Just One Taste...(40)

He'd earned the right for a slice of happiness of his own.

As they escorted Candy to the door, Vanessa got her e-mail address,  promising to send the chicken-salad recipe, and Lucas had no doubt  they'd be fast friends in no time. Vanessa had a way of collecting  people, causes and friends and whipping them into a supportive network  as expertly as she swirled meringue and icing.

Without saying anything, he also added Candy to his projects. There had  to be a way to pass money to a few people in Daytona, who'd pass it on  to her-enough, at least, for her to finish school without stripping, if  she chose to.

But, hell, maybe she felt empowered taking off her clothes. Maybe she  wanted to be a proper paralegal by day and a wild woman by night.  Whatever her choice, he'd see she found what she needed. Vanessa would  no doubt support him.

But would she love him?

Did she love him? She'd kissed him. Her eyes had been soft with welcome.  But did she just want to go on as before? He wanted more. He wanted all  of her.

He wanted her love. And especially her trust.

"Why did you bring him into this?" her father asked the moment the door closed behind Candy.

Vanessa glanced at him for a brief second, then she shrugged. "He was  already in. And I knew he'd be polite and respectful to Candy, while you  might let your temper rule."

The swallowed-a-guppy look appeared briefly, then he smiled. "And you were right."                       
       
           



       

She kissed her father's cheek. "And don't you forget it. Now, who's helping with the dishes?"

The spell she'd cast over both him and Joseph-God, it might kill him to  refer to him by his first name, but he was doing it anyway-worked its  weird magic, since Lucas found himself rinsing dishes and wiping  countertops beside a Southern legal icon second only to John Grisham.

He wanted to get Vanessa alone, but this meeting was under her  direction, and he wanted her to have control. He'd also like to know how  she'd managed everything so smoothly.

"You didn't seem all that surprised by Candy's generosity," he said as he returned the last dish to the cabinets.

A mug of herbal tea cupped between her palms, Vanessa leaned against the counter. "I wasn't-at least not completely."

Joseph slung a towel over his shoulder, then lifted his eyebrows in the  same surprised expression Lucas had seen so often in his daughter over  the last few weeks.

"I found out she's studying to be a paralegal," Vanessa continued, "so  she knows something about the law. If she had a copy of the will, and  she intended to challenge Dad in court, why didn't she just file a suit?  Why warn the opposing side with a private meeting at his home? She'd  had to have retained a lawyer to make the challenge, and he or she  certainly wouldn't have recommended such a meeting. So, I assumed she  had something else on her mind. I really wasn't sure what until she  showed up at the door."

"What did she say?"

"Nothing really. But she wore a beautifully cut suit, one she'd taken  time to match with pristine shoes and a briefcase. If she was in this  for the money, she would have shown up in a red leather miniskirt."

"How do you know that?" her father asked.

"It's in the rebellion code."

"That red bra."

"There you go."

Her father looked so horrified, she obviously decided he needed comfort.  She set aside her mug, crossed to him and hugged him. "Your buddies  know lingerie exists, you know."

Joseph reddened. "Under the right circumstances … "

"You guys are cheering about leather and lace with the best of them,"  she said with a wink. "At the next men's club meeting I'm going to  conduct a survey."

"Vanessa, please … "

She kissed him again, then stepped out of his arms. Her gaze shifted to  Lucas, and the emotion she'd obviously been hiding peeked out again, as  it had the first moment he'd arrived.

His heart jumped in response.

"I also invited Lucas," she said, moving into him, sliding her palms  down his sides, "because I wanted him to know I trusted him. I wanted  him to know I trusted him with my most precious commodity. My family.  And my heart."

Sweet relief rushed over him, and Lucas folded her next to his body. "You have mine, you know."

She slid one hand up his chest, then wrapped it around his neck. "I know. I'm not scared anymore."

"Good, because I'm terrified."

"I can fix that. I'm going to kiss him, Dad," she added.

"Please allow me the courtesy of leaving the room first."

"You'd better hurry."

With a mischievous smile, her lips connected with Lucas's. He poured his  fear, frustration, relief and love into her. She gave back her passion.  She shared her warmth and her devotion.

The anger and betrayal he'd seen in her eyes the night she'd left his  apartment was a sight he never wanted to witness again. He'd work the  rest of his life to be sure that never happened. He'd support her and  protect her always.

"I want a commitment," he said as they parted for air.

"Okay."

"I want you to move in with me."

"Okay."

He stared down at her in surprise. "You will? Hell, if it was that easy I  would have suffered less torture over the past three days."

"Would that question have come before or after you admitted blackmailing my father?"

"Mmm, well-"

She laid her finger over his lips. "Let's just agree to a moratorium on blackmailing."                       
       
           



       

"I can't be redeemed overnight, you know."

"True. No blackmailing unless I'm a partner, and I get to shower first in the morning."

"Let's not go crazy."

"How about we shower together?"

"Deal. Let's kiss to seal our first compromise."

They did and so thoroughly it took him a few moments to realize they  weren't in his kitchen, but in Vanessa's parents'. Breathing hard, with  her pinned by his hardened body against the counter, he asked, "What do  you say about taking the rest of the day off and continuing to  compromise in bed?"

She grinned. "I say, lead on."

They left with only a hollered "See you later, Dad" in the direction of  the living room. Lucas figured he might never be completely welcomed in  the Douglas mansion, but he also knew both he and Joseph would make  their own concessions to keep Vanessa happy.

At his apartment, he led her to the balcony rather than the bedroom.

"Uh, counselor," Vanessa said, glancing around cautiously, "I'm adventurous, but it is two o'clock in the afternoon."

"My last memory of being out here wasn't pleasant. I wanted to make a new one."

As he drew her into his arms high above the city he'd decided to make  his new home, the love and acceptance he'd waited a lifetime to see  beamed back at him from her eyes. He intended to hold on to that  precious emotion. "I love you, chère."

She traced her finger across his bottom lip. "I love you."

"I'll never stop."

"Me, either."

He leaned close, so their mouths nearly touched. "You were great today. We make a pretty good team."

"We certainly do."

"You didn't eat lunch. Are you sure you're not hungry?"

"I am, but only for dessert."

"You ate all the chocolate the other day."

"Not that kind of dessert. This kind. Just a taste-for now." And she pulled his head toward her waiting lips.