"Later."

"Who was that?"

He glanced up as Mandy wandered into the kitchen in her fuzzy green bathrobe with her hair standing out in all directions. It was after eight and she was just now waking up. Totally unlike his early-bird girl. Marc pulled her into his arms for a kiss. "Good morning, sleepyhead. I was going to come in and see if you were still breathing. Have you ever slept this late before?"

She rolled her forehead back and forth against his chest. "No, but I've never worked like an indentured servant before, either. I have a very demanding boss. It was a long week."

"Poor baby..." One handed, Marc grabbed a cup off the counter and filled it full of coffee. He'd gotten the staples out of his back just yesterday afternoon, though the doctor had used strips of bandage to continue holding the edges of the healing wound together, but that arm was currently wrapped around Mandy. She took the cup without opening her eyes. Marc led her past the kitchen table and out to the couch in the front room. He took the cup out of her hand and set it on the coffee table, sat on the couch, and pulled Mandy into his lap.

She snuggled against him like a fuzzy green kitten. He grabbed her coffee cup and handed it to her. "That was Jake I was talking to," he said. "He and Kaz got in from Italy this morning, and Ben and Lola will be home before dinner, barring any airline issues. They're all going to be here for dinner. Do you think we should ask Theo and Ted to join us?"

Mandy took a sip of her coffee and then laughed. "Are you cooking?"

"No, but I know an excellent restaurant that will deliver a fully cooked prime rib dinner for eight. It sounds a lot easier."

"That it does." She pushed her arms against his chest and leaned back, making eye contact. "Have you thought about where everyone's going to sit? Our table was maxed out at six, and really tight when we added Ted. You might want to think about that. With Theo and Ted coming, that's eight people, five of whom are not small men."

Marc stood and pulled Mandy back to her feet. "I was going to ask you what all was on the schedule for today. Looks like we add shopping for a bigger table to the list. Let's get measurements to see how big we can go in the kitchen without making it too crowded. One good thing about these older houses. They've got big kitchens."

He led Mandy into the kitchen and dug through the junk drawer for the tape measure. With Mandy on one end and him on the other, they figured what size table the room could easily accommodate. Which reminded him ...

"We need to work on the design for the coffee shop. I'm having Theo handle the permits and all of that, but we should decide how it's going to look. Have you thought about that at all?"

"One thing at a time." She jotted down the table measurements and then took another swallow of her coffee. "Okay. I've got the numbers for the table. No mult.i.tasking until the caffeine starts working, so give me a few minutes on the coffee shop stuff. She took another big swallow, set her cup down and stood. "Be right back." Then she kissed him before sashaying out of the room like she was headed onto a stage.

He waited. Walked back to the front room and sat on the couch, realized he heard the shower running, waited some more. It was a good fifteen minutes later when Mandy walked back out wearing an old cotton maxi dress and carrying a binder. She kept it with her as she went back to the kitchen for a refill of coffee, but when she returned, she sat next to him on the couch and set the binder on the coffee table.

He thought about pouting because he really wanted her back in his lap, but instead she opened the binder and started flipping through pages. Many pages, filled with photos of coffee shops from all over the country.

"None of these look exactly like what I want, but there's at least a little bit of every single one that feels right."

She'd definitely done her research. "I like this. The colors you've got in every one of these are really comfortable." He laughed and glanced sideways at her. "Sort of like Alden's office."

She t.i.tled her head and gazed at him with a frown puckering her brows. "There are a few extra things that I think are important, but they'll add to the cost."

"Okay. What?"

"Bulletproof gla.s.s for the front windows, a safe room for employees, but big enough for customers if necessary, a way to lock the front door from behind the counter, and security cameras. Everywhere."

"You don't think that's overkill?"

She shook her head. "Women who go to a shelter are generally there because they've been abused. Some of these men are nuts, and way too many of them have guns. If we're going to provide daycare for the kids and a job for the moms, we have to make the place as safe as we can. That means a panic b.u.t.ton that goes straight to Ben and Ted, even Theo. The women need to feel safe here while they're working."

"I agree." He leaned back against the couch and wrapped his arm around Mandy. There was only a slight tenderness in his left shoulder when he hugged her close. "Since we've been working on this project, I keep thinking ... what if my mother had known there was a safe place she could go and take me? Would she have left him? Or was she too deeply involved to even consider getting away?"

"You'll probably never know, Marc. He could have threatened her with any number of things. Maybe even said he'd take you away from her. She was all alone once her grandmother died. No family anywhere, and maybe no money, at least not until she turned thirty. Plus, the laws then weren't as protective of women. It was legal to beat your wife in this country until 1920, but it wasn't until fifty years later that courts actually began to take it seriously, so in 1984, she might not have had much recourse if he was abusive. There are so many possibilities, but from everything your dreams and memories have told you, it seems the most important thing to her was your safety. My feeling is, she was holding out until she turned thirty and could access her inheritance, but she didn't make it."

He thought about what Mandy had said long after their conversation had ended, after they'd had breakfast and gone back to work with the photos and ideas for the floor plan. Finally, when it was almost lunchtime, he stood and grabbed her hand. "You okay going out in that dress, or is that a 'house only' outfit?"

She laughed. "Definitely house only. Give me a minute." She headed down the hallway to her bedroom, but called out, "Where are we going?"

He followed her. There was no point in missing the chance to see Mandy changing clothes. "Well, we need to buy a table we can have delivered today, so let's do that first. Then I want to see the coffee shop in person with your ideas in mind," he said. "Let's take the binder with us, see what might work best."

He was too late. She already had her jeans on and her bra. The shirt went over her head as he walked into the room.

"Sounds good, but only if I get lunch along the way. I'm starving."

"How do you women stay so thin when you eat as much as you do?"

Laughing, she stopped on her way out the door and gave him a big kiss. "It's all that s.e.x. Burns calories."

Ted and Theo were the last to arrive for dinner. When Marc teased them, Theo draped his arm over Ted's shoulders and said, "You do realize we're the only two who actually work around here."

"On a Sat.u.r.day?" Marc glanced at Mandy and they both shook their heads.

"Yes, boss. On a Sat.u.r.day." The guys shook hands all around. Ted even got a few hugs.

Mandy squeezed Marc's arm and whispered. Loudly. "I told you I felt like an indentured servant."

"Poor baby." Marc leaned close and kissed her, but then he stood back and watched while the teasing commenced. There was no way in h.e.l.l he'd be able to wipe the smile off his face-not with this crowd. Jake had his arm around Kaz, and Ben hadn't let go of Lola's hand, except when she'd hugged Ted and planted a kiss on Theo. At which point, Ted pulled the, "What am I? Chopped liver?" line and she'd kissed him as well.

Marc couldn't remember feeling this good about anything, ever. Not of his financial success, not over any of the many material things he'd acc.u.mulated, not the businesses he'd added to his portfolio. He tightened his hold on Mandy, just enough to let her know he'd not forgotten her, and sort of basked in the sense of well being, the knowledge he was surrounded by people he thought of as his family.

Raising his head, he caught Jake grinning right back at him. When Jake raised his hand and gave him a thumbs up signal, Marc knew his longtime best friend understood exactly what Marc was feeling at this moment. This was the family both of them used to talk about, one of both blood relationships and friendships, old and new.

People who stood by you, no matter what. Mandy wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled herself up on her toes, and kissed him. "I'm going to get dinner together. It's all ready to go."

"I'll help," he said, though he hated to turn away from the silly quips and jokes flying among the group. But the moment he turned to follow Mandy into the kitchen, everyone else went as well, where an entirely new discussion ensued over the much larger table with eight matching chairs now taking center stage in the kitchen.

Lola cupped her hands around her mouth and called out over the din. "Mr. Reed? Do you want an executive a.s.sistant or a full-time chef? This table appears to point toward the chef's position."

Marc never broke stride, slicing the roast. "It adjusts easily to seat four or six. You're safe."

"Good to know."

"But it can be stretched out to feed twelve." Mandy's smirk earned her a swat on the b.u.t.t from Lola. Then she helped Mandy finish setting the table while Kaz arranged the bowls along the counter-mashed potatoes and gravy, rib roast, green beans, and a big bowl of green salad Mandy had thrown together-and they all lined up to serve themselves. Mandy filled a plate for Marc, who was busy pulling out a couple of bottles of Intimate wine, and it didn't take long before they were all at the table.

Marc raised his gla.s.s. "A toast to everyone who's been traveling and made it home safely. I understand many miles were covered and no luggage lost. Congratulations. And to my newest employee, Ted Robinson, who brings his FBI skills on board, and to Theo Hadley, who's always been a member of this family but hadn't been properly inducted before. Welcome Ted and Theo."

He tapped his gla.s.s against Mandy's on his right and Jake's on his left, and then turned and gave Mandy a quick kiss, mainly because he couldn't not do it. Which, of course, brought on a round of questions.

Mandy was the one who held up her hand. "Well, for what it's worth, Marc did ask me to marry him." Then she shot a c.o.c.ky grin his way. "Your turn."

He sort of stared across the room at the wall. "Before she had a chance to answer me, I asked for a 'do over.'"

"What?" Kaz glared at Marc like she wanted to throttle him. Mandy started laughing.

"Tell him where we were and what we were talking about when you proposed."

Marc felt his face flush, covered his eyes with his hands and stared at his plate. He'd sort of been hoping she wouldn't want the details made public. "Well, it all started with a broken condom..."

"Which makes it all Ben's fault." Mandy pointed at him.

"What? Me? What'd I do?" Laughing, Ben directed a wide-eyed innocent look to Lola, who merely shrugged.

"You bought cheap condoms." Marc shook his head. "You should know better than to purchase an off brand."

"You were with me when I bought those condoms, big guy. And what does my choice of condoms have to do with your broken condom?"

"We didn't have any," Mandy said, again with the innocent look. "So we borrowed a few of yours."

When Ben opened his mouth to respond, Lola covered it with her hand. "One does not 'borrow' a condom. One may be given a condom, or one may steal a condom, but one does not borrow that which cannot be reused. And there is no way on G.o.d's green Earth I'm ever allowing Ben to occupy a previously occupied condom. No matter how good a buddy you are, Marc."

As the dinner conversation deteriorated even further, the food disappeared and the jokes grew rowdier until it was clear the travelers had all hit the wall, but at least the conversation never got back to his horribly inept proposal.

Kaz and Jake were the first to leave, with a promise to be back on Wednesday to see the apartment next door. Escrow was due to close Tuesday, but their three hours of sleep during the day hadn't made up for the twenty-four hour redeye flight from Italy via Germany-with a long layover in New York. Ben and Lola disappeared once the dishes were done, and headed for their room.

Marc and Mandy stayed in the kitchen, talking quietly with Ted and Theo, until Theo glanced at Ted and both men stood.

Ted shook hands with Marc. Theo asked, "Mandy, will you be working on Monday, or is Lola coming in?"

Mandy glanced at Marc. "I hope you don't mind, but I told Lola I had it covered. She's got to be exhausted, and I know she's got laundry to do and unpacking to deal with. She'll need the extra day. Is that okay?"

"Of course it is." Marc shook hands with Theo, but then turned to Ted. "I forgot to ask if you were at all interested in Jake's apartment, since I'm a.s.suming he'll be taking the unit next door once it's refurbished."

Ted's glance at Theo confirmed what Marc had almost thought he'd imagined, and when Theo wrapped his arm around Ted's waist, there wasn't any doubt. Marc slipped his arm around Mandy. "I'd kind of hoped that's how things were going to play out."

Ted frowned. "How could you guess? I didn't even know." He shot a quick, questioning glance at Theo, who grinned right back at him. Ted snorted, then shook his head. "Well, I didn't know for sure. I've been so deep in the closet for so many years, I'd never realized that was the reason for my lack of interest in finding a wife."

"He's a little thick sometimes, but he's cute." Theo laughed, but Ted merely shook his head with a big smile on his face. "We're still new," Theo said. "No pressure, merely a slow and very cautious chance to get to know each other, to find out just how well we do as a couple." He smiled at Ted this time, a warm, affectionate look that spoke volumes. "We definitely work well together. It's almost spooky, how well we can read one another's thoughts, and..."

"Finish each other's sentences," Ted added. "Which reminds me. I've heard back from the gentleman who has the cadaver dog, which I learned we need to start referring to as a 'human remains detection dog,' or HRD. They're particular about the appropriate acronym. Anyway, the handler's name is Jenner Don Stirling, a.k.a. JD, and he's from b.u.t.te, Montana. The dog, a McNab/border collie cross, is appropriately named Bones. JD can't get here until August 8, but he's flying directly into Santa Rosa. Then he's free for the next couple of weeks after that point. I can't find anyone else who comes as highly recommended for remains this old, but if..."

"No. The eighth works." Marc turned to Mandy and kissed her gently. "I think we need a break from all the drama. My father's locked up, we've got a lead on where my mother might have been buried, and we've got a wedding to finish planning. It's been over thirty years. A few more days can't matter in the scheme of things."

"If you're okay with the wait, I'll tell him it's a go."

Marc stood there a moment, so aware of Mandy beside him, of Ted and Theo together. It all felt right, as if everything were coming together the way things were meant to. He had no doubt they'd find his mother. Everything seemed to be leading toward success. "Thanks, Ted, for finding this guy and researching it. You definitely had to hit the ground running. Again, I'm really glad you're here."

"Marc, you have no idea how much this move means to me." Ted glanced at Theo and then returned his attention to Marc. "Which reminds me. The guy whose prints we pulled here at the house? He was a transient. His body turned up last night in Golden Gate Park. Looked like he'd been dead about a week. Apparent drug overdose, but I doubt we'll be able to link him to your father."

Theo just shook his head. "There's no doubt in my mind that there's a connection. From what Ted has uncovered about Steven Reed, bugging your house six ways from Sunday is something Reed's been accused of before. Never convicted, but it sounds as if it's something he likes to do."

Ted nodded toward the front door. "You ready?"

"Just waiting on you. Thank you, Mandy and Marc, for a terrific dinner. I know Marc must have slaved over a hot stove..." He glanced at Ted.

"Or a hot mobile phone..."

"For at least, oh, five minutes?" Theo said. "Or less?"

"Less." Marc planted his hands on his hips, but it was hard to keep his lips from twitching. "What is this, the Ted and Theo show?"

"Very well could be." Theo grabbed Ted's arm, and with a jaunty wave, the two of them left.

Mandy stood beside Marc on the top step as the men waved once again before getting into Theo's car and driving away. "This was so much fun. I've missed everyone. I think Ted laughed more tonight than I heard from him the whole time he was out here on Ben's case. Theo must be good for him."

"Ted's good for Theo. He's been really down since his partner cheated on him and Theo booted him out. They'd been together something like twelve years. It hit him hard."

"I can't imagine cheating on someone you love. Good for Theo for respecting himself enough to get rid of the guy."

"I will never cheat on you, Mandy. You have my promise." He turned to her and rested his hands on her hips. Leaned close and kissed her. He felt the smile on her mouth as he pulled away.

"Me, you. Not ever." She looped her arms around his neck, her smile wide and free, and her eyes really did sparkle. "Before I even knew you, I had most of my adult life invested in fantasizing over you, that elusive hunk on the old beater bike. Then, when I finally met the man behind all those hot fantasies and the female version of wet dreams, I found out the real Marcus Reed was even hotter and better than the one I'd created. Trust me, big guy. I'm not about to blow a really good thing."

"I like that." He pushed the door open and followed her inside. "But I really want to discuss a couple of points."

"Oh?"

"Can you please describe, in detail, exactly what a female wet dream entails? Inquiring minds want to know."

She glanced over her shoulder. "Absolutely not. Any more questions?"

"Uh, no. I guess not."

"Good. Let's get to bed. I just realized I have a ton of laundry that hasn't gotten done. I know what I'm doing tomorrow."

Mandy lay there blinking in the soft gray of early dawn. Marc slept soundly beside her, on his right side as the left was still tender. The healing wound had left a raw, angry looking scar across his shoulder blade at least six inches long and half an inch wide. The red dots from the staples emphasized the width and length of his injury-the fact it had nicked the bone meant it had plowed pretty deep. No wonder he'd had so much pain.

He still had an absolutely gorgeous back, and the fact that he'd gotten that ugly wound because he'd been protecting her made him even more beautiful in her eyes. She thought seriously about rolling over and snuggling against that long, muscular, naked back.

Except she was already wide awake, and Marc had been exhausted last night. He was still healing and needed his sleep, which was a perfect excuse to take time to catch up with Lola. With any luck, her sister would be up. Mandy crawled out of bed quietly, threw on her old robe, and headed to the bathroom. It didn't take long at all to wash her face, comb the tangles out of her hair, and brush her teeth.

Coffee. She really needed caffeine. Now. She was usually a couple of cups ahead before Marc crawled out of bed. She'd really missed her morning coffee with Lola, though the two weeks her sister and Ben had been in DC had gone by faster than she'd expected.

She got the beans ground and the coffee going, and had just poured her first cup when Lola wandered into the kitchen.

"I thought for sure I'd sleep later, but guess I'm still on DC time. My brain knows it's only five, but my body is screaming eight."

Mandy poured a cup and handed it to Lola. "Maybe this will help. I've missed you. Was the trip okay?"

"Thanks." Lola held the mug to her nose and sniffed. "Yum. I've missed your coffee." She sat on one of the stools at the counter. "It seemed long. I missed you, too, but I had Ben to myself a lot of the time when he wasn't testifying or explaining his notes to the prosecution team, and it was really special. We'd never had much time without others around who know us. Back there we were able to explore our relationship in a totally unique setting. I loved it."

She glanced away and then focused on Mandy again. "I never imagined I would find a man so perfect for me. It's almost scary how well we click."