“Keys in the truck?” asked Alec as they crossed the living room.
“Should be.” Stephanie snagged a final cheese puff from the buffet on the dining room table. “You’re
“You try feeding a baby.” She took two steps back and washed the cheese puff down with a strawberry.
Alec pulled open the front door and stood aside to let her pass.
“Thank you, sir,” she mocked as she sashayed through.
“I just like the view from-” Alec nearly barreled into the back of her where she’d frozen still on the top step.
“Hello, Alec.” Damien gave him a nod.
But Stephanie’s gaze was fixed on the man standing next to Damien. He was older, clean shaven, his jawline softer, face wrinkled and shoulders stooped.
The front door banged open to Royce’s jovial voice. “You trying to sneak-” Royce stopped, too. Then a lighter set of footsteps came to a halt on the porch.
“Stanton,” Royce growled.
Alec stepped around Stephanie and Heidi, putting his body between her and Norman Stanton.
“We’d hoped the party would be over,” Damien apologized.
“What the hell are you doing?” Alec demanded of his friend.
Royce took a step forward, coming parallel with Alec, while Jared appeared out of nowhere.
Norman Stanton cleared his throat. “I’m sorry-”
“You’re
Norman swallowed convulsively, and Stephanie found herself pitying the man.
“I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“This is my
“I knew you were leaving tomorrow,” said Damien, stepping forward to hand Royce an envelope.
Alec stepped up to Damien, voice low. “Start talking.”
Norman spoke up. “I never meant to hurt any of you.”
Jared stepped forward. “If you’re not hightailing it off Ryder land in about thirty seconds, you’re the one who’s getting hurt.”
“It was Clifton,” said Norman.
“Don’t you
“Damien?” Alec warned in another undertone.
“I thought he murdered Frank!” Norman all but wailed.
Everyone stilled, and Stephanie found herself mesmerized by the pain in the older man’s eyes.
“He was my brother. And he was murdered. And I went after revenge.”
Stephanie glanced at her brothers to see them exchange a look.
“I told him the truth,” said Damien.
“I know now that it was self-defense,” Norman clarified. He peered between Alec and Royce, seeking out Stephanie’s gaze. “He loved your mother.”
Alec stepped sideways, blocking Norman’s view.
“And he loved you.”
“Don’t you speak to my wife,” said Alec.
Stephanie touched Alec’s arm. “It’s okay.”
Alec didn’t move. “No, it’s not.”
Royce’s incredulous voice rang out. “This is
Stephanie turned to see the envelope flutter to the ground.
“I wanted to pay you back,” said Norman.
“I helped him liquidate,” Damien put in.
“I’m sorry,” Norman repeated. “I wanted to make him pay. But I never meant to hurt any of you.”
His gaze once again sought out Stephanie. “Frank was my brother, and you were my niece. He talked about you all the time. I couldn’t wait to meet you. He said he was bringing you home.” The man’s voice caught. “Instead I claimed his body.”
Tears gleamed in Norman’s eyes, and something tugged at Stephanie’s heart.
The man looked old and broken, nothing like his picture, nothing like the villain she’d expected.
“I’ll get you the rest of the money,” Norman told Royce and Jared.
“How?” Royce demanded.
“I gave him a job,” said Damien. “You
“I was wrong.” Damien shrugged. “He didn’t blow the money on women and ponies.”
Stephanie moved her attention to her husband.
“No?” Alec asked, watching Damien closely.
Damien gave him a meaningful smile and shook his head. “Let’s just say my organization can use his talents.”
“Did you steal it from someone else?” Jared demanded.
“It’s your money,” said Stanton. “I’ve been holding it for you.”
“We’ll be looking for interest,” Royce put in.
Alec transmitted a silent question to Damien, and Damien’s smiled broadened.
Norman’s hungry gaze was glued to Stephanie.
She could feel his loneliness and sorrow pierce straight to her soul.
He was her uncle, the brother of a father she didn’t remember. She found herself wondering what Royce would do if he thought someone had killed Jared, or the other way around, or what both of them would do if they thought someone had harmed her.
She shifted around Alec, gazing into Norman’s lined face in the pool of lamplight.
His eyes went wide, darting to Heidi as she drew closer.
Royce shot forward, but Alec’s arm reached out to block him.
Stephanie smiled gently at Norman. “Would you like to meet your grandniece?”
Twin tears slipped out of his blue eyes, trailing swiftly down his pale, sagging cheeks.
Stephanie eased Heidi away from her body, exposing her little pink face. “This is Heidi Rae Creighton. Heidi, this is your uncle Norman.”
She felt Alec’s gentle hands close around her shoulders.
Norman stood frozen for a full minute.
Then he lifted a shaking finger, gently stroking the back of Heidi’s tiny hand. “Heidi Rae.” His voice was strangled with emotion.
Stephanie’s chest tightened, and tears stung the backs of her eyes.
Royce appeared in Stephanie’s peripheral vision. She braced herself, but Royce’s body language was no longer hostile.
“This check good?” he asked gruffly.
Norman didn’t take his eyes off Heidi. “It’s good,” he affirmed.
Royce gave a sharp nod as Jared joined them.
Alec’s hands squeezed Stephanie’s shoulders, and he leaned down to whisper. “You are an amazing woman. And I love you
BARBARA DUNLOP
writes romantic stories while curled up in a log cabin in Canada’s far north, where bears outnumber people and it snows six months of the year. Fortunately, she has a brawny husband and two teenage children to haul firewood and clear the driveway while she sips cocoa and muses about her upcoming chapters. Barbara loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through her Web site at www.barbaradunlop.com.
