Undaunted by Kate Douglas Page B

anymore. The bastard had methodically destroyed what few personal belongings she’d brought to San Francisco during the past three break-ins at her last two residences. She couldn’t let herself think about the past, the small treasures she’d lost, the mementos she’d never be able to replace.
    It was almost as if he was systematically removing every trace of Kathleen Margaret Malone from the planet. When all her things were gone, she’d be next.
    Without warning, Kat leaned over and threw up in the sink.
    Shuddering, she raised her head and stared at herself in the mirror. The fingers of her left hand traced the firm contours of her belly and ordered herself to get a grip. He hadn’t killed her yet.
    Kat rinsed her mouth and brushed her teeth. Carefully she washed her face and hands. She knew she’d never feel clean as long as she stayed in this house, but still she lingered. She was very aware of Seamus O’Rourke waiting, probably impatient as hell, in the main room. Why did he bug her so much? Her rational mind appreciated the fact he’d offered her a place to stay until she could get something more permanent, but the rest of her brain found him overbearing and arrogant as all get out. As irritating as Riley’d been easygoing.
    However, unless she wanted to spend the next few nights in some motel room, Kat figured she might as well take him up on his offer of a place to sleep. At least until she could find an apartment. Hopefully, one with a decent security system and a landlord who didn’t get his kicks staring through window blinds.
    Riley’d never mentioned a brother. Now that she thought of it, Riley hadn’t mentioned a lot of things. Her mind kept straying back to the wife. The tall, gorgeous blonde wearing the designer suit, standing less than grief-stricken at her husband’s graveside. She’d been leaning heavily on the arm of an equally gorgeous man. From the vibes Kathleen had picked up, she didn’t think Riley would be mourned too long from that quarter.
    Well, dammit, she’d mourn him. He’d given her the best months of her life. She’d even been excited when she found out she was pregnant, though she’d been almost four months along before the changes in her body, the slight thickening of her waist, the persistent nausea, had made her suspect anything. Kat grimaced at her pale reflection in the bathroom mirror. “You always were a bit slow on the uptake, Malone.” She glanced down at her flat belly, amazed there could be a new life growing there. She still couldn’t think of it as a real baby, a child she would someday hold in her arms. In her mind it was just “whatsit.” An anonymous little thing that made her feet and waist swell in what felt like equal proportions. An intruder that activated her barf reflex on a regular basis.
    She’d waited almost a month to tell Riley.
    To be honest, she hadn’t believed it herself. They’d been so careful with protection, the thought of pregnancy hadn’t entered her mind. She’d planned to tell him, though, that last evening when Riley had called and said he was on his way over. Planned to tell him, not certain if he’d be upset or thrilled.
    Still not certain if she was upset or thrilled.
    She’d been hurt when he didn’t show up, but not worried. Riley’d broken dates before but he always had an acceptable excuse, a reason, she realized now, that usually made her feel guilty for mistrusting him. After their missed dinner engagement she’d spent the next three days in court giving a deposition on that damned hijacking case . . . and then she’d picked up the morning paper.
    Picked up the paper and read that Riley James O’Rourke, beloved husband of Clarisse, brother of Seamus, son of the late Mary and Alfred, was dead.
    Another head-on collision on the freeway. Just one more messy accident to tie up the rush-hour traffic and inconvenience hundreds of tired commuters trying to find their way home. With his death, everything in