LITMIR.BIZ

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were, after all, the one with all the broken bones each time something went awry.”

      “But it was Rand who masterminded the situations.”

      “We only have your word for that,” she said, smiling with the good memories they had once shared. “As I remember, Rand has a completely different story.”

      “Ask Elizabeth. I’m sure Rand has told her the truth.”.

      “I know Elizabeth,” Kaitland said. “And I’m sure she wouldn’t divulge a secret Rand might share.”

      Max’s smile immediately dimmed. Kaitland realized the issue of trust between Rand and Elizabeth had reminded Max of the betrayed trust he felt Kaitland had dealt him. “If you’ll excuse me, Max. I need to get upstairs and make sure everything has been moved,” she said abruptly. “I’ve got Darlene sitting with the little ones right now. She’ll be helping me out as I need it. After making sure Sarah has a menu for the children, I’ll go relieve Darlene. Bobby and Maddie should be awake by then and I’ll take them outside to play until the room is ready. You’ll have your office back and can work in peace.”

      Max nodded. “If they need anything, come tell me.”

      Kaitland imitated Max’s nod, so formal, polite and distant “I’ll do that”

      She stood and strode from the room.

      Max sighed, his rigid posture deflating the minute Kaitland was out of sight. She’d just had to bring up those pictures. It seemed like only yesterday when a courier had hand-delivered the package to him. Thinking it was something Rand had sent over from the store, Max had strolled into his office/gym in his room upstairs. He was running late. Kaitland was due any minute and he still had his cuff links to apply and his jacket to slip into. He’d bought a special gift, a matching necklace to go with the ring he planned to give her tonight. Oh, they were engaged, but the ring she had worn was his mother’s. He’d asked her to wear that until he found the perfect ring for her—which he’d discovered and which had just been delivered that day. A beautiful teardrop emerald surrounded with diamonds. The wedding band was emeralds with clusters of diamonds around them. It was exquisite. And to go with the ring was a matching necklace. He knew the color would bring out the glow of Kaitland’s eyes, accentuate the gold highlights in her hair.

      He could hardly wait to present it to her over dinner.

      Grabbing his letter opener, he’d slit the manila envelope, tipping it so the papers would slide out.

      Pictures had slid out instead. Pictures and a note demanding money.

      Pictures of Kaitland and Senator Richardson as he kissed her, his arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly to him. A picture of Richardson falling onto the bed with her while her hands tangled in his jacket, her own leg showing up to her thigh. Another of the senator’s hand pulling her dress from her shoulder while her head was flung back in abandon.

      His face had flushed hot before every bit of blood had drained from it He’d dropped into a chair, certain he was going to pass out. Then he’d thrown up.

      His stomach had twisted with rage. He’d wanted to go out and destroy the senator with his bare hands. And Kaitland. He’d almost cried over the pain of her betrayal. He probably would have, had Sarah not chosen that moment to tell him Kaitland was there.

      Instead, holding on to every shred of dignity he could muster, he’d marched downstairs and dropped the pictures in her lap, wanting her to break down and tell him they were a lie. Even though he knew they couldn’t be, he wanted her to tell him that.

      But when she’d paled and looked guiltily up at him, he’d known the truth. She was seeing the senator. All of her odd skittishness the past month suddenly made sense. And he’d thought it had been because he hadn’t given her the official engagement ring yet The joke had been on him. She hadn’t wanted a ring, was probably flinching at the thought of having to wear it when she was interested in someone else.

      He’d never felt such pain or betrayal as in that moment, especially when he accused her and she didn’t deny it. No, she’d simply stood, with an unfathomable look in her eyes, and turned and walked out the door.

      And he hadn’t seen her since.

      In five long years.

      Except in his dreams. Yet those dreams were less and less frequently, and through prayer he had been certain he had put her behind him.

      Then she showed up on his doorstep, just when he was finally going forward again with his life. He’d found his niche at work, had plenty to keep him busy, had even been thinking about asking his secretary out, though he wasn’t really interested in her romantically.

      “Katie.” He whispered her name out loud, shuddering at the feelings just saying her name evoked. “And I’m fool enough to keep you on, even when I realized what you’re here for.”

      Well, what had he hoped her to be here for? To start up their relationship again? Preposterous. It was way too late for that. He should have known she was here for the kids, not to see him. But for one tiny moment he had forgotten everything. When she’d first walked through the door, he had remembered the feeling of joy, of contentment, before the ugly memories had rushed in.

      “I was a fool,” he repeated. “A total fool if I think I’m going to get any work done with you in this house.”

      Hearing his own weak voice, he vowed not to let Kaitland Summerville interrupt his life in the least. No, he would continue to work, would ignore her presence, would get on with his life as he’d been doing for the past five years. And she wasn’t going to stop him.

      Standing, he left the library, heading toward his office. She was not going to bother him in the least. Everything was going to proceed according to his neat little schedule, and peace would again reign in his house.

       Chapter Five

      “Sarah! Katie! Get in here!”

      Peace, indeed, he thought sourly. Had it only been a half hour ago he had thought that? “Darlene, grab Maddie. No! Not the fax—”

      The crash sounded all the way into the hall.

      “I’m so sorry, Mr. Stevens. I thought they were asleep so I just ran to the bathroom…”

      Max looked in dismay to the overturned fax machine. The beep of an incoming fax had obviously been the culprit behind the kids’ untimely wakening. But the fax wasn’t the only casualty. His desktop had been cleared and Bobby sat in the middle of it, eating a pencil.

      Maddie was covered with dirt from the plant she had dug up, one of his Easter lilies or prayer plants or something. He wasn’t sure of the name of the plant that opened only occasionally. The tan carpet was dotted with little footprints that reminded him of a bear cub. It looked as if one of the children—probably Maddie since he knew her propensity for dancing—had padded in little circles all over the floor.

      Running to Bobby, Max immediately removed the pencil from the child’s mouth, only to find a rubber band in his mouth, too, and…“Ouch!” He jerked his finger back, looking at the red swollen digit.

      Bobby simply grinned toothily at him then spit out what looked like his eraser…or what was left of it. “Open up,” Max said, wanting to check, but afraid to stick his finger back in there.

      “Oh, no, Maddie. No. No!”

      Max looked over at Darlene and groaned. The contracts his secretary had sent over were demolished. Even now Darlene was digging pieces of paper out of Maddie’s mouth. Those that the little girl hadn’t tried to eat were covered with muddy little paw prints.

      “What happened?” Kaitland came running into the room, her eyes widening in despair at the signs of chaos. She hesitated, not sure which child to

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