Dark Room (Pete 'Monty' Montgomery 2)

“Actually—yes. A biggie.” He leaned forward, framed her face between his palms. “I haven’t admitted I’m in love with you. Well, I am. Head over heels, this-only-happens-in-the-movies, what-the-hell-am-I-doing in love. And given the inquisition you’re subjecting me to, your own emotional baggage, and my total lack of experience with what I’m feeling, I’m floundering. Also, given how badly I want this, I’m terrified. Is that vulnerable enough for you?”

“Yes. No. I…” Tears glistened on her lashes. “You’re not as vulnerable and terrified as I am. I’m walking out on a limb—with no net to break my fall—and I can’t seem to stop myself. I’m falling anyway.”

“I’ll catch you.” Lane’s thumbs captured her tears, wiped them away. “Just tell me you love me.”

“I do. Irrationally, but undeniably.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I must be insane.”

“Lucky me.” He lowered his head and kissed her.

“We have so much to work out,” she murmured.

“And all the time in the world to do it in.” He waited until he felt her physical response, her lips softening and parting under his. Then he lifted her onto his lap and deepened the kiss.

“In the long run, maybe.” Morgan smiled against his mouth, even as her arms tightened around his neck. “But right now, we’ve got less than an hour. Monty’s coming over, remember?”

“Only too well.” He drew back, tipped up her chin so their gazes locked. “We’ll take this to the bedroom later. But for now, just so we’re both clear on where things stand, what we have is for real. It’s also forever. I’m not letting you go.”

“Sounds like a certainty to me,” she whispered. “I thought we agreed that life is tenuous, and that security is never a guarantee.”

“We just changed our minds.”

LENNY UNLOCKED THE door to the deli and let Monty in. He was still wearing his apron, and he’d obviously been in the process of cleaning up.

He gestured for Monty to have a seat at the counter. Automatically, he put a cup of coffee and a slice of honey cake in front of him. Then he walked around behind the counter, facing Monty directly and motioning for him to eat.

Monty complied, studying Lenny’s demeanor and wondering if it was possible the older man had an inkling that Monty had asked to meet with him armed with questions that might incriminate his son. Lenny certainly wasn’t himself. He was visibly upset, his expression grim and his gestures nervous as he twisted his initial ring around and around on his finger.

“I’m worried about my boy, Monty,” he began. “He told me some things tonight that really threw me for a loop. I’m guessing that’s why you wanted to see me.”

So that was the reason for Lenny’s skittishness. Arthur had apparently squeezed in a quick chat with Daddy. Monty had no idea what the congressman had said, but on the off chance that he’d made some grand confession to his father, no way should it come out like this. If Lenny spilled his guts without counsel present, Arthur’s lawyer would find a way to have the information thrown out, or declared as hearsay.

“Lenny, I don’t know what Arthur told you, but you shouldn’t be telling me about it, not without proper representation. Maybe you should call a lawyer.”

Lenny blinked. “A lawyer? What would I need with a lawyer? This is personal. I’m not suing anyone. Besides, if I need a lawyer, I have Arthur. He graduated from Columbia, remember? And Yale before that.”

“I remember.” Monty waved his hand in a gesture of noncomprehension. “Okay, you lost me. Why is it you think I’m here?”

“Jonah.” Lenny stared at the carnelian stone on his ring, traced the etched lines that formed the letter L. “Arthur just told me he’s my grandson. He also told me you were there when he found out from that woman.”

“That’s true. But what happens from here is none of my business. It’s certainly not why I wanted to see you.” Monty opted to drink the coffee after all. “Besides, Jonah already has a great set of parents. Once his medical condition is resolved, things can go back to the way they were before.”

“It’s more complicated than that. The kid involved isn’t just some faceless name. It’s Jonah. I know him. He works for me. I just visited him in the hospital. I—” Lenny broke off, and there were tears in his eyes. “He’s my flesh and blood.”

“I’m sure this hit you hard.” Monty couldn’t help but empathize with the guy. “When did you speak with Arthur?”

“A few minutes ago. He’d just finished telling Elyse and the girls. There was someone at the apartment, drawing a sample of Arthur’s blood. Jill was trying to calm her mother. Morgan was in bad shape, too. Arthur said she’d left for Lane’s.”

Mentally, Monty added on an extra half hour before showing up on Lane’s doorstep. Morgan and his son had a lot to discuss.

“I’m sorry,” he said aloud. “I’m sure this came as a shock to all of them. But they’re strong women. They’ll hold up.”

“They’ll have no choice. Arthur’s an important man. He’s a powerful congressman with a major piece of legislation on the table. Those slimeballs at the press hound him like crazy. You can be sure this news will leak. That’s why he called me right away. He wanted me to hear it from him.”

“I can understand that.”

“I’m still in shock. I have to go home and tell Rhoda. I’m not sure how either of us will handle it. But that’s our problem. We’ll do whatever we have to to support our son. He’s a great man, destined for great things. And now, besides the wonderful family he already has, he’ll have a son in his life…” Lenny cleared his throat. “Anyway, I don’t know why you asked to see me. But I’m glad you did. Because I have a few things to say.”

“Okay, shoot.”