Captive of Fate (14 page)

Alanna had hurriedly packed jeans, T-shirts and one good dress when a knock sounded at the apartment door. She skipped through the living room, turned the lock, and pulled the door open. Matt stood there in his dark green wool uniform, a smile in his dark gray eyes.

“Come here,” he whispered, holding out his arms.

Alanna flew into his embrace, pressing the length of her willowy body against the hard oak of his. “Oh, Matt…” she whispered, nuzzling against the side of his cheek and neck.

She heard him growl and felt the steep grip of his arms wrapping about her. Instinctively, she turned her head, meeting his descending mouth eagerly. Her heart surged with joy, beating wildly against her breast as his mouth came savagely down against her awaiting lips. A wave of heat curled upward through her, leaving her weak and breathless within his powerful, demanding grip. He touched her eyes and lips, trailing a series of kisses down the slender expanse of her neck. Raising his head, he stared at her, his eyes turbulent with barely contained passion. Alanna languished within his embrace, longing to feel the taut hardness of his male body against her. He ran his fingers through her long hair with a wistful look on his face.

“You’ve grown more beautiful,” he whispered, leaning down and kissing her one more time. “God, how I’ve missed you, Babe,” he said thickly.

“I’ve missed you even more,” she whispered breathlessly.

Matt gently released her, unwilling to allow her to leave the shelter of his arms. “A lot of the officers over at the Pentagon think I’ve turned into a daydreamer,” he said, a wry smile on his mouth.

“Why?”

“I keep thinking of you instead of doing my work. If I look out my office window and see the trees, I think of your lovely green eyes. And if I stare at my book cabinet, I’m reminded of the walnut color of your hair and running my fingers through it.”

She sighed, reaching up and kissing him lightly on the mouth. “You’re a hopeless romantic,” she accused gently. “But don’t stop, I love it.”

Matt removed his hat and pulled her inside the apartment. “I’m not a romantic, I just know what I want. Look, let me take five minutes to change into some civilian clothes, and then we’ll get going.” He pulled her against him, giving her a final, earth-shattering kiss that left her feeling weak with need. “I’m going to have a hell of a time keeping my hands off you,” he warned, a dark growl in his voice.

*

Matt handled the twin-engine Aztec with the sureness of experience as he nosed the plane skyward. Once out of the busy traffic centers around Washington D.C., he glanced over at her.

“Nervous?”

She shook her head. “How can I be? I’m in your hands.”

He winked, motioning to a small compartment situated on her side of the cockpit. “Dinner is in there. It will be about two hours before we land at York. There’s coffee and some roast beef sandwiches.”

Alanna busied herself with the preparation of their meal, awed by the beauty of the view at eight thousand feet. The night sky scintillated with a myriad of twinkling stars that looked close enough to reach out and touch. Below, the lights of city after city fled beneath them. They reminded her of jewels set in the velvet blackness of the earth’s crust. The red, green and white lights became rubies, emeralds and diamonds, while sulphur lights were transformed into amber gems.

Drawing up one knee, Alanna rested her coffee against it, finally asking the nagging question that had been lurking in the back of her mind.

“Matt, do you think the senator has given up trying to implicate you?”

He sipped his coffee. “It appears that way. You said that Peggy is acting more friendly?”

“Yes, she’s all smiles now. I have to admit, though, I did do a good job of working with those lobby groups while I was out in California.”

“Naturally. You’re good with people, Alanna.” He grinned. “Look how well you’ve handled me.”

She joined his laughter, and the cabin was filled with the rich sound. “That’s a lie! No one handles you, Matt Breckenridge.”

“Only when I want to be handled,” he agreed. “Well, in another hour we’ll be down, and the girls can mob you this time instead of me,” he commented good-naturedly.

*

John and Evelyn Breckenridge met them at the York airport and Alanna suddenly felt shy. She hung back until Matt put his arm around her waist and brought her forward. John was tall, like Matt. He had dark brown eyes, black hair and a ready smile. Evelyn was petite standing beside the brothers, smiling warmly as she took Alanna’s hands and gripped them with friendly strength.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Alanna,” she said enthusiastically. And then she raised one eyebrow, giving Matt a scolding look. “It’s about time Matt brought you home! Goodness, he called John right after he got back from that relief mission in Costa Rica and told us all about you.” She gave Alanna a quick hug. “You’ve got to be very special,” she whispered, “very special.”

Alanna thought she saw the glitter of tears in the other woman’s hazel eyes but said nothing. Sitting in the back seat with Matt, she was content to listen to the brothers talk. Their conversation centered around John’s trawler, the lobster pots, the change in temperature occurring along the Atlantic seaboard which was forcing the lobster to move in a more southerly direction. Closing her eyes, she was content to feel the warmth of Matt’s family around her. It was a new, wonderful feeling. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed being part of a family. Not until now.

At the door of the Cape Cod house, high above the beach outside York, three girls anxiously waited for the car door to open. Matt helped Alanna out, matching his stride to her own, his arm possessively about her shoulders. He leaned over, looking boyishly delighted. “I’ll bet that Susanah takes a shine to you right off,” he whispered, kissing her brow.

Alanna didn’t have time to respond. The girls squealed with delight, tumbling like playful puppies off the porch and running down the sidewalk.

“Uncle Matt! Uncle Matt!” they shrilled.

Alanna laughed and stood back, watching all three girls attack Matt in unison. Even in the darkness, the porch light revealed that two of the girls were towheads and the third a brunette like her parents. Matt knelt down, laughing and hugging all three of them simultaneously. Squeals of delight, cries of “We missed you!” and “Gimme another kiss!” filled the night. John walked by, grinning. Evelyn simply shook her head and followed her husband into the house.

“Come on in as soon as you can get Matt loose,” Evelyn called laughingly over her shoulder.

The night was chilly, but Alanna was too interested to notice. Inside, a new kind of warmth was glowing within her heart. The little girls loved Matt. She was mesmerized by the boyish quality of his face, the fullness of his laughter and his ability to hug and kiss them without reserve. Thoughts of her aunt and uncle and of what she had missed struck her. And suddenly, without warning, tears filled her eyes.

Matt gently extricated himself, reaching out and drawing Alanna back into the circle of his arm. “Girls, I want each of you to politely introduce yourselves. Let’s start with the smallest here.”

The five-year-old, a child with large gray eyes and dark hair, came forward, awed by Alanna. Alanna knelt down, giving her a tender smile. The little girl put her fingers in her mouth, regarding her shyly.

“You Aunt ‘lanna?” she wanted to know.

Alanna glanced over at Matt who had knelt beside her. Matt laughed, drawing the child into his arms and giving her a quick hug.

“Not yet, Susanah, you little imp. Now be a good girl and give Alanna a welcome home hug.”

Susanah giggled and shyly went to Alanna. She had expected a hug, but instead, the little girl suddenly reached up, her tiny arms encircling Alanna’s neck, and placed a wet kiss on her cheek.

Shaken, Alanna felt tears rolling down her face. She returned Susanah’s gesture, kissing her brow and then touching her silky dark hair.

“You look so much like your father, Susanah,” she whispered.

“She’s the spitting image of John,” Matt agreed. He leaned over, brushing the tears from her cheeks. “Welcome home, Babe,” he whispered.

Something broke loose deep inside her. It took every ounce of control to stop the tears while Matt introduced Libby and Sarah, the blond-headed girls.

“Go on in, girls, we’ll be along in a minute,” Matt ordered.

Susanah was the last to go, still staring wide-eyed up at Alanna. Finally, Alanna leaned down, giving the child a long embrace. “We’ll be right in, honey,” she promised.

Matt watched as the door closed quietly and then put his arm around Alanna. He walked her out beyond the small concrete sidewalk and led her down between the dunes to the darker sand where the waves were crashing inland.

He halted, taking her into his arms, holding her silently. He brushed his cheek against her hair. “You all right?” he asked gently.

“I—no….” Her voice wavered with tears.

“You can cry,” he urged, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. “You’ve been too long without a family, Babe. Consider our family yours.”

She sniffed, the tears making hot trails down her face. Matt provided her with a white handkerchief. “You were right,” she said finally.

“About what?”

“Susanah liking me. She’s so pretty, Matt. I feel my heart expanding like a flower when I think of how she came up and kissed me.”

“She’s exactly like you, guileless and innocent. He caressed her shoulders. “You have so much natural love and affection stored up in you.”

“It’s news to me,” she protested, drying her eyes.

“How could you know? You’ve been holding your emotions in since you were a tiny child.”

Alanna shook her head. “I’ve missed so much,” she whispered tightly.

Matt leaned down, his mouth pressed caressingly against her lips. “Until now, honey,” he said huskily.

She trembled within his embrace, the chill of the night seeping into her light jacket. He held her more closely, his hand pressing her head against his shoulder. “I think this is going to be the most beautiful weekend I’ve ever had,” she murmured, nuzzling against him.

“It will be,” he promised her. “A new chapter in the book of our lives, honey. Come on, I know Ev probably has a late dinner warming up for us. Hungry?”

Alanna looked up into his strong, open face. “Not anymore,” she murmured.

Evelyn had just set two large bowls of steaming clam chowder on the table when they sauntered into the house. The girls, all three of them, greeted them with a chorus of giggles and crowded around them as they sat down.

“John,” Evelyn said, a hint of warning in her voice, “I think it’s well past the girls’ bedtime.”

“Ohh, Mom!” Libby, the ten-year-old, exclaimed, crestfallen.

Alanna turned, smiling at the precocious youngster. “They aren’t bothering us,” she protested.

John halted at the door, grinning. “See, I told you she’d like kids.”

Little Susanah climbed into Alanna’s lap, smiling shyly up at her and then burrowing into her arms, content. Ev rolled her eyes upward.

“Oh, all right!”

A cry of victory went up, and everyone sat down at the table. John brought two more chairs in, pouring coffee for the adults and allowing the girls a small glass of orange juice each. The kitchen was small and crowded, but it glowed with a happiness that Alanna had never encountered. She ate the chowder with relish, not realizing how hungry she had been. Occasionally, she caught Matt watching her out of the corner of his eye. Then he would quirk one corner of his mouth upward, his gray eyes shooting her a look of reassurance. The chatter was nonstop, and Alanna found herself laughing more than she had in years. Susanah loyally remained ensconced in her lap while Alanna finished off the soup.

It was nearly eleven o’clock when Evelyn noted, “I think all the excitement has worn her out.” Susanah had fallen asleep in Alanna’s arms.

“She’s so beautiful,” Alanna whispered, exchanging an intimate glance with Matt.

John rose, stretching his tall, lean body. “The girls have been talking for two weeks of Matt and you coming up. Here, I’ll take her and tuck her into bed.”

Ev smiled warmly. “After all, we didn’t invite you here to play babysitter.”

Reluctantly, Alanna gave up the warm little bundle. “I don’t mind, Evelyn. Believe me, this is exactly what I need after working on the Hill like a slave for the past couple of years.” She winked over at Matt. “Right now I feel like I’ve been rescued by a knight in shining armor and taken away to his castle.”

Evelyn rose, smiling. “Our home isn’t exactly grand by most people’s standards, but do consider it your home, too, Alanna. And as for Matt, he
is
a knight as far as we’re concerned.” The pride in her voice was unmistakable. “Five years ago we lost almost everything we had in a hurricane, Alanna. If it hadn’t been for Matt, John would never have gotten the loan he needed to buy another lobster trawler.” She gave a slight shrug of her shoulders, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “Raising three girls and trying to make ends meet up here forced John to put less insurance on his boat than what was necessary. The hurricane wiped us out.” Ev walked over to Matt, resting her hands against his broad shoulders. “Then this guy comes up on thirty days’ leave and helps us find another house, salvage what little we could, and put a down payment on a new boat.” She leaned over, pressing a kiss to Matt’s brow. “You’re very fortunate to know him, Alanna. Take our word for it.”

Alanna watched Matt, a serious expression on her features. He had the good grace to flush slightly from Evelyn’s praise. Reaching up, he gripped Ev’s hand, squeezing it.

“For someone born in Maine, Ev, you sure get sentimental,” he teased.

Ev gave him one more hug and walked toward the door to the living room. “He’ll never tell you this, Alanna, but Matt has been the mainstay of the Breckenridge family since their parents died. We wouldn’t know what to do without him.”

Matt rose, stretching to his full height. “Being godfather to their three girls hasn’t left me much time
not
to be interested in family concerns,” he drawled.