by Lucy Fear
“Don’t you think the secrecy has gone on long enough?” Brendan complained. “I don’t like deceit. It tends to breed.”
“I agree with you, but have you not considered that telling him might make him try to send me home?”
“You’re home already,” said Brendan stubbornly.
“Not officially, I’m not,” she sighed. “I still have a life, you know. Parents. A job. Who knows if they’ll let me out of my work contract, and more to the point I’m not the kind of girl who just sits at home. If you think for one minute I don’t want to have a career of some kind, you need to think again.”
“Were you not thinking of writing books?” he teased.
“I was, actually.”
“Well, you can do that from wherever you like,” he pointed out. “You could write while you travel with me. And then once we’ve started having babies, even that shouldn’t mean you have to be held back from anything. Baby, I don’t want to clip your wings, I want to watch you fly—”
“Did you just say babies?” Rhi asked, blushing hotly. “I just realized something. I’ve been so caught up in trying to help, I never thought to go get another depo. I’ve only ever had the one shot when Todd and I made that disaster of an attempt to move in together and he—well, you know, took my virginity. God, Brendan, I never expected to be doing this with you. What if we’ve made a baby already?”
“First, you’re not the only one who has been irresponsible here,” he said. “Naturally, when you didn’t ask me to use anything, I just assumed you had it covered, but that’s not a very good way to handle the issue, and I must apologize to you. Second, and this is very important to me for you to understand, I would love to make a baby with you. Now, later, it doesn’t matter, I would be happy. But what about you?”
“I just got my body looking this good,” she sighed. “If you did impregnate me I’ll blow up like a balloon and there’ll be pain and then we’ll have a noisy kid who eventually will get into things. But knowing all that, I wouldn’t change a thing. Obviously if we get lucky, I’ll want another shot so we could take time and plan a few things, but—I won’t mind if you did. Not really.”
“Well, if that’s how we’re both feeling, then maybe I should mention one more thing,” he said, smiling up at her. “Will you trade me places? I’d like to get down on one knee.”
Rhi giggled. “No need. I already know my answer.”
“You’re so stubborn sometimes,” he told her. “Would you just let me do some things the way I’d like?”
“Fine,” she grinned, sitting down while he got to his knees. “Then ask me.”
“Marry me?”
“In a heartbeat.”
“Good, then let’s go shopping for rings.”
*
“Rory, I understand why you did it,” Brendan told his friend. “You were so worried about me that you called in a person you were certain could help. I don’t like you going behind my back, but under the circumstances I certainly can’t be mad at you for it either.”
“What circumstances?” he asked. “You mean because you’ve been shagging my sister massive for the past couple of weeks? Lucky for you we’re such good friends or I’d have bloodied your nose by now.”
“Rhiannon and I intend to get married,” he told him then. “When we told each other how we were feeling, it was only natural that she wanted all the secrets to get out into the open. Starting off a new life together harboring deceptions is no way to begin. But she didn’t tell me, I guessed it for myself. So, don’t go thinking that your trust has been betrayed.”
“Rhi has always been a bit of an open book,” Rory chuckled. “Where is she, anyway? I thought the two of you were inseparable these days.”
“She’s cowering in the hallway waiting for you to explode.”
Rory laughed, and went to open the door. “Would you get in here, sis? You don’t need to hide from me.
Rhiannon was in the hallway all right, but so was a rather large rattlesnake that looked as though it was considering whether or not to strike. They were staring at each other eye-to-eye, each one in a trancelike state. Rory stopped short and gasped softly, then held up his hand to beckon Brendan to come quietly to the door.
He took one look at the situation and felt his heart fall into his feet. Rhi, however, looked perfectly calm as she took three measured steps to the door and stepped inside. Rory closed it behind her and watched as she stepped over to the house phone.
“Excuse me, there’s a bit of a pest problem in the study hall,” she said calmly. “A rattlesnake got inside and it’s curled up by the study door. It’d be great if somebody could come and remove the problem. Yes, thank you.”
“What exactly did you just do with the snake, Rhi?” Brendan wanted to know.
“Oh, sorry, I wasn’t sure it would work on this snake, of course, but I learned at an early age how to mesmerize an animal into being passive,” Rhi said as she stepped into his embrace. “When the snake came at me, it was instinctual. Obviously I didn’t want him to bite me, right?”
“The more I learn about you, the more intrigued I become,” he said, kissing her on the ear. “Now enough about all of this, we need to be planning for the event. I’m hoping everything will go off without a hitch, and we need to all be in agreement about this. Rory, while I’m up there, I want you to stick to Rhi like glue. Let me worry about any attacks that happen to me. Got it?”
“Yes, sir,” he agreed, though he didn’t particularly like the idea. He and Rhi exchanged a look. They intended to do whatever they needed to do.
“Anyway, I wanted to tell you Rory, while we’re both here,” Brendan said. “You’re going to be the best man. I’ve no idea who Rhi will choose, though.”
“We’ll have to fly in Sam,” she insisted. “I’m not getting married without my best friend.”
“When exactly are you two planning to do this, anyway?”
“Oh, we haven’t figured that out yet, I’ve only asked her just this morning,” Brendan pointed out. “We still need to go shopping for rings, but we’ve only just returned from the school so we didn’t get to do it yet.”
“Watch out, Brendan,” Rory chuckled. “Rhi is like a kid in the candy store when she sees diamonds.”
“Why don’t you come with as well?” Brendan suggested. “We’ll go out for dinner while we’re at it. Only we can’t leave until Luna gets home. I’ll want her along, too. Kids like it when you include them in things.”
“Wow, now that’s a pearl of wisdom if I ever heard one,” Rory teased. “Are you putting that into the book, too?”
“Actually, we ought to,” Rhi commented. “You’d be amazed how many people don’t know that’s the case.”
“Speaking of cases, since you’re marrying this big lug, which must mean you’re going to quit the agency, right?”
“I was about to do it anyway if they wouldn’t let me move to another facility,” Rhi sighed. “If they are willing to let me work from an office out here, I might consider staying on. I doubt it, though. I’ve already put in for a transfer three times, and Margot refused to sign off so I could go.”
“So why do you think it would be different this time?”
“It probably won’t,” she shrugged. “But the truth is, there’s a million things I could be doing with my life other than working for them. Writing books, for example, or maybe starting up a psychic-based business of my own. I’m sure psychic investigation of criminal activity doesn’t have to be limited to the government. Don’t you think so?”
“Average folks don’t want to know about parapsychology,” Brendan said. “There’s a vast number of people who will think it’s a hoax. But if you want to help those who do believe, and do want to know, maybe your own business is the way to go. I’m more than willing to help you if you want to give it a try.”
“Wow, I never knew when I brought her here that you two would be such a formidable pair,” Rory said. “This bad guy really has his work cut out
for him if he wants to take you two on as a duo. This will be exciting to see.”
A ruckus in the hallway, complete with thumping, banging, a hiss, and a scream, interrupted the conversation. Rhi said, “I’m going to guess that the snake is being removed from the hallway now.”
“Yeah, you know it,” Brendan replied, chuckling. “Hopefully it’ll be gone by the time Luna gets home. It’s lucky for us Rhi found the thing instead of her.”
“She wouldn’t hypnotize it, she’d just step on the head and slit its throat,” Rory commented dryly. “And then she’d read its email while she was at it.”
“Has she been messing with your computer again?” Brendan asked irritably.
“Don’t worry, nothing I can’t handle.”
“Just let me know,” he said. “I can get her to tone it down.”
“No, it’s fine,” he shrugged. “I just thought that you should know.”
Soon after the noise stopped, Luna stepped through the door. “I heard you three were trapped in here by a snake,” she said. “What’s that all about?”
“Nothing to worry about, honey,” said Brendan. “Say, how would you like to come along to the store and then out to dinner? It’s a special occasion tonight.”
“Really? What for?”
“I know it might seem sudden, but Rhi and I have decided to get married,” he said.
“That’s no surprise,” she grinned. “Sure, let’s go. I suppose I’m too old to be a flower girl?”
Rhi chuckled. “I don’t think so. If you want it, by all means the job is yours.”
Luna stepped over and gave her a hug. “I don’t think it’s too soon to know. I think you knew as soon as you fell into his arms your first day here.”
“Don’t be silly, Luna, I didn’t even see him until after I fell.”
She giggled. “Maybe not, but it was instinctual.”
“Who even told you about that anyway?” Rhi wanted to know.
“Rory, of course,” she said. “He wrote about it in his email.”
“Oh really? Who’d he write about it to?”
“Well then, time to go,” said Rory briskly. “It’s going to be a lovely evening. At least I think so.”
CHAPTER NINE
Although Rhi was not willing to let the fact her brother was emailing somebody about her go, she also knew it would be disruptive to persist while they were trying to go out and celebrate her and Brendan’s good news. It was in the back of her mind the whole time, but she didn’t say another word.
It was obvious that Rory knew, though. Probably because he was well aware how her mind worked. Even Brendan could see that she hadn’t let it go.
“Rory has a long-distance girlfriend,” he finally explained in her ear as she picked at her meal. “I’m sure he must have been writing to her.”
“You’re not helping,” she replied. “Now I also want to know why he didn’t tell me about her. He used to tell me everything once upon a time.”
Brendan chuckled. “It’s just what happens when you’re grown, sweetheart. I’m sure there are some things about your brother that you’d rather not know.”
“God, just stop,” she complained. “You’re not helping here.”
Brendan laughed and kissed the top of her head. “I’m just messing with you, Rhi,” he admitted. “If he was doing anything weird, I don’t think he’d tell me either.”
“You’re so terrible,” she said, but he had managed to make her laugh. “But still, I’m realizing it’s been a long time since Rory and I actually talked. Not since the Todd incident, really.”
“What the heck is ‘the Todd incident,’ anyway?”
“Todd thought that Rory and I would be gone all night, so he brought home some woman he’d been secretly sleeping with,” she said. “We found them in bed when I decided to come home instead. I moved straight home to my parents’ house the next day, and Todd moved the other girl in instead.”
“Doesn’t sound like he was very committed to you if he did that.”
“Apparently not,” she agreed.
“Hey, you two, stop talking about such depressing things at your engagement party?” Rory complained. “Todd was an ass, and if you must know he knows Rhi is here and asked me what she was doing. I told her how the two of you met hoping it would make him back off, because he was telling me he felt he’d made a mistake and his squeeze was leaving, and wanted to know if Rhi might be willing to try with him again.”
“I never would have gone back to him regardless,” Rhi snorted. “I’m perfectly happy right where I am. In fact, I’m willing to tender my resignation tomorrow if the agency doesn’t give me the transfer. I’m ready to get on with my life, and it’s not going to happen if I keep doing the same thing I have been. And you can tell him that for me.”
“Who is Todd?” Luna wanted to know.
“Rhiannon’s ex,” Brendan explained. “I guarantee he’s not invited to the wedding.”
***
With dinner out of the way, that left only two more days until the seminar. Their attacker seemed to have gone quiet for the last couple of days, which had Rhi feeling more suspicious than ever. If this guy was so devoted to his goals, it could mean only one of two things that he’d stopped his activities. Either he’d given up, or he was building up his energies in preparation for some sort of a stronger assault.
Rhi doubted that the man had given up.
That left only one reason for the lack of activity. And if the man was powering up, as it were, then he was definitely aware of Brendan’s schedule. Which meant he was definitely somebody close by.
“Brendan, how many sons does your caretaker actually have?”
“He has three,” he said. “Allen, Gary, and Brad.”
“How well do you get along with the other brothers?”
“I seldom interact with any of the members of the Fuller family,” Brendan explained. “They’ve been hired to maintain the grounds, not be my best friends. Why do you ask?”
“Do you remember that I’d said Allen had the attacker’s energy all over him?” she pointed out. “That could possibly be because it’s someone he lives with, don’t you think?”
“But you also said he seems to resent me for selling my knowledge for profit,” Brendan reminded her. “I don’t think any of those men could care less about that. Not one of them vibrates much higher than a flea. They don’t have what it takes to be able to do the things the attacker has been doing. His power has got to be right through the roof to be able to throw objects at us in that way.”
“Unless whoever he is has the ability to hide his true nature,” she pointed out. “Is it possible that he’s hiding in plain sight?”
“I’ll tell you what,” Laurie said. “I’ve suggested before that you could meet some of the employees. We should totally do that, but include all the domestic employees too. Announcing our engagement could make the perfect excuse for a gathering, don’t you think?”
“Yes, I do,” she smiled. “That’s a great idea. But whoever it is, they’re going to realize what we’re up to. They might not show up.”
“If they don’t come to a mandatory meeting, then we’re going to be one step closer to identifying the one we’re looking for. Whoever isn’t there will be even more suspect than they were before. Additionally, I have photographs of them too.”
“Thing is, if we held a meeting like that tomorrow, it might set the guy off even more,” Rhi pointed out.
“But if we don’t hold it tomorrow, we still won’t know who we’re looking for when we go to Sacramento.”
“We’re walking a pretty tight rope here then, aren’t we?” Rhi sighed. “I vote that we hold the meeting and see if anybody skips. I’ll take note of any faces that seem to call to me and ask you more about those people later, but I won’t actively sense anybody. Would that work?”
“For now,” he agreed.
***
Later that night, the two of them went into the study, intent
on getting some more work done. Unlike before, there was no sense of urgency as Rhi typed this time, since she now had no intentions of leaving Brendan’s side. She didn’t even care what the agency would have to say about the decision anymore, and she felt empowered by that.
All her life, she’d done everything for other people. Each decision she’d ever made had been weighed and measured against what her parents wanted her to do, or what her teachers expected, or what her job demanded of her. But this choice belonged wholly and completely to her, and nothing or nobody was going to change her mind. It felt good.
“Rhi, you’re glowing,” Brendan chuckled. “Did you know?”
“Am I?” she asked with a smile. “Must be because of you.”
“No, it’s something else, I think,” he teased, kissing the side of her head. “When we get the meeting over and done, we should think about taking you to the doctor just to be sure, but something tells me we’re not going to need contraception anytime soon.”
*
Brendan simply took Rhi to the clinic earlier in the day instead. It was no great surprise when her urine test came back positive for pregnancy, and the pair took the list of recommended doctors home with them to do a bit of research.
“If you’re up for natural birth at home, we could easily hire on a midwife for you,” Brendan was saying as they stepped back into the castle. “Of course, you’d still need to have a doctor who periodically checks you to make sure everything is going okay. But these days, I hear some of the better midwives are able to do both.”
“Yes, that does sound like the best way to go, considering the way people were staring at the billionaires in the regular doctor’s office today. I mean, I’m not one yet, but when we’re married, I guess I will be.”
“Of course you will,” Brendan chuckled. “But I love how you don’t particularly care about that part of me. I’m guessing that if I tried to lavish you with gifts you’d probably not know how to react, at the very least.”
Rhi grinned. “It’s not something I’m used to, but you’re welcome to give it a try.”
