Неизвестно - Megan's mate

I

could be a sailor,

he blurted out.

I steered the

Mariner.

Ha!

Pleased, she picked up her wine.

Good for you. I won't tolerate any idlers in my family. Too thin. Eat your soup, such as it is.

With a quiet moan, Coco rang for the second course.

She never changes.

Lazily content, Lilah rocked while Bianca suckled hungrily at her breast. The nursery was quiet, the lights were low. Megan had headed for it, figuring it would be the perfect escape hatch.

She's...

Megan searched for a diplomatic phrase.

Quite a lady.

She's a nosy old nuisance.

Lilah laughed lightly.

But we love her.

In the next rocker, Amanda sighed.

As soon as she hears about Fergus's book, she's going to start nagging you.

And badgering,

C.C. put in, cradling Ethan.

And hounding,

Suzanna finished up as she changed Christian's diaper.

That sounds promising.

Don't worry.

With a laugh, Suzanna slipped Christian into his sleeper.

We're right

behind you.

Notice,

Lilah added with a smile,

the direction

is behind.

About the book.

Megan flicked a finger over a dancing giraffe on a mobile.

I've

made copies of several pages I thought you'd be interested in. He made a lot of notations, about business deals, personal business, purchases. At one point he inventories jewelry Bianca's, I assume for insurance purposes.

The emeralds?

Amanda's brow rose at Megan's nod.

And to think of all the

hours we spent going through papers, trying to find proof that they existed.

There's a number of other pieces hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth in 1913

dollars.

He sold nearly everything,

C.C. murmured.

We found the documents of sale. He

got rid of anything that reminded him of Bianca.

It still hurts,

Lilah admitted.

Not the money, though God knows we could have used it. It's the loss of what was hers, what we won't be able to pass on.

I'm sorry.

Don't be.

Amanda rose to lay a sleeping Delia in her crib.

We're too sentimental.

I suppose we all feel such a close connection with Bianca.

I know what you mean.

It felt odd to admit it, but Megan was compelled.

I feel it,

too. I suppose from seeing the references to her in the old book, and having her portrait right there in the lobby.

A bit embarrassed, she laughed.

Sometimes, when

you walk down the halls at night, it's almost as if you could sense her.

Of course,

Lilah said easily.

She's here.

Excuse me, ladies.

Nathaniel stepped inside, obviously comfortable in a nursery inhabited by babies and nursing mothers.

Lilah smiled slowly.

Well, hello, handsome. What brings you to the maternity wing?

Just coming to fetch my date.

When he took Megan's arm, she drew back.

We don't have a date.

A walk, remember?

I never said

It's a lovely night for it.

Suzanna lifted Christian into her arms, cooed to him.

I have to put Kevin to bed.

She was digging in her heels, but it didn't seem to be doing any good.

I've already tucked him in.

Nathaniel propelled her toward the doors.

You put Kevin to bed?

Since he'd fallen asleep in my lap, it seemed the thing to do. Oh, Suzanna, Holt said the kids are ready whenever you are.

I'm on my way.

Suzanna waited until Megan and Nate were out of earshot before she turned to her sisters.

What do you think?

Amanda smiled smugly.

I think it's working perfectly.

I have to agree.

C.C. settled Ethan comfortably in his crib.

I thought Lilah had

lost her mind when she came up with the i.e. of getting those two together.

Lilah yawned, sighed.

I'm never wrong.

Then her eyes lit.

I bet we can see them

from the window.

Spy

on them?

Amanda arched her brows.

Good idea,

she said, and darted to

the window.

They were outlined in the moonlight that sprinkled the lawn.

You're complicating things, Nathaniel.

Simplifying,

he corrected.

Nothing simpler than a walk in the moonlight.

That's not where you expect all this to end.

Nope. But we're still moving at your pace, Meg.

He brought her hand to his lips,

kissed it absently, when they began the climb.

I seem to have this need to be

around you. It's the damnedest thing. Can't shake it. So I figure, why try? Why not just roll with it?

I'm not a simple woman.

She wished she could be, just for tonight, just for an hour in the starlight.

I have baggage and resentments and insecurities I didn't even realize were there until I met you. I'm not going to let myself be hurt again.

No one's going to hurt you.

In a subtle gesture of protection, he slipped an arm around her and looked up at the sky.

Look how big the moon is tonight. Just hanging there. You can see Venus, and the little star that dogs her. There's Orion.

He lifted her hand, tracing the sky with it as he had once traced his charts.

And the

Twins. See?

Yes.

She watched their joined hands connect stars while the breeze lifted lovingly off the water and stirred the flowers that grew wild in the rock.

Romantic, mysterious, Coco had said. Yes, he was, and Megan realized she was much more susceptible to both than she would have believed.

For she was here, wasn't she, standing on a cliff with a seafaring man whose callused hand held hers, whose voice helped her see the pictures painted by the stars.

His body was warm and solid against hers. And her blood was pumping fast and free in her veins.

Alive. The wind and the sea and the man made her feel so alive.

And perhaps there was something more those ghosts of the Calhouns'. The cliffs seemed to invite spirits to walk, the air filled with contentment. And the glow of love that had outlasted time.

I shouldn't be here like this.

But she didn't move away, not even when his lips brushed over her hair.

Listen,

he murmured.

Close your eyes and listen, and you can hear the stars breathing.

She obeyed, and listened to the whisper and throb of the air. And of her own heart.

Why do you make me feel this way?

I don't have an answer. Not everything adds up neat, Meg.

Because he had a great

need to see her face, he turned her gently.

Not everything has to.

And kissed her.

His lips skimmed hers, journeyed up to her temple, over her brow and down.

How's the headache?

It's gone. Nearly.

No. Keep your eyes closed.

His lips traced over them, soft as air, before trailing slowly over her face.

Kiss me back, will you?

How could she not, when his mouth was so tempting on hers? With a small sound of surrender, she let her heart lead. Just for tonight, she promised herself. Just for a moment.

That slow, melting change almost undid him. She went pliant in his arms, those hesitant lips heating, parting, offering. It took all his willpower not to drag her against him and plunder.

She wouldn't resist. Perhaps he'd known that there would be enough magic on those cliffs to bewitch them both, to seduce her into surrender and to remind him to take care.

I want you, Megan.

He took his lips down her throat, up over her jaw.

I want you

so much it's got me tied in knots.

I know. I wish...

She pressed her face to his shoulder.

I'm not playing games,

Nathaniel.

I know.

He stroked a hand down her hair.

It would be easier if you were, because I know all the rules.

Cupping her face, he lifted it.

And how to break them.