Page 83 of His Mansion

Dara glanced on either side of her before turning back and raising a brow. “I have two guys at my beck and call. Trust me, if I want anything, they’ve got it covered.”

Jack chucked a piece of popcorn at her. “Kane’s on slave duty this week, woman.”

Of course his instant capitulation two minutes later when she asked him for a glass of water proved her point, and Dara winked at Melanie from where she was curled up, nestled between her men.

Melanie crawled onto the love seat next to Derrick, and they all dove back into their movie.

By the time the DVD finished, Melanie had realized what was bugging her. She slipped back into the kitchen and was digging through the garbage when Dara wandered into the kitchen, Derrick on her heels.

“It’s not Nathan.” Melanie flipped the magazine open and scrambled through the pages.

“It’s not Nathan what?” Dara asked.

“The pictures. Look, Derrick, those aren’t his shots. That doesn’t look at all like his work.” A huge sigh of relief hit, even though now she was more confused than ever.

Dara made a disgusted sound. “Throw the magazine out again, Mel. There’s nothing in that trash you need to see.”

“But Nathan isn’t listed in the credits anymore. Not for any of the shots. I wonder why?”

“When is the article on you supposed to be published?”

Melanie thought for a moment. “He said it would be fourth quarter, since he was taking the shots in August. Butnoneof these pictures are his, and I know while he’d been assigned to get all the illustrations for that series of articles, he usually has other credits as well.”

Dara leaned back on the kitchen counter, the front of her shirt hanging loose. “Maybe he switched jobs? Have you managed to get hold of him at all?”

“Just a couple emails. He said he was fine, things were okay. It was like talking to a total stranger. At least we know he’s still alive, but that’s about it.”

“Then there’s not much you can do but wait.” A huge yawn escaped Dara. “I’m sorry, but I’m ready for bed.”

A couple hearty laughs sounded as Jack and Kane joined them, carrying in the dirty dishes. Kane wiggled his brows at her. “No objections on my part with that suggestion.”

Dara smacked him on the chest. “Behave. You two are the reason I’m totally exhausted at nine o’clock. Building a baby is hard work.”

“So’s starting one.” Jack ducked under her swing then scooped her up in his arms, ignoring her protests. “Thanks for the evening’s entertainment, guys. We’ll see you in a few?”

Derrick leaned Melanie back against his chest, resting his chin on her shoulder. She savoured the warmth of his body as her brother and the others took their leave. When she really considered it, the article was an annoyance on the edge of all the good things she now had in her life. And Dara was right—there was nothing she could do anyway but wait.

“I’d better be getting home as well.” She twisted in Derrick’s arms to give him a good-night kiss.

He brushed their lips together and refused to let her escape. “Stay.”

It wouldn’t be the first time she’d slept over. In the month since Nathan had vanished, they’d spent more and more time together. She still hadn’t gotten up the courage to actually confess her feelings in words, although they both seemed to have come to the conclusion they liked each other. A lot. Melanie opened her mouth to answer, and he kissed her again, stalling her response. She smiled against his lips, stroking her fingers over his broad shoulders. She loved being in his arms.

Derrick whispered against her cheek. “Stay with me forever.”

A shiver raced up her spine.What?“Derrick?”

He held her chin delicately in his strong fingers. “I love you. I want this to be your home. With me.”

Melanie’s heart pounded, a flush of heat racing over her entire body. “You love me?”

He laughed, and the lightness of the sound broke into sparkling pieces and bounced off the walls of the room to fill her ears with joy and her heart with hope. “Damn it, Mel, you missed your cue. It’s like climbing. You ask ‘On belay?’ and I respond ‘Belay on.’ So when I say ‘I love you’, you’re supposed to say it back. I know it’s taken me a damn long time to get up my courage to ask you. I was holding out, trying to figure out the exact right moment, but unless I’ve been totally misreading you for the last?—”

She dragged their mouths together and kissed him senseless until there was no possible way he could be uncertain of her response.

October

“Derrick, come look.”

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