His Heart's Revenge (The Marshall Brothers Series, Book 2) (53 page)

Logan glanced at the clock on the mantel. "A few minutes after midnight." He pushed away from the door and went to the settee, dropping the newspaper on an end table. "Don't bother with the lamp," he said when she reached to turn up the wick. He took Katy's hands in his. "Are you all right?"

"Mmm," she murmured, nodding. "Fine. A bad dream."

"Victoria's sleeping soundly," he said. "I just looked in on her. You are the one I was worried about. Why aren't you in bed?"

"I was waiting for you. I didn't think I would fall asleep."

Logan slipped one of his hands free of hers and cupped the side of her face. His thumb traced the curve of her cheek as he studied her. There were pale violet shadows beneath her eyes that spoke of too many restless nights. Only a week had passed since Ria dangled their child over the stone balustrade at Madame Restell's. Waking or sleeping, the memories were always there. Pain lingered in Katy's brown-gold eyes. Logan bent his head and kissed her gently on the lips. "Thank you for waiting," he said. "I had not meant to be so late, but,"—he reached behind him and picked up the newspaper—"this story broke. I wanted to see it in print before I left the building." He handed her the first copy of the morning edition of the
Chronicle
.

Puzzled, Katy accepted the paper and opened it up. The headline drew her attention just as Logan meant it to: FRAUD IN THE HOUSE. Katy raised her head sharply and looked at Logan. "The colonel?" she asked.

"The congressman
"
he corrected. "The last damning piece of evidence came to our attention today. I decided it was time to let the rest of the country know about Richard Allen."

"He is aware of this?" she asked, lifting the paper.

"Not yet. He will have an opportunity to deny his involvement soon enough. I have little doubt he will do just that. Allen's not the only one named in this corruption scandal, but I think he could have the most to lose. He had set his political goals quite high."

"He might sue the paper, especially when he realizes you're behind this."

"Let him try. There is nothing in there that isn't true." Logan stood and went to the sideboard. "Would you like a drink? I believe I owe myself some small celebration. This day's been a long time coming."

"Nothing for me."

"Jenny and Christian already retired?" Logan splashed a crystal tumbler with whiskey. The house was quiet. After the noise and excitement of the pressroom, the silence was welcome.

"Just a little while ago. They are probably still awake if you want to show them this."

"God, no. They have had more than enough to take in since their return. Christian still cannot believe Katy Dakota is Mary Catherine McCleary and that I am married to both of them. This business with Richard Allen can definitely wait until morning."

"Your brother has been very understanding," she said. "And Jenny's right, you know, you could have cabled them some news. They arrived home to find you have married and fathered a child and done none of it in the acceptable order."

Logan laughed softly. "Christian was more disturbed by the fact that he had painted your eyes the wrong color." He shook his head, smiling ruefully at the memory of Katy's formal introduction to his brother. Christian did not say hello or even extend his hand. He simply stared at Katy's face, studying her eyes as though nature had made the mistake, and said, "They are supposed to be green."

"Yes, well, Christian's agreed to change the portrait and leave my own eyes alone," she said dryly. Katy smoothed the newspaper in her lap. "Now, if you would allow me..."

"You do not have to read it this minute."

"I want to." She adjusted the oil lamp so she could see better and curled into one corner of the settee.

Logan sat beside Katy again, sipped his drink slowly and watched her read the three-column piece, gauging her reaction by the sighs, frowns, and soft, incredulous ahs. When she was finished, he removed the paper from her lap and dropped it on the floor. He offered her his drink.

Katy took the tumbler and raised it to her lips. One swallow seemed to blister her insides and bring tears to her eyes. She gave it back hurriedly, making a face. "You know I don't like whiskey."

"You looked as if you could use a drink in spite of that fact."

"That is quite the story. Your reporters are sure of everything?"

"Everything."

Katy was silent a moment. "It was not just for revenge, was it?"

"No, not just for revenge. In the beginning, perhaps, but revenge did not sustain me. I pursued this story because it was a national scandal, not for personal reasons. The congressman will not see it that way, but it's true. You taught me a lot about revenge, Katy. Sometimes I wonder why I have been so fortunate, when it all could have ended so differently."

Katy was in his arms then, her head against the curve of his shoulder. He held her closely and allowed the shudder that went through her to pass into him. He remembered the look in her eyes when she first woke. "You went to see Ria today, didn't you?" he asked.

"She didn't even know me," Katy said softly. "She sat there in her room, staring out the window, and never acknowledged my presence. She holds her arms cradled in front of her, just as if she were holding her baby, and she rocks back and forth in a chair that doesn't move."

"She will get the best care at Jennings Memorial." Logan knew it was small comfort to Katy. It was little comfort to him as well. He thought he could very well have killed Ria if Liam had not started shouting from below that he had Victoria safe in his arms. With his child unharmed, Logan was able to pull Ria to safety. She fought him, cursed him, and screamed at him to let her go. Logan might have done exactly that if he hadn't realized her intention was to throw herself off the balcony.

In the end Katy helped him restrain Ria while Michael looked on dispassionately.

"I know," said Katy, bringing Logan's thoughts back to the present. "It seems so unfair, though. I wanted it to be Michael sitting there, locked in that room, alone and quite mad. I want him to be here now so you can hit him again."

A small smile lifted the corners of Logan's mouth. Rarely had he known such satisfaction as the moment when Ria's strength was exhausted, and he was able to give his complete attention to Michael Donovan. Logan's powerful right hook caught Michael unaware and laid him out cold. At the time Logan had regretted the accuracy of his blow. He would have liked an excuse to knock Michael down again. "Say the word and I will find him."

"No," she said. "I don't want his head. I want as few reminders of Michael Donovan as possible. I will never hold Ria as responsible for what happened as I do Michael. He pushed her toward madness. I think he would have been grateful if we had allowed Ria to fall."

Logan was certain of it. Like Katy, he felt nothing so much as pity for Ria. He was not as sure they shared similar feelings about Michael. Katy wanted to forget him, and Logan still wanted to hurt him. It would be some time before Logan knew he could come around to Katy's way of thinking. "Are you falling asleep on me?" he asked when he felt her suppress a yawn.

"No."

Sweet liar, he thought. "In that case..." He stroked her hair. He held the weight of one honeyed curl in his palm, balancing it carefully as though it was water and he was a thirsty man. He touched the silky curl to his mouth.

"What are you doing?" she asked sleepily.

"Drinking." He let her hair slide off his palm. His fingers trailed across the back of her neck, and he drew her hair to one side and let it fall over her shoulder. Her head was tilted now, the elegant line of her neck vulnerable. He kissed her there, just below her ear. Her breath was warm on his cheek. She stirred against him, and Logan realized he had definitely engaged her interest.

"You are a provocative woman," he said.

"You must mean provoking."

He smiled and kissed her again, this time at the curve of her neck and shoulder. He could feel her hum of pleasure against his lips. "That, too."

The touch of him sent a delicious mixture of languor and excitement through her. "We shouldn't." Katy's hand fell on Logan's shoulder. "We don't have the house to ourselves."

"Shh. I locked the door."

"Oh." Katy sighed as his lips moved to the underside of her jaw and his fingers began to twist at the buttons of her gown. Her hands slipped under Logan's jacket and eased it over his shoulders. Their arms tangled as he worked her buttons and she worked his. Katy's mouth opened under his, tongues touched, teased. Once they moved in the same direction at the same moment. Their noses bumped. They reared back, startled. He smiled a little sheepishly, she a little shyly. The moment had an endearing sort of awkwardness that made them think back to a certain hayloft and another time.

"How young I was," she said a shade wistfully.

"How young we both were."

She nodded. The centers of Katy's eyes were darkening. Desire flushed her cheeks. Placing her palms on either side of Logan's face, she leaned forward and brushed the tip of her nose to his, then kissed him full on the mouth.

Logan eased them off the settee and onto the floor. He kicked a stool out of their way. It fell on its side with a soft thud that neither of them heard. They shared a growing sense of urgency that made them reluctant to take too much time with tiny buttons and stockings and studs. They took off what they had to and pushed aside the rest.

"You are very good for me," she whispered against his ear. She was filled with him. Her thighs cradled him; her arms embraced him. His skin was warm against hers, and she knew the shape of her body by the contrast with his. The musky male scent of him was tantalizing. The moist suck of his mouth raised a response wherever it touched her.

"Right now, I would rather be very good to you."

There was no question of that and Katy told him so, then she returned his every expression of love.

The floor only seemed uncomfortable in the aftermath. "I suppose we could move to the settee," he said.

Katy noticed he did not make any move in the direction. Instead, he was lazily rubbing his foot against hers.

Except for righting the clothes they had not discarded, Katy and Logan stayed precisely where they were. Katy's head rested against Logan's outstretched arm. Her hand lay on his chest inside his open shirt. His heartbeat filled her palm.

"I do love you, Logan Marshall."

He turned a little then to see her better. "I hope you never come to your senses," he said, half-teasing, half-meaning it.

She smiled. "I came to my senses a long time ago. Do not think I didn't. I know you for what you are, Logan, and I love you because of it."

"Warts and all."

Katy thought of her frog prince. She kissed his cheek. "Oh, darling, you have no idea how true that is."

The End

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MY STEADFAST HEART

The Thorne Brothers Trilogy

Book One