Her Kind of Hero by Diana Palmer Page B

you’d want to talk to him, after so much time had passed and after what he’d said to you. He feels bad about that.”
    He leaned forward. “If that’s so, when he had the heart attack, why wasn’t I told?”
    â€œI called the only number I had for you,” she said. “I never got an answer. The hospital said they’d try to track you down, but I guess they didn’t.”
    Could it really be that simple? he wondered. “That was at theold house, in Nassau. It was disconnected three years ago. The number I have now is unlisted.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you ask Eb Scott or Cy Parks?”
    â€œI don’t know them,” she said hesitantly. “And until very recently, when this Lopez thing made the headlines, I didn’t know they were mercenaries.” She averted her eyes. “I knew you were acquainted with them, but I certainly didn’t know that you were one of them.”
    He took a slow breath. No, he remembered, she didn’t know. He’d never shared that bit of information with either her or Jack Steele.
    â€œI wrote to you, too, about the heart attack, at the last address you left us.”
    â€œThat would have been forwarded. I never got it.”
    â€œI sent it,” she said.
    â€œI’m not doubting that you did. I’m telling you that it never got to me.”
    â€œI’m really sorry,” she told him. “I did try, even if it doesn’t look like it. I always hoped that you’d eventually phone someone and I’d be able to contact you. When you didn’t, well, I guess Dad and I both figured that you weren’t interested in what happened back here. And he did say that he’d been very cruel in what he said to you when you left.”
    â€œHe was. But I understood,” he added.
    She smiled sadly. “He loves you. When this is over, you should make peace with him. I think you’ll find that he’ll more than meet you halfway. He’s missed you terribly.”
    â€œI’ve missed him, too.” He could have added that he’d missed her, as well, but she wasn’t likely to believe him.
    He started to speak, but he felt the boat slowing. He smiled. “We must be coming up to the pier. Come on. It will be nice to have a comfortable bed to sleep in tonight.”
    She nodded, and followed him up to the deck.
    Her eyes caught sight of the house, on a small rise in the distance, long and low and lighted. She could see arches and flowers, even in the darkness, because of the solar-powered lights that lined the walkway from the pier up to the walled estate. She caught her breath. It was like a house she’d once seen in a magazine and daydreamed about as a child. She had the oddest feeling that she was coming home…

6
    â€œW hat do you think?” Micah asked as he helped her onto the ramp that led down to the pier.
    â€œIt’s beautiful,” she said honestly. “I expect it’s even more impressive in the daylight.”
    â€œIt is.” He hesitated, turning back toward the men who were still on the boat. “Bojo! Make sure we’ve got at least two guards on the boat before you come up to the house,” he called to his associate, who grinned and replied that he would. “Peter can help you,” he added involuntarily.
    Callie didn’t seem to notice that he’d jettisoned both men who’d been friendly with her. Micah did. He didn’t like the idea of his men getting close to her. It wasn’t jealousy. Of course it wasn’t. He was…protecting her from complications.
    She looked around as they went up the wide graveled path to the house, frowning as she became aware of odd noises. “What’s that sound?” she asked Micah.
    He smiled lazily. “My early warning radar.”
    â€œHuh?”
    He chuckled. “I keep a flock of geese,” he explained, nodding toward a fenced area where