Trying not to wake her, he covered her with his body and pushed her legs apart, easing his way inside her damp heat. Keeping his weight on his arms, he made his strokes slow and even.
“Um, that feels so good.” Her voice was drowsy and low, her eyes still closed.
“Ye feel good,” he whispered against her lips, then smiled teasingly. “But how did ye know ‘twas me?”
“It had to be. You’re the only man who can make me feel this way.” Suddenly she laughed. “I can’t believe you tore the curtains down. What will the hotel think?”
“I pay them not tae think.”
“That’s good.” She still sounded half asleep. “Do you really believe anyone was watching us?”
“How would it make ye feel if they were?”
She hesitated. “Excited. Does that mean I’m weird?”
“Nay, Katie love. It means yer normal. There’s nothing weird about ye. Knowing ye could be caught adds a bit of spice to the act.” He smiled. “Would ye like me tae turn the lights back on an give them an encore?”
“No.” Her breathing was speeding up again. “I don’t want you to stop what you’re doing for that long.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Kate stretched out on her stomach and propped her chin on her fists, not caring a flip that the windows were totally uncovered and sunlight streamed into the room. From the bathroom came the sound of the shower running.
She had never been so sated in her life, or felt so wonderful. She would never have to fantasize again when this job was over. Instead, she’d have real memories to draw on.
Even that last time had been fantastic. He’d made love to her for over an hour, been so tender with her, so caring, that he’d touched a part of her that she’d never allowed anyone close to before. It was almost as though a connection had been formed from her soul to his.
A frown crossed her face as tiny alarm bells went off in her head. Mentally, she pushed them away. She was only being fanciful. There had been nothing more complicated to what they’d done last night than good sex. That’s all it had ever been, and all it could be. There was no need to panic.
Unbidden and unwanted, images rolled over her. A large, callused hand twisted in the elastic of her flowered little-girl panties, holding her captive as she struggled desperately to break free. Her mother, lying in a crumpled heap on the kitchen floor, blood pooling under her body. The hated voice pleading with her as she silently, desperately, fought to reach her mother. “Kate, it was an accident. I love you. I love all of you, Kate. I didn’t mean it, you have to believe me. Damn it! I love you!”
Kate bolted upright in the bed, hands over her eyes. No! She wouldn’t remember. Not again. That was in the far past. It had nothing to do with who she was now. She refused to let it back in.
Shakily, she climbed out of bed and slipped on the terry cloth robe provided by the hotel. She had to concentrate on her job, had to keep Angus safe until they found out who was stalking him and took care of the problem. Then she could get back to her usual routine. And if that routine seemed a little more desolate without Angus, she’d live with it. The alternative was unthinkable for her.
Her thoughts were interrupted when someone knocked on the suite door. The purse containing her gun was still on the table by the entry, and she slipped her hand inside as she paused. “Who is it?”
“Marc. I brought coffee.”
Releasing the Glock, she pulled the door opened. “Come on in.”
He walked into the room carrying a white bag, then pulled out a Styrofoam cup and handed it to her. “Where’s Angus?”
“In the shower.” She took a sip before sitting down. “I’m glad you’re here. I need to talk you.”
“About what?” He took his own cup and settled onto the sofa across from her.
“Did you know Maggie McLeod is Angus’s stepmother?”
“Sure, although they don’t act like it. Why?”
“Do you still have the private investigators working on the letters?”
“Yes, for all the good it’s doing. They’ve pretty much hit a blank wall.”
“Okay, I want you to have them change course a bit. Angus said his real mother vanished before he was old enough to remember her. Have your detectives see if they can locate her, find out what she’s doing and where she lives. Do you know her name?”
“Not off hand, but I’ve got a copy of Angus’s birth certificate on file. It’s bound to be on that.” He was staring at her, a perplexed look on his face. “You think this could have something to do with her?”
“I don’t know. But it’s time we started covering all the bases. I also want you to have them check on the movements of his cousin, this Deanna Ashton woman.”
“You can forget about her. She’s had the hots for Angus since I’ve known them, but he’s never encouraged her. If she were going to do something like this she’d have done it before now.” It was his turn to frown. “You know, it’s really strange. Those letters were coming right on schedule, one a week. Until last week. Why did they suddenly stop?”
Kate shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe all the security you installed on the estate slowed them down.”
He ran a hand over his face. “You honestly don’t believe this is just a crazed fan, do you?”
“It’s possible, I suppose. Linda mentioned a woman named Lois Trent who’s shown up every time Angus appeared in public, and who works for this John Wesley. You might want to see what your detectives can find out about her, and Wesley, too. But there’s something about those letters I can’t put my finger on. For one thing, they’re too possessive. I’ve seen letters from crazed fans before, Marc, and these simply don’t fit the pattern. There’s no declaration of undying love, no gushing over how wonderful he is, no begging him to return the writers sentiments.” She shook her head. “These letters are very subtle. But then, even Hinkley didn’t threaten Jodi Foster. He only claimed that he was going to kill Reagan for her. And people like Mark David Chapman, the guy who killed John Lennon, don’t usually send letters. They just act without warning. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this has to be a nut. Even the court thought Chapman was sane.”
The shower had stopped, but Kate couldn’t quit now. Her mind was whirling. She stood and paced to the window. “Think about it. The only threatening thing that’s happened is the fence being cut. No one has attempted to get close to him or hurt him. There’s only one conclusion I can draw. The person who wrote those letters doesn’t want him hurt, because they have a different agenda. The question is what? What could they possibly be after?”
She turned to face Marc, then sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Okay, let’s try this. What would happen if Angus stopped writing? Who would be hurt?”
Marc looked fascinated. “Only Angus, really, and maybe his fans. Writing is like breathing to him. Maybe Linda, a bit, but she’s got an entire stable of writers. Losing Angus would hurt her for about ten minutes.”
Kate’s gaze sharpened. “And you?”
Marc held up a hand as though to ward her off, grinning. “Hey, I’m the one who hired you, remember? Sorry to disappoint you, Kate, but I’m not exactly poor. I was a lawyer before Angus convinced me to work for him. And if I merely wanted something to keep me busy, I could always go back to my family’s law firm.”
She cursed softly, pacing in front of the window. “What the hell am I missing? There has to be a motive. This is so frustrating. Are you sure you can’t think of anyone who has a grudge against him?”
He lifted his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “Not a soul. Everyone likes Angus.”
“I know.” She glanced around as Angus appeared in the bedroom door. He’d put on a pair of pants, but his chest was bare and his hair still damp. “Hi.” Picking up the last cup of coffee, she handed it to him. “Marc brought coffee.”
He leaned down, gave her a slow kiss, then glared at Marc. “What are ye doing here? I dinna expect tae see ye until tonight.”
&nbs
p; “Maggie called and invited me to join you for lunch. I figured we may as well ride over together.”
Kate edged around him. “Well, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I need to shower and change.” She shut the bedroom door behind her.
Marc waited a second then his gaze met Angus’s. “Did you hear any of that?”
“Most of it.” He sat down in the chair Kate had recently vacated and propped his feet on the coffee table.
“I think she’s right. It is odd that no one has actually tried to hurt you.”
“Maybe. But I canna think of anyone who might want something from me, either.” Nonchalantly, he lifted one shoulder. “Sooner or later they’ll slip up. The villains always do.”
“Lord, Angus. This isn’t one of your books. This is real life, and in real life, sometimes the bad guys win. I don’t want to see you dead.”
Angus smiled. “Ye won’t. Kate would ne’er let me die. She loves me tae much.”
Marc stared at him. “She told you that?”
“Nay. She doesn’t know it yet. But she will.”
* * * * *
“Why are the two of you staring at me like that?” Kate looked suspiciously from Angus to Marc as the limo pulled smoothly into the parking garage of a large apartment building.
“Because yer beautiful.” Angus smiled.
She gave a delicate snort. “I’m also too smart to fall for your bull. I know it’s not my hair because there’s no help for that. Is something wrong with my makeup?”
“Ye look fine. Are ye nervous about meetin’ my mother?”
“Not at all.”
“Good.” Without waiting for the driver to assist, he opened the car door and helped her out. Marc followed them to the elevator and they all faced the front as the doors closed.
When Angus wrapped an arm around her waist, she leaned into him, watching the floors click off on the red digital counter. “Has your mother lived here long?”
“Aye. Since she returned tae the states.”
“Does your cousin live with her?”
The doors slid open and he escorted her down the corridor. “Nay. She has her own place not tae far from here.” He leaned heavily on an ornate doorbell.
The door opened and Kate watched Maggie McLeod greet her stepson. The woman looked nothing like she’d expected. She wasn’t as tall as Kate, and her body was pleasantly round. Her red hair was sprinkled liberally with white and her green eyes twinkled with merriment when she hugged Angus. In short, she looked like a mother.
Angus returned her embrace, then pulled Kate over. “Mother, this is Kate Carson. Kate, this is my mother, Maggie.”
The woman turned her flustered gaze on Kate, but her smile never wavered as she extended her hand. “My dear, it’s such a pleasure. Luna told me all about you. I’ve never met a mistress before. You must stop by alone soon and tell me all about it.”
“Mother!” Angus looked pained. “I’ll no’ have ye discussing my love life with Kate.”
“Don’t be such a prude, dear. I’m a grown woman. I’ve known the facts of life since before you were in nappies.”
“Ye don’t know the facts of mine, and I’d like tae keep it that way.”
“But I’m curious. I didn’t think men kept mistresses these days. I thought they only had affairs. This may be my only chance to find out what it’s really like. I suspect it would be rather…freeing.” She waved her hand in the air.
“Mother.” Angus’s voice contained a distinct threat and it was the first time Kate had ever seen him blush.
“Oh, bosh, Angus. You told me all about it the first time you made love. He was so excited the next day,” she confided to Kate.
“Mother!”
Kate was fighting her laughter and losing the battle. Marc wasn’t even trying to hide his. He wrapped one arm across his stomach as he bent double.
“Oh, dear. I’ve kept you all standing out in the hall. Do come in. And Marc, stop cackling this instant or I’ll feed you broccoli.”
The agent got himself under control, his lips still twitching as they followed Maggie into the apartment. “I’d rather have your chocolate cake.”
“You’re in luck. I just happened to make one for our luncheon.” She leaned conspiratorially toward Kate. “Angus offered to hire a cook and housekeeper for me, but the truth is, I can’t abide anyone’s cooking but my own. This way.” She gestured through an arched entry.
The room they entered was a sitting room, as overstuffed and comfortable as Maggie herself. All the colors of the rainbow seemed to collide in a pleasing combination of furniture and light, and dozens of plants gave the room a lush warm feel.
She was so busy examining the room she almost missed the woman who rose to greet them, and Deanna Ashton wasn’t easy to miss. Only a few inches shorter than Angus, the woman looked liked a walking advertisement for a fashion magazine, chic and graceful. Her hair was the golden copper-color that Kate had seen in sunsets, and it flowed down her back in a rippling wave. Her eyes were the same shade of green as her aunt’s, only on her, they tilted exotically, giving her a sexy, mysterious air.
She slithered straight to Angus, ignoring everyone else in the room, and kissed him. Not one of those hit or miss kisses aimed at the cheek, either. Nope. She got him square on the mouth.
Kate frowned until she caught Marc grinning at her. She promptly smoothed her face out.
“Angus, Darling. It’s been ages. You really should try to get to the city more often. Aunt Maggie misses you.”
“My mother knows she’s welcome tae visit anytime she wants tae,” Angus commented, stepping away from her.
“Of course I am.” Maggie smiled. “I stayed with him an entire week a few months ago. Such a beautiful place, with waves crashing against the rocks and gulls swooping everywhere. It could use more flowers, though.” She patted his cheek and looked a bit anxious. “It doesn’t have to be roses, though. I know how you hate them.”
Kate arched an eyebrow at Marc and he shrugged. When she looked back, Deanna was giving her the once over and she braced herself. She knew that look. She’d seen it on the sorority girls at college. Ms. Ashton was going to try and put in her in her place.
Deanna’s smile never lost an iota of its brilliance as she spoke to Kate. “And you must be the mistress.”
“Unless you think Angus has started sharing a room with Marc, then yes, I must be.” Her own smile was saccharine.
Marc had a coughing fit and Angus hastily put his arm around her, pulling her close to his side. “Kate, this is my cousin, Deanna. Deanna, Kate Carson.”
Completely unaware of the undercurrents filling the room, Maggie shooed them forward like a flock of chickens. “Would anyone care for a drink before lunch?”
She took their orders and dragged Marc across the room to help her fill them. Angus kept his grip on Kate as he steered her toward the sofa and seated her beside him. Deanna took the chair across from them. What did he think she was going to do? Punch his cousin’s lights out? She smiled at the pleasant thought.
“How long have you worked as a mistress, Ms. Carson? I must admit I was rather surprised to find out about you. If Angus wanted companionship, I’m sure he could have found it without paying for the honor.”
“Angus is my only client. Ever. And sometimes these types of relationships are needed, Ms. Ashton. At least Angus knows I’m not trying to trap him into marriage simply to get my hands on his money, and I don’t care a flip how famous he is.”
“Touché.” Deanna gave her a slight smile. “How did you work this deal out? I’m not sure how one goes about finding a mistress.”
“Marc found her for me.” Angus looked down at Kate. “I wasna tae keen on the idea at first, but as soon as I saw her, I knew I was goin’ tae keep her. Kate is a very special person.”
“How sweet.” Maggie was back with the drinks. “Club soda for you dear—” she handed Kate a glass, “and the usual for you, Angus.” She insinuated herself between them
on the couch.
“I’m so glad Angus has you. I really worry about him staying cooped up in that house alone all the time, with his nose buried in his writing. I know how he loves it, but still, he needs a real life. So, what did you do before you met Angus?”
“I’m a research assistant.” Kate took a sip from her drink. She couldn’t help but like Maggie and hated lying to her, but it was necessary to maintain her cover.
“Aye. She’s even helping me with my new book.”
“We use research assistants.” Deanna interjected. “I’m an ad executive for the Johnson Barr Agency. When your job with Angus is finished, drop by. We might be able to use you.”
Sure they would. It would also let Ms. Ashton know when her cousin was free again. Kate forced herself to smile at the woman. “Thank you, but I only work for individuals. You know, authors and actors. They pay better.”
Maggie hoisted herself to her feet. “Is everyone ready for lunch now? Why don’t we go to the dinning room?” Without waiting for an answer, she started from the room.
* * * * *
Kate let out a sigh of relief when they arrived back in their hotel room. Maggie’s cooking had been excellent, but Deanna’s presence had ruined her enjoyment in the meal. The woman had done everything but unzip Angus’s pants and climb aboard.
“‘Twas that bad, was it?” Angus wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
“Let’s just say I’ll be glad when this weekend is over and we can go home.” She lay her head on his chest. “Your mother is adorable, though. I really liked her.”
“Aye, I knew ye would. She likes ye tae. A lot.”
“But if I never have to be in the same room with Deanna again, it would suit me just fine. Luna was right. She’s in lust with you.”
“Nay.” His hands moved over her back, soothing her. “She only thinks she is. Besides, she’s family tae me. It would feel…wrong.”
“She’s very beautiful, Angus. What if she weren’t family?”
He ran his hand down her arm. “I still wouldna want her. There’s no need for ye tae worry, Katie.”
Undercover Mistress Page 13
