Best of Nora Roberts Books 1-6: The Art of Deception / Lessons Learned / Mind Over Matter / Risky Business / Second Nature / Unfinished Business

She coughed first, violently. Nothing could’ve relieved him more. When her eyes opened, she stared at him dully.

“You’re in your room,” he told her. “You’re all right now.”

“You hit me.”

He grinned because there was indignation in her voice. “I thought you’d take a punch better with a chin like that. I barely tapped you.”

“So you say.” Gingerly she sat up and touched her chin. Her head whirled once, but she closed her eyes and waited for it to pass. “I suppose I had it coming. Sorry I got neurotic on you.”

He let his forehead rest against hers. “You scared the hell out of me. I guess you’re the only woman who’s received a marriage proposal and a right jab within minutes of each other.”

“I hate to do the ordinary.” Because she needed another minute, she lay back against the pillows. “Have you turned off the gas?”

“Cards is seeing to it.”

“Of course.” She said this calmly enough, then began to pluck at the quilt with her fingers. “As far as I know, no one’s tried to kill me before.”

It made it easier, he thought, that she understood and accepted that straight off. With a nod, he touched a hand to her cheek. “First we call a doctor. Then we call the police.”

“I don’t need a doctor. I’m just a little queasy now, it’ll pass.” She took both his hands and held them firmly. “And we can’t call the police.”

He saw something in her eyes that nearly snapped his temper. Stubbornness. “It’s the usual procedure after attempted murder, Kirby.”

She didn’t wince. “They’ll ask annoying questions and skulk all over the house. It’s in all the movies.”

“This isn’t a game.” His hands tightened on hers. “You could’ve been killed—would’ve been if you’d been in there alone. I’m not giving him another shot at you.”

“You think it was Stuart.” She let out a long breath. Be objective, she told herself. Then you can make Adam be objective. “Yes, I suppose it was, though I wouldn’t have thought him ingenious enough. There’s no one else who’d want to hurt me. Still, we can’t prove a thing.”

“That has yet to be seen.” His eyes flashed a moment as he thought of the satisfaction he’d get from beating a confession out of Hiller. She saw it. She understood it.

“You’re more primitive than I’d imagined.” Touched, she traced her finger down his jaw. “I didn’t know how nice it would be to have someone want to vanquish dragons for me. Who needs a bunch of silly police when I have you?”

“Don’t try to outmaneuver me.”

“I’m not.” The smile left her eyes and her lips. “We’re not in the position to call the police. I couldn’t answer the questions they’d ask, don’t you see? Papa has to resolve the business of the Rembrandt, Adam. If everything came out now, he’d be hopelessly compromised. He might go to prison. Not for anything,” she said softly. “Not for anything would I risk that.”

“He won’t,” Adam said shortly. No matter what strings he’d have to pull, what dance he’d have to perform, he’d see to it that Fairchild stayed clear. “Kirby, do you think your father would continue with whatever he’s plotting once he knew of this?”

“I couldn’t predict his reaction.” Weary, she let out a long breath and tried to make him understand. “He might destroy the Rembrandt in a blind rage. He could go after Stuart single-handed. He’s capable of it. What good would any of that do, Adam?” The queasiness was passing, but it had left her weak. Though she didn’t know it, the vulnerability was her best weapon. “We have to let it lie for a while longer.”

“What do you mean, let it lie?”

“I’ll speak to Papa—tell him what happened in my own way, so that he doesn’t overreact. Harriet and Melanie are coming to dinner tonight. It has to wait until tomorrow.”

“How can he sit down and have dinner with Harriet when he has stolen something from her?” Adam demanded. “How can he do something like this to a friend?”

Pain shot into her eyes. Deliberately she lowered them, but he’d already seen it. “I don’t know.”

“I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. “No, you have no reason to be. You’ve been wonderful through all of this.”

“No, I haven’t.” He pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes.

“Let me be the judge of that. And give me one more day.” She touched his wrists and waited until he lowered his hands. “Just one more day, then I’ll talk to Papa. Maybe we’ll get everything straightened out.”

“That much, Kirby. No more.” He had some thinking of his own to do. Perhaps one more night would give him some answers. “Tomorrow you tell Philip everything, no glossing over the details. If he doesn’t agree to resolve the Rembrandt business then, I’m taking over.”

She hesitated a minute. She’d said she trusted him. It was true. “All right.”

“And I’ll deal with Hiller.”

“You’re not going to fight with him.”

Amused, he lifted a brow. “No?”

“Adam, I won’t have you bruised and bloodied. That’s it.”

“Your confidence in me is overwhelming.”

With a laugh, she sat up again and threw her arms around him. “My hero. He’d never lay a hand on you.”

“I beg your pardon, Miss Fairchild.”

“Yes, Cards.” Shifting her head, Kirby acknowledged the butler in the doorway.

“It seems a chair has somehow found its way through your studio window. Unfortunately, it landed in Jamie’s bed of zinnias.”

“Yes, I know. I suppose he’s quite annoyed.”

“Indeed, miss.”

“I’ll apologize, Cards. Perhaps a new lawn mower… You’ll see to having the window repaired?”

“Yes, miss.”

“And have that heater replaced by something from the twentieth-century,” Adam added. He watched as Cards glanced at him then back at Kirby.

“As soon as possible, please, Cards.”

With a nod, the butler backed out of the doorway.

“He takes his orders from you, doesn’t he?” Adam commented as the quiet footsteps receded. “I’ve seen the subtle nods and looks between the two of you.”

She brushed a smudge of dirt on the shoulder of his shirt. “I’ve no idea what you mean.”

“A century ago, Cards would’ve been known as the queen’s man.” When she laughed at the term, he eased her back on the pillows. “Rest,” he ordered.