Secret Agent Boyfriend (12 page)

Heck, if Derek hadn’t just gone over the data with her, he’d never have believed the two of them were just questioning Noah’s parentage.

“The shower’s later today. Is your mother coming down from Palm Springs?” Landry asked.

“She wouldn’t miss it. The woman’s crazy about babies. It’s all she can talk about. Especially when it comes to my getting in gear and giving her a grandchild.” Noah tucked into a large bagel he’d smothered with cream cheese, the move doing nothing to erase a quick and irritated frown.

“A woman’s prerogative.”

“As is a man’s right to choose when he procreates.”

“Touché.”

Landry picked at her own breakfast, tearing off a small piece of toast. “Your mom’s picking up Aunt Rosalyn and Uncle Sheldon, isn’t she?”

Derek sat, fascinated to see how she manipulated the dialogue.

“Better her than me.” Noah visibly shuddered. “Sheldon’s getting more and more crochety by the day. It only rivals his all-around general craziness.”

“I wish they’d get him to a doctor and have his memory checked.” Landry made a small
tsk
ing sound. “Maybe get him some meds. That nasty disposition of his only gets worse with age.”

“Well, I for one can’t wait to meet your family, babe.” Derek laid it on thick, draping his hand over hers and leaning forward to press a quick kiss to her lips. “I think I might have something to do this afternoon.”

He shot a pleading look at Noah. “You sure you don’t need help down at the stables today? I can exercise the horses. Feed them. Muck stalls.”

“You’d take stall mucking over a baby shower?” Landry pretended offense, but he saw the humor lighting the depths of her eyes.

Derek shot Noah a wink before pressing another kiss to Landry’s cheek. “Any day, babe. Any day.”

* * *

Georgia handed her one end of a blue streamer and pointed toward the far side of the living room. “Let’s tack it on the end of the fireplace.”

Landry unrolled as she walked, twisting the streamer to create an arc of baby blue. “I’m going to be an aunt. Every time I think I have a handle on it, I have a moment when I realize in a few short months there will be a baby here.”

“I know. Things have happened so fast, but I can’t wait to meet him.” Georgia pulled a tab of tape off some contraption she wore on her wrist. “Do you think we’re doing the right thing?”

“Elizabeth wanted something quiet at home.”

“I mean about Noah.”

The quavering voice reached her a moment before a quick, hard sob. Landry dropped her end of the streamer roll and pulled Georgia into her arms for a tight hug. “Come on. What’s the matter?”

“I feel like Pandora. I’m the one who made the connection about the picture of Ruby’s father and Noah, and now I can’t take it back.”

“You shared an observation, Georgia. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I know, but that was before I knew him well. And now that I’ve spent more time with him—” She broke off, another sob spilling from her throat as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I feel like I’ve set in motion the steps to ruin his life.”

“No, no, no. You can’t think that way.” Landry kept her arm around Georgia’s shoulders and tried to comfort her, but even her attempts at soft, soothing words felt flat to her own ears.

Hadn’t she felt the same?

Hell, just that morning she and Derek had worked through their notes from the FBI almost beneath Noah’s nose.

“I’m not sure what I hate more,” Georgia said. “The questions, or the fact that we all think this huge, enormous secret and haven’t shared it with him.”

“I understand and feel the same way. I know we need answers, but we don’t have to like it.”

Georgia dashed at the tears that covered her cheeks. “What if we’re right?”

“We love him. And if we find out that your suspicions are correct, then we’ll continue to give him all the love and support we have.”

As they finished with the decorating, Landry couldn’t help wondering if she was being too optimistic. Yes, they would all support Noah no matter what the outcome, but would he want their help once he knew the truth?

* * *

Landry slipped on a thin pair of sandals to match the light wrap dress she wore and closed her bedroom door behind her. She felt better after sharing the time with Georgia earlier, even if the guilt over what they were doing increasingly weighed like an anchor.

At least their conversation had reinforced that the others felt as bad as she did.

She loved Noah; she always had. And until recently, with the reading of her father’s will and the revelation that he’d had a child from a first marriage, she’d had no reason to view Noah under any light except that of favored cousin.

None of it changed the fact that Reginald and Ruby had spent their lives bereft of their son. Was it possible her father died never knowing his son had actually been nearby his entire life?

The two had always gotten along. Her father had kept his distance—she’d always believed he knew no other way—but it hadn’t stopped a bond from forming between them anyway. Their mutual love of horses had shaped much of it, but Reginald had always been a father figure, especially with Emmaline’s husband having already passed away.

The doorbell rang, pulling Landry from her thoughts, and she opened the door to see Emmaline, Rosalyn and Sheldon at the door. “Hello! Come in.”

Landry braced herself for the onslaught of familial hugs and the usual banter that accompanied a visit from her father’s sisters. Sheldon grumbled about keeping his hat and she deftly ignored him, swooping in for hugs from her aunt Rosalyn and her aunt Emmaline.

As Landry pulled Emmaline close, she wondered who she held in her arms. A sweet, loving aunt who still grieved the loss of her brother so soon after his passing? Or a cold, brittle woman who’d betrayed that brother by taking and raising his only son?

If she had done it, how did she live with herself?

Whit was about to have a baby boy, and Landry held nothing but excitement for the arrival of her new nephew and happiness for her brother and his wife. She couldn’t even imagine touching a hair on the new baby’s head, let alone taking him away from his parents.

Was she actually related to this woman who possibly felt neither of those things?

Stepping back, Landry let her gaze travel over her aunt. Slender and petite, Emmaline’s features were small and birdlike. Her thick brown hair was shot through with gray and she had it pulled into a severe bun.

She hardly looked like a kidnapper.

But what did that really mean?

Afraid to get caught staring, Landry quickly ushered them into the dining room for some refreshments. “Kathleen’s been cooking for a week to get ready for this. Please, help yourselves.”

Sheldon’s eyes lit up when he saw some small pastry-wrapped hot dogs, and he beelined toward them with a speed that belied his age.

“Not too many, Sheldon.”

Sheldon waved a hand in Rosalyn’s direction. “Don’t fuss at me, woman. I’m fit as a fiddle.”

“It’s a baby shower, not a five-course meal. Make sure you leave some for everyone else.”

“We have plenty, Aunt Rosalyn.” Landry gave her aunt a good-natured eye roll before leaning in and whispering, “The kitchen knows those are his favorites. Kathleen made sure they cooked extras.”

Rosalyn patted Landry’s arm. “Such a good girl you are. Reginald had good children.”

Landry waved her aunts off toward the living room and the conversation that already hummed with Elizabeth, Georgia and several of Elizabeth’s friends. While she wanted to continue her observations, she figured she’d better keep an eye on Sheldon until he’d made a plate or Rosalyn’s admonition of vanished appetizers might come true.

So as not to appear as if she was watching him, Landry made a fuss over the table settings and decorations. “How have you been, Uncle Sheldon?”

“Fine. Fine. Fit like I told you.”

“Of course you are. I’m so glad you and Aunt Rosalyn could make it to Elizabeth’s baby shower.”

“Baby?” His head snapped up as he stared at her, his dark brown eyes rheumy with age. “What baby?”

“Whit and Elizabeth’s baby. The baby boy they’re having in a few months.”

He continued to putter his way around the table, muttering to himself the whole time. Although she’d been joking with Noah that morning, her uncle really was worse off than she’d realized.

“Babies. Always talking about babies. Live ones. Dead ones.”

The hair on the back of her neck stood on edge and Landry stilled her movements. The stack of napkins in her hands flopped and she dropped several on the table. Bending down to retrieve them, she forced a calm she didn’t feel into her voice. “What dead babies, Uncle Sheldon?”

“The one that died. Right?” He shook his head. “Or maybe it didn’t die.”

She moved around the table to settle a hand on his shoulder. “What baby didn’t die, Uncle Sheldon?”

“Emmaline’s baby. He was born sick and we thought he died but then he didn’t. Right?”

“Of course. Noah’s fine and well, Uncle Sheldon. In fact, he’s here. He’ll come into the party later and say hi to everyone.”

“Right as rain.”

“Yes, Noah’s fine.” She steered him toward the living room, adding a few extra puff pastries on his way through the door to keep him occupied and his mouth busy.

Shock raced through her, slamming her heart against her ribs as Landry fell back against the wall and closed her eyes. Had her senile old uncle just confirmed the truth behind their questions?

And if Emmaline had a baby who died, then who was Noah Scott?

Chapter 12

D
erek stayed true to his promise. In exchange for skipping out on spending the afternoon with Landry’s family, he helped out wherever he was needed in the stables. The work was sweaty and tiring, but he took pride in the finished product—a stable that positively sparkled.

“We’ve got an opening if you want it.” Noah’s grin was infectious when he handed over a cold bottle of water. “You’re a natural in here.”

“It was time well spent. I can feel my muscles.”

“There’s something to that, isn’t there?” Noah took a seat opposite him in the small stable office, his skin as covered in dirt as Derek’s.

Noah’s gaze traveled the office walls. “It’s something my mother’s struggled with.” When Derek said nothing, Noah added, “My interest in working here. Taking care of the horses and the grounds. She has some idea that it’s beneath me.”

“Parents don’t understand everything.”

“Do yours?”

“I got pretty lucky.” Again, he was reminded that his own upbringing was fairly idyllic. But even amid the seeming perfection, there had been holes. “But parents don’t always know how to express their feelings. My mother didn’t like a woman I used to be engaged to.”

He’d deliberately pushed those early days with Sarah out of his mind, but his mother hadn’t been crazy about his choice and had made sure he knew about it, too.

“What happened?”

“Let’s just say I figured out before it was too late that you can’t share your life with someone who wishes you were a different person.”

“That’s for damn sure.” Noah waved his water bottle. “You introduce your mother to Landry yet?”

“Not yet. But soon.”

Derek knew he was only playing a part, but suddenly he had a vision of bringing Landry home to meet his parents. The two of them, seated at his mother’s dining room table, sharing a meal as his mother trod that delicate balance between being nosy and interested, and his father kept a sweet, supportive smile pasted on his face.

“What about you? You ever get close enough to getting married?”

“Not yet. That’s my mother’s other bone of contention with me. She hates my job and is upset she doesn’t have any grandchildren. She’s accused me of being a rolling stone.” Noah took a last long swig of his water, a hard laugh bouncing off the stable doors. “I just tell her she’s obsessed.”

Noah snagged two more waters out of a cooler by his side and tossed Derek one. “So we’ve mucked stalls all day, groomed horses and even shared nagging mother stories. You going to finally give in and tell me what you really do? Because I find it hard to believe you’re a simple, carefree, jet-setting playboy.”

“Will I ruin your image of me if I say no?”

“Nah. I figured you from the first. But watching you the last few days and how much Landry digs you have only confirmed it.”

“That was your clue?”

“Hell, yeah. The woman’s dated far too many jet-setting playboys. They bore her to tears. And you don’t.”

The door was open—all Derek had to do was step through it. But he liked Noah and respected the life the man had carved out for himself. He didn’t like lying to him, but years of FBI training kept him from giving up the charade before he had something concrete to prove or disprove his theory.

“I used to work on Kate’s Secret Service detail. When news of what was going on out here reached her in North Carolina, she asked me to come here and keep an eye on things.”

“It’s a good thing you’re here. They need looking out for. I know Carson and Whit would balk at that, but it’s true. It’s a big part of why I came here after Reginald’s murder.”

“And now? Why do you stay?”

“The work.” Noah’s gaze took on a faraway look. “And maybe I’m enjoying getting to know a certain socialite who does far too much work and far too little jet-setting herself.”

Rachel.

Landry had sensed something was going on the night before, and he’d gone along with it because in his experience women loved pairing up unattached people. But now, looking for himself...yeah, he could see that extra shot of heat fill Noah’s gaze.

Noah crushed the empty water bottle in his hand.

“We should probably get inside and get cleaned up, then. Go visit those socialites who’ve captured our attention.”

“What? We’re not dressed for a party.”

Derek slapped Noah on the back. “I’m not sure we’re dressed to set foot in the house.”

* * *

Landry was still struggling with Uncle Sheldon’s weird comments about dead babies, even though she’d spent the past two hours trying to convince herself otherwise. Maybe she hadn’t heard him right. And maybe there was a time-bending space portal to Paris in her backyard, too.

The man might be senile, but he had no reason to make that up. Especially something so specific.

No. He had a memory of something, and she needed to find out what.

The shower was winding down, and the dining room showed the evidence that people had enjoyed themselves. She busied herself combining some of the trays of food, condensing some and emptying others for the kitchen.

“Why are you in here cleaning up?” Emmaline bustled in, her face awash in horror. “That’s what the help’s for, dear.”

“It doesn’t hurt to make things a little neater.”

Emmaline shooed her hands from the table, gesturing her back toward the living room. “Nonsense. Leave those things.”

With her irritation spiking at the end of a long afternoon, Landry nearly snapped out that she was fine, until she thought better of the reaction. “You’re right. We’ve barely had a chance to visit at all. What with Daddy dying I feel like I’ve been so wrapped up in my grief I haven’t even tried to reach out.”

Not that her aunt had made an attempt in return, but Landry decided to push it and see where it got her.

“Grief affects us all, darling.” Emmaline perched next to her on the sofa. “Speaking of which, I didn’t want to say anything in front of the company but how are things with your mother?”

“None of us has heard from her.”

Emmaline’s eyebrows rose, her lips pursing in distaste. “To think she might have killed your father, then left all of you here to fend for yourselves.”

She knew her mother wasn’t anyone’s favorite. Heck, taking potshots at Patsy was a sport around Adair Acres, the result of long years of personal torture and abuse of all she knew and loved. But something in her aunt’s tone had Landry’s spine straightening up.

“She didn’t kill my father.”

Emmaline blinked, her bright blue trademark Adair eyes blank with confusion. “But she tried to kill Elizabeth. I simply assumed she was responsible for your father.”

“That’s an awfully big leap, Aunt Emmaline.”

“Hardly.”

She was prevented from saying anything by Rachel’s arrival in the living room. Her best friend carried two glasses of wine, and she shoved one off on Landry with a wink before taking a plush chair opposite the couch. “We got all of Elizabeth’s amazing gifts situated in her and Whit’s wing. The room’s nearly done and all these gifts will finish the nursery off.”

“They’ve finished the nursery already?” Emmaline teetered on the edge of the couch. The tart, gossipy woman who’d sat next to her seemed to shrink before Landry’s eyes. “Isn’t it a bit early to do that?”

“The baby’s arrival is only a few months away. I think they want to be prepared.”

“Yes, but it seems a bit early to finish everything. What if—” Emmaline broke off as if catching herself. “Well, you kids nowadays. You like to be so prepared.”

“Everyone’s so excited. A baby on the way.” Rachel sighed. “I can’t believe how fast it’s happened. It’s all Noah’s been able to talk about.”

“My son’s been talking about the baby?”

“Oh, yes.” Rachel nodded and Landry could only sit there, amazed as her best friend worked her magic. “He’s so happy here. And he seems really excited for Whit and Elizabeth.”

“You’d never know it when I talk to him. I’ve been after him for simply years to settle down and give me grandchildren.”

“And if he hasn’t found the right woman yet?” Landry asked, curious as to the answer. She knew love hadn’t been a huge priority in her father’s generation, as evidenced by her parents’ marriage as well as her aunt’s. Although Emmaline’s husband had died early in their marriage, she had to wonder if it was a love match.

“Love has its place, but so does moving on with your life. Growing up and having a family. Carrying on your family name.” Emmaline’s gaze narrowed on Rachel. “You say you’ve been spending time with Noah?”

“Yes.” She nodded, her green eyes sparkling. “He’s been helping me with my riding technique. And we’ve picked up a few rounds of golf at my club. You know how horrible I am, Landry, and if I don’t get any better at it I just know they’re going to kick me off my position on the hospital board.”

Landry picked up on the charade, ready to keep it going when Emmaline interjected. “Do you care for my son, Rachel?”

“Of course. He’s a great guy.”

“Yes. But are you interested in him?”

“Well, I...” Rachel dropped her gaze, a small, shy smile edging her lips. “I do a bit. I mean, I would like to see it through if he were interested.”

Noah’s deep voice carried down the hall and Emmaline was prevented from saying anything else. For her part, Landry was near ready to hand Rachel a gold statue, her performance had been so incredible.

Noah stepped into the room, his head still damp from a shower, giving away how he spent his afternoon with Derek.

“Did you just get back from the stables?” Landry asked.

“After putting in a full and honest day’s labor with your boyfriend.” Noah winked before crossing the room to his mother. “I’m glad you’re still here. I wanted to say hi before you headed back with Aunt Rosalyn and Uncle Sheldon.”

“Where did they get off to?”

“Sheldon’s terrorizing another round of dessert out of the kitchen and Rosalyn’s still upstairs oohing and aahing over the nursery. I said hi before I started down.”

“What’s she going on about? She’s got grandchildren. You’d think she knew what a nursery looked like.”

“Mother.” Noah took her hand in his, his voice gentle. “She’s excited for Whit and Elizabeth.”

Noah seemed to have a calming effect on his mother, and her acerbic tone faded as they spoke. “Of course she is.”

Landry searched her memories for images of Noah and Emmaline through the years. She had vivid memories of having Noah at the ranch, but her aunt, not so much. Although she had been much younger then, Landry recalled that her aunt had accompanied him on every trip to Adair Acres until he was of age. So why was it so hard to remember them all spending time together as a family?

“I’m going to go up and check on Kathleen. She’s still recovering and today took a lot out of her.” Landry made her excuses and used the opportunity to escape. She shot Rachel an apologetic smile but her friend’s subtle nod assured her she could handle herself just fine.

The walk to the servants’ wing took her through the security center, and she was surprised to find Derek in there, his head as damp as Noah’s. “What are you doing in here? With the door open, no less?”

She closed it behind her. “What if someone finds you in here?”

“I told Noah I was here at your aunt’s request.”

Landry pushed herself off the door and took the seat next to him at the line of computer terminals. “Why’d you do that?”

“Because he asked. And I didn’t tell him what we suspected about his mother, but I did tell him I was here to keep an eye on you. Kate’s orders. He seemed relieved.

“He also figured out I wasn’t a playboy globe-trotter.”

“What was his first clue?”

Derek pulled her chair closer and closed his hands over the arms, effectively caging her in. “He said it was because you were actually interested in me. And if I was some wastrel globe-trotter you’d have kicked me to the curb by now.”

She was as delighted by the observation as she was surprised. Noah obviously saw more than he let on, and the idea that he understood her ennui around the majority of men she’d dated was a bit of a wake-up call.

Perhaps she wasn’t quite as hard to read as she thought. Or hoped. “What if he’s right?”

“Then I think maybe I should press my advantage.”

Derek pulled the chair closer until their knees touched. He closed the remaining distance and pressed his lips to hers, the warmth and security welcome after a day full of unsettling questions.

She sank into the kiss, open and ready for him, and marveled at how quickly she could lose herself in the amazing attraction that lived and breathed between them.

The moments spun out, as tender and sweet as cotton candy, and Landry gave herself the permission to simply sink into the pleasure that flowed so naturally.

A loud
ping
resonated from the desk, and Derek pulled back. “I’m sorry. Really sorry.”

“What is it?”

“I’m waiting for some feedback from my contact at the field office. He’s been looking into the power outage for me, running a bunch of diagnostics.”

“Go ahead. Check it. It’s important.”

He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “So are you.”

Something warm and gooey settled itself in her chest, pushing out the ice that had settled there earlier while she observed her family.

Derek scanned the text message, then turned toward the computer. “He sent me a file to run on the machines. Are you okay if I do that?”

“Of course.”

He grew quiet as he worked, his full focus on his task. Landry watched him, fascinated by the efficient way he moved through each step. Methodical and deliberate, he kept toggling back to his email as he completed each phase of the instructions.

“Two more steps and we should be good. Then John will have a full diagnostic of the machines here.”

She let him work, content to simply sit by his side and breathe the same air. Which was as strange as it was wonderful.

“Can you call up your work files from here? Like the databases we looked at in LA?”

“Sure. They run a bit slower since the files are so large, but I have remote access. Why?”

“I’d like you to pull something up for me.”