After greetings were exchanged, Leo and Danny took up positions in front of them, the other two men fell in behind. Taking Kate’s hand in his, Dominic started walking east.

“You have to explain these four guys to me,” she hissed.

“There’s nothing to explain. I generally travel with security.”

“There wasn’t anyone with us in Hong Kong or Singapore.”

“We’re only walking a block tonight. It’s kinda hard for them to stay out of sight.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s all there is to it. There’s Melanie’s place up ahead,” he said, wanting to shut down this conversation. “Don’t feel as though you have to remember all the children’s names. They don’t care.”

SIXTEEN

When they reached Melanie’s, Dominic and Kate went inside while the security crew checked out the perimeter of the house before coming in.

Dominic hung up Kate’s coat in the entrance hall closet, picked up the shopping bag that had been brought down from his house earlier, and gestured in the direction of distant voices. “We’ll find them in the kitchen. Family birthdays at Melanie’s are pizza since the kids got old enough to holler. It’s good pizza though. But save some room. The adult party has a better menu.”

When they reached the large kitchen at the back of the house, a wild whoop went up the moment they appeared in the archway. And a second later a wave of screaming young children powered toward them.

“Hey, hey, watch it, guys,” Dominic warned. “I have a guest tonight. Don’t knock her over.”

All but the youngest girl came to a skidding stop in time. The little blond toddler with curly hair grabbed Dominic’s leg and tried to climb up, shrieking, “Unka Nicky, Unka Nicky, hold me!”

Dropping the shopping bag, he swung her up in his arms and gave her a kiss on her chubby cheek. “Ummm… peanut butter.”

“We got a puppy! We got a puppy!” The little girl banged on his shoulder with her half-eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “Wanna see?”

“Give me a sec, sweetie. Eat your sandwich. I want to introduce my girlfriend.”

By this time, Melanie and Matt had come up, along with a stout, five-foot-nothing older woman who was smiling broadly enough for her kohled eyes to crinkle at the corners. With Birkenstocks on her feet, tie-dyed pajama pants, and brilliant henna-colored hair, she was, head to toe, a member of the hippie generation.

“Hi, Mrs. B.” Dominic moved forward to kiss her cheek, holding the sandwich-wielding toddler well away. “Are you keeping the ship running smoothly?”

“Of course.” She squinted at him with her snappy black eyes as he stepped back. “Are you still being a bad boy?”

“Uh-uh. I’ve got myself a girl. She’s keeping me in line.” He took Kate’s hand. “Katherine this is Mrs. B. She’s been helping around here for, what?”

“Seventeen years. Pleased to meet you, Miss Kate. You’ve got your hands full with him, I’ll tell you that.”

“I’ve noticed.” Kate glanced up at Dominic, her gaze mischievous. “We’re working on his manners.”

The housekeeper gave Dominic an approving smile. “She’s not afraid of you, Nicky. That’s good.”

Dominic dropped his head and gave her a quick grin. “I’m afraid of her, Mrs. B. Katherine’s one tough cookie.”

“It’s about time you’re afraid of someone.” She surveyed him with an examining gaze as good as any psych-ops interrogator’s. “Don’t want you to think you really do own the world.”

“As long as I have you to slap some sense into me that won’t happen.”

“Good thing I’m here then.” Her delivery was blunt, but she looked at him with tenderness.

“Still on your mission from God?” A half smile, a lift of one brow. “Who’s winning, Mrs. B?”

She snorted. “Have you ever seen me lose? Another thing,” she briskly added. “Tell your people to leave my kitchen spotless when they go. Last time I had to clean up after them.”

“You won’t even know they were here, Mrs. B,” Dominic said with a respectful dip of his head. “They got the message.”

She started untying her apron. “You kids have fun then. Nice to meet you, Miss Kate. I’ll see the rest of you in the morning.” Whipping off her apron, she smoothed her Grateful Dead T-shirt over her generous bosom, handed her apron to Melanie, and walked away like she was a member of the Olympic power walking team.

Kate found it fascinating that everyone deferred to the housekeeper, including Dominic. Even the little toddler had viewed the conversation in silence.

“Now that the warden’s gone,” Dominic said under his breath, a smile in his voice as he turned to Kate, “let me introduce everyone.” Holding Kate’s hand, he ran through the names: Melanie, Matt, Nicole, Isabelle, Keir, Dante, Rafe, and Ellie, who waved what was left of her sandwich when she heard her name. Melanie gave Kate a big hug, Matt did too, and all the children smiled warmly. “I told Katherine she doesn’t have to remember all your names right away,” Dominic added, with a nod at the children. “So be polite, okay?”

“Can we see our presents now?”

The young girl Kate had seen at Dominic’s office in Palo Alto was speaking. Nicole was dark like Dominic and very beautiful, while Dominic’s sister was blond, delicate, warm, and welcoming, a younger, friendlier version of their mother, Letitia.