by Karen Woods
“Those sound like good memories.”
“They are. John and Michael taught me to scuba dive when I was seven. We had almost three weeks in the Caribbean. We sailed around on this big two-masted schooner. There was a crew of all of Daddy’s closest friends. I don’t think that I ever saw my father as happy as he was during those two weeks. Except, maybe for the vacation we took when I was nine. We walked part of the Appalachian Trail. I held them back. But no one minded. We all just had a good time being together.” Her expression closed up. “That was the last vacation we had as a family.”
“Who’s Michael?”
“Michael McLaughlin,” she answered quietly.
“Admiral McLaughlin?” Hunt echoed. “Of Naval Intelligence?”
“Yeah. Although these days he is called ‘Senator McLaughlin’, and he likes to distance himself from his military days, to an extent,” she softly, almost painfully. “He and Daddy were very good friends, closer than most brothers. They met when they played opposite one another in the Army/Navy game.”
“Hmmm. I know a John O’Shay who is posted to the American Embassy in London. Tall fellow, red hair, green eyes, petite blond wife by the name of Emily. You look something like him.”
Maggie nodded. “I should. He’s my brother. Last I heard, he was posted to London as some sort of military attachÈ.”
Suddenly, she wasn’t comfortable that he knew more members of her family than she knew of his.
“He’s quite a bit older than you are.”
“John’s from my father’s first marriage. His mother died when he was a plebe at the Point. Then Daddy married Momma.”
“That means that your father was General Jack O’Shay.”
“That’s right. General John Jacob (Jack) O’Shay, Jr. Four stars. He was a good man. One of the finest. I still miss him. God, I miss him.”
Hunt nodded in acknowledgment. “Yes. We lost a great man when your father’s plane went down. You know, in many ways, we have similar backgrounds. I was a Marine Corps brat, myself, although my father was much lower ranking than yours was. My father retired after twenty as a light colonel.”
“When a family has a long history of service, like mine, with six generations of West Pointers, promotions seem to come more easily.”
“You didn’t go to West Point.”
“No. John held up the family tradition. I knew that I wouldn’t have lasted a week. So, I didn’t even try.”
“You had no other brothers or sisters?”
“Only John. But, he’s twenty years older than I am. We aren’t all that close, as you probably figured out. Do you have any brothers and sisters?”
“Five. Three sisters, all older. Marie is a high school principal and is expecting her first grandchild next month. Martie followed in Dad’s footsteps in that she is a Captain in the Marine Corps. Melody is an attorney with a store front, mostly pro bono, practice in a small town in Colorado. Twin brothers, Daniel and Jason, ten years younger than I. Mom and Dad run an Inn in Vermont. The twins just finished their Masters degrees in hotel management and business administration, respectively. They will be taking over for Dad and Mom at the Inn. My parents have finally decided to retire for the second time.”
Maggie smiled. “That is some family.”
“I’m proud of all of them.”
“I can tell. Your parents have been together for a long time?”
“Since two weeks after Dad graduated from Annapolis and took his commission in the Marine Corps, forty-four years. Marie is forty-three. Martie is forty. Melody is thirty-seven. I’m thirty-five. The twins are twenty-five.”
“It’s nice that your parents have been together so long. Daddy died when I was ten. Mom remarried six months after Daddy died.”
“You sound bitter, still. Why?”
Maggie shook her head, then she shrugged. “My stepfather and I haven’t spoken to one another in years.”
“Why?”
“It’s a very long story.”
“I’ve got all evening.”
Maggie finished off the glass of champagne. “One evening would not suffice. Would you care to dance with me?”
Hunt smiled. “I thought that you would never ask.”
They made their way into the room set aside for dancing. Slow, soft music was flowing from the speakers and the room lighting dim, romantic. He took her in his arms. He felt the lean trimness of his body against the soft firmness of hers. The sweetness of her perfume had tingled his nose, bringing him into an even deeper awareness of the woman.
After a very short time, he had whispered in her ear, “I like the way that you feel in my arms. Perfect, like we were meant for each other.”
“We are both too old for fairy tales, Hunt,” she warned.
“Fairy tales?”
“Love at first sight.”
“Why do you think that is a fairy tale?” Hunt asked.
“Attraction at first sight, maybe I can buy that. But love? No. Love is something that takes time to develop between a man and a woman. It’s built on something more than raging hormones.”
“Let’s find someplace more private,” he said. “I want to discuss something important with you, Maggie.”
“Chuck’s den is probably empty. We could talk there, I suppose,” she said, reluctance plain in her voice.
Hunt’s mouth twitched into a half smile. “You really don’t trust me, do you?”
Maggie looked at him. “I trust very few people, Hunt. I’ve found myself being more open with you than I probably should be with a stranger. Please don’t be offended at my walls. They are habitual. It’s nothing personal.”
“Nothing personal?” he echoed. “I’d like to find the man who hurt you so badly, Maggie.” Hunt pulled her closer. “Every time that I feel us getting close, you back away as if I scorched you. Then I see the shutters come down over your eyes like you are keeping distance between us. One minute, you are open. Then the next, you close up tighter than a camera shutter.”
Maggie shrugged. “Come on. Let’s go to sit and talk quietly.”
“I’d rather that you invited me to your bedroom,” Hunt said.
“No, Hunt. I don’t know you anywhere near well enough for that.”
“You want me, Maggie,” he told her.
“I don’t think that there is any sense in denying the obvious,” she said dryly. “But, I’ve never been one to sleep around. I don’t believe in casual relationships, Hunt. I’ve seen far too much harm come out of people rushing attractions into affairs which burn out all too rapidly. I don’t choose to live that way.”
Hunt smiled at her, in the way that he would have smiled at a particularly bright child who had just given an insightful answer. “I’m glad to hear that, Maggie O’Shay. Shall we go talk in Chuck’s den?”
Chapter 3
Maggie went inside Chuck’s den, followed by Hunt. “Sorry, to interrupt you, Chuck. We were just looking for someplace quiet to talk.”
“It is rather loud out there, isn’t it?” Chuck replied easily. “Come on in, Maggie.”
That was when she noticed that there was someone else in the room; someone sitting in Chuck’s overstuffed chair, with his back to her. She only needed to look at the back of his head to know who it was.
“Hello, Michael,” she said, trying to control her surprise and fear.
“Maggie?” Hunt asked, concerned, as he took her arm.
Chuck excused himself, closing the door firmly behind him as he left, a fact Maggie barely noted since her attention was fixed on her stepfather.
“Hello, Daisy. I’ve been looking for you. But, of course, you knew that. Why else would you have been avoiding me for the last few years?” Michael said softly, almost menacingly as he rose from the chair and turned to look at her.
“You knew where I was,” she corrected firmly. “There was no way for you not to know where I was. If I had wanted to hide, I assure you that I wouldn’t have gone to Guy for a job. If I had wanted to di
sappear without a trace, I certainly could have done so.”
“I do understand that,” Michael replied with a small smile.
So this is McLaughlin, Hunt thought. Admiral Michael E. McLaughlin, USN (ret.), former chief of Naval Intelligence. McLaughlin was a big, burly man who could have easily passed for someone in his late forties, when in actuality he was sixty plus. He stood six foot three, and weighed in at nearly two-hundred pounds of pure muscle. His platinum hair and full beard had made him look like some Viking raider. All that was missing was a battle ax and a horned hat. In fact, he was something of a modern day pirate. His naval salvage operations had made him incredibly wealthy, in the years since his retirement. So, this was Michael E. McLaughlin, the honorable U.S. Senator from Virginia, and favored to be the next Republican nominee for President of the United States. And Maggie’s stepfather. Things are getting interesting.
“Why are you here, Michael?”
“That was some exhibition that you put on earlier, my dear. Your skill level has improved. I believe that I’m the only one in miles who could still take you down,” he said.
“I wouldn’t suggest that you try, Michael. You might be over estimating your ability. After all, you are sixty-eight-years-old,” she countered. “Your bones are quite a bit more fragile than mine. I would really hate to have to hurt you.”
Senator McLaughlin laughed. “Daisy. Daisy. What am I to do with you?”
“You could start by pretending that I don’t exist, Michael,” she said. “After all, you’ve done an outstanding job of staying out of my life during the last few years. I doubt that you’d find it difficult to continue in that pattern. Why don’t you make an effort?”
“Daisy, dearest, we have to talk,” Michael said, taking on a commanding tone. “Do you come home of your own volition, or must I compel you?”
“In spite of your tendency to push people around, Michael, you might find that task rather difficult to accomplish. As you’ve yourself remarked, I’ve advanced several levels since our last encounter. I doubt that even that Susan would have any use for you, if you came home in a body cast,” she replied. “Although I really wouldn’t want to face the charges resulting from putting a US Senator in the hospital, I will, if you force me to it, Michael. You know I am telling the truth.”
Michael’s eyes narrowed; he glared at her.
Hunt felt the unfamiliar shiver of pure fear run down his spine when he saw the amount of anger on the larger man’s face.
“Daisy,” the big man warned.
“I believe that the lady would like you to leave her alone. I assure you that if she can’t enforce that wish, I most certainly can,” Hunt interjected. “I won’t have my fiancee threatened by anyone.” Hunt’s arm went around Maggie and he pulled her close.
Hunt had continued smoothly as he saw Maggie’s expression. “I know, Maggie, darling, that we were intending to wait before telling any one, but I won’t have you being bullied by anyone. He’s got to know I’m not going to let anyone push you around.”
Maggie smiled at him, then said, “It’s okay, Hunt. I can fight my own battles.”
Hunt laughed, then dropped a light kiss on her temple. “I am well aware of that, Maggie mine,” he said. “However, I’m not about to sit back meekly and allow anyone to bully you. The only reason I didn’t step in earlier tonight was that I knew that you wouldn’t appreciate it. I don’t like watching you fight your own battles, but I know that you have to do it, for your own sake.”
“Oh, Hunt . . . .”
“You listen to me, Daisy, I’ve just about had enough. I’ve been waiting for you to come to your senses since you stormed out of the house almost eight years ago without telling anyone where you were going. It’s time we talked this out and settled our small domestic difficulties.”
“Go away, Michael McLaughlin!” she snapped. “You’ve got one hell of a convenient memory. I don’t need or want your interference in my life. I thought by now, that even you would have been able to come to that conclusion. Although it upsets your male ego and patriarchal attitude, I’m managing just fine without you managing my life. I’m a grown woman living my own life on my own terms, not a child in need of guidance. Why don’t you just get, and stay, out of my sight?”
“Daisy, you are going to listen to me. The only thing you have to decide is whether we talk here or at home. But we are going to talk and we are going to talk, tonight. I’ve waited too long to put off this conversation any further,” Michael said. “Make up your mind, Daisy. You’re not getting out of this house without speaking privately to me.”
“Watch me, Michael! Just watch me,” she countered.
He gestured over to the window. “Look out of the window, Daisy. See the two men in dark suits and overcoats by the backdoor.”
Maggie walked over to the window while still holding onto Hunt’s arm. Her face lost all color, as she carefully surveyed the men. The slight flare to their coats declared that they were armed.
Hunt saw the same evidence and didn’t like it all. And he was fully aware that she had drawn the some conclusions. “What’s going on here, Maggie?” Hunt asked too quietly for anyone to hear but her.
“It’s a long story, Hunt. I’ll tell you later, if you’re still interested,” she whispered. “I’m sorry about this, Hunt. I didn’t mean to get you involved in my personal problems.”
“If you need help, just say so.”
“Believe me, you don’t want to get more involved in this. Michael makes a very bad enemy. While I am willing to fight him, I don’t want to be responsible for any injury to you. Heaven help me, I care about you too much to want to see you hurt.”
Hunt took her hand, noticed that she was trembling ever so slightly. He kissed her temple. Then he whispered in her ear, “I’m glad that you care for me. I’ve rather fallen for you, myself. And I’m not scared of the honorable Senator.”
“That’s only because you don’t know him,” she replied. “For your own sake, Hunt, please don’t get any more involved in this.”
“I’m already in for a penny.” he told her quietly.
“But the pound could be flesh. Your flesh. Please be careful. Michael doesn’t play fair.”
“I’m not going to let you face whatever this is alone. You need a friend, now.”
“Please, Hunt, just don’t antagonize him.”
Hunt nodded.
Michael smiled as Maggie and Hunt had turned to face him. “Yes, I see that you remember James and Tony. Fred and Vinnie are at the back door. Roger and Tomas are at the side doors. So you see, on way or the other, Daisy, you will speak to me tonight.”
“You always were a bully, Michael. Did you have to bring in your hit squad?”
Hit squad? Hunt had mentally echoed. What kind of trouble is she into? Why did the Senator have a hit squad?
“My men are not a hit squad!” Michael protested. “They are simply my bodyguards. I’ve been worried sick about you without proper security. Don’t you have any idea of the kind of danger that you are in without adequate security? It isn’t safe for you to live alone. There are all kinds of people out there who would just love to make an example of you, just to get to me, especially now. Especially after Sunday.”
“I assure you that I can take care of myself, Michael,” she said.
“Besides, I’m not anyone important. No one would use me to get anything.”
“You are important. Certain people, if they learned how important you are to me, could hurt you in order to get to me. You’ll become even more of a target after my announcement is printed on Sunday,” Michael said, his voice sounding as if it held nothing but pain. “I don’t want to see you caught in the middle of anything unpleasant, Daisy. You are too precious to me for me to allow you to put yourself in that position. I will not allow you to place yourself in that position.”
“That’s just so much bull, Michael. I can take perfectly good care of myself,” she asserted strongly. “I have for years, and I w
ill continue to do so.”
“Perhaps your fiancee will excuse us?” Michael said.
“There’s nothing that you could say to me in private that you can’t say in Hunt’s presence,” Maggie replied.
“I’m staying here until and unless Maggie asks me to leave,” Hunt said.
The urge to protect Maggie came as a surprise to him. But, it was too strong to fight, so he gave in to it. Only with one other woman had Hunt experienced anything like this. But, Regina had been dead for many years.
When Hunt had been a teenager, he had asked his grandfather how a man recognized the woman whom he would marry. He still remembered the answer, “A man marries the woman whom he wants to both ravage and protect. A successful marriage has to have both elements. With a woman whom a man only wants to take to bed, the passion will burn out quickly, leaving nothing more substantial than ashes. You can’t build something lasting with ashes, Hunter. On the other hand, with a woman whom a man would like only to protect, there will be no real passion. The years are all too long, Hunter, to spend them with a woman who doesn’t keep you stirred up. You need to have both passion and tenderness. One without the other just doesn’t work.”
Hunt had known since the first instant that he had seen Maggie that she was capable of stirring both desires within him. That had come as a surprise to him. But, Hunt had lived with the unexpected for so many years that he had learned not to fight it. Now, all he had to do was to convince her of the rightness of letting the relationship develop.
Well, maybe not all. They also had to get through this confrontation with Michael McLaughlin. Of the immediate two tasks, Hunt didn’t know which was going to be more difficult.
Chalk up one more correct assessment for John O’Shay.
“Will you talk with me, voluntarily, or do I have the boys move in? If they step inside the house, things will become rather nasty,” Michael warned.
“You’d end up facing a charge of kidnapping, Michael. Do you really think that whatever you have to say warrants your going to jail over? Do you really want to ruin your election chances over this?” she asked. “Because, Michael, the scandal resulting from this would finish off any hopes that you might have had of ever occupying the oval office.”
