Kimberly Nee - The McKenzie Brothers (27 page)

He gave her a gentle squeeze. “My part was the easy part. Yours was by far the more difficult job.”

She smiled up at him, then cast a tender glance at their son. “We work well together, wouldn’t you say?”

He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, Heather. God, I wish I could show you how much I love you.”

“There’s no need, Drew. I already know.” She held out the baby. “Would you like to hold him?”

He hesitated. The child was so small, so fragile, Drew was terrified he would crush him. Still, he’d waited his entire life for this moment. “Yes.”

“Put your arms like this,” she instructed. “Support his neck.”

As he took the warm bundle in his arms, Drew instinctively cradled his son close to his body. The boy stirred, his eyes opening to show their deep, slate blue color. “He’s beautiful, Heather. An absolutely perfect little boy.”

“That he is. And as such, he needs the perfect name, don’t you think?” she asked softly, reaching down to stroke the baby’s cheek. She chuckled as the infant automatically turned in her direction, his little mouth opening as if searching for food.

“I agree. What would you like to name him?”

She smiled up at him. “I was thinking, perhaps, Kieran Morgan?”

“Kieran Morgan McKenzie,” he murmured, gazing down into those sleepy blue eyes.

“What do you think?”

He lifted his gaze to meet hers. “I think it’s a perfect name. A perfect name for a perfect child.”

Kieran began to whimper, his tiny fists flailing as his red face grew even redder and the whimpers became full-blown screams. A look of panic swept over Drew’s face as he turned to her.

“I think he might be hungry,” she told him, reaching for the baby.

Drew’s face grew warm as she parted her gown and brought Kieran to her breast. It was the first time he’d ever seen a woman nurse her child. The discomfort drained away however, replaced by a new admiration for his wife.

He carefully shifted to sit beside her, still gazing down as Kieran went to work. “He’s a natural,” he murmured, reaching down to tenderly smooth a hand over the infant’s head.

Heather winced slightly, but then smiled. “Rather like his father, wouldn’t you say?”

He chuckled, leaning close to kiss the top of her head once more. “I don’t suppose I can argue with that, love. But I can promise you that those days are far, far behind me.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

A peaceful calm settled over the town house in Berkeley Square. His relationship restored with his family, Drew could now concentrate on finding Henry Donaldson. The McKenzie clan remained in London for several weeks, with Rebecca fussing over her daughter-in-law and grandson like a mother hen.

Drew closed down Zeus. His heart hadn’t exactly been in the venture, so it wasn’t at all difficult — and resumed his position at Eagleton. This time, he and Garrett would be equal partners, with Garrett overseeing the New Jersey office while Drew would control the European side. For the time being, Drew and Heather planned to remain in London, so it made perfect sense.

Four weeks after Kieran’s birth found Drew and Garrett in a smoky pub down near the harbor. Drew had gotten word that Henry had been seen skulking about the docks in search of another commission and that he frequented the Riverside Tavern on an almost nightly basis. Drew knew if he bided his time, he would eventually come across the skinny bosun’s mate.

Sure enough, Garrett suddenly nudged him. “And the worm has arrived.”

He looked up to see Henry sidling around the entrance to the pub, a cap pulled low over his forehead. He tensed, lowering his pint as he said, “Shall we?”

Garrett grinned. “It’s been a long time since we both pounced on someone.”

“If I remember correctly, the last pouncing took place at Emily Hadley’s wedding. Only I was the pouncee.”

“Ah, but I was soused and I’ve since apologized for that.”

Drew chuckled. “Fair enough.”

They rose from their chairs and made their way around the tables. Henry didn’t notice their approach until it was too late for him to do anything. He froze as each brother took an arm, lifting him easily from his feet.

“How about a little walk, Donaldson?” Drew growled through clenched teeth. “Some fresh air, perhaps? It’s smoky in here.”

Henry’s face went ashen and he responded with an odd gurgling sound, offering no resistance as they escorted him into the alley behind the pub.

Drew was none too gentle as he hurled Henry into the side of the building. “I ought to tear you to pieces,” he growled, pinning his forearm up against Henry’s skinny neck.

“What the — what’re you blathering about?” Henry rasped, his face going from white to red as he struggled to drag air into his lungs.

Garrett stood back, arms folded over his chest. “My, my, what a selective memory we have. You know damn well what he is talking about. Heather Morgan? You filled Darcy Penrose’s head with stories, knowing full well those stories would not remain there, didn’t you?”

Henry flailed his arms helplessly, desperately trying to land a weak blow on Drew. It was no use, though, for Drew was just that far out of reach. “You’re mad!”

Drew’s eyes narrowed as he leaned more weight against his arm. “Am I?” he snarled. “I don’t think so, maggot.”

Henry squeaked then as Drew suddenly stepped back, lifting the pressure from his throat. He sagged back against the grimy stone building, gasping for breath. “What’re you going to do to me?”

A slow smile spread over Drew’s face as he replied, “Your own mother won’t recognize you when I’m finished with you.”

“All of this for a
whore
?” Henry sputtered, rubbing his throat. “She must have some magic between her legs.”

“That
whore
is my
wife
, you son of a bitch,” Drew replied in an icy voice. “And now, I’m going to make certain you don’t recognize yourself.”

Heather patted Kieran’s back gently, wincing as the baby gurgled and then spit up. Rebecca grinned at her. “Perfect. You’re a natural mother, my dear.”

Katherine sighed, slipping her forefinger into the tiny fist. “He is so precious,” she murmured. “May I hold him?”

“Certainly,” Heather replied, holding Kieran out for her to take. “You are his aunt, after all.”

Katherine gathered Kieran in her arms and kissed his forehead. “Oh, you are so adorable,” she cooed, rubbing noses with him. “And, soon you will have another little cousin to play with.”

At that, Rebecca and Heather gasped. “What?” Rebecca asked, eyes wide and glittering.

Katherine looked up with a devilish grin. “Heather wasn’t the only one expecting a little bundle of joy.”

Rebecca engulfed her in a fierce hug. “Oh, Katherine, how wonderful!”

Heather laughed as Rebecca began crying. “And when is the blessed event to take place?”

Katherine shifted Kieran to one shoulder. “October. But Garrett doesn’t know yet, so let’s keep this our little secret, shall we?”

Rebecca wiped her eyes. “Oh, he’ll be thrilled, Katherine. Absolutely thrilled. Another grandchild — oh such wonderful news!” She threw her arms about Katherine once more, this time eliciting a howl of protest from Kieran.

Katherine patted his back gently, soothing him at once. “I suppose I ought to keep this up. Practice whilst I can.”

“You’re welcome to get up every two hours with this little terror,” Heather replied as Katherine passed the baby back to her. “On second thought, it’ll come soon enough. Enjoy sleeping whilst you can.”

Rebecca looked surprised. “You could hire a wet nurse, Heather, so you might get some rest.”

“Oh no.” She shook her head as she nuzzled Kieran. “Drew suggested it, but I want no one else tending our child.”

The front door opened then and the McKenzie brothers filled the doorway to the drawing room. Drew elbowed his brother, saying, “I’m surprised we couldn’t hear the cackling from the street.”

“And where have you two been?” Rebecca asked, affixing them with a knowing stare. “Your father’s been going mad looking for you.”

“I had some business to take care of down at the harbor,” Drew replied easily, coming into the drawing room to lift Kieran to his shoulder. “How is my boy? How is my little man?”

Heather noticed his clothes were a bit wrinkled, a bit mussed, and he smelled a wee bit odd, so she said, “What is going on? What sort of business did you have?”

He leaned over to brush her lips with a kiss. “Nothing you need concern yourself with, love.”

She didn’t believe him, but saw the dangerous glint in his eyes and so decided to let the matter drop. “Very well.”

He cleared his throat, glancing over at his brother. “I don’t know about you, Garrett, but I could go for a bite. Shall we pop into the kitchen and see what’s available?”

He didn’t wait for a response, but passed Kieran back to Heather and left the room. Garrett shrugged at the questioning glances from his wife, mother, and sister-in-law, and said, “A man has to eat,” then hurried after him.

That night, when the house was quiet and Kieran put to bed, Heather curled up into the warmth of her husband’s body. “Time to confess, Drew.”

He draped an arm about her shoulders. “Confess to what, love?”

“What you were doing at the harbor? And don’t think for a moment you’re getting out of answering me.”

He laughed softly, wrapping his arms about her and rolling over to pin her beneath him. “As I said, nothing you need concern yourself with.”

“Drew.”

He ignored the warning tone of her voice as he covered her lips with his. She slid her arms about his neck, her fingers brushing through the hair at his nape. She was content to let him think the matter was forgotten for a moment.

When they parted, he whispered, “I had a score to settle with someone, that is all. I wanted to make certain no one ever so much as whispers another lie about you. It no longer matters where we met, or how we met, and I intend to make damn certain no one ever suggests otherwise.”

She smiled up at him, her eyes searching his. “I love you, Drew.”

“I love you, too, Heather.” He kissed her again. “All that matters is the future. Our future.”

Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears at his whispered sentiments. He was right. She no longer regretted ever having set foot in Coal’s. In fact, she owed Mr. Coal a huge debt of thanks. Had she not been there, she would never have met Drew and, despite all she had gone through to reach this point, she would do it all again.

She started to tell him, but one look into his beautiful cobalt eyes told her she needn’t bother. He already knew.

With that, she pulled him down for a lingering kiss. Sweeping her lips over his ear, she whispered, “Shall I say a few of your love phrases now, darling?”

He growled softly at her breathless words and leaned close to capture her lips in a fierce kiss. When he pulled away, she gave him a sly smile and murmured, “I love what you do to me, Drew. More, please.”

His laughter echoed off the walls as he leaned in again, whispering, “It would be my pleasure, love.”

About the Author

Kim fell in love with historical romance when she was sixteen, and blames it on Kathleen Woodiwiss, since it was her The Flame and the Flower that got her hooked. Not long after finishing it, she sat down to write one herself and now, many years later, she’s still writing them.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Kim still lives there with her husband, two children, a dog, and a handful of gerbils. When she’s not pounding away at the computer keyboard, she does crossword and Sudoku puzzles, knits, breaks wrestling matches between the kids, and occasionally, she gets to read. She’s also a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees, New York Giants, and the New York Rangers. She also loves Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Elton John, and the Rolling Stones.

For more information about Kim and her books, visit her website at:

www.kimberlynee.com

Kim’s books are available at Musa Publishing, including:

The McKenzie Brothers 1: The Pursuit

The McKenzie Brothers 2: Playing with Fire

*The McKenzie Brothers 3: A Perfect Lady

*coming soon