No Way Out

  The word pawn was, of course, never used.

  As for his brother's decision to retire from politics, Connor addressed that by explaining that the threat to Stephen's family had shaken him badly and caused him to reevaluate his priorities. Being a Stratford was hard enough. It meant living in the public eye on a constant basis. Being a Stratford and in politics meant exposing his family to more danger than Stephen was willing to risk. So, while his commitment to Leaf Brook and to the State of New York as a whole was as strong as ever, he'd decided to fulfill that commitment through less personally hazardous channels.

  * * *

  The result of the interview was to heighten the already widespread empathy and pride that had been intensifying since the story of Brian's kidnapping first got out—empathy for Mayor Stratford and all he'd endured and pride in his determination to protect his family at all costs. His political followers were disappointed but supportive. After all, he might be retiring from political life, but he was doing it with honor and achievement. Ultimately, he'd rid the city of an animal like Greg Matthews and a crook like Philip Walker, He'd taken care of his constituents, as always. And when he realized he could no longer do that without reservation or compromise, he was ethical enough to walk away rather than stick around and do a half-assed job.

  In short, in the eyes of Leaf Brook residents, Mayor Stratford stepped up to become an even greater hero.

  * * *

  Of course, there were a few details Connor neglected to touch on in his interview.

  One was the unofficial deal they'd cut with Martin Hart. Marty had agreed to sit on what he knew about Stephen's gambling, including his temporary misappropriation of campaign funds, in exchange for his resignation. The police chief's decision was rooted not only in loyalty and compassion but in common sense and reason. Stephen had done great things for Leaf Brook, including throwing his full support behind the needs of the police department. Plus, he was a good man, a decent man, and Marty respected him— weaknesses or not In the police chief's opinion, Stephen had already paid dearly for his indiscretions. He'd been beaten and blackmailed and had come close to losing his wife and son. He'd been pushed to the limit, and he was owning up to it by seeing a therapist who'd help keep him on the road to recovery. Whether for his own future or that of the city and the state, he'd resigned as mayor and relinquished his political future.

  Enough was enough. Marty was more than happy to let Stephen leave office with an emotional sendoff and an untarnished reputation.

  Then there was Harrison Stratford, whose reaction had been anything but agreeable. He'd pitched a fit, blasting Stephen from today until next week when he heard what his older son intended to do with his future.

  Stephen had blasted him right back, armed with a conviction that Connor had never seen and a self-confidence that was indicative of the progress he'd made. He laid it all on the line—from the childhood manipulation that had screwed him up, to dreams their father was living vicariously through him, to his fiat-out, unequivocal declaration that he was now going to live his life, not his father's. As for whether or not Harrison would ever be a part of that life, the jury was still out.

  Their father was flabbergasted. Actually, it was the first time Connor had ever seen the man speechless. The interesting part was that despite his bitter disappointment and anger, Connor could swear that Stephen had earned their father's respect for the first time.

  It was fascinating how things worked out. Stephen got a shot of much-needed self-esteem, and their father got a shot of equally needed humility.

  Things with Cliff had been almost as dicey. Obviously, his relationships with both Stephen and Nancy had taken huge hits. He was painfully aware of that. Still, fueled by a decade of friendship, he'd driven to their house the day after Brian's safe return to express his relief and, once again, his contrition.

  Stephen could have thrown him out. But he didn't. He, better than anyone, understood human weakness and the impact it could have on one's life. He also understood the amount of guts it had taken Cliff to come to their home and face them, not to mention the courage it had taken to own up to his failings, face his mistakes head-on, and try to rectify them.

  Stephen would be a damned hypocrite if he ignored the parallel between Cliff's situation and his. And since he was moving on, didn't he owe Cliff a chance to do the same? Ultimately, he'd talked it out with Nancy, and she'd agreed. They'd try to put their friendship with Cliff back on track.

  The three of them began together by dissolving Stephen's senatorial campaign, carefully refunding every dollar that had been contributed. It was a symbolic step as much as an absolute one, severing a piece of the past that they were more than happy to bid good-bye.

  After that, there were legal ideas for Stephen and Cliff to bat around as Stephen reopened his law practice. Maybe someday there would even be cases to collaborate on. On the social front, Nancy had an interesting report for Stephen when she came home from one of her matron-of-honor gown fittings for Julia and Connor's wedding. Julia had decided to pair off Robin Haley and Cliff at the reception. Subscribing to the old adage that opposites attract, she was convinced that the two of them would hit it off. And, having met Robin that day at the bridal salon, Nancy had to agree.

  The outlook appeared promising. Especially after Nancy teasingly assured Stephen that aside from the fact that they were both natural blondes, she and Robin bore not the slightest resemblance to each other.

  With a wedding to look forward to and so many new beginnings in the works, life was suddenly filled with hope.

  And the necessary building—and rebuilding—was begun.

  * * *

  Epilogue

  August 26

  The silver LearJet sliced through the night sky. Its motion was smooth, the steady hum of its engines a soothing purr that shut out any other sounds. It had lulled her to sleep. Now, it coaxed her awake.

  Julia Stratford stirred, her gaze automatically flickering to her wrist to see the time. According to her watch, which was the only thing she was wearing, she'd been asleep for about an hour.

  She sighed, gazing out the window of Connor's private jet.

  Outside was the moon, a spattering of stars, and, way down below, the Pacific Ocean. Inside was only the two of them.

  At twenty-five thousand feet, the world seemed very far away.

  Feeling languid and happy, Julia snuggled closer to her husband. They were entwined on the cabin's plush divan, her body draped over his, their clothing a tangle on the floor. This mode of travel had become a favorite of theirs as they'd winged their way from Europe to the Far East to Hawaii over the past few months.

  "Hey, sleepyhead," Connor greeted her softly, his fingers drifting lightly up and down her spine. "Did you have a nice nap?"

  "I never sleep on planes," she informed him, turning her face so she could brush her lips across his chest "I'm not relaxed enough."

  "That's a shame. Then again, we just found out that you have other reasons for needing your rest now. Right?" His hand slid around to cup her breast, his thumb skimming lightly over the nipple, teasing it into a tight, hard point.

  "Right," she managed.

  "Although, the way I remember it, you seemed pretty relaxed when you drifted off." His thumb rasped more fully across her nipple—once, twice—then again and again. "Or was that my imagination?"

  "N-no. I was relaxed." She shivered. "But not anymore."

  "No. Not anymore." He lifted her up to his mouth, tugging at her nipple until she cried out, then shifting to do the same to its mate. He loved how responsive she was, now more so than ever.

  Like her recent fatigue, that was for a specific—and spectacular—reason.

  The very thought of it was enough to make him reach for her again, settle her astride him.

  They made love with the same hungry intensity as always, the pleasure so acute it was almost unbearable.

  When it was over, Julia drew a shuddering breath, whispering Connor'
s name as she sank against him, going blissfully limp.

  A twinge of worry inserted itself, one that hadn't been there before that morning's confirming test. "Julia?" Connor studied her, lying utterly stack against him. She looked a little too wiped out to suit him, and his brows knit with concern. "Was it too much?"

  "Urn-urn," she refuted, easing his angst with a slight shake of her head. "Not even a little. It was perfect. We're perfect."

  "Which we?" he persisted. "You and me we? Or you and..."

  "All of us. You and me ..." Her palm slid between them, rested against her abdomen. "And me and the baby. Stop worrying."

  "Forget it. I've just started." He sifted strands of her hair between his fingers. "You're sure you made that appointment with your doctor?"

  Julia began to laugh. "Connor, I'm pregnant, not senile. I called from our hotel room. I've got an appointment the day after tomorrow. But I described my symptoms to the nurse and then again to my mother, whom you also insisted I call. Both RNs assured me that everything I'm experiencing is perfectly normal. My parents are thrilled, by the way."

  "I'm glad. Still, I'll feel better after you've been examined."

  "Maybe for an hour or two you will." Julia propped her chin on Connor's chest. "Then you'll start worrying about the next phase. Honestly, I thought venture capitalists had nerves of steel."

  'They do. With investments, not pregnant wives."

  She reached up and traced the line of his jaw. "You are happy about the baby, aren't you?"

  "Happy?" Connor caught her wrist, brought her palm to his lips. "I've been fantasizing about getting you pregnant since the first time we made love."

  "Me, too," she admitted softly.

  "You're going to make an incredible mother." Connor could just picture her nurturing and loving their child, providing all the fundamentals that he'd missed out on. Things he'd never regarded as viable, much less necessary. Her idealism, her sensitivity, and that core of inner strength—she'd make the kind of mother every child should have.

  "I love watching you with Brian " Julia told him, tracing his mouth with her fingertips. "I always did. You come alive, let down your guard. I always wished you'd do that more often."

  "And now?"

  She smiled a radiant smile that warmed Connor inside and out "Now that guard's down for good, at least with me." She sobered, a tender glow in her eyes. "You're going to make a spectacular father. I can't wait to see you with our child."

  That swell of emotion that still caught him off guard each time he felt it tightened his chest. Theirs was going to be one lucky baby. Just as he was one lucky man.

  "I love you, Mrs. Stratford," he murmured huskily.

  A tiny shiver rippled through Julia. "Is it possible to be this happy?"

  "Not just possible, permanent. You can count on it." He reached down and pulled a blanket over them. "Now, rest. You and the baby need it. And if you don't, just junior me."

  "I can manage that." Julia sighed as Connor wrapped the blanket more securely around them. "Mmm ... I hope we don't hit turbulence," she murmured. "This would be a very inconvenient time to have to put on our seat belts."

  Connor chuckled, his arms tightening around his wife. "Don't worry. My pilot said we had clear skies between Hawaii and the mainland. Which means another few hours before we have to think about turbulence." He nuzzled her hair. "At least, the atmospheric kind."

  Julia considered that. "I just realized—after this trip, we've officially joined the Mile-High Club."

  "Sweetheart, after this trip, we're Gold Club members."

  Her breath of laughter wanned his skin. "I guess that's true. We've taken almost a dozen plane trips since we left in June. Most of them have ended up like this."

  "Um-hum. Every one that exceeded two hours. As for the shorter flights, we made up for those when we reached our hotel rooms "

  "Does that mean we get frequent flyer miles? Because I'd love to cash them in and do this again someday."

  "Someday. But not for a while. I have other plans for you—for our family. A little surprise I've been working on."

  An intrigued lift of her brows. "What kind of surprise?"

  Connor's expression said he'd been savoring this moment. "Our house."

  Julia's head came up. "Our what?"

  "Our house." A corner of his mouth lifted at the excitement in her voice. "I conferred with your parents, got a better idea of what you'd like. I realized I was taking a risk, that you might be royally pissed that I did mis as a surprise. But I wanted to give it to you as a belated wedding gift."

  "Connor." She was having trouble processing the enormity of what he was telling her. "You bought us a house?"

  "Well, it's not a house yet," he corrected, gauging her reaction to see if she was thrilled or furious. "It's a site. It'll be a house in about six months."

  "Where is this site?"

  "About twenty minutes north of Stephen and Nancy's place, on ten of the most gorgeous wooded acres you've ever seen. It's less than a half hour from your school and just a little farther than that from your parents. It also has easy access to Manhattan. So we've got proximity to our families and our work. I bought the land right after you got out of the hospital. Then I commissioned a top-notch architect and gave him the specs your parents and I came up with. He drew up the plans, along with a few ideas for layout variations, so you can choose whichever floor plan you like best. And I'll leave all the decorating to you, starting with the nursery. The building permit has been issued. The construction crew is poised and waiting. All you have to do is give the drawings your stamp of approval, and the groundbreaking can begin."

  Julia was still staring dazedly at him. "You said it would be ready in about six months?"

  "Yup. Five if we push it. Which we'd better, now that I think about it. The baby's probably due at the beginning of April. I want you all settled in with plenty of time to spare." A decisive nod. "We'll be in by February first"

  There wasn't a doubt in Julia's mind that they would be. Connor Stratford made things happen. More than that, he moved mountains.

  "Till then, we've got your apartment and mine," he concluded. "We can follow our original plan—live in the city and the suburbs. But for the future, for us and our kids, I want roots." He broke off, searching her face for a final verdict. "Is that okay? Because if you're not happy, I'll sell the house right after it's built."

  "Don't you dare." Julia rose up and gave him a long, effusive kiss. "I'm just stunned. I can't believe you managed all this. As for selling, forget it. This is one investment you're holding on to" Her lighthearted banter vanished, and she kissed him again, this time slowly, deeply. "Thank you," she whispered. "You thought of everything. You're amazing."

  A heated look darkened his eyes, and his embrace tightened as he drew her mouth back to his. "Amazing, huh? Well, we've still got a long trip home. I'll show you just how amazing I am."

  August 27

  Brian was hopping around like a jumping bean on the observation deck of the airport as he waited for his uncle's private jet to land.

  "Dad, where are they?" he demanded.

  Stephen leased back on the bench he and Nancy were sitting on and looped an arm around his wife's shoulders. "Let's see." He squinted, searching the brightly lit sky through the glass-paned walls. "I'd say, about there." He pointed off to the west.

  "I don't see anything," Brian announced, following his father's line of vision. "How do you know that's where they are?"

  "Because Uncle Connor called me a half hour ago and said they'd be landing within the hour. Which means they're almost close enough to see."

  "If you say so." Brian didn't sound too convinced. He continued to dart from spot to spot, trying to get a better view of the runway that would serve as his uncle's landing strip.

  Nancy grinned, resting her head on Stephen's shoulder.

  'Tired?" he asked, pressing a kiss into her hair. "We were up pretty early this morning."

  "Surpris
ingly, no. I guess I'm excited. I'm really looking forward to having the newlyweds home. I'm sure they have lots to tell us."

  "And we have lots to tell them."

  "True." Nancy smiled and tipped up her chin so she could see her husband. "Do they know your father's asked you to serve as counsel on that huge corporate acquisition?"

  "Nope." A wry grin. "I wanted to see Connor's face when I told him that our father came to the surprising, if belated, conclusion that I'm actually a pretty good lawyer."

  "A very good lawyer," Nancy amended. "You know Harrison well enough to know he doesn't compromise where business is concerned. No bones are thrown, not even to family. He works only with the best. Period. You just happen to be the best."

  "Spoken like an objective bystander," Stephen teased lightly. He silenced his wife's objections by pressing a finger to her lips. "Seriously, Nance, I appreciate your vote of confidence. It means everything, coming from you. As for my father, who knows what makes him tick? Maybe he's finally caught on to the fact that I'm not going to change my mind and run for office, no matter what he says or does. Maybe this is his way of accepting my decision. After months of a cold war standstill, maybe he's elevating my status to lukewarm, especially with the news you and I just gave him. Maybe he's finally catching on to the fact that family means more than a name to protect and a financial empire to bequeath. After all, he nearly blew whatever flimsy relationships he had with Connor and me by conspiring with Walker. That might have shaken him up enough to make him think. I hope so, for his sake. But either way, it's his problem, not ours."

  It was the truth. In fact, Stephen was as emotionally untouched by his father's job ofier as he was intellectually fired up. Whatever anger and bitterness he'd felt toward the man who'd sculpted his life like a piece of clay had faded these past few months. Thanks to hours of soul-searching therapy, he'd gotten to know himself a lot better He was able to separate his own weaknesses from his father's, to take responsibility for the former and detach himself from the latter.