Matched Steele

Part Five

Over dinner, Daniel listened as Laura, Mildred and Remington discussed the Hughes case. As they moved into the living room, he said, "It all sounds quite interesting. But you are you going to get to play Mildred's husband? I scarcely think that you would be convincing in the role, Harry."

Remington handed him a glass of brandy, then sat down on the sofa beside Laura. "Actually, Laura suggested that you might be interested in helping us bring Terrance O'Malley down."

"Me?" Daniel questioned, looking at Laura as if to tell her that he knew exactly what she was attempting to do. "I have to get back to England-"

"Surely the Earl can do without you for a few more days, Daniel," Laura put in smoothly.

"It shouldn't take that long," Mildred pointed out. "Right, Mr. Steele?"

"Only a few days," Remington confirmed.

Daniel studied his glass for a long moment. "I don't know. I just-"

"Please, Daniel?" Remington asked softly.

Daniel looked up and met that blue gaze, then his eyes slid to Laura before he answered. "Very well. I suppose the Earl will simply have to do without me for a bit longer."

Remington noticed that Daniel had given his answer to Laura instead of him, and worried that he might have just made a mistake in not letting his former mentor leave Los Angeles. "Excellent."

"But I *do* have some refinements in mind to your little scheme," Daniel told them.

"Refinements?" Laura questioned. "What *sort* of refinements?"

"Why not give Mr. O'Malley something that he can't possibly turn down? The chance to make twice his usual take in one fell swoop?"

Remington gave him a curious look. "What are you getting at, Daniel?"

"Why not Mildred- and her daughter in law?" He smiled as Laura sat up straighter.

"You're suggesting that I pose as your son," Remington realized, "and - Laura as my wife?"

"You and Laura are concerned about Mildred's safety with this fellow - with Laura there, you'll both feel more secure, I'm sure."

"It sounds like a good plan to me, Miss Holt," Mildred told her. "O'Malley can't possibly pass up *two* marks, can he?"

Laura glared at Daniel, knowing that he had maneuvered her into having to pretend to be Remington's wife in payback for her transparent attempt to keep him in Los Angeles until she could convince him to tell his son the truth. "Laura?" Remington asked, looking from her to Daniel. "What about it? Think you could pull off being the wife of the son of a wealthy shipping magnate?"

"As long as you don't introduce me as 'Myrtle'," she warned darkly. "I think I can handle it, Remington." She saw Daniel smile again as she used the name, and smiled herself at his surprised reaction when he'd first heard her use it during dinner.

He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "When do we begin?" he asked, obviously relishing the idea of getting back into harness, even if it was on the other side of the street from what he was accustomed to.

**********

Daniel offered to share a taxi with Mildred when the two of them several hours later, and once the door closed behind them, Remington turned to find Laura picking up the empty glasses and heading toward the kitchen. Following her, he removed his tie and unfastened the collar of his shirt as he watched her place them into the dishwasher along side the rest of the evening's dishes, then turn the machine on. "You're very good at that," he told her as she turned to find him there.

"Have to contribute something to the meal," she told him. "Since I'm not the gourmet cook you are, that leaves cleaning up your mess."

"That's something else you're very good at," he said, pulling her into his arms. "Cleaning up my messes."

Laura snuggled against him, sighing deeply. "And you're very good at this," she told him. "You didn't ask Daniel about moving to Los Angeles," she said.

"I'll ask him later," he said, then pulled back to look down at her. "Why is it so important to you that Daniel move here?" he asked.

"No reason in particular," Laura said, moving away from him and into the living room, where she picked up her glass of brandy and sank onto the carpet before the fireplace. "I just thought it would be nice for you to have someone who's practically family close-by, that's all."

Turning down the lights before refilling his own glass, he joined her on the soft carpet. "Speaking of family, Laura-" He turned to look at her, at the way the fire brought out the highlights in her warm brown hair, how it turned her tanned skin to bronze. "I think it's time we finish our earlier conversation."

"About the future?" Laura asked stretching her legs out toward the fire.

"About *our* future," he clarified, putting an arm around her to draw her closer.

"What about it?" she asked, smiling slightly, knowing he was becoming frustrated by her responses.

"As I said earlier, we've been together for four years now, and - I think it's time we discussed a more- permanent relationship -"

"You're not suggesting that I make you a full partner in the agency?" Laura said. "I've already explained -"

"Laura,-"

"Until we can find a way to get you a *real* license-"

"Laura -" he said, trying once more to stop her.

"We can't risk -" He gave up and lowered his lips to hers, stopping the flow of words in the one way guaranteed to work. "You don't play fair, Mr. St--Remington,' she accused softly when the kiss ended.

"I wasn't talking about our professional relationship, Laura," he said. "I meant something on a more personal level." When she opened her mouth to speak, he said quickly, "And I've heard the spiel about business and pleasure not mixing for four years, Laura. It doesn't work and you know it."

"You're right about that," Laura admitted, moving to recover her brandy glass and finishing the liquor. "So what are you suggesting?" she asked.

"First, I want to tell you something," he said, taking the empty glass from her and placing it beside his still untouched one, before taking both of her hands in his. "I'm not going anywhere. If the last four years haven't proven to you that I'll always be here for you, then I'm not sure anything *will* prove it. There are times when I have trouble remembering what my life was like before I met you and became Remington Steele - and when I *do* remember, I'm glad that I'm here, with you. Because it's where I belong. This is home to me, Laura. Here, at your side. There's nowhere else that I ever want to be." He looked into her wide eyes, and the silence seemed to stretch out interminably. "Say something, Laura."

"I'm not sure what *to* say," Laura said quietly. "I never dreamed the day that you came into the office for the first time that we'd still be here - that *you* would still be here - four years later. You're not the only one who doesn't like to think about what their life was like *before* you came into it and turned it upside down. I've met women like the one I was in danger of becoming- hard, cold, unfeeling - and I'm gratetful to you for saving me from that. I can't imagine what my life would be like if you ever left for good. I'm sure I want to imagine that scenario. -" Remington brought her hands to his lips. "But as for where we go from here- "

"I suppose the best way to proceed would be to decide precisely where 'here' is," he told her.

"I guess you're right. This relationship hasn't moved forward in so long that it's almost locked in place."

"How would you describe where we are?"

"Friends. Best friends."

"Really? You consider me your best friend?" She nodded her head. "Go on."

"Your turn," she said.

"I guess I see us in about the same place. Friends." He released her hand to pick up his glass again. "The question is now, where do we want to go from being just friends?"

"I suppose - eventually, when we're both ready - we'll probably - become - lovers," Laura said hesitantly.

"Eventually," Remington repeated. "When we're *both* ready, eh?" He pulled her to him again. "What if I see something more for us than just being lovers, Laura? What if I see us together for the rest of our lives? Working together, raising a family of our own - sharing our lives - "

Laura felt her heart beating, thought that Remington had to hear it as well. "That's - also a possibility," she admitted slowly. "Someday, when-"

"When we're both ready," he finished.

"Something like that."

"And what if I were to tell you that I'm ready right now? That I'm ready here, this minute to make that lifetime commitment to you? What then?"

"Mr. S- Remington - " Laura didn't want to do this. Not without his knowing the truth about Daniel. About how ill Daniel was. She'd given him her word not to tell, but it was difficult not to.

"You're not talking again," Remington said, sensing her withdrawal. "Laura, I've given you my word that I'll never leave your side, that I'll always be right here. What else can I do to prove to you that I'm not going to run off like-"

"Like my father." This time Laura finished the statement.

"I'm sorry, love," he said, pulling her close, resting his head on hers. "I shouldn't have -"

"No, that's all right." She took a deep breath and shook her heard. "Wait a minute. How did we get from friends to lovers to a lifetime commitment?" she asked.

"Because it's what I want - what I *need* out of this relationship. And if you're honest with yourself- if you'll put aside that armor of independence for one minute, - and just admit that you need someone else- you'll see that I'm right."

He was afraid for a moment that he'd gone too far. Her head fell forward, and she sighed deeply, a certain precursor to her temper exploding. But when she spoke, her voice was so low that he had to bend his head toward her to hear the words. "I*do* need someone," she admitted. "I need *you*." Remington smiled at the admission, saying a silent prayer of thanks. "My heart knows that you're telling me the truth, Remington," she said, lifting her head to meet his eyes. "It's my head that's causing the problem."

"Then listen to your heart," he pleaded softly. "Listen to what it's telling you."

"The last time I did that," Laura recalled, lowering her eyes to the top button of his shirt again, "I spent a year of my life with someone who walked out on me."

"A year," Remington pointed out. "We've had four. And I'm- still - here," he said, pausing between each word for emphasis, dropping light kisses on her face. "Besides, I don't think there's anything you could do that would make me desert you the way Wilson did. The man was insane to have given you up," he insisted.

"Not even a fan dance?" she asked, smiling again.

"Especially not for that," he assured her. He dropped another kiss on her lips. "I'm not going to press the issue any further tonight," he told her. "But I want you to at least think about the things I've said."

"I will," Laura promised, and it was her turn to press her lips to his to seal the promise. Her arms slid around his neck as she pressed herself close to him. Her tongue dueled with his, deepening the promise she was making.

At last Remington drew back. "We have a case to start tomorrow," he reminded her. "Early." He rose to his feet, then held out his hand to help her up. "I'll see you back to the loft."

"You don't have to-"

"I know. But I *want* to," he insisted, going to his room to retrieve her jacket and his, then called Fred to meet them downstairs.

**********

Mildred poured a second cup of decaf for herself and one for Daniel. "Why are you so interested in getting those two kids together all of a sudden, Daniel?" she asked him, pinning him with her best "Mildred Krebbs, IRS" stare.

"It's not sudden at all, Mildred," he assured her. "I simply want to assure myself that Harry's happy and settled. I've known since the first time I met her that he was where he belonged -"

"You did? Then why drag him off to run that scam in England?" she asked. "And all the other things-"

"The only reason he went with me was to clear things up," Daniel reminded her. "I asked him more than once to join me in Europe, relive old times, but - he's got a life here. A good life. One that he can be proud of -"

"You sound like a proud father," Mildred pointed out. Seeing the fleeting expression that crossed Daniel's face, Mildred's eyes widened. "Because you *are* his father, aren't you?"

To Be Continued---