Victoria allowed a brief stony silence before she replied, "Frankly, Ms. ...?"
"Miss Evans."
"Miss Evans. Let me begin by telling you that we researched your facility quite thoroughly. Mr. Karr doesn't make imprecise or uninformed decisions. So, why did he choose you? I should think that's obvious. Reputation and privacy. Mr. Karr requires both. As for the length of our commute, I'm sure your patient roster has included prominent individuals who have traveled a lot farther than crosscountry to get here. In Mr. Karr's case, he specifically chose New York, since he's adamant about getting as far away from home as possible. He may not be terminally ill, but he needs a total separation from his familiar environment. And, as to the nature of his illness, our research didn't indicate that you've revised your admission standards to include only those who are terminally ill. Is our information incorrect?"
"No, no, of course not." The pit bull sounded flustered. "It's just that—"
"Is it lack of space? Our background check did turn up the fact that you have a rather extensive waiting list. I presume we can bypass that—under the circumstances," Victoria added pointedly.
She let the last sink in. Miss Evans would understand. "The circumstances" meant a quarter of a million dollars.
She could almost see the pit pull staring greedily at the check, gripping it tightly between her fingers.
Miss Evans cleared her throat again, this time nervously. "Before we discuss the availability issue, there is the matter of references. I need the name of whoever referred Mr. Karr to us, as well as the dates that person was a patient here."
"Do you have security clearance?" Victoria inquired coolly.
Silence.
"I assume that means no. In which case, I must decline your request on my client's behalf, due to national security interests. Mr. Karr's personal and medical history, both of which I forwarded to you, will have to suffice. That, and the substantial check I included. As I understand it, that should cover a stay of several months. Mr. Karr is willing to pay that amount on a monthly basis, as compensation for the special provisions you're making on his behalf."
"I see." Miss Evans paused. "May I ask you to hold a moment?"
"Certainly." Victoria waited for the elevator music that proclaimed she was on hold. Then she covered the mouthpiece with her hand and grinned. She could taste impending victory. The pit bull was on her way to a decision maker for an official okay. Once they heard the astronomical sum of money that was involved, and the fact that they had an entire day to run security checks on David Karr and Catherine Hughes, they'd decide this was a no-lose situation.
And Zach would be in.
"Ms. Hughes?"
That hadn't taken long.
"Yes?"
"I appreciate your patience. Tomorrow morning at nine-thirty would be fine. We look forward to meeting Mr. Karr. Do you need directions to the Institute?"
"No. Mr. Karr's driver is familiar with Manhattan."
"Fine. We have a private entrance for your convenience. Just have your driver pull into the parking lot that leads under our building. We'll meet Mr. Karr at the foot of the ramp." Miss Evans gave an uneasy cough. "You will, of course, need to sign the necessary paperwork."
"That's one of the reasons I've accompanied Mr. Karr to New York," Victoria affirmed in a crisp tone. "Have we covered everything? Because I'm already late for a meeting. I presume the remaining details can wait until tomorrow."
A brief pause. "Certainly. We'll finalize everything then."
"Good. If necessary, I can be reached at 555-4972." Victoria recited the number the FBI had given her—an untraceable number that rang in their office and, as of yesterday, was answered by Catherine Hughes's voice mail. "Good-bye, Miss Evans."
Victoria pressed End and let out her breath. Done.
She punched up Meyer's private line.
* * *
29
Friday, April 28
1:31 a.m.
Eight hours to go.
Victoria lay quietly in the circle of Zach's arms, staring out the bedroom window, wide awake and thinking about what lay ahead. She was a bundle of raw nerves and emotions. It wasn't worry over whether she and Zach could pull off their deception. She knew they could. They were so convincing in their roles, she half believed they really were David Karr and Catherine Hughes.
No, it was the enormity of what they were taking on, the dread of finding out who was involved—and, most of all, the sheer terror of what Zach might be walking into.
If she had any doubts about how much she loved him, they were blasted to bits by the overwhelming fear that shook her at the thought of anything happening to him. She'd finally found him again. She couldn't lose him.
Pressing her lips together, she forced herself to face up fully to the risk Zach was taking—and why he was taking it.
Yes, it was for his father, for the FBI, for the resolution of a nightmare.
But it was also for her.
Her, and their future together.
A horn blared in the street below, but the sounds of Manhattan didn't offer Victoria their usual comfort tonight. Neither would finding a legal loophole for one of her clients, or drinking a good glass of cabernet. Not this time. This time all that would comfort her was ending this ordeal, getting Audrey out of that place, and seeing Zach walk out of the Hope Institute safe and sound.
Because if anything happened to him ...
Victoria's throat tightened, and her eyes burned from a combination of fatigue and unshed tears. She accepted the significance of her reaction, just as she accepted the twisting pain in her gut, the overwhelming sense of emotion.
They all stemmed from her feelings for Zach.
Feelings she now embraced without question, and labeled precisely what they were.
They were love.
For better or worse.
Please let it be for better.
As if reading her thoughts, Zach tightened his embrace. "I thought you'd drifted off."
"I can't."
"I know." He kissed her hair. Turning her in his arms, he tipped up her chin so he could study her expression. "I'll be fine," he whispered, his knuckles caressing her cheek. "After four years, nothing is going to keep me away from you. Nothing."
Victoria was unprepared for her own reaction. She burst into tears, hard sobs racking her body. "I—I'm sorry," she choked out, covering her face with her hands. "I can't believe I'm falling apart like this."
"Shhh." Zach pulled her close, molded her body to his. "It's okay."
"What's okay?" she asked in a quavery voice, her face pressed to his bare chest. "Our investigation? Or my hysteria?"
"Both. And you're not hysterical." His hands smoothed up and down her back, the motions becoming slower, more intimate. "You're human." He swallowed, his body hardening against hers. "For that matter, so am I."
Abruptly, he tugged back her head, and Victoria could see the intensity burning in his gaze. It was a reflection of her own profound emotion, channeled into something tangible and desperate, a fundamental need to be one. "How am I going to survive without you the next few nights?" he muttered thickly. "I can't last without being inside you."
"Zach..."
"Shh. Come here." He pulled her over him, dragged her mouth down to his. "This is how it will be. Now. Forever. Believe that."
Victoria nodded, responding with a fervor that matched his. She scrambled into a sitting position, straddling Zach's hips. Then she rose up, her fingers surrounding his erection, guiding him inside her. She lowered herself onto him, taking him as deep as she could. With a soft shudder, she began moving—up, down, up, down—her hands splaying across Zach's chest for balance as his hips bucked in response, arched to meet each of her downward motions.
Their lovemaking was frantic, awareness of the danger Zach was about to face making their joining sharp! urgent, a frenzied reaffirmation of their feelings. His hands clamped down on her waist, his body lunging powerfully into hers, nearly
lifting her off the bed with the force of his thrusts. Victoria cried out, her inner muscles clamping down around him, tightening until the pleasure became unbearable, her body taut as a rubber band ready to snap.
Zach snapped first. He reached his limit, one hand pressing into the small of Victoria's back, the other working its way between their tightly joined bodies. His fingers found and caressed her, his mouth eating at hers as he anchored her in place, drove all the way inside her.
They came together, violent spasms that erupted like fireworks, crashing through them again and again until they tapered off, first to dizzying ripples of sensation, then to peace.
Victoria collapsed onto Zach, her limbs too weak to support her. Zach's arms locked around her like steel bands, holding her close, his body trembling with aftershocks. Their breath came in harsh rasps, and they stayed wrapped in each other's arms, her head pillowed on his chest, his hand tangled in her hair.
"Tory." It was a love word, uttered reverently and with an immeasurable sense of awe.
"I love you," she whispered fiercely. "Zach, please, be careful."
He nodded, his lips in her hair. "With an incentive like this, do you doubt I will?"
She smiled against his hot skin. "No."
"There are distinct advantages to being in love with a bulldozer."
His attempt to make her laugh worked. "Really? Such as?"
"Such as the incredible job you just did demolishing me. I'm impressed. See for yourself—I'm a total wreck. Not that I'm complaining."
"You liked that, did you?" She raised her head, shot him a teasing look. "Hurry home and I promise you an encore."
"A lifetime of encores," he corrected, sifting his fingers through her hair. His expression became solemn. "It's almost over, sweetheart. Hang in there a few more days."
Her smile vanished. "Only if you do."
"Deal," he vowed. His fingers continued untangling her shoulder-length strands. "I'll call you the minute I see Audrey," he murmured. "I'll make sure she's all right—and that she stays that way."
Victoria propped her chin on his chest. "Thank you."
"I'll tell her who I really am. That'll ease her panic."
His announcement elicited a worried frown. "Zach, I'm not sure that's a smart idea. I don't know what kind of state Audrey's in. What if she inadvertently says something to one of the nurses—something that gives you away?"
"She won't. Not once I tell her your safety's on the line. Audrey adores you. She'd never put you in danger."
"But if she's drugged up ..."
Zach shrugged. "She sounded coherent in her message. Besides, it's a chance I have to take. First, because she's your sister. And second, because she probably knows, or suspects, something's going on in that place. It's the only explanation for the tone of her second call to you. She was scared. Even if she really did run away because of a bad reaction to whatever they're giving her, it doesn't explain why she's frightened now. According to Beatrice, they changed her medication. So what's she afraid of? And why did they cut off her call to you? I need to know."
"Zach, stop. You're scaring me."
"Don't be scared," he soothed. "Even if I'm right, Audrey's nervous, but she's safe. Maybe because of your father. Maybe in spite of him. Either way, she's fine. Beatrice told us so. The question is, are they keeping her sedated because she knows something? Or is she really as sick as your father says? I intend to find out."
Breaking off suddenly, Zach squirmed over to the edge of the bed, keeping a secure arm wrapped around Victoria, holding her squarely on top of him, his body imbedded in hers. His other arm groped on the floor, fumbling through his hastily discarded clothes. He found what he was searching for and pulled it out of his jacket pocket. "In the meantime, I have something just as important I intend to do—right now."
"What?" Startled by the sudden change in subject, Victoria wriggled a little, trying to peek over Zach's shoulder and figure out what he was up to.
He resettled himself, a small square box in his hand. "You know how traditional my values are." He eyed their joined bodies, a corner of his mouth lifting. "Okay, maybe not entirely traditional. But for the most part, they are. I can't get away from it; it's how I was raised. So humor me." He caught her left hand in his, brought her palm to his lips. "Monday night I asked you to marry me. You said yes."
"I remember," she said softly, her heart giving a tug of anticipation.
"Say it again."
Victoria's lips curved. "Ask me again."
He flashed her that crooked smile that made her bones melt. "Victoria Kensington, will you marry me?"
"Yes. Definitely and emphatically, yes."
Zach snapped open the box, revealing the glittering facets of a single diamond set in a simple platinum setting. The emerald-cut stone sent little kaleidoscopes of moonlight shimmering through the darkness of the room.
Victoria swallowed as Zach slipped the ring on her finger. "It's beautiful."
"So are you." He covered her mouth with his, kissed her tenderly.
"When did you do this?" she whispered.
"I made a stop at Tiffany's on Tuesday. The minute I saw this ring, I knew it was right." A poignant pause. "Just like when I saw you."
"It's perfect." Victoria held up her hand, moving it so she could watch the diamond glisten.
"They're holding a set of wedding bands for us. Those are perfect, too, but I wanted you to decide with me." Zach shot her a questioning, hopeful look. "Too overbearing?"
"No." She shook her head, tears shining in her eyes. "Not too overbearing. Not this time."
"Then I'll press my luck. Would it be too overbearing to insist on a May wedding?"
"Nope."
"Really? Then how about if I dragged you down the aisle? Too overbearing?"
Victoria laughed, brushing her lips to his. "Maybe. But it's a moot question. Because you can't drag someone who's already racing to get there."
"That's a relief." He caressed the nape of her neck. "Seriously, if you want a bigger wedding, I'll wait. But no later than June. That's my absolute limit."
Soberly, Victoria shook her head. "I've never wanted a big wedding. To me, they always seemed to be more for the guests than the bride and groom. I want this day to belong to us. And, under the circumstances . .." She paused, met Zach's gaze. They both knew what the circumstances meant. They meant that her father might not be free to attend a wedding, or anything else for that matter. "Under the circumstances," she continued, struggling to keep her voice steady, "I think it would be for the best if we made the occasion quiet and private. Just immediate family and close friends. Is that all right?"
"Um-hum." Zach kissed each corner of her mouth. "You know it is. As long as the ceremony ends with us being pronounced husband and wife, I don't care who else is there."
"I'll wait till you're back from the Hope Institute to share the announcement with my family—for lots of reasons. Who knows? Maybe Audrey will be well enough to attend, and my father will be there to give me away. As for Meg and Paul, I'll tell them right away. They'd kill me if I didn't spill the news of our engagement. Especially Meg, who practically beat me into confronting my feelings. Oh, and Paige, my secretary, who thrives on passion and romance. She'll be gushing over this one for a month. Stories of us and ottr amorous reunion will outlast Maurice and probably her next five boyfriends. And wait till she sees my ring ..." Victoria rolled her eyes.
Zach's lips curved, but he looked more thoughtful than amused. "Tell them today," he urged quietly. "Take the three of them out to dinner. It'll do you some good."
"No." The word was out before Victoria realized she'd said it. "I can't. Not while you're in that place. There'll be plenty of time to celebrate. But tonight, I'm coming back here, supposedly to spend the night with you. Remember, Mr. Cigar will never see you leave the hotel today. The limo's driving around to the service entrance to pick up David Karr and Catherine Hughes. After Karr's admitted, it'll bring Ms. Hughes back to the sam
e spot. I'll scoot upstairs, change my clothes, and walk out of the hotel as myself, on my way to Waters, Kensington, Tatem and Calder. Mr. Cigar will see me leave. He'll assume you're still up here working in your suite. I'll reinforce that assumption by racing back here at the end of the work day." She pressed her lips together. "Besides, I'm not going to be much fun to be around until you're out of the Hope Institute and this whole nightmare is behind us."
Zach framed her face between his palms. "At least promise me you'll stop by your office and tell Meg and Paul our news. Maybe go out for a drink. If they ask where I am, tell them I'm tied up in business meetings all weekend."
"Zach ..."
"Sweetheart, I can take care of myself," he interrupted softly. "If I get in a bind, Meyer's standing by. He's reachable by cell phone all weekend. So are you, for that matter." Zach's thumbs stroked her cheekbones. "Didn't I give you my word? I'll be fine. I'll be back before you know it. Use this weekend to get some rest. Because you're going to need lots of stamina for my homecoming."
Her nod was shaky. "Speaking of getting some rest, you should do that now. It's almost three a.m, which means six and a half hours till show time. And I doubt David Karr will be doing much relaxing during his stay at the Institute."
"You've got that right." Zach tucked her head beneath his chin, pulled the blankets around them. "We should both sleep. Close your eyes for a few hours."
"Okay."
A minute of silence ticked by, during which time Victoria forced her eyelids shut.
"By the way," Zach murmured, "I'm glad you didn't find my plans for our future overbearing. Because I forgot to mention that I contacted a top-notch Realtor and the best breeder of Jack Russell terriers in the tristate area. We're meeting with both of them next weekend."
"Ah. Well then, I'll enter the appointments in my Day-Timer as soon as we get up," Victoria assured him wryly, her chest tightening with emotion.