Page 46 of Daredevil Lady and the Mysterious Millionaire (The Hidden Hearts Collection #3)

“At least let me drop by police headquarters,” Duffy said. “I have a few contacts there. I can see how their investigation is going, find out whether your place is guarded, if it’s safe for you to return home.”

When Zeke shook his head, Duffy continued to plead.

“Aw, what’s a few more hours? Look, I’ll lend you a few dollars and—” He paused to grin.

“I never thought the day would come that I would lend money to anyone, let alone the richest man in New York. Anyhow, you could nip off to some quiet restaurant and feed your girl here.”

Zeke stiffened. “She’s not my girl. She’s my fiancée.”

Rory nearly choked at that. As usual Zeke was rushing over her with the force of a gale wind. But she had no chance to protest in the face of Duffy’s delighted exclamations.

“Another story! I can see the headlines. Tycoon Weds Balloon Girl. They’ll have to give me a special edition.

” He looked as though he were about to die and cross the threshold of heaven.

“Just remember, Morrison, when this is all over, you owe me. The entire tale of your life, starting with day one, where you were born, who your parents were?—”

“I don’t owe you anything except a punch in the nose.

” Zeke felt ready to deliver it. But his gaze went to Rory’s face, her eyes clouded with an anxiety that hadn’t been there when Zeke had first met her.

She shouldn’t have been that pale. Maybe there was some wisdom in letting Duffy pursue a few inquiries.

“All right. Give me the money and get the hell out of here.”

Duffy turned out his pockets and managed to come up with a dollar. Folding it into his fist, Zeke was filled with a wry amusement, remembering the night he had taken Rory out to dine at Delmonico’s. He had tipped the waiter more than that.

While Duffy disappeared on his mission, Zeke discovered the dollar was enough to purchase ham sandwiches and coffee from a little deli. Afterward, he and Rory returned to the park and lingered on one of the benches, watching the sun set over the rotunda at City Hall.

There was little talk between them. Rory was too tired.

Zeke draped his arm about her, nestling her head against his shoulder.

Perhaps it was foolish to hang about out in the open so much, but he didn’t see much sign of an extensive police search for him.

The city was a big place, the locale of many crimes.

Maybe the murder of Addison had already passed into insignificance.

Zeke couldn’t let that happen. He owed the man more than that. Maybe even the punishment of Decker would not be enough. So what could he do? Erect a statue to Addison’s memory? The park was already full of them, just more places for pigeons to roost.

Yet until he settled this matter, there would be no future with Rory. He could tell he had startled her earlier, maybe even displeased her, when he had told Duffy she was his fiancée.

Although she didn’t contradict him, he knew she hadn’t really said yes. He was trying not to rush her, but it had been hard to hear Duffy refer to her in that disrespectful way.

He supposed it was odd, even inconsistent of him, considering that at one time he had proposed to make her his mistress. But he hadn’t known he was in love with her then.

Love—the word itself was enough to scare the hell out of Zeke. Yet he could put no other name to the feeling in his heart as he gazed down at her.

He desired her, yes, an undercurrent of that was ever present. But another emotion settled deeper inside him in what he guessed must be his soul. He had never been sure he had one until he met Rory.

And how did she feel about him? The same.

He was fairly sure of it, could read it in her eyes and taste it in her kiss.

Why then did she hesitate to accept his offer of marriage?

He didn’t think it had anything to do with the warning Tessa had given.

Rory had never paid much attention to that, even when Zeke had urged her to do so.

What then? She had never said so, but it was likely something to do with his attitude over her damned balloons.

He wished he could understand, but he couldn’t and it was owing to more than his own fear of heights.

He had seen her come through two hair’s-breadth escapes flying those blasted contraptions.

He was damned if he would risk losing her that way again.

Almost unconsciously, his arms tightened about her. The movement roused her from the half-drowsy state into which she had drifted. She looked up, surprised, noting the moonlight spilling over the pathway.

“It’s getting late,” she said. “I wonder what happened to Duffy.”

“I don’t know, but we can’t sit here on the bench all night. That’s one sure way to attract the notice of the coppers.”

They had agreed to take the chance of slipping back to Rory’s flat, when Zeke saw a hackney coach drawing to a halt at the edge of the park. Duffy leaped out, barely taking time to pay off the driver. He raced through the trees as if the police were after him.

He drew up so short of breath, he could hardly talk, sinking down on the bench. Zeke and Rory barraged him with questions. “Where have you been? What did you find out?”

Duffy held up one hand, imploring them to stop. “Over— all over,” he gasped.

Zeke frowned, finding no sense in the words. “What do you mean?”

“It’s safe, Morrison. To go home. No more police. Decker confessed to everything.”

“What!” Zeke and Rory exclaimed in one breath. Rory was swifter to accept the glad tidings than he.

She flung her arms about him. Zeke patted her back in distracted fashion. After all these harrowing events, this seemed all too easy.

“I don’t understand any of this,” he said. “I still want to see Decker.”

“Impossible.” Duffy managed to straighten, fanning his flushed face with his derby.

“Why not?” Zeke demanded. “Even if he’s in jail?—”

Duffy shook his head. “Not jail, the morgue. Decker’s dead. He shot himself through the head last night.”