Silver Linings, стр. 98

“The mind boggles.”

“You've said yourself St. Gabriel is on the verge of getting discovered. I'll make a fortune selling stuff to the tourists while you clean up with Abbott Charters. Silk will made a bundle on his paintings, and Evangeline will be able to go into a whole new line of work. We'll all get rich, fat, and happy.”

Hugh laughed softly, turned onto his back and pulled her down on top of him. “Life is never going to be dull with you, babe, I'll say that much.”

“Hugh, the tide…”

“Like I said, I can swim and I'll take care of you. Trust me, babe.”

She smiled and bent down to kiss him full on his beautiful, sexy mouth. “I do.”

“About time.”

Charlotte Vailcourt closed the folder on her desk, leaned back in her executive chair, and looked at Hugh, who was standing at the window watching the people on the street below. “An excellent proposal, Hugh. You have a talent for organization and planning. I imagine it will stand you in good stead as you build Abbott Charters.”

“I learned a lot from you, Charlotte. I appreciate it.”

“You have more than repaid me.” She paused. “I would like to be able to call on you from time to time as we implement this security proposal. Are you going to be available for the occasional consultation?”

“As long as it's occasional, I think I can manage to fit you into my schedule.”

“Thank you,” Charlotte murmured with a smile. She glanced across the room to where Valor lay on black velvet in the display case. “And thank you for bringing back the sword. It is a fine blade, isn't it?”

“If you like that kind of thing.”

Charlotte smiled in genuine amusement. “Well, I don't suppose I need to worry about the legend attached to it any longer, do I? One way or another, it seems to have been fulfilled.” She gave Hugh an odd, speculative glance.

Hugh shrugged. He was no longer interested in Valor. It was a good fighting tool that had been available when he needed it. That was all that mattered.

“What's Mattie doing? Still packing?” Charlotte asked.

“Today she went shopping for her trousseau with Evangeline.”

“This should be interesting. I can't wait to see what she's bought under Evangeline's guidance. Imagine going shopping with a professional call girl.”

“Ex-professional. Evangeline is a real businesswoman now. Mattie says she's bought an industrial-grade sewing machine and about half a million spools of thread to take out to St. Gabe with her. She's planning to ask Silk to design some fabric for her. You know, I think Silk's going to go crazy when he meets Evangeline.”

“You're going to have an interesting little group out there on St. Gabriel.”

Hugh turned away from the window with a smile. “You'll have to come out and pay us a visit.”

“I'll do that. You'll take good care of our Mattie, won't you?”

“Mattie is my life,” Hugh said simply.

“All she's ever really wanted is you. Since the day she met you.”

“All I ever wanted was her. It just took me a little time to realize it, that's all.” An image of Rainbird dying on the point of a sword flickered in Hugh's mind. “You know, Charlotte, unlike some people I could name, I'm getting smarter as I get older.”

“That's what makes you a survivor. You've got good genes, Hugh. So does Mattie. When are the two of you going to have a baby?”

“As soon as I can talk her into it.”

“Think that will take long?”

Hugh laughed. “No, ma'am. Not long at all. She thinks I'll make a terrific father. Told me so herself,” he added proudly. A real home. The way it was supposed to be.

“I think you will, too. The world needs more good men like you. Mattie saw your true potential the day she met you.”

Hugh hid what he feared might be a telltale red in his cheeks by glancing at his watch. “I'd better get downstairs to my office. Time for another batch of bug juice. You know, I'm actually starting to like the stuff.”

“You like it because you know Mattie spends an inordinate amount of time and energy concocting it just for you.”

“That's how I knew for certain that she still loved me,” Hugh admitted. “I figured she wouldn't go to all that trouble to feed me right if she didn't care about me. You'll be at the wedding?”

“Wouldn't miss it for the world. Evangeline is designing the bridal gown, I hear. Should be a sight to behold. I wonder if it will be in red.”

Hugh was still laughing when he got off the elevator and walked into his office to pour himself a glass of bug juice.

Mattie paid for her cup of herbal tea and carried it over to the table where two extraordinarily good-looking men in their early thirties were waiting for her. Both men were wearing expensive Italian-cut linen jackets over their equally expensive designer shirts and trousers. Both had an air of casual, urbane elegance. Both also had physiques to die for. Mattie smiled to herself. It wasn't every day a woman got to sit down with a couple of hunks like this.

“Gentlemen,” she announced as she put her tea down on the table and seated herself on a delicate wire-frame chair, “do I have a deal for you.”

“We're listening,” one of them said equably.

“You've got our full attention,” the other murmured, sipping cappuccino with languid grace.

Mattie proceeded to lay out her plans in precise detail. She ran through the bulk of her proposal and then added a rider. “There's just one other thing.”

“Anything for you, Mattie, you know that.”

“I'd like a guarantee that for the next two years you will agree to show the works of Flynn Grafton.”

“Don't be ridiculous,” the first man drawled. “You don't have to ask us for a written guarantee. We would kill for Grafton's work. Saw it at the opening the other night. Fabulous. Absolutely fabulous.”

Mattie nodded. “Good. I thought you'd agree. Then you like