Hannah's Blessing (25 page)

“Take what back?”

“I was wrong when I said that you rated yourself pretty high… I don’t think you rated yourself high enough.”

Though so tired that she could not open her eyes, Diana managed a short laugh. “I’m glad you can laugh about it.”

She heard the rumble of his chuckle in his chest. “Who says I’m laughing? I think you damn near killed me tonight.”

“Then you better get your rest and recover because I definitely want to try that again tomorrow,” she warned.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Smiling against the velvety smooth skin of his chest, Diana pressed a warm kiss before snuggling deeper into his embrace. He continued to stroke her until long after she fell asleep, and when she awoke during the night she noted that she was still locked within the safety of his embrace. It did not take her long to realize that it was exactly where she wanted to be.

~

A rustling sound awakened Diana, and when she reached for Devlan’s warmth she found only cool sheets. She sensed the early morning with a feeling of dismay and confusion. It was too early to be up while they were on vacation because it was still dark out. Dragging her sleep-heavy eyelids open, she saw him standing by his dressing room. He had just finished pulling the suit jacket over his vest when he caught her gaze, and he smiled as he hastily shut off the light.

“Sorry, did the light wake you?”

She stretched and sat up, wincing at the throbbing in her head. Oh my, she thought, what had she done? Certainly she had consumed too much alcohol. Finding herself hesitant to meet Devlan’s eyes, she shook her head.

“What are you doing up this early? Are you leaving?”

She could see that he was freshly showered and clean-shaven. His hair was smoothed back, and as usual not one hair was out of place. Resting by the door was a suitcase, the seams bulging, and sadness enveloped her when she realized that she had just stated the obvious. Yes, he was leaving.

He came to sit by her side, smelling of his regular cologne and shampoo. One finger came to gently trace the outline of her lips as he stared down at her apologetically.

“I was going to tell you last night, but I didn’t want to ruin the evening. I have to fly to New York. One of my subsidiary companies took a rather large dive in the stock market, and I have a meeting with the chief shareholders. It’s not something I can miss.”

Though she attempted to force a smile on her lips, it was so difficult that she was sure it appeared more like a grimace. Giving up the futile gesture, she reached up instead to cup his cheek in her hand. He seemed so sorry that she suddenly felt selfish. “I understand.”

“I’m sorry, but it can’t be helped. I’ve booked you and the others first class tickets back to California for the flight home. I’ll have the jet, so you’re going home on a commercial airliner. I hope that’s acceptable.”

“Of course it is,” she said quickly. “But when will you be back?”

“I don’t know yet. The house in Malibu is ready for Hannah, and there will be a car at the airport to take you. I’ll meet you there as soon as I can. I hope to be back at least by your birthday.”

Diana gasped. With all the worry about Hannah and her progress and her new relationship with Devlan, she had completely forgotten that her birthday was a week away. She sighed and gave him her one of her exasperated looks, ignoring the stabbing pain in her head. “You had to bring that up, didn’t you? How do you know when my birthday is?”

Though his eyes danced with amusement, his face grew serious. “I can’t divulge my sources, but suffice it to say I know a lot about you, Diana.”

She went still, knowing that it was probably a lot more than she even suspected he knew. Yet before she could question him further, he leaned over her and pressed a kiss to her forehead then her lips.

“Enjoy yourself and the rest of the trip. I’ll see you back in California, okay?”

“Shouldn’t we just leave now too?” she asked before she could stop herself.

“Of course not. I wouldn’t expect you to cut your vacation short too.”

“But – ”

“No buts,” he said, placing a finger against her lips. “Enjoy the ship; enjoy the islands. You are my guests, remember?”

Diana nodded, but she felt empty inside already. It would not be the same without him there. There would be no more laughter and fun sightseeing trips. The beach would be dreadfully boring without him tossing Hannah high over his head and splashing her with the spray from his hair. She and Hannah would be alone again.

Seeing her hesitation, he cocked a brow in question. “Tell me you’re not feeling uncomfortable now.”

No, she was uncomfortable for an entirely different reason. She just did not want him to leave. She shook her head in answer, too afraid to speak, and he removed his thumb to replace it with his warm lips in a long and lingering kiss. With a content sigh, she brought her hands from under the covers to his shoulders and hugged him tight, afraid to let him go.

“Stop now Diana or I’ll never get out of here,” he warned huskily. She pressed herself even harder against him. 

“What’s another fifteen minutes?” she whispered.

“Mm,” he responded reluctantly. “As much as I’d love to, I can’t. I have to go now.”

She released him with a sigh of regret. Lying back on the pillows, she primly pulled the covers back over her shoulders. “Okay then, fine. I’ll see you next week. Have fun in New York.”

“You’re a vixen,” he said with a chuckle. “Tell me you’ll miss me.”

It was her turn to laugh, and she did until her eyes watered. The dampness was suspiciously like tears though, and she swallowed a lump in her throat. “Sorry,” she said saucily. “That’s the last thing I’ll do.”

“I tried,” he said with a shrug. Reaching down to give her thigh a gentle squeeze, he gave her one last smile that softened his eyes. “I’ll miss you.”

Coming to his feet, he walked away with confident and sure strides. With every step he took, she felt more alone. There was an emptiness growing deep within her breast, and he was just about to open the door when she called out softly. When he turned around questioningly, she smiled shyly.

“I’ll miss you, Devlan.”

A slow smile of pure pleasure spread his lips, and he gave her an elegant bow before he continued out the door. It closed with a gentle click, and Diana sank back beneath the covers and curled into a tight ball. She tried to hold them in, but her tears trickled from between her closed eyes. Empty. The bed was empty, the boat was empty, and her heart felt empty. Without Devlan, she no longer felt whole.

A frightening thought, but she had to admit the truth. She was completely in love with him. Head over heels for sure. Clinging to the last thing that tied her to him, her fingers sought out her new necklace.

“
A Vila Mon Coeur, Gardi Li Mo
,” she whispered in the darkness. “I wonder what it means.”

~

The answer was not forthcoming in the next week. Devlan called only once, and they were off the yacht when he rang. She was gripped with disappointment when she got the message and spent the entire evening hoping he would call again. Realizing that she was making a big mistake and that she had grown too dependent on him in just those few days they spent together did not help. Now the ship seemed quiet and empty, even with Hannah’s cheerful laughter. It just was not enough to break her down mood, especially when her bed seemed so much larger and colder.

Beautiful Hawaii now seemed dull and boring. As she suspected, sightseeing was not nearly as entertaining without Devlan’s extensive knowledge and playful antics. She missed his lust for life and adventure, and more than anything his willingness to try anything from parasailing and water-skiing to spending an entire afternoon with Hannah in the Children’s Discovery Museum in Kaua’i. After spending one full day touring a sugar plantation and wishing Devlan was with them to enjoy it too, Diana and Hannah no longer tried to hide their loneliness. By evening, Hannah was voicing her disappointment that Devlan was gone. By morning of the second day, she was eager to go home. And by mid-morning, Diana had their bags packed and waiting by the helicopter to catch their pre-arranged flight.

After another white-knuckled ride to the airport, Diana, Lani and Hannah boarded the commercial airplane back to the mainland. Though she was eager to return, Los Angeles was noisy and dirty compared to the quiet serenity of Hawaiian shipboard life. The busy airport was crowded, and people rushed by them without any concern for Hannah. Nevertheless, she still felt somewhat closer to Devlan, and for that reason she was pleased to be back.

Diana stayed close to Hannah, pushing and shoving with the rest of them until they found their luggage on the carousel. The flight had been long and cramped, with Hannah sleeping across their laps the whole trip. Now it was the crowded airport that sent Diana’s already frayed nerves over the edge. When she saw Wills saunter in through the glass doors and approach with a wide grin, she almost laughed aloud her relief. For a moment, Diana’s heart leapt in her chest when she saw the dark suited man behind their young chauffeur, but then she noticed that he was older and chubbier, and certainly not Devlan. She greeted the young man with a little less enthusiasm.

“Hi, Wills. Is Mr. Doyle here?”

Wills reached for their bags and effortlessly hauled them over his wiry shoulders. “Hey, Mrs. Somerset! Welcome home. No, he’s still in New York. There’s a message at the house for you. How was your trip?”

She sighed as she picked up the rest of the luggage while Lani helped Hannah into a borrowed wheelchair. “It was a great trip until the airport.” She managed a laugh, but the sound was as frazzled as her nerves. “Isn’t that always the way?”

Wills smiled sympathetically. “I know what you mean. But we’ll get you home and settled. Mrs. Maclean has a meal all fixed up and waiting for you.”

Diana remembered Devlan’s warnings about Mrs. Maclean’s cooking and shuddered. She wondered why he didn’t bring home Francois to cook for them. After all, the wild Frenchman was a superb cook. Remembering some of the menu choices he had offered to her made Diana even more disappointed to leave.

“Mommy, is Uncle Devvie going to be there?” Hannah asked.

“No, he’s still away.”

“I want him to come back. Why won’t he come home?”

Lani leaned over the wheelchair and made a hushing noise, but Diana sympathized with her cranky daughter. She was longing for his easygoing and cheerful presence as well.

“I’m hungry,” Hannah whined.

“We’re all hungry,” Wills said over his shoulder. “Hurry up and we’ll get home sooner.”

Hannah giggled as the young man ran ahead of them and then turned around to wave at them to hurry. His antics drew a few curious looks, but his attempt to lighten the mood worked.

“Traffic was awful on the ride down,” he said cheerfully as they loaded up the trunk.

“Lovely,” Lani said.

“But I’m hoping northbound will be easier,” he continued. “I’ll try to get you back as quickly as possible.”

With a weary nod, Diana slipped into the cool car and closed her eyes. Her head lolled against the back of the seat as she listened to Hannah’s chatter. It would have been so easy to lose herself in the comfortable car, but she answered her daughter’s questions as they came and endured the long drive to Malibu.

When they arrived, a stout woman was waiting on the steps. Without having to be told, Diana knew who it was. Biting back her laughter and the tears of loneliness that rose with it, Diana had to concede that Devlan had been completely right. Mrs. Maclean did look like a cream puff. She was short and stocky, with white hair and a round face. And her beaming countenance was the first thing Diana noticed when they pulled to the front of the house. With shuffling strides she met them at the car with a wide smile.

“Why, hello, Mrs. Somerset. And Miss Hannah! How are you?”

Diana climbed from the Bentley and reached out her hand in a friendly handshake. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“Oh, he tried to tell me how lovely you were, but I didn’t believe him. I just thought he was being a man and blind to all reason. I see now that I was wrong. Welcome home, ma’am.”

Diana smiled shyly and ducked her head. All these compliments were welcome but definitely surprising. The close relationship that Devlan appeared to have with all his employees was remarkable. Their loyalty was beyond measure, and his trust and openness proved that the feeling was mutual. They entered the house together, stopping when Hannah gasped aloud at the gleaming luxury of the house.

“We’re staying here, Mommy?”

“Yes, but don’t break anything and don’t dirty anything.” She tapped her chin and sent a forlorn look in Hannah’s direction. “Actually just don’t touch anything.”

Mrs. Maclean laughed. “Nonsense. She can go anywhere and do whatever she likes. It’s her house too.”

Diana shook her head silently and narrowed her eyes in warning at Hannah. She nodded solemnly in return, her eyes wide with awe. She had never seen such luxury in her whole short life, let alone lived in it.

As they helped her up the carpeted stairs to her new room, Hannah glanced around with plenty of oohs and ahhs. Excitement radiated from every pore, and she was beaming with joy by the time they reached her new room.