Sean was the son of the other man who had been killed with our fathers. He’d kept his distance from Graham for years, but the two had quit circling each other like dogs since Sean had chosen Patra and left me alone.
Stiffly, Graham nodded acceptance. He really wasn’t used to dining with others anymore. He might attend an occasional secret business meeting where coffee was served, but nothing like my family’s informality. Mallard had waited on him hand and foot, so I wasn’t certain Graham even knew how to fix his own coffee, much less get up and fetch his own food from the buffet.
“Nick made it, so it’s pretty foul,” Sean offered, delivering a mug. “We kind of told Mallard to take the day off. Hope that’s all right.”
“I’m amazed he accepted the offer,” Graham said dryly, sipping the foul brew without wincing. He rummaged through the bagel bag I offered.
“He didn’t,” a cool voice said from the doorway. “I ordered him out.”
Magda.
Chapter 27
Remembering his rusty manners, Graham rose from his chair and pulled out the one across from Ana. He couldn’t remember the last time Max’s immense table had held so many people.
Looking far more polished than when he’d last seen her, Magda brushed past him in a cloud of expensive scent. She pressed a kiss to Ana’s head, then took the chair he offered. Her blond hair had been fashioned in a casual upsweep and her attire could have graced a runway. She didn’t appear as if she’d spent the night adorning a police station.
He’d gladly throttle her, but that was Ana’s privilege. He had to learn to share.
The others didn’t appear surprised at their mother’s appearance, so she must have arrived earlier and spent her time preparing to make a grand entrance. Wordlessly, Graham helped himself to a bagel and ignored the woman who would in effect be his mother-in-law.
He hadn’t asked Ana to marry him. He wasn’t in the least certain Ana had any interest in legalities. But given the size of the mansion and their respective fortunes, they’d have to discuss it sometime. He’d better consider Magda part of the baggage Ana carried. He’d let Ana take care of philosophical matters. He knew how to deal with practical ones, like Magda. They would make a good team.
“Captain Freddy didn’t lock you up on general principles?” Ana asked, sipping her tea.
“Max helped Frederick’s father when he was shot and disabled on the job a few decades ago. It’s all about who you know, dear.” Magda gazed in distaste at the scattering of crumpled bagel bags. “You might consider hiring additional help. You cannot expect Mallard to wait on pigs.”
“An unfortunate choice of words,” Graham murmured. “I trust PETA won’t be breathing down our backs for last night’s incident?”
“You were always an annoying pest, darling,” she said dismissively, getting up to pour tea. “Rose should be resigning about now. You need a television in here.”
“Over my dead body,” Ana said before Graham could. He hid his smile behind his cup of coffee-flavored mud.
Nick got up and found china in the sideboard. Juliana disappeared in the direction of the kitchen stairs, presumably to fetch more tea. Graham admired how they all knew their tasks with a minimum of fuss. He more than admired Ana’s refusal to wait on the woman who had benefitted from her daughter’s willingness to take care of her children for so long.
Ana was the reason everyone knew their tasks.
Magda floated gracefully back to her chair. “Of course. You all have those annoying little phones.”
EG held up her tablet showing an image of a business-suited man being led away in handcuffs. Sean glanced over. “Rose. They arrested him at his office moments ago.”
Magda smirked. “It’s done. Top Hat has been crippled from the top down. The minor appendages that remain haven’t the connections to unite. They’ll pour their money into some other rubber-headed candidate like Bill Smith, I suppose.”
“And we have your balloons and pigs to thank for that?” Graham asked cynically.
“Well, I did find Moriarity for you, darling,” she cooed.
Ana checked her email and showed him one from Ireland. Graham snorted and let her present it to the table. She handed it to Patra, who was closest.
Patra hooted and gave it to Sean, who passed it to Nick. Juliana returned with the tea and refilled cups. She glanced at the email and shrugged. Graham had high hopes for Juliana. She was an idealistic peacemaker disinterested in politics. He’d like to get to know her brother when he arrived. He’d seen Zander’s work. The man was brilliant at understanding financial records. The twins’ extended family had been absolutely correct to rip them from Magda’s carelessness, even if it meant they’d grown up not knowing their siblings or mother.
EG didn’t look up from her tablet. That one was an enigmatic puzzle. He might enjoy watching her evolve.
He’d never had family. Could Ana teach him how family worked?
Nick politely passed Ana’s phone to Magda. She didn’t attempt to read it but passed it back.
“Forgot your reading glasses again?” Ana taunted, scrolling through the rest of her messages. “My Irish contact found Scion’s most recent will. It left everything to Rose—which gives Rose another reason for murder. Unfortunately, Scion never bothered signing it. His family will ultimately inherit it all.”
“A severe disappointment to Rose’s party, I’m sure,” Graham said, sipping the abominable coffee.
Ana laughed as she continued scrolling through her phone. “The Moriaritys are already holding news conferences saying they intend to dissolve Scion Pharmaceuticals and all its related businesses. Who sent them the financial records Zander compiled?”
“Tudor,” Graham said. “We didn’t want them to know where the information came from. He offered to pipe it to them under one of his internet aliases.”
“I can’t wait until he attends MIT next year,” Ana crowed. “Just think. . .” She stopped herself and looked up at him.
“What we can do with our very own personal hacker?” Graham finished for her. “Boggles the mind, doesn’t it? I might even take some time off, have a holiday.”
“You should take Ana. I’ll stay here with the children,” Magda suggested, delicately applying cream cheese to a plain bagel.
The room erupted in hoots of laughter and very loud protests.
Ana smiled, and Graham reached beneath the table to stroke her hand.
They might fight, but they’d already learned how to handle that. The very best part of having each other was that they would never, ever be bored—or lonely—again. He squeezed Ana’s hand and she flashed that breath-taking smile just for him.
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About the Author
With several million books in print and New York Times and USA Today's bestseller lists under her belt, former CPA Patricia Rice is one of romance's hottest authors. Her emotionally-charged contemporary and historical romances have won numerous awards, including the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice and Career Achievement Awards. Her books have been honored as Romance Writers of America RITA® finalists in the historical, regency and contemporary categories.
A firm believer in happily-ever-after, Patricia Rice is married to her high school sweetheart and has two children. A native of Kentucky and New York, a past resident of North Carolina and Missouri, she currently resides in Southern Calif
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Also by Patricia Rice
The World of Magic:
The Unexpected Magic Series
Magic in the Stars
Whisper of Magic
Theory of Magic
Aura of Magic
Chemistry of Magic
No Perfect Magic
The Magical Malcolms Series
Merely Magic
Must Be Magic
The Trouble With Magic
This Magic Moment
Much Ado About Magic
Magic Man
The California Malcolms Series
The Lure of Song and Magic
Trouble with Air and Magic
The Risk of Love and Magic
Historical Romance:
The Rebellious Sons
Wicked Wyckerly
Devilish Montague
Notorious Atherton
Formidable Lord Quentin
The Regency Nobles Series
The Genuine Article
The Marquess
English Heiress
Irish Duchess
Regency Love and Laughter Series
Crossed in Love
Mad Maria’s Daughter
Artful Deceptions
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Mysteries:
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Twisted Genius
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