Part 20 (2/2)

Blue seethed. This was ridiculous, that's what it was. Casey would hear about this.

Lucas picked up a small envelope. ”I think this will explain the reasoning behind our decision.” He pa.s.sed the envelope to Blue.

Trying her best to contain her fury, she ripped the envelope open and pulled out what looked like an invitation. The embossed front depicted a local Georgetown art gallery. Recognition flared. It was the gallery where she'd purchased Noah's painting. Her fingers suddenly cold and trembling, she opened the invitation and stared at the printed words inside.

The Nelson Gallery cordially invites you to the premiere showing of the works of Noah David Drake on Friday, October 27, at 5:00 p.m.

Her heart thundered into a run. That was today.

Her gaze locked with Lucas's. ”What's this about?”

His expression gave nothing away. ”That is the first of many showings and personal appearances to come if the critics are right about his work.”

She shook her head. ”No, I mean is he all right? Really all right?”

Lucas nodded. ”There was no antidote. Rothman lied. Nearly a year ago, however, one of his proteges came up with a surgical procedure to fix things, but Rothman never mentioned it to Noah since that's about the time Leberman approached him.”

She could scarcely breathe. ”So he's okay? The light...”

”The condition is completely stabilized. No side effects whatsoever. But it was a painful process. A dangerous process. Nothing like Rothman had suggested. Noah didn't want you to know. He had to undergo extensive surgery and then weeks of rehabilitation.”

Blue blinked furiously to hold back the gathering tears. ”So, he's okay and he wants to see me?” She looked at the invitation. ”This was his idea?”

Lucas smiled. ”Yes on all counts. That's why we knew you'd need a couple of weeks off. Drake said something about a long, private, secluded vacation on some mountain in Switzerland.”

Blue stood, almost dizzy with happiness. ”I...I have to go.” She had to find just the right dress. She had to...

What she felt certain was an absolutely moonstruck smile slid across her lips. Noah wanted to be with her. They could have a life together now. ”I have to go,” she repeated.

”See you in two weeks, Callahan,” Lucas said as she rushed out of his office.

She tossed him a wave without slowing down. It was three already. She had to hurry.

Blue grabbed her purse from her desk and took the stairs two at a time. She was too keyed up to wait for the elevator. Noah was waiting for her.

BLUE HESITATED outside the Nelson Gallery. She considered the little black dress and spiked heels she wore. Noah had never seen her dressed like this and with her hair fas.h.i.+oned in a French twist. What if he didn't like it? What if the two weeks in Switzerland was all he wanted?

She couldn't keep torturing herself.

Fortifying herself with a deep breath, she entered the elegant, quiet gallery. She was early, few patrons had arrived as yet. The climate-controlled air made her s.h.i.+ver. She smiled, her pulse leaping. Or maybe it was the man waiting for her just inside the door.

”h.e.l.lo, Blue.”

The black tailored suit was one of the narrow-fitting designer ones. The crisp white s.h.i.+rt was open at the throat and displayed a few inches of that magnificent chest. She swallowed tightly. He looked wonderful. His thick, dark hair was a little shorter, but otherwise...perfect.

”h.e.l.lo, Noah.”

They stared at each other for a very long time. Both content simply to look.

Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest that she could scarcely draw a breath, but she couldn't take her eyes off him. He was really here. It was still daylight outside and he was free of the curse that had plagued him for five long years.

He had his life back.

”I've missed you,” he said finally in that dark, enigmatic voice.

”I've missed you,” she echoed.

He looked away for a moment. Her heart lurched. Was this the part where he let her down easy? No, she wouldn't accept that.

His gaze collided with hers once more. ”I was thinking that we should spend some time together, alone, getting to know each other. Really getting to know each other.”

She clenched her fingers around the tiny black beaded bag in her hand. ”I have some time off coming.” She hardly recognized her voice. She sounded so uncertain...so small.

He moved a step closer. ”I've thought of nothing but you for three months,” he said softly. ”You were all that got me through the pain of recovery.”

She blinked at the tears welling. ”I wanted to see you.”

He shook his head slowly as he moved yet another step nearer. ”I needed to be whole before I saw you again. I needed to be sure I could offer you what you deserved.”

”Noah-”

He raised a hand, cutting off her protest. ”I want you in my life permanently. I want us to restore the house together in our spare time. I want us to walk the beach in the moonlight...to have children...to just be...together.”

She was the one who moved this time, taking a tiny step forward...toward that fairy-tale life he'd just painted with all the right words. ”I'd like that very much.”

Finally, just when she thought she'd die if one more second pa.s.sed, he took her into his arms and kissed her. She knew without doubt that she would spend the rest of her life loving this man. Like finding that painting of his...it was fate.

LUCAS SAT at a table in an open-air coffee shop and watched Blue enter the Nelson Gallery only a few yards away, across the small cobblestone plaza. The moment she entered the ritzy joint, Noah Drake approached her. They talked for a while, then he took her into his arms. The kiss went on and on.

”Do you think they'll come up for air anytime soon?”

Lucas turned his attention across the table to Thomas Casey. ”Probably not.”

Casey shook his head. ”To be that young and in love.” His expression turned serious then. ”Do you think we're going to lose one of our best Specialists? Drake did tell you he intended to make her his wife.”

Lucas s.h.i.+fted his attention to the couple going for a record-breaking kiss in the gallery window. A few pa.s.sersby had stopped to watch the show.

”No, I don't think we'll lose her,” Lucas said with complete certainty. ”I think we're going to gain a h.e.l.l of an intelligence officer to add to our ranks. One who has a real gift.”

Casey nodded. ”We could use Drake.”

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