It was an observation, not a question.
She enjoyed feeling the rumble of his voice through his muscles. “That’s how I get my adrenaline fix. Now that it’s downtime, you have to learn to breathe deep and let it go.” Or take out his frustrations on a punching bag at the gym, but she doubted that was Alec’s style.
He rested his head back, his hair tickling her wrists. “Do you think I overreacted?”
“Better safe than sorry.” She didn’t want to talk about that anymore. She just liked being here with her hands on Alec, working the strain from his body. Probing the strength of his shoulders and the breadth of his back dissolved her own tensions, as well.
“Do you mind?” After a quick sideways smile to gauge her reaction, he moved away and unbuttoned his shirt.
“Fine with me.”
More than fine. She loved the feel of his skin beneath her hands. With each stroke along his spine and press of his shoulder blades, she became more connected, more a part of him.
If she was going to stop, she’d better do it now, Patty realized. But she might never again have a chance to get this close. And she wanted it.
Impulsively, she bent down and traced her lips across the roughness of his jaw. He turned, meeting her mouth with his own. When he pulled her onto his lap, she felt herself coming alive as the pressure of his hardness beneath her sent vibrations thrumming through her body. This was what she’d missed with every other man, this joyous sense of anticipation, of belonging in his arms. Returning the probe of his tongue felt perfectly right. She’d waited far too long. They both had.
Patty entertained no illusions about the future. This was foxhole love, the camaraderie of two people under fire. Temporary, and fierce, and precious.
But they weren’t alone here. She stopped, her cheek grazing his neck, and forced herself to think like an adult instead of a yearning teenager. “Fiona.”
“She’s sleeping.”
“Taking a nap, that’s all.” Reluctantly, Patty got to her feet. “She might wake up.”
“Hold on.” Catching her hand, Alec tugged her into the hall. He peered into his daughter’s room, then closed the door quietly. “She’ll be out for at least an hour.”
“How can you be sure?” Not that Patty didn’t hope he was right.
“I recognize the signs. And one thing I’ve learned about being a parent is that you can’t put your life on hold for the next twenty years.” He cupped her cheek in his palm. “We both need this.”
“No promises,” she warned. “No expectations.”
“You’re the weirdest woman I ever met. You should be requiring my signature on a declaration of intent,” Alec teased, guiding her toward his bedroom.
She should be doing a lot of things, Patty mused through a haze of desire. Barricading herself in her room. Taking a cold shower. Reminding herself that Alec was her client.
Life was too short to worry about all that. “Oh, hell, let’s go for it,” she said.
In the bedroom, after locking the door, they drew back the quilt. “We get a whole bed,” Patty marveled. “Remember going at it in your car?”
“How could I forget? I have a permanent kink in my back.” He grinned as he lifted her top over her head. “Hmm, I kind of like having your arms pinned this way.” Unhooking her bra, he brought his mouth to her breasts, sending heat into places Patty had nearly forgotten she possessed.
When he lifted his head, she squirmed out of the top, wriggled out of the bra and pulled him onto the bed. He began kissing her all over. Oh, man, the sensation was beyond divine.
What was it that nagged at her brain? Oh, yeah. “Wallet,” she murmured.
“Excuse me?” Alec regarded her questioningly.
“Protection.” She might not need it very often, but Patty always carried one with her. Badge, gun, condom. She’d said goodbye to the first two, but not the latter.
“Right.” He helped her locate her slacks and the condom. She’d never imagined she could enjoy the process of stretching it over a man’s erection, but with Alec…well, with Alec, everything was different.
Everything.
The sense of being truly part of him. The discovery that she enjoyed his reactions, his moans, his speeding heartbeat as much as her own. The wonder that she was actually here with Alec inside her, and the amazement that she’d survived without him for so long.
Then they fused completely. Lightning flashed and the world shimmered. Patty held on to the glorious moment as long as she could, and held on to Alec even after the storm abated, leaving a rainbow arcing across a clear blue sky.
Curled around her, he said, “I never…” The words trailed off.
That about summed it up. “Yeah, me, either.”
“We’re like cells that hook into one another.” Alec tightened his grip on her. “It’s as if we have receptors especially encoded for each other.”
“No biology talk,” Patty told him.
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