With a sigh, Laura stretched like a cat, laying her head in his lap. "Dinner was delicious," she told him, fingering the top button of his shirt. *He looks good in blue*, Laura decided, wondering how she could convince him to wear that color all the time. *Really brings out the color of his eyes.* "I'm going to have to buy an new wardrobe soon if I keep eating your cooking." When he didn't respond, she reached up to touch his face. "Hey, why so glum? You looked like you were a hundred miles away."

"Just thinking," Remington said quietly, bringing her hand to his lips, then retaining his hold on it.

"About Daniel?" Laura asked.

Remington paused for a second as he lifted his glass to his lips. "Uh, yes. About Daniel. You know, I'd always thought Daniel was all alone in the world, like I was."

"He's not?"

"No. At least, that's the impression I got today while he was talking to the doctor. Dr. Becker was verifying that Daniel's problems weren't of a hereditary nature. Daniel assured him that none of his family had ever suffered from something like that."

"He's never talked to you about his family, then?"

"Never. And I didn't feel that I had a right to ask, not knowing anything about my own history. But now- I wonder if maybe it might be a good time for Daniel to find his family again."

"Might not be a good idea," Laura said, and when Remington looked at her, she shrugged, sitting up to snag her glass from the table. "He obviously had a reason for breaking off with them at some point. Without knowing the reason for that, your idea might simply upset him."

"Hmm. Maybe he's told Mildred something about his family," Remington mused.

"Why is this bothering you so much?" Laura asked.

"Maybe because I can't understand why anyone would willfully turn their back on their family."

Laura nodded. "Because you've always been looking for yours." She sipped again. "Did you ever think that Daniel didn't turn his back on THEM? That maybe THEY turned him out?"

"It's possible, I suppose." He smiled at last. "I've always gotten the distinct impression that Daniel was a bit of a hellion in his youth. Always planning something. Told me once that he got booted out of school for selling the answers to tests."

"That sounds like Daniel," Laura agreed, straddling his lap to put her arms around his neck. "Now. I thought we were going to talk about the house in Malibu."

"You're really set on that place, aren't you?" Remington asked, his blue eyes searching hers.

"I can't really explain it. There's just something about it that- I just feel at home there. Really at home. Even before I set eyes on the place, I knew that it was -right, somehow."

"I can appreciate that," Remington told her. "But I'm just not certain that this is the right time for us to do something like this," he insisted. "What if- somewhere down the road- you- change your mind?" he asked hesitantly, his gaze fixed on the flickering gas flames.

"Won't happen," Laura insisted with a slow shake of her head. "You've been after me for years to take this relationship to its next level, Remington," She reminded him.

"I thought we had."

"I've still got the loft, you've got this place," she noted, lifting a hand to encompass their surroundings. "If we buy the beach house, I'll move in with you."

"And if we don't buy it?"

Laura sighed regretfully as her fingers slipped inside of his shirt. "Well, once Daniel finds another place, I'll just move back to the loft, I guess."

Remington drew back slightly to look at her. "That's blackmail, Miss Holt."

Laura smiled, moving against him. "You're right. Mr Steele. It is."

He bit back a groan. "Okay, you win. On one condition."

Now it was Laura's turn to pull away slightly. "A condition? On blackmail, Mr. Steele?"

"I'll agree to buying the house- IF we find a way to save the Davis account. Smooth the waters? Convince him that you haven't gone off the deep end?"

"I'm sure we'll come up with something, Mr. Steele," Laura assured him, placing a kiss against his jaw. "IF we think about it. Maybe-" she ran her tongue around the shell of his ear, grinning at his involuntary reaction. "Maybe if you promised to keep an eye on me at all times. To be at my side day or night-"

"I think that's a promise I can make, Miss Holt," Remington assured her. "And keep."

****

"Good morning, Mildred," Remington said as he and Laura entered the office the next morning.

"Good morning, Chief, Miss Holt."

Remington picked up the stack of messages bearing his name as Laura perched on the edge of the desk. "So, how was dinner last night, Mildred?" she asked, taking her message slips only after Mildred picked them up and handed them to her.

"Not bad, Miss Holt," Mildred said.

"Has Daniel called this morning, Mildred?" Remington asked the receptionist, having gone through his messages twice.

"No. But he had to be at UCLA Medical Center this morning for those tests, remember?"

"Ah, yes. If he does call, I need to speak to him, okay?"

"Sure. I think that's probably a good idea. I was getting some really strange vibes last night," Mildred confided, then blushed as Laura gave her a surprised look. "Not that kind of vibe, hon. Like Daniel was fishing for information."

"Information?" Laura repeated. "About what?"

"The Davis case."

"Speaking of Mr. Davis, Mildred," Remington said, "I want you call him and set up a meeting-"

"He's already here, boss," Mildred informed him, causing Remington to pause halfway to his office. "He's in there waiting for you and Miss Holt."

"He is?" Remington asked, glancing at Laura, who had stood up and begun to smooth her skirt. "Well, Miss Holt? Ready to face the lion?"

"As ready as I'll ever be, Mr. Steele." She adopted a penitent pose. "Do I look properly contrite?"

"You'll do, Miss Holt," Remington assured her, his hand on the knob. "You'll do. Could we have some coffee in here, please, Mildred?"

"On its way," Mildred promised, heading for the coffee room.

Gerald Davis rose from the sofa as they entered the office to shake first Remington's hand, then Laura's. "Nice to see that you found your way back from the beach, Miss Holt," he commented in a dry tone.

Laura looked embarrassed. "About that, Mr. Davis, I'd like to apologize- and- try to explain-"

"That's not necessary," Davis assured her.

"It's not?" Laura questioned.

"Mr. Davis," Remington began hurriedly, certain that the man was about to discharge the Agency's services. "I can assure you that what happened yesterday won't happen again-"

Davis lifted a hand. "Your associate explained that Miss Holt has been under some emotional stress lately," he said.

"Associate?" Laura repeated.

"Miss Krebs?" Remington suggested in disbelief that Mildred would have done something like that.

"No. Daniel Chalmers. He explained everything- and offered to supervise Miss Holt in protecting my art collection."

"He DID, did he?" Laura practically growled. Remington moved quickly to Laura's side, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"To be honest, Mr. Steele, after what happened yesterday, I had serious reservations about retaining your agency. But after speaking with Mr. Chalmers and receiving his assurances, I've had a chance to think about it. And I've decided to allow Miss Holt to remain on the case- but ONLY if Mr. Chalmers is there to supervise her." Remington watched Laura closely, seeing the anger building. "If you can't agree to that, I'm afraid that-"

"I'm sure we can work something out," Remington insisted, grabbing Laura's arm as she would have let loose. "If Miss Holt and I can have a word in private," he said, pulling her toward the door to her office. "We'll resolve any- lingering issues."

The door had barely closed behind them before Laura said, "I'll kill him. That's what I'll do. He's not going to get away with this," she declared, furious.

"Laura-"

"How DARE he?" she wanted to know, pacing across the room like a caged animal. "Passing himself off as an operative of MY agency! Offering to SUPERVISE me. ME!"

"Laura- I think it might be a good idea to LET him do it," Remington said quietly.

"He's up to something-" she blinked, turning to look at him. "You WHAT?"

"I'm not saying that I agree that he's up to something," Remington said, trying to ignore Daniel's meeting the previous afternoon with their old friend . "But IF he is, what better place for him to be than right by your side? You could keep an eye on him- And what would it hurt, really? A little playacting- pretense that he's someone he's not. After all, you've done it with me for the last four years- surely this would be a piece of cake."

"It's not the same thing," Laura insisted. "I knew I could trust you. I'm not so sure that I can trust Daniel."

Privately, Remington wasn't sure of that either. But Laura's admission caused him to smile at her. "You did?"

Laura smiled at him. "Well, after that first year, anyway."

"Even in Cannes?"

"The only reason I was angry then was because you lied to me."

"Fair enough. Laura, if we don't agree to this, Gerald Davis will take his art collection- and his money- elsewhere. And you can say au revoir to that house in Malibu," Remington pointed out.

Laura sighed deeply, going to the window as he spoke. At last, her composure returned, she turned around. "Okay. I'll go along. But if Daniel's pulling something, and damages the reputation of this Agency, he won't need a heart specialist. Because I'll rip his heart out through his throat," she declared, before going to the door.

Remington winced, but felt a tiny glimmer of relief- since he was at last seeing the OLD Laura to some extent in her concern about the Agency above everything else. Following her back into his own office, he paused as Mildred entered with a tray filled with cups of coffee.

"Here you go," she said, setting the tray on the table before the sofa.

"Thank you, Mildred," Remington said. "Mr. Davis, I agree to your terms. Miss Holt will continue on your case- closely supervised by Daniel Chalmers."

Mildred glanced across at Laura and then up at Remington. "Daniel?" she questioned, then realized that the client was still there. "Excuse me. I've got some filing to do."

Returning to her desk, Mildred grabbed the telephone and dialed a number. "I'm trying to locate Daniel Chalmers . . . He's supposed to be having some tests run there . . . Dr. Becker . . . Thank you." She lowered her voice, hoping that Miss Holt and Mr. Steele would take a few more minutes with Mr. Davis. "Daniel? . . . Mildred. Just thought you'd like to know that they're going to accede to Mr. Davis' request. But Miss Holt's fit to be tied. If I were you, I'd throw my hat in before facing her . . . How are the tests going? . . . Okay . . . I'll talk to you later." She hung up bare seconds before Mr. Steele's door opened.

Remington was at Mr. Davis' side, and Laura brought up the rear, looking more than a little put out. "Miss Holt and Mr. Chalmers will be there at three without fail, Mr. Davis."

"Good. The showing is this weekend. That's only three days away."

"Never fear, Mr. Davis. We'll have everything ship shape in no time." He looked at Mildred. "Make certain Miss Holt's calendar is clear for this afternoon. And see if you can get in touch with Mr. Chalmers, see if he can be here at two, eh?" He turned to Davis. "He's finishing up another case, very dedicated."

"Amazingly so," Laura mused, standing apart from them, arms crossed over her chest. "It's- almost unbelievable." When Remington sent her a look of warning, she simply smiled and lifted her shoulders in resignation.

"They'll be there, Mr. Davis," Remington said again, deftly guiding their client to the glass doors.

Laura looked at Remington as he returned to Mildred's desk. "Just one problem, Mr. Steele."

"What problem is that, Miss Holt?" he asked, maintaining the air of professionalism.

"Daniel's having those tests done today. How do you know that he'll be finished by two?"

"He's only scheduled to be tied up until noon, I believe," Remington told her.

"One," Mildred corrected him, drawing both of their attention. "That's what he told me last night, anyway. Dr. Becker has surgery this afternoon," she explained.

"Good," Laura said. "That will give me a chance to do some work on the Gleason case."

As she picked up her purse from where she'd left it on Mildred's desk upon their arrival, Remington asked, "Need some help?"

"Leg work, Mr. Steele," Laura warned.

"I'm a changed man, Miss Holt," he assured her.

Laura smiled. "Let's go."

Remington pointed to Mildred as he followed Laura. "Get in touch with Daniel, Mildred. I want him here as soon as possible."

"He'll be here, Boss," Mildred assured him, picking up the phone again, and the moment the door closed behind them, she pressed the "redial" button. Once she was again connected through to Daniel, she told him, "I'd get that hat ready, if I were you. They want you here ASAP . . . "

To Be Continued . . .

---

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Original content ©2001 by Nancy Eddy