Thornton compressed his lips momentarily in thought. “I see…” Finally, he looked back up at her. “So, in your opinion, Colonel Breckenridge is innocent?”
Alanna squired inwardly. Why did she feel close to panic? Swallowing hard, she nodded. “Innocent, Senator.”
“The two incidents were entirely separate and unconnected, then?”
“It appears that way. But I really can’t say much on that right now because the prisoners hadn’t been interrogated before I left. Colonel Breckenridge felt that the San Dolega supplies may have been stolen by a local black market ring. The other supplies were probably taken by Nicaraguan guerrillas.”
If he was disappointed, it did not show. He politely excused Alanna, telling her to take two days off and catch up on her rest. Alanna left the Hill feeling strangely unsettled by her meeting with the senator.
She counted the days until Matt would return. It had been nearly a week since she’d returned to Washington, and it was Friday evening. The weather was pleasantly warm and dry for mid-September, and it seemed as if she had never been to Costa Rica. Since returning to work, she had put in several twelve-hour days already.
Puttering in her kitchen, she made herself a salad, took it into the living room, and turned on the television. Just as she sat down, the phone rang. Alanna placed her bowl on the glass coffee table to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Did anyone ever tell you how sensual your voice sounds over the phone?”
“Matt! You’re back.” Her heart rose in her throat, and she curled up at the end of the couch, cradling the receiver against her ear.
He laughed softly. “I got back last night as a matter of fact.”
“You’ve got to be exhausted.”
“A little. I spent today trying to knock down the piles of reports on my desk and didn’t get anywhere.”
“You ought to take a few days off and recover. I’m still suffering from jet lag.”
“Mmm, that’s not a bad idea. But I’d have to insist that my time off would include you.”
She colored prettily. “As much as I want to say yes, I can’t. Not just yet, Matt.”
“Your senator?” he queried.
“Yes.”
“What did he make of your report?”
She frowned. “He didn’t seem disappointed but…” she searched for words to describe her feelings at that meeting.
“What was your gut reaction?” he coaxed.
Alanna squirmed on the couch. “God, I would much rather go with what I saw and my logic!” she breathed.
“Can’t always trust those two together, Babe. You’re hedging. I can feel it in your voice.”
“I just got an unsettled feeling, Matt. I—I can’t explain it. And Peggy, his secretary, has been acting awfully cold toward me ever since I’ve returned. I don’t know why.”
There were a few moments of silence on the other end of the phone. Finally, Matt spoke, his voice more serious. “This isn’t over yet, but I figured as much. He’s going to try to find a way to pin it on me anyway.”
Alanna gripped the phone convulsively. “No!” she whispered tautly. “He can’t!”
“He’ll try it.”
“I hope you’re wrong. I just want this to blow over so that we can see each other.”
“Makes two of us, Babe.” He exhaled. “Look, under the present circumstances, let’s take a raincheck on that weekend until I’m sure he’s going to let bygones be bygones. If his secretary is not treating you like she usually does, it could mean that he had you followed down there. Your job might be in jeopardy.”
She got up, suddenly unable to sit still, and paced back and forth, carrying the phone. “And I thought I had an active imagination,” she accused him.
“Secretaries know everything, Alanna. I haven’t met one yet who didn’t know the most intimate secrets about her boss.”
“But the senator seemed so friendly to me. How could he hide his anger if he knew that I—we—”
“I told you before, politicians are the ultimate gamespeople of the world. They’ll smile one minute and stab you in the back the next. What’s your schedule look like for the next few weeks?”
Alanna sat down on the couch. “He’s sending me to California for almost three weeks.”
“Well, I figure if he doesn’t spill something on this in about a month, it will be safe to see one another.”
“I feel like we’re acting out a scene from Romeo and Juliet!” she complained. “This is so silly! Instead of the Capulets and Montagues feuding, it’s Thornton and Breckenridge.”
“That’s right, honey, and you’re standing right in the middle of the game. Look,” he soothed, “no one wants to see you more than I do. I can hardly stand to wait, knowing we’re in the same city. It would be so simple to drive over or to have you come to my home. But Thornton might still be having you tailed until he’s sure which way to swing with your report. If he suspects you’re an ally of mine, then what good are you to him in an investigation hearing against me? Do you see my point?”
Morosely, she agreed. “Just call me Juliet until this stupid tempest in a teapot is over,” she griped unhappily. She heard him laugh, and that raised her spirits. It was the kind of laughter that was full and resonant, and it sent shivers through her body. “It’s good to hear your voice, Matt. I—I missed you. I never thought I’d ever say that to another man.”
“You just keep the first weekend in October open, Babe. By then, the leaves will be turning, and I’ll fly us up to Kittery. Do you like kids?”
Alanna smiled, beginning to relax beneath the caress of his husky, warm voice. “Love them. Why?”
“I haven’t seen my brother John or his wife Ev for nearly a year, and I wondered if you might want to stop in and see them Friday night. They have three lovely daughters that range in age from five through eleven.”
“It sounds wonderful. That’s one thing I miss around here; there are so few children. Where I grew up, the block was always filled with them.”
“Like kids, huh?” he teased.
“Always.”
“You’d make a good mother,” he said huskily. “I’m sure Ev will let you try your hand at it. Just remember, I warned you beforehand. The girls will mob you at the door.”
“Like they do you?” she laughed. Somehow, she had never envisioned Matt in that role. Yet, recalling his tenderness and sensitivity with her, it was easy to imagine him dealing with children of all ages.
“Yes, I get mobbed. But that’s because they only see their Uncle Matt once a year.”
“I’ll bet. You probably spoil them rotten,” she accused gently, smiling.
“Me? Nah. I’m the tough Marine colonel, remember?”
“You’re a raging lion with a heart of gold, Matt Breckenridge, so don’t try to fool me, too!”
“Promise not to tell anyone? It wouldn’t help the image I’ve carefully nurtured over at the Pentagon.”
Alanna laughed joyfully. He had such an incredible knack for releasing her inhibitions and fears, melting them with his humor and wit. “Your image here in Washington is of a man who has a courageous heart and a backbone of steel.”
“You believe everything you read in the papers?” he asked blandly. “Old war records and medals are always good fodder for the starving press.”
“How many people know the real you?” she wondered idly.
“Not many.”
“I feel privileged in knowing the other side of you. Well, at least a little bit of you. Oh, Matt, we have so much to talk about and—”
“Very soon, Babe, we’ll have the time to explore each other thoroughly,” he promised. “But until then, be a good Juliet and stay in your office. Listen, let me give you my office and home number. Never call me from your office. Wait until you get home.”
Alanna scribbled down the numbers. “Another four weeks, huh?”
“You want to keep your job, don’t you?”
At that inst
ant, she wasn’t sure. “I feel like a prisoner of fate,” she groused.
“Fate brought us together,” he agreed amicably, “but you’re my captive.”
Alanna shivered at the velvet promise in his tone. “Why do I have the feeling you’re a lion stalking his next victim?”
“You’re worth stalking, lady, believe me. Look, I’ll give you a call in a few days before you leave for California.”
Reluctantly, she set the receiver back down on the cradle, staring at it. Finally, she raised her chin, staring at the gathering darkness outside the apartment. Everything felt right since Matt’s phone call. He gave her so much!
* * *
The clear, cobalt, October skies beckoned to Alanna. She threw her briefcase into the back of her Mustang and said a silent good-bye to the Hill. Three weeks out in California had left her with a golden tan, making her eyes seem greener and her hair redder. As usual, Washington traffic was a snarl, and it was nearly six-thirty before she finally reached her apartment.
She had no more than stepped inside the door when the phone rang. Throwing her briefcase on the couch, she picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Well, are you ready to be stolen away for the weekend?”
Alanna breathed in deeply, lingering over the huskiness in Matt’s voice. “Oh, yes!”
“How about if I pick you up in an hour? I’ve got a few last-minute things to attend to here at the office, and then we’ll fly on up.”
“Fly?”
“Sure. Don’t you trust me?”
“Always,” she murmured fervently. “I’ve never flown in a small plane before. This ought to be quite an experience.”
“Well, hurry and pack a few things for living at a rustic cabin. We’ll stay with John and Ev tonight and go up to the cabin Saturday morning.”
Alanna had hurriedly packed jeans, T-shirts and one good dress when a knock sounded at the apartment door. She skipped through the living room, turned the lock, and pulled the door open. Matt stood there in his dark green wool uniform, a smile in his dark gray eyes.
“Come here,” he whispered, holding out his arms.
Alanna flew into his embrace, pressing the length of her willowy body against the hard oak of his. “Oh, Matt…” she whispered, nuzzling against the side of his cheek and neck.
She heard him growl and felt the steep grip of his arms wrapping about her. Instinctively, she turned her head, meeting his descending mouth eagerly. Her heart surged with joy, beating wildly against her breast as his mouth came savagely down against her awaiting lips. A wave of heat curled upward through her, leaving her weak and breathless within his powerful, demanding grip. He touched her eyes and lips, trailing a series of kisses down the slender expanse of her neck. Raising his head, he stared at her, his eyes turbulent with barely contained passion. Alanna languished within his embrace, longing to feel the taut hardness of his male body against her. He ran his fingers through her long hair with a wistful look on his face.
“You’ve grown more beautiful,” he whispered, leaning down and kissing her one more time. “God, how I’ve missed you, Babe,” he said thickly.
“I’ve missed you even more,” she whispered breathlessly.
Matt gently released her, unwilling to allow her to leave the shelter of his arms. “A lot of the officers over at the Pentagon think I’ve turned into a daydreamer,” he said, a wry smile on his mouth.
“Why?”
“I keep thinking of you instead of doing my work. If I look out my office window and see the trees, I think of your lovely green eyes. And if I stare at my book cabinet, I’m reminded of the walnut color of your hair and running my fingers through it.”
She sighed, reaching up and kissing him lightly on the mouth. “You’re a hopeless romantic,” she accused gently. “But don’t stop, I love it.”
Matt removed his hat and pulled her inside the apartment. “I’m not a romantic, I just know what I want. Look, let me take five minutes to change into some civilian clothes, and then we’ll get going.” He pulled her against him, giving her a final, earth-shattering kiss that left her feeling weak with need. “I’m going to have a hell of a time keeping my hands off you,” he warned, a dark growl in his voice.
* * *
Matt handled the twin-engine Aztec with the sureness of experience as he nosed the plane skyward. Once out of the busy traffic centers around Washington D.C., he glanced over at her.
“Nervous?”
She shook her head. “How can I be? I’m in your hands.”
He winked, motioning to a small compartment situated on her side of the cockpit. “Dinner is in there. It will be about two hours before we land at York. There’s coffee and some roast beef sandwiches.”
Alanna busied herself with the preparation of their meal, awed by the beauty of the view at eight thousand feet. The night sky scintillated with a myriad of twinkling stars that looked close enough to reach out and touch. Below, the lights of city after city fled beneath them. They reminded her of jewels set in the velvet blackness of the earth’s crust. The red, green and white lights became rubies, emeralds and diamonds, while sulphur lights were transformed into amber gems.
Drawing up one knee, Alanna rested her coffee against it, finally asking the nagging question that had been lurking in the back of her mind.
“Matt, do you think the senator has given up trying to implicate you?”
He sipped his coffee. “It appears that way. You said that Peggy is acting more friendly?”
“Yes, she’s all smiles now. I have to admit, though, I did do a good job of working with those lobby groups while I was out in California.”
“Naturally. You’re good with people, Alanna.” He grinned. “Look how well you’ve handled me.”
She joined his laughter, and the cabin was filled with the rich sound. “That’s a lie! No one handles you, Matt Breckenridge.”
“Only when I want to be handled,” he agreed. “Well, in another hour we’ll be down, and the girls can mob you this time instead of me,” he commented good-naturedly.
* * *
John and Evelyn Breckenridge met them at the York airport and Alanna suddenly felt shy. She hung back until Matt put his arm around her waist and brought her forward. John was tall, like Matt. He had dark brown eyes, black hair and a ready smile. Evelyn was petite standing beside the brothers, smiling warmly as she took Alanna’s hands and gripped them with friendly strength.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Alanna,” she said enthusiastically. And then she raised one eyebrow, giving Matt a scolding look. “It’s about time Matt brought you home! Goodness, he called John right after he got back from that relief mission in Costa Rica and told us all about you.” She gave Alanna a quick hug. “You’ve got to be very special,” she whispered, “very special.”
Alanna thought she saw the glitter of tears in the other woman’s hazel eyes but said nothing. Sitting in the back seat with Matt, she was content to listen to the brothers talk. Their conversation centered around John’s trawler, the lobster pots, the change in temperature occurring along the Atlantic seaboard which was forcing the lobster to move in a more southerly direction. Closing her eyes, she was content to feel the warmth of Matt’s family around her. It was a new, wonderful feeling. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed being part of a family. Not until now.
At the door of the Cape Cod house, high above the beach outside York, three girls anxiously waited for the car door to open. Matt helped Alanna out, matching his stride to her own, his arm possessively about her shoulders. He leaned over, looking boyishly delighted. “I’ll bet that Susanah takes a shine to you right off,” he whispered, kissing her brow.
Alanna didn’t have time to respond. The girls squealed with delight, tumbling like playful puppies off the porch and running down the sidewalk.
“Uncle Matt! Uncle Matt!” they shrilled.
Alanna laughed and stood back, watching all three girls attack Matt in unison. Even in the darkne
ss, the porch light revealed that two of the girls were towheads and the third a brunette like her parents. Matt knelt down, laughing and hugging all three of them simultaneously. Squeals of delight, cries of “We missed you!” and “Gimme another kiss!” filled the night. John walked by, grinning. Evelyn simply shook her head and followed her husband into the house.
“Come on in as soon as you can get Matt loose,” Evelyn called laughingly over her shoulder.
The night was chilly, but Alanna was too interested to notice. Inside, a new kind of warmth was glowing within her heart. The little girls loved Matt. She was mesmerized by the boyish quality of his face, the fullness of his laughter and his ability to hug and kiss them without reserve. Thoughts of her aunt and uncle and of what she had missed struck her. And suddenly, without warning, tears filled her eyes.
Matt gently extricated himself, reaching out and drawing Alanna back into the circle of his arm. “Girls, I want each of you to politely introduce yourselves. Let’s start with the smallest here.”
The five-year-old, a child with large gray eyes and dark hair, came forward, awed by Alanna. Alanna knelt down, giving her a tender smile. The little girl put her fingers in her mouth, regarding her shyly.
“You Aunt ‘lanna?” she wanted to know.
Alanna glanced over at Matt who had knelt beside her. Matt laughed, drawing the child into his arms and giving her a quick hug.
“Not yet, Susanah, you little imp. Now be a good girl and give Alanna a welcome home hug.”
Susanah giggled and shyly went to Alanna. She had expected a hug, but instead, the little girl suddenly reached up, her tiny arms encircling Alanna’s neck, and placed a wet kiss on her cheek.
Shaken, Alanna felt tears rolling down her face. She returned Susanah’s gesture, kissing her brow and then touching her silky dark hair.
“You look so much like your father, Susanah,” she whispered.
“She’s the spitting image of John,” Matt agreed. He leaned over, brushing the tears from her cheeks. “Welcome home, Babe,” he whispered.
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