He thought about that for a moment, then gave a gusty sigh. "All right. I promised that I would tell you everything. That I wouldn't lie about anything, okay? The truth is I was afraid if I told you I was coming, you wouldn't be here when I arrived."
She looked taken back. "Oh."
He ran his hand through his hair, trying to remember what he had planned to tell her, trying to remember how he had planned to tell her.
His first words were, "Are you all right? You've lost weight."
She clasped her hands in front of her, resting them on her knees. "I'm all right. I just haven't been eating much."
"Do you know if—I mean, has it been long enough to know whether you are—uh—"
She rescued him by answering his unspoken concern. "I don't know, actually. I suppose there is that possibility, but everything in my life's been so chaotic.. . and I've been so upset that it could just be nerves."
"Aren't there tests you could take?"
"I suppose. I guess I wasn't ready to find out, one way or the other."
"Oh." Well, that certainly didn't tell him much. "Did Lorenzo tell you he came to see me?" he finally asked.
She glanced up from where she had been intently studying her clasped hands. "Yes."
Angie was certainly being a fount of information today. He reached over and took her hands and held them. They felt as though she'd had them submersed in a mountain stream. He stroked them, willing her not to withdraw them. She raised her head and met his gaze.
"I, uh, need to explain what was going on when we met. I finally got clearance to tell you."
"Clearance?"
"Yeah."
"From your government?"
"That's right."
She tugged her hands free and returned them to their nesting place in her lap.
"Dammit, Angie, will you at least give me a chance to explain?" He came to his feet in a lunge and strode over to the French doors. If had been a stupid idea to think he could get her to listen or to understand.
As though responding to his thoughts, she said, "I'm listening, Zeke."
He spun around and faced her- She looked more composed somehow, and her cheeks were tinted with becoming color. Why did she have to be so damned beautiful? He hated feeling so vulnerable, absolutely hated it!
Taking a deep breath, he slowly exhaled and forced himself to sit down once again. "All right. I can see where you felt that I'd lied to you, but I haven't. I really haven't. Everything I told you about myself and my life was true. The work in Europe was for the government. I did a great deal of covert stuff for years, but with all the changes over there I was recalled to Washington. Then I was loaned to another agency to work down here in an attempt to stop the flow of drug trafficking along the border."
"You thought Tio was involved in drugs."
He heard the certainty in her voice and asked, "Did he tell you that?"
She nodded.
"Then you understand why I was working for him?"
"He told me what he'd found out while he was in Washington. He's grateful that you and your government helped him to deal with the threats on his life and his property." She lifted her chin and faced him. "He reminded me that you saved my life with your flying skills. I already knew that."
Zeke watched her warily. "Then you already know everything I've come here to say. Does any of this make a difference to you? I mean, do you still want to end our marriage?"
She stared at him for an endless time, searching his face, seeing the pain there. "I never wanted our marriage to end, Zeke."
"But you walked out."
"I know. I don't think I can find the words to explain. I was hurt... and confused... and unprepared to face the reality of our situation." She shook her head, impatient with her inability to find the necessary words that would help her. Restless, she stood and walked over to the window. "I've been such a child, in so many ways," she said without looking at him. "I've led such a sheltered life that I've never been emotionally involved with anyone before. I was totally unprepared to handle my strong reaction to you when we met." She turned and faced him. "Everything happened so quickly between us. I was caught up in something so new and so wonderful that I never thought about where it was all heading." Angie walked back to where he sat and sank down into her chair once more. "I realize that you married me because you wanted to protect me. What I didn't realize at the time was that I needed protection from myself most of all."
"Don't you think you're being a little hard on yourself?"
"Am I?"
"Yeah, I think so. I mean, if we could all function as non-feeling intellectuals, using only logic and reason, we'd probably grow pointed ears and hail Vulcan as our home planet." He reached over and took her hand. "What have you done that you feel is so bad?"
She forced herself to meet his gaze. "Walking out on you certainly wasn't the most mature move I've ever made."
"I don't know about mature. It certainly created a great deal of pain and from what I can tell, the pain wasn't all on my side."
"That's my point. I was so wrapped up in my own feelings that I didn't give a thought to how you'd react when you came home and found me gone."
Zeke looked away. "Something tells me Lorenzo had a few tales to relate about me when he got home."
"He said I hurt you badly."
Zeke shrugged without answering.
"You are the very last person I would want to hurt, Zeke. I knew I wouldn't be able to talk, even if I attempted to call you. I knew that as soon as I heard your voice I would break down. After that I tried to write and tell you what was in my heart, but it was hopeless."
"I'm here now, Princess. Can you tell me what you want to do about us?"
"When do you have to go back?"
"I don't. I've resigned the Washington job. Lorenzo offered me a place in his organization while he was there. I'm seriously considering it."
"But you haven't made a final decision."
He shook his head. "No. I couldn't continue to live here and see you on a daily basis if I didn't know I would go to sleep every night with you in my arms."
"You're very forgiving."
"No. Just realistic. I agree that you and I got too involved too quickly. I willingly accept the blame for that because I'm old enough...and experienced enough... to know better. Once we'd been together, I couldn't keep my hands off you. The best damage control, under those particular circumstances, was to marry you." He gave her an endearingly lopsided smile. "Nothing's really changed, you know. I'm having trouble sitting here right now when all I want to do is to haul you upstairs and love the daylights out of you."
"As though nothing's wrong between us?"
"Well, the way I figure it is, if we love each other enough, we've got the rest of our lives together to work out all the details. I'm sure this won't be the only time we get crossways with each other. All I'm asking is that you don't walk away from the problem. Is that too much to ask?"
Angie slid to her knees beside his chair. "Oh, Zeke, I love you so much!" She put her arms around him. With little effort he pulled her onto his lap. They sat there holding each other, each regretting the pain inflicted on the other, each silently vowing to make up for their past actions.
"Well, it looks as though you two have made up," Lorenzo said, striding into the room. "I just got word that you arrived, Daniels. Are you ready to go to work, or are you just visiting?"
Before Zeke could answer, Angie said, "He's here to stay, Tio. But don't plan to put him to work immediately." She smiled into Zeke's eyes. "I have some plans of my own for the next few days that will occupy most of his time."
Zeke glanced up at Lorenzo's startled expression, then down to his wife, whose saucy response was accompanied by a beautiful blush.
"Looks like I've found myself a new boss," Zeke said with a grin, hugging her even tighter. "I'll do my best to make you both happy, no matter how long it takes!"
Lorenzo laughed, shook his head and walked out of the
room, saying, "You've definitely got your job cut out for you."
Zeke glanced down at Angie and grinned. "Maybe so, but I sure do like all of the fringe benefits."
He picked her up and started for the stairs.
Epilogue
Zeke picked up the phone on the first ring and heard a voice from his past...from another lifetime... greet him.
"Frank! You ol' son of a gun. How've you been?"
"Working to keep myself alive. I hadn't talked with you in some time. Thought I'd give you a call to see if you were bored with the business world, yet."
Zeke laughed. "Believe me, my old life was tame compared to what goes on at some of these board meetings. I've wondered at times if I was going to get out in one piece."
"And you love it, right?"
"Yeah, I guess I've always been a sucker for a challenge."
"How's Angela?"
"She's doing very well these days, considering."
"Considering what?"
"Well, she's expecting... again."
"My God, Zeke, it's a wonder you have time for business. What do the girls and Ty think about the new addition?"
"We haven't told them, yet. We still have a few months to break the news."
"But four kids in five years, Zeke!"
"I know, Frank. I know. I, uh, well, we didn't exactly plan it this way, we just seem to—what I mean is, we, uh—"
"Hey, man, you don't have to explain to me. I get the picture." His amusement was obvious, which wasn't surprising. Zeke still had trouble seeing himself as a family man, but he was certainly enjoying every aspect of family life.
Frank's voice sobered when he continued. "I wanted to pass on an official acknowledgment and appreciation for what you've been doing. You've passed on some very useful information over the years that's been very helpful to us. We just picked off a well-established ring down there this week."
"I read about the bust in the paper. I'm pleased I could help you."
"You know, Zeke, a couple of times you've made the local agents look like amateurs. You've managed to obtain information they've been after for years."
"We have developed a helluva network here, Frank. We sort through all kinds of information on a daily basis. It helps us stay in business. If some of it can help you, it doesn't cost me anything to pass it on."
"I was told to give you an official word of thanks and offer whatever payment you needed."
"I don't need or want payment. I've told you that more than once."
"I know. Just doing what I'm told."
"Good enough, Frank. Glad you called."
"If you ever get up this way, I'd enjoy visiting with you."
"I'm surprised you're still around," Zeke replied, grinning. "I figured the whole complex would have been sold by now."
"Don't I wish! I wouldn't mind retiring, myself. Well, hang in there. Give my regards to Angie."
"I'll do that, Frank."
Zeke hung up the phone and turned his chair so that he was looking out the large picture window into the courtyard. He spent a lot of his office time enjoying the garden and watching his family, who spent many of their afternoons there.
After the scare with Lorenzo's heart, he'd turned everything over to Zeke. He'd insisted that all he wanted to do was to stay home and be entertained by the children.
Watching him now, Zeke could well believe him. Linda and Connie sat in their tiny chairs at his feet while he read to them. Tyler sat on his lap, nodding off to sleep. Angie was nearby, mending one of the children's clothing, listening and smiling at Lorenzo's dramatic interpretation of a well-known children's classic.
Zeke waited until Angie glanced up. He waved, catching her eye, and motioned for her to come inside. After placing the mending next to her chair, she got up and headed toward the door of the salon. By the time she reached the hallway, he was waiting for her.
"What is it? Is something wrong?"
He shook his head and, taking her by the hand, led her upstairs.
"Zeke? Where are we going?"
"I thought we needed to rest. Lorenzo has the children enthralled. They'll be just fine."
"Oh, but I-"
"Oh, but you have to make sure I don't have nightmares. I sleep much better with my arms around you."
"You're so silly." She shook her head in mock despair.
As soon as they reached their room, he insisted she get comfortable. His idea of her comfort was to carefully take off every piece of her clothing, despite her attempt to slap his hands away.
"I like to look at you, okay? I love to see the baby. Relax, will you? I'm not going to molest you."
"That will be a first."
"You've got a smart mouth, woman. Anyone ever tell you that?"
She smiled, and allowed him to lead her to the bed. She stretched out on the bed and he curled around her. "I learned everything I know from you," she admitted, sighing as he began to rub her back in the exact place it ached.
"You've taught me more."
"Oh, sure I have."
"You have. It scares me to think that we might not have ended up together.''
"I'm just glad you were sent down here to work for Tio. Otherwise we would never have met."
"And that would have been the greatest tragedy of all," he murmured, holding her close to him and stroking the curve of her body that sheltered another new life.
Frank's call had reminded him of his old way of life. He had heard the envy in Frank's voice. He didn't blame him. He wouldn't give up what he had now for any other life-style.
Life was good. Love was a gift he'd never thought to have. It had changed him, forced him to grow and to accept his vulnerability.
The rewards had been worth it. lucking Angie closer against him, he fell asleep with a smile on his face.
Table of Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
Zeke Page 14
