Page 72 of Entranced
“Naturally.”
“We discussed business, his and mine. He’s interested in making some investments, so I made a few real estate suggestions.”
“Clever.”
“I do have some property in Oregon I’ve been thinking about selling. Anyway, we had a drink afterward and discussed sports and other manly things. I managed to drop into the conversation the fact that I hoped to have a son.”
“Not just a kid?”
“As I said, it was a manly sort of event. A son to carry on the name, to play ball with, slipped more seamlessly into the conversation.”
“Girls play ball,” she muttered. “Never mind. Did he pick up on it?”
“Only quite delicately. I fumbled a bit, looked distressed, and changed the subject.”
“Why?” She straightened in her chair. “If you had him on the line, why’d you cut him loose?”
“Because it felt right. You’ll have to trust me on this, Mel. Gumm would have been suspicious if I’d taken him into my confidence so quickly. With you and the woman it’s different. More natural.”
She mulled it over, and, though she was still frowning, nodded.
“All right. I’m inclined to agree. And we’ve certainly laid the groundwork.”
“I spoke with Devereaux just before you got in. They should have a full workup on Linda Glass by tomorrow, and he’ll let us know as soon as Gumm makes a move to check out our story.”
“Good enough.”
“Also, we’re invited to dine with Gumm and his lady on Friday evening.”
Mel cocked a brow. “Even better.” She leaned forward to kiss him. “You did good work, Donovan.”
“I suppose we make a fair team. Have you finished eating?”
“For now.”
“Then I think we should prepare for Friday night.”
“Prepare what?” She shot him a suspicious look as he pulled her to her feet. “If you’re going to start fiddling around with what I’m supposed to wear …”
“Not at all. It’s this way,” he told her as they walked out of the kitchen. “We’re going to be a devoted and deliriously happy married couple.”
“Yeah, so?”
“Madly in love,” he continued, drawing her toward the stairs.
“I know the drill, Donovan.”
“Well, I firmly believe in the Method school of acting. So I’m quite sure it will help our performance if we spend as much time as possible making love.”
“Oh, I see.” She turned, twining her arms around his neck and backing into the bedroom. “Well, like you said, we have to suffer for our work.”
***
Mel was certain that one day she would look back and laugh. Or at least she would look back with the grimsatisfaction of having survived.
Since going into law enforcement she had been kicked, cursed, slugged, and insulted, had doors slammed in her face and on her foot. She’d been threatened, propositioned, and, on one memorable occasion, she’d been shot at.
All of that was nothing compared to what was being done to her in the Silver Woman.
