“My mistake,” said Devin.
“Could’ve taught you to rope steers,” Byron remarked.
“Care for a drink?” Lucas asked Devin, his manners belatedly kicking in.
“No thank you.” She peered through the wall of windows and out into the yard. “And I don’t need the sympathy vote. I’m planning to beat you fair and square. Is there someplace out there I can go for a run?”
“Hear that?” Lucas said to Byron. “She’s going jogging. The woman appears to be a paragon of all virtues. I suppose you’re a vegetarian teetotaler, as well.”
Devin shot him a look of disdain. Then she caught him by surprise, snagging the glass out of his hand and downing a healthy swallow. “I’m not a paragon of anything,” she told him, handing the glass back to him, voice only slightly wheezy from the straight Scotch.
Byron couldn’t seem to stop himself from chuckling. “The woman definitely has spunk. Too bad there, Lucas. A shrinking wildflower would have made your life a whole lot easier.”
“I sleep better when I run,” Devin told him. “And since I don’t have the luxury of my own bed, and since Amelia is likely to be up at 4:00 a.m., I’d like to take a quick jog around the grounds if that’s all right with you.”
“One of the housekeepers can get up with Amelia,” Lucas offered.
Devin widened her stance and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not staffing out my niece.”
“I retract my earlier criticism,” said Lucas, holding her gaze. “You’re not a paragon, you’re a purist.”
“I’m only trying to survive.” For a split second, a flash of unvarnished hurt traced through her eyes.
Lucas felt a shot of empathy. Devin’s sister might have broken his brother’s heart, and Devin might blame Konrad for Monica’s death, but they’d both suffered a terrible loss. They shared that much.
Then she blinked, and the moment was gone, and she was his adversary once more.
He downed the remains of the drink. “I’ll show you.”
“Show me what?”
“Where you can jog.”
“Just point it out. I’ll find my way.”
But Lucas was already on his way to change. “Meet me on the pool deck. Downstairs, past the kitchen.”
Devin didn’t know why she’d waited. It wasn’t as if she’d get lost on the estate. The extensive yard was well lit, and she was fairly certain it was fenced-not that she was planning to go out of sight of the big mansion anyway. There were lights on all the way up to the third-floor turret. She’d probably be able to spot it for miles.
The clear water sparkled in the outdoor pool, submerged lights illuminating its beautiful blue depths. She couldn’t help but admire the tiered decks and the gardens surrounding the pool. The chairs and loungers were padded with burgundy cushions. Both dining tables and occasional tables dotted the seating areas. Sun umbrellas covered many of the dining tables, while tall propane heaters were placed strategically throughout furniture groupings. It was obvious the Demarco family spent a lot of time out here.
Devin couldn’t help feeling as though she’s wandered into a five-star resort.
“Ready?” Lucas’s footfalls sounded on the wooden steps that led from a sundeck to the pool deck. He wore runners, a pair of lightweight black shorts and a sleeveless gray T-shirt with a Seattle Mariners team logo across the front.
“I don’t need a babysitter,” she informed him, trying valiantly not to notice the definition of his biceps and broad shoulders. Nobody had ever accused the Demarco men of being unattractive. With dark eyes, strong chins and straight aristocratic noses, both Lucas and Konrad often graced the cover of
How could an ordinary woman be expected to resist when one of the Demarco brothers set his sights on her? Predictably, Konrad had swept Monica off her feet. It had taken her about five minutes to fall in love with him. And though she’d later been angry with herself for being duped into doing so, and furious with Konrad for doing the duping, Devin also knew that Monica had never actually fallen out of love with her husband.
“How far do you want to go?” asked Lucas.
Devin wished the question hadn’t turned into a double entendre inside her head. She wished even harder that her expression hadn’t given her away.
“I meant jogging,” said Lucas with a knowing smirk.
“I know what you meant.”
“But I’m open to discussion…”
“In your dreams.”
“Apparently, in yours.”
“Get over yourself. Two miles.”
“Is that all?”
She glared at him. “Five, then.” It would mean she’d get to bed later, but it would be worth it to show Lucas she wasn’t a wimp.
He shrugged easily. “This way then.” He pointed to a bark mulch path that wound down the sloping hill toward Puget Sound. At the same time, he gave a wave to the house behind him. It must have been some kind of a signal, because the path lit up with pot lights in front of them, highlighting an emerald lawn, bushy shrubs and fragrant flower gardens.
Okay, much as she resented the Demarcos, and resented staying here, and resented having to fight for her rights with Amelia, this was one gorgeous estate.
Devin started off slowly, letting her heart rate increase and pump oxygenated blood into her muscles.
Lucas was slightly ahead, so she increased her pace to come abreast. He lengthened his stride to stay in front, and she cursed him under her breath. The showoff.
“What’s that?” she asked him, nodding toward a rectangular building, half from curiosity, and half to show him she had enough breath to carry on a conversation.
“A garage,” he responded, dropping back to run beside her. “Konrad liked antique cars.”
It was an awfully big garage. “Did he have a collection?”
Lucas nodded. “Twenty-five, I think. Oldest is a Model T, right up to a ’56 Caddy. A Coupe de Ville, burgundy and cream.”
“And over there?” Devin asked, indicating a distant building up the hill with a few lights shining from windows.
“The stables,” said Lucas. “You ride?”
Devin shook her head. Horseback riding wasn’t something most middle-class urban kids learned growing up.
“Go ahead and try it while you’re here.”
“I don’t plan to be here that long.”
He glanced down, the ocean breeze wafting through his short dark hair. “You know something I don’t about the court date?”
“I hope they move it up.”
“Why?”
The answer was obvious. “So Amelia and I can go home.”
His voice went soft in the cool night air. “What if I win?”
She tossed her own short hair, determined to show the man nothing but confidence. “The only thing you’ve got going for you is money.”
“Money helps.”
“It also corrupts.”
The path curved, and they began a gentle uphill climb. Devin breathed deeply, determined to keep up her pace. She didn’t want to show Lucas one iota of weakness, on any front.
“Amelia’s got a whole lot of money of her own,” he pointed out.
“I assume that’s held in trust.” Devin didn’t want Amelia’s money.
“You assume right. For now. But whoever manages her shares in Pacific Robotics will also manage her money. And they had better know what they’re doing.”
“I can hire a business manager.”
