Close, But No Steele
Episode 6
Rated PG

The moment Laura and Abigail entered the house, Remington knew there was trouble in the air. Laura's expression was darker than a storm cloud. But she greeted Jarred warmly and did her bit to make sure Daniel was comfortable, then made way for her mother to compete with Mildred and Maeve for his attention.

Mildred paused beside him as Laura wandered out onto the deck. "Uh-oh. Looks like trouble."

"You noticed too, eh?" he commented in the same quiet voice.

"Always happens when her mother's around."

"I'll talk to her," Remington decided, snagging two glasses of juice from the counter. "See if you can find out what Abigail might have said to her on the drive over."

"You got it."

Laura was standing at the far edge of the deck, one hip resting on the rail, gazing out onto the beach, were several young children were playing tag with the surf. "I brought you something to drink," he said, holding the glass out to her.

She took it, glancing at him as she did. "Maybe we shouldn't have rushed into this," she told him, returning her gaze to the scene below.

Remington sighed. Seven years was rushing things? One step forward and two steps back. Hadn't that always been the way with this relationship? "Why? What did your mother say?"

"Do you know what she did the moment she hung up from you last night?"

"Checked on a flight for this morning?" he asked.

"After that."

"When to sleep?" He leaned on the rail close to her.

"Called her best friend to- brag that I was living with you."

"And that's bad?"

"If she has it her way, the society editor of the Trib will publish the fact that you're living with your secretary in tomorrow's edition!" Laura said.

"Laura, we knew going into this that we couldn't keep it a secret forever. Sooner or later, people were bound to find out that we were more than just business associates." He placed a hand to her chin to lift it. "We'll handle it."

"It's not the same for you. Oh, you'll get jokes about sleeping with the secretary, but it's expected for you. You're a man. It doesn't impact your career. But I'll be seen as sleeping my way into my job- or sleeping with the boss to *keep* it."

Remington pulled her into his arms, holding her close. "So do you want to move back into the loft?" he asked at last, praying desperately that she would say no.

"No," she sighed, and Remington closed his eyes in relief. "I'm just not sure that I'm ready for this. I mean, being among family is one thing- but out in the real world- It was tough enough before, when everyone automatically assumed I was your secretary- or that I wasn't capable of handling a case on my own. Now-"

"We'll just have to prove them all wrong," Remington told her. "Hey, you managed to carry off the fiction of an imaginary Remington Steele for almost three years- this should be a piece of cake."

"I hope so. Just promise me something?"

"Anything. You know that."

"If you see my mother heading toward the phone with the Trib's number, stop her."

"Of course." They both laughed, and he pulled her head down to his chest as he lifted his gaze toward the sky. Another crisis averted. He was getting good at this. "You know, there is something else we could do- "

She looked through the glass wall to where their family was still talking. "Don't you think they'd wonder where we'd gotten off to?" she asked with a sexy grin.

"I wasn't talking about that," Remington said, "but now that you mention it-" He nodded toward the doors into their bedroom. "We could slip in there for a -"

"Quickie?" Laura suggested, sliding her arms around his chest.

He glanced toward the windows as well, then turned her toward the door into their room and slipped inside.

***

Nathan and Jarred watched appreciatively for several minutes as Daniel kept his impromptu nurses on the go with his demands. None of them seemed to mind- until he asked Maeve to fluff his pillow for the sixth time- and gave his half full glass to Mildred for a freshening.

Maeve, Mildred, and Abigail all stood there, looking down at him. "I think he's enjoying this a bit *too* much, ladies," Mildred announced.

"I think they're onto you, Uncle Daniel," Jarred said with a touch of amusement.

"I believe you overplayed your hand," Nathan added.

"Ladies," Daniel began, placing a hand to his chest. "Must I remind you that I could easily have died yesterday?"

"The only thing that's going to kill you, Daniel Chalmers Martindale," Maeve said, "Is us if y'don't stop takin' such shameless advantage."

The glass door from the deck opened to admit Laura and Remington. Seeing the women standing there before Daniel with frowns of disapproval, Laura quickly read the situation. "I think it's time you were in your bed, Daniel. Nathan? Would you mind helping?"

"But, I'm not tired," Daniel insisted as Laura and Nathan "assisted" him to his feet. "I'm fine, really. No need to fuss-"

"Nonsense, Daniel," Laura said, "You need your rest. Right, Nathan?"

"Right," Nathan agreed easily. "Come along, Daniel."

"Nate-"

The three women all burst into laughter as soon as the door closed behind them. "Laura seems less tense, Boss," Mildred told Remington as he picked up a carrot stick from a plate.

"I think I've found the key to relaxing her, Mildred," he confirmed with a devilish grin. "I have a question for you-"

"Shoot."

"How difficult would it be to- change the name of the agency?"

"To what, Boss?"

"Never mind that now. I need a ball park estimate of costs and paperwork."

"It's Laura's agency. You can't-"

He motioned with his hand as he chewed on the carrot. "I know, Mildred. I know. I just want all my ducks in a row before I go to her with this, okay?"

"Well, first thing you'd have to do is . . ."

Abigail turned to Jarred. "How do you like UCLA?" she asked.

"It's okay," the young man told her. "I'm learnin' a lot."

"My son in law is a professor there. Donald."

"I know. I haven't had him, since I'm studying criminology, but I've seen around the campus on occasion. He's a nice man."

"Donald's wonderful," Abigail sighed, then glanced at Maeve. "Not to say that Remington isn't, of course. I've hoped for years that Laura would open her eyes and realize what she had standing in front of her. I'm delighted that they're together."

"So are we," Maeve agreed. "For Remington's sake. He's so much in love with your Laura."

"Of course, I'd prefer it if they were doing more than jut living together- but Remington assured me that will happen eventually. Laura's father has a *lot* to answer for." Her smile returned. "How is your daughter? Carole, wasn't it?"

Laura and Nathan returned from Daniel's room. "He wants to see you, Mildred," Nathan told the blonde woman. "I think he wants to apologize."

"Don't let him get away with anything, Mildred," Laura called after her as she headed toward the room.

She joined Remington as Jarred moved in that direction. "Did Remington tell you about the loft, Jarred?" Laura asked.

"Yes, that he did. I'm grateful. I was hopin' to find someplace off campus next year. Someplace I could call my own and not have t'share with someone else." He looked over to his parents. "If you don't mind, I think I'll see if Mother and Da want to go and have a bite t'eat somewhere. It's been awhile since we've seen each other."

"By all means," Remington agreed as Laura gave Jarred a hug.

***

"Am I forgiven?" Daniel asked Mildred, who was sitting on the edge of his bed, her hand in his.

"I shouldn't. You acted horribly."

"Do you really blame me? Besides, I knew if I went far enough, I'd get the three of you to stop fussing."

"Why you- that was your plan all along, wasn't it?" He grinned rather sheepishly. "What am I going to do with you, Daniel Chalmers?" she asked aloud.

"I have a few ideas- but until Dr. Hadley gives me a clean bill of health, I'm afraid they'll have to be relegated to a back burner."

Nathan tapped on the door. "Maeve and Jarred and I are going now, Daniel. We'll be back tomorrow morning- I want to be there when they do that stress test."

"Okay. Thank you for coming, Nate."

"We're brothers," Nathan reminded him. "Where else would I be but here?"

"Give Maeve my best."

"I will. Be seeing you, Mildred."

"You bet," she said, accepting his kiss on her cheek.

"She's a good woman, Daniel. Don't let this one get away, hmm?"

"Believe me, Nate, I don't intend to."

Mildred blushed, grateful for the darkened room, and laughed nervously as the door closed again. "Daniel-"

He put a hand over her lips. "Shh. I know it's not something you've thought about. Forget he said it."

"What if I don't want to forget?" Mildred asked, removing his hand and keeping hold of it. "And don't try using a little angina as an excuse, Daniel Chalmers. That won't work with me. I've got first hand experience in that area, remember?"

"There's the Mildred I know," he said with a grin. Then the grin faded as he grew serious. "Do you think it could work?"

"I don't know. As much as I love going to dinner and dancing- and gambling with you- I'm still beer and bowling- and you're champagne and polo matches."

"But diversity is the spice of life, isn't that what they say?" He captured her hand between his. "Until we know something definite about my heart, I don't think we should continue this. I'm not trying to use it as an excuse. I just refuse to tie you to an invalid." He lifted her hand to his lips. "Now, I want you to go home and get some rest. In your own bed. I heard the nurses talking about how you stayed at the hospital all last night."

"You're sure you don't want me to stay?"

"Laura and Harry are here if I need anything. And I *can* do for myself," he assured her.

"I told the Boss and Laura that I'd stay for lunch. But I'll go right after that." She hesitated, then gave him a quick kiss before leaving the room.

Daniel touched his lips and smiled as he lay back on the pillows and closed his eyes to rest.

***

Remington watched Mildred closely when she came out of Daniel's room, noticing that she seemed quiet and thoughtful while Abigail rattled on and on about a trip she was planning to Japan and Australia. He finally asked her to help him with something for lunch, getting them away from Abigail- of course, that left Laura to her mother's company, and the look she gave him made Remington aware that he would pay for that later.

"Did you look at those papers they sent home with Daniel?" Mildred asked him as they started working on a salad.

"About his diet?" Remington asked. "Yes. I glanced at them. He's not going to like it."

"Neither would you. But it means that you're going to have to adjust your cooking a little. Different oils- preparation."

"I know. That's why I'm sticking to a salad today. Not much in there that can hurt him. Are you okay, Mildred?"

"Me? I'm fine," she insisted.

"You seemed- not down, really, just-"

She looked at him. "I've just got a lot on my mind, that's all."

He touched her arm. "You're fond of the old man, aren't you?"

"He's not an old man. But yes, I am. Even knowing that he's a con man- and that's never going to change, that he likes gambling- You know, I saw him bet a thousand dollars he won on another race on a nag that I knew was going to come in dead last- and I was right. And you know what he did?"

"Tore up the tickets and found another nag to bet another thousand on," Remington told her.

"I know it's crazy, Boss. Maybe I'm crazy. But when I thought he was having a heart attack yesterday-" her hand shook.

"You're not crazy," Remington assured her. "And you seem to know what you'd be getting into."

She looked up at him. "You wouldn't mind?"

"Mind?" He laughed softly, pulling her into an embrace. "I'd be delighted. Laura and I used to worry about you, being alone. No close family-except us- and your only friends seemed to be the Dragon Ladies."

"They all like Daniel," she confided. "Did you know he went bowling with us one night?"

"Daniel?" Remington asked. Trying to picture his father in that setting, he failed miserably.

"He wasn't bad. Bowled a two-ninety." Remington's blank expression must have given him away as she added. "Three hundred's a perfect game."

"Ah."

Laura came into the kitchen, sounding desperate as she asked, "Is there *any*thing I can do to help?"

Mildred laughed. "You stay here, hon. I'll go spend some time with your mother."

"If I have to hear one more story about her travel agent," Laura told Remington, "I'll scream."

He placed a bowl and some lettuce before her. "Tear," he ordered softly, standing behind her to rub her back as she worked. "You're tense again," he murmured into her ear.

"What was your first clue?" Laura asked, savagely ripping the lettuce into the bowl.

His fingers found a knotted muscle and he pushed gently. "That," he told her when she flinched. His fingers worked their magic as she stood there, then his hands snaked around her waist to pull her closer. He glanced over to where Mildred and Abigail had been, and found that they were now on the deck as his hands slid down, over Laura's stomach. Laura moaned softly. He kissed the side of her neck, then turned back to watch Mildred and Abigail on the deck. They were both occupied with something on the beach, so Remington brought his hand back up and unfastened the button on her jeans and lowered the zipper.

"Rem-," she started to protest, but he breathed into her ear.

"Relax. They're out on the deck and can't see anything." His hand slipped inside her jeans, under her panties as Laura's hands grasped the edge of the counter. She moaned again, -and again. "That's it." He glanced toward the deck. "That's it." If it wasn't for his other arm around her waist, she would have collapsed onto the floor as she came with a smothered groan. He held her there, kissing the top of her head, murmuring to her as she recovered. He pulled the zipper up and refastened the button of her jeans as she turned toward him.

"Thank you," she said, giving him a kiss, pressing herself tight against him to feel the evidence of his own need. "What about you?"

"I can wait," he told her. "I thought you needed a bit of- stress relief."

"I do like your treatments, Dr. Steele," she told him. "I'll make sure my bill for services rendered is paid in full tonight. Deal?"

"Oh, I'm looking forward to it," he replied, then dropped another kiss onto her upturned lips. "We'd better finish lunch." He moved to the sink and wash his hands again, then picked up a knife to slice the ham and turkey into strips. "Lunch is nearly ready, ladies," he informed Mildred and Abigail as they returned. Glancing up, he met Mildred's knowing gaze and hoped that the flush he felt wasn't visible to Abigail. "Would you get the plates, Mildred? Abigail, could you ask Daniel if he'd like to join us for some salad?"

"One of your special salads, Boss?" Mildred asked.

"Laura and I made it," he told her, then flushed again as she turned back from the cabinet to grin at him.

"So I noticed."

"Mildred-" Laura hissed, glancing toward Daniel's doorway.

"Don't worry, kids, it's cool. You did seem a little- tense when Abigail and I went outside. I figured the Boss needed a few minutes to- relax you."

Remington laughed, pulling Mildred close to his side. "Mildred, do you think that you might- just might- be able to call me 'Remington'?"

"I can try," she promised, and he rewarded her with one of his patented charm the birds out of the trees smiles.

"That's my girl," he said as Abigail returned with Daniel.

"You've got your own girl, Harry," Daniel said as he sat down. "Leave mine alone."

Laura held her breath as Abigail's expression revealed that she'd finally "gotten" it. She expected Abigail to sulk for awhile, but when her mother looked up, she was smiling. "I haven't told you about the gentleman that I've been keeping company with, have I, dear?"

Laura sat down. "No. I didn't know that you were seeing anyone. You haven't mentioned it. And neither has Frances."

"I don't tell your sister everything, Laura."

"Who is he?" Remington asked, passing the salad to Laura.

"My travel agent," Abigail announced, and Laura nearly dropped the salad bowl . . .

To Be Continued---


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Original Content © Nancy Eddy, 2001