Forbidden by Pat Warren Page B

managing in this
     short time to get the job done, keeping the reigning powers happy, and keep his opponents at bay. He felt an early, hesitant
     sense of accomplishment.
    Yet something was missing.
    Difficult as it was to admit, that something was Liz, and the joy she’d brought him. He’d thought he could set aside his feelings
     for her, get thoroughly engrossed, wait to develop things further. But he couldn’t get her off his mind. Finally he’d come
     to the only possible conclusion: He loved her.
    She’d brought him a special pleasure that no one else ever had. Not just in bed, but during all the many hours they’d talked,
     sharing their thoughts, their feelings about the future. She was intelligent, quick, talented, and beautiful. It was mostly
     her beauty that had frightened him, his need for her giving her too much power over him; but the recent realization that he
     loved her had erased his fear. He’d been a fool to think he could put a woman like her on ice while he went about securing
     his career. He’d have to remedy the situation immediately.
    He swiveled about, picked up the phone, and dialed her apartment. In a moment the recording came on, explaining that the number
     had been disconnected. Puzzled, he replaced the receiver.
    Had she moved back home with her folks? Doubtful, for she’d wanted to break away from their possessiveness. Maybe she’d moved
     in with her friend Molly. Fitz kept intouch with some of the volunteers down San Diego way. He called his brother in.
    “I’ve been trying to reach Liz, but her apartment number’s disconnected. Do you know if she’s moved in with Molly or where
     she might be?”
    Fitz slowly rearranged his baseball hat as he dropped onto the chair across the desk from Adam. He’d been both dreading this
     moment and wishing it were over. “Yeah, I know where she is. Pacific Beach.”
    Adam frowned. “What’s she doing there?”
    “Setting up housekeeping. She got married, Adam. On Christmas Eve. To Richard Fairchild. I saw it in the San Diego paper a
     couple of weeks ago. I didn’t tell you because… well, what was the point? You weren’t seeing her anymore.”
    Stunned, Adam sat down. Married? How could Liz be married? He could scarcely believe his ears. As close as they’d been for
     all those months, she’d gotten married to someone else almost as soon as he’d left town. He’d told her he’d send for her as
     soon as he could. He’d invited her up for a weekend, and she’d turned him down. Now he knew why.
    Richard Fairchild. He remembered meeting him. Short, thinning hair, overeager. Like a damn puppy. Old enough to be her father.
     She’d once told him that she was content to remain friends with Richard. What had changed her mind and sent her running into
     his waiting arms? What could Fairchild give her that Adam couldn’t?
    “I knew you’d be upset,” Fitz went on, watching Adam’s face, noting the scowl.
    Adam straightened, scooting his chair closer to the desk. “Upset? Hell, no. If she wants to marry that wimp, let her.” He
     directed his stormy gaze out the window, wishing it didn’t hurt so damn much.
    Her marriage had surprised Fitz, too. Watching her with Adam, he’d been certain she cared for no one else. Of course, he hadn’t
     known a lot about women, but Liz hadstruck him as a one-man woman. “Maybe it’s for the best,” he offered lamely.
    “Damn right it is. She almost got me off track, almost had me walking away from my obligations, all the people depending on
     me.” His voice grew soft, low. “Like with Dad. I had a real weakness for Liz.”
    “It’s no sin to fall in love,” Fitz said quietly. No sin, but it surely could take the wind out of a man’s sails if things
     didn’t work out. He ought to know. It had happened to him.
    “Love? You call it love when a man leaves for a few weeks and his woman turns around and marries the first handy guy? If that’s
     love, you can keep it.”
    His