Page 57 of A Man for Amanda
“And some brandy,” Lilah added, before laying the papers on a table in the hallway.
Twenty minutes later, the story had been related to the police, and the family was left alone to absorb it. Sloan paced behind the sofa while the Calhoun women huddled together.
“We had that—that thief to dinner.” Coco glared into her brandy. “I baked a chocolate soufflé. And all the time he was plotting to steal from us.”
“The police will shoot him,” Alex piped up. “Bang! Between the eyes.”
“I think we’ve had enough excitement for one night.” Suzanna kissed the top of his head. Less sure of himself than he wanted to be, Alex slipped a hand into hers and held tight.
“He got most of the papers.” With a sigh, Amanda reached for the pile she’d tossed onto the coffee table. “I hope Fred took a good chunk out of him.”
“Good boy, Fred.” Lilah cuddled the dog in her lap. “I don’t think they’ll do Livingston—or whoever he is—any good. He’s not meant to find the emeralds. We are.”
“He won’t get the chance,” Sloan said grimly. “Not with the security system I’m putting in.” He shot a look at Amanda, daring her to argue, but she was staring at one of the papers.
“It’s a letter,” she murmured. “A letter from Bianca to Christian.”
“Oh, my dear.” Coco leaned forward. “What does it say?”
Amanda read,
“My love,
I’m writing this as the rain continues to fall and keeps me from you. I wonder what you are doing, if you paint today in the gloomy light and think of me. When I’m alone like this in my tower, separated from the reality of my duties, I let the memories sweep over me. Of the first time I saw you, standing on the cliffs. Of the last time I touched you. I’m praying for the sun, Christian, so that we can make more memories. I cannot tell you how you have changed me, how much more my eyes see, now that they see with my heart. I can’t imagine how empty my life would have been without this time we had together. I know now that love is very rare, very precious. It is something to be cherished and held on to tightly while too often it is smothered, or brushed carelessly away. Remember, even when our time together ends, I will hold your love. It will live in my heart long after that heart stops beating.
Bianca.”
Coco let out a long, dreamy sigh. “Oh, how much they must have loved each other.”
“Yucky,” Alex said sleepily, and rested his head on his mother’s breast.
Amanda smoothed the letter out, hating the fact that it had become crumpled. “I guess she never got the chance to send it to him. All these years it’s been mixed up with receipts and account sheets.”
“And tonightwefound it, not Livingston,” Lilah reminded her.
“Luck,” Amanda murmured.
“Fate,” her sister insisted.
When the phone rang, Amanda was the first up to answer. “It’s the police,” she said, then settled back to listen. “I see. Yes, thank you for letting us know.” She hung up, blowing out a disgusted breath. “Looks like he got away. He didn’t go back to the BayWatch for any of his things, or he slipped in and took what he wanted and left the rest.”
“Do they think he’ll come back?” Alarmed, Coco patted her chest.
“No, but they’re going to keep an eye on the house until they’re sure he’s left the island.”
“I imagine he’s halfway to New York by now.” Suzanna shifted the drowsy children on her lap. “And if he comes back, we’ll be ready for him.”
“More than ready,” Amanda agreed. “They have an APB out, but... I guess that’s all that can be done for tonight.”
“No.” Sloan crossed the room to her. “There’s a little more that has to be done.” He nodded to the rest of the room as he pulled her toward the doorway. “You’ll excuse us.”
“They might, but I don’t,” Amanda told him. “Let go of my arm.”
“Okay.” He did, then nipping her by the waist, hauled her over his shoulder. “It’s always the hard way with you.”
“I will not be slung around like a sack of potatoes.” As he climbed the stairs, she wriggled, trying for one clear shot with her foot.
“We left some loose ends before you stormed off to go tangle with an armed robber. Now we’re damn well going to tie them up. You like straight talk, Calhoun, and you’re about to get some.”
