A Double Wedding

by Patricia Knoll

  As he listened, the tension in Dan's shoulders eased. "Sounds like you've done your homework."

  "Well, of course. It'll be my livelihood. I'm willing to work as hard as possible to make the shop a success. I think it could do a much larger volume of business than it's doing now." She launched into another enthusiastic lecture until Dan lifted his hands helplessly.

  "All right, all right. I believe you." His lips twitched and then, as if he'd given himself permission to be pleasant, he relaxed and smiled.

  Silvey grinned back. She recalled the passing thought she'd had the night before that he was actually quite good-looking. He was guarded, though, as if he had to monitor the emotions that he showed. One thing he couldn't hide, though, was his intensity. From what she had seen, he was a man strong in his beliefs and in the actions that went with those beliefs.

  "What about your parents? And your grandmother? Don't they think you're a little young to be going into business for yourself?"

  Silvey shrugged: "I've basically been on my own since I was eighteen. They trust me to know what I'm doing."

  "I wish I did," he murmured.

  Silvey bit back a sigh. "I'll simply have to prove myself, won't I?"

  "Yes„"

  "And you'll expect Grandma to do the same thing."

  "I can't deny that."

  "I can see why you would be upset and worried, but my grandmother isn't some brainless bimbo who's after Lawrence's money. Once you get to know her, you'll see that."

  Dan stared at her for a few more seconds before his momentary softening disappeared and he said, "I'll do that. In fact, I'll start tonight. The four of us will go somewhere together so I can get to know your grandmother."

  Taken aback by his sudden decision, Silvey stammered, "Tonight?"

  "Do you have an objection to that?"

  Reminding herself she was trying to get on his good side, Silvey said, "No, no. That... that sounds fine...."

  "You'll find someone to close up your shop this evening?"

  It wasn't a request. Ordinarily, Silvey would have bridled at his tone, but she thought of Leila's happiness and checked, her irritation.

  "Yes, all right. I've got employees to do it tonight."

  "Fine." He stood suddenly. "I'll call and make reservations. I assume my father is at your house?"

  Recognizing his dismissive tone, Silvey stood, but placed her hand on the back of the chair. His sudden change in attitude almost made her feel dizzy. "Yes, he is."

  "I'll arrange everything. We'll pick you and your grandmother up at seven." He reached for the phone. "Oh, and one other thing."

  "What's that?" she asked cautiously.

  "My father won't be loaning you the money for your shop, after all. I will."

  She blinked at him. "I beg your pardon?"

  "It will solve the entire problem if I make the loan."

  "What problem?"

  "The problem of owing money to my father."

  "You think it's better if I owe it to you?"

  "Yes, if what you say is true-that your grandmother's interest is in Lawrence himself, and not in his money."

  Silvey gritted her teeth. "It's true, but I'm not sure I'd rather borrow from you. Besides, the money has already been deposited to my account."

  He lifted one shoulder in a shrug, but his eyes were shrewd. "Then you'll simply have to withdraw it and return it to my father, won't you? That is, if you haven't already spent it."

  "No," she said through her teeth. "I haven't spent it."

  "Then my offer stands. Take it or leave it, Miss Carlton. It's the only deal you're going to get from the Wisdoms."

  In spite of the heat of anger that was beginning to swirl through her, Silvey tried to remain calm and rational. If she lost her temper now, it could really mess things up for Grandma. And how could she argue if he insisted on making the loan? She couldn't very well say she'd rather have his father's money. It would only confirm what he already thought of the Carlton women. Besides, he'd probably argue right back that there were already plenty of women getting his father's money.

  After several seconds of silence, Silvey nodded and held out her hand. "All right," she said. "It's a deal."

  Dan took her hand in his and gave it a firm shake. Silvey drew away quickly even as her mind registered the fact that his hand was strong and tough, not what she would have expected from a man who made his living from behind a desk.

  Everything about him was unexpected, she decided irritably. She couldn't quite read him because he kept her constantly off balance.

  She tried to sum him up in one sentence, but even when she strung together the words-overprotective son, cultural anthropologist turned archaeologist, mystery writer-well, it still didn't seem quite real.

  Dan lifted an eyebrow at her. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

  Silvey felt color touching her cheeks again, but she refused to let her gaze waver. "I was thinking that you're hard to read-to understand."

  "And you want to understand me?"

  The way he said it, with a touch of humor, made her feel foolish, but she lifted her chin and said, "Yes. Yes, I do. After all, you'll be holding the paper on my loan."

  "That's true, but that doesn't mean we have to understand each other personally."

  Silvey tilted her head as he spoke. There was something in his tone that she couldn't quite pin down. It sounded as if he was trying to keep her at arm's length. She wasn't accustomed to that kind of treatment from men. She'd had many boyfriends and even after the romance cooled, had remained on amiable terms with them. She couldn't recall ever meeting a man who was so thoroughly reluctant to get to know her.

  His very reluctance piqued her and she said impishly, "I think we'll understand each other especially well if Grandma and Lawrence decide to marry."

  Dan frowned ferociously as she crossed her arm over her waist, propped her chin on her fingertip, and said thoughtfully, "That would make you, what? My step-uncle?"

  Dan looked appalled. "Hardly likely. I'll do my best to see they don't marry."

  "You may not be able to stop them."

  His blue eyes darkened to a shade close to midnight. "We'll see. In the meantime, don't you encourage them."

  From what she'd seen, the two of them didn't need any encouragement! Silvey refrained from pointing that out. Why make Dan any more antagonistic than he already was? She nodded agreeably.

  Seeing he had her somewhat reluctant acquiescence, Dan said, "I'll need to see a report of projected costs for your shop. Then I'll have the contract drawn up."

  It took her a few seconds to catch up with his change of topic.

  "Projected costs? Oh, oh, of course," she answered, trying to sound businesslike. "I'll do that right away."

  Dan slipped from the desk and looked down at her. "In the meantime, I'll see you tonight."

  Silvey's head was spinning. Dazed, she touched her fingertips to her forehead even as she turned toward the door. "Tonight. Seven o'clock. What should I wear?"

  Dan opened his office door for her and once again she saw that quick, rare smile of his, as if their moment of disagreement had only been an illusion. "Your dancing shoes."

  "Something tells me this isn't going to be a regular Friday night date," Silvey murmured as she stared out her front door at the two men coming up the steps.

  When she and Dan had made the arrangements that morning, she hadn't expected him and Lawrence to arrive in a vintage Silver Cloud Rolls-Royce that boasted acres of gleaming paint and miles of blinding chrome. As if that wasn't enough of a shock, the two men were dressed in white dinner jackets.

  Dan correctly read the stunned look on her face when he caught sight of her in the open doorway. "Dad insisted," he said, indicating the jacket and the knife-creased black slacks.

  "Oh, I see," she answered weakly, her gaze flying up to take in his handsomeness. His shoulders looked twice as broad, his waist half its width in the beautifully cut jacket. The angles of his fresh
ly shaven jaw all but glistened in the dying sunlight. The subtle, musky scent of his cologne teased her senses and fluttered at her heart.

  She had a hard time remembering just why she'd disliked him so much the night before, but she recalled quite vividly what she'd found so attractive about him that morning.

  "Silvey, why don't you ask them in?" Leila chided, her tone amused.

  Embarrassed that she'd been standing and staring at Dan, Silvey stepped back hastily, color washing into her cheeks. "Of course. Please come in."

  Once inside, Lawrence and Leila gave each other approving compliments and warm hugs. Silvey thought with satisfaction that her grandmother looked fabulous in a smart red evening suit with sequins scattered across the lapels.

  Dan observed them with a slight frown, then turned to Silvey. "I hope this was a good idea." His gaze swept over her short jade green satin dress with a cinched waist and flared skirt, then up to her hair. Trying for sophistication, she had pulled her shoulder-length hair into a cascade of curls at the back of her head. "I guess it was," he murmured approvingly.

  Silvey felt as if the floor had been cut away from beneath her feet.

  Again, he had surprised her, and she had to admit that she was thrilled by his approval.

  "Are we ready to go?" Lawrence asked in his forceful voice, breaking into Silvey and Dan's absorption with each other. They both stepped back, blinking as if they'd come out of a dark cave.

  "Of course," Silvey answered on a rush of breath. She didn't let her gaze meet Dan's again as she and Leila made preparations to leave, finding their small evening bags and checking the contents.

  They locked the house and walked to the Rolls-Royce. Silvey thought they made quite a show for the neighbors, who were gathering on their lawns, hoses and sprinklers at hand in a pretense of flower-watering. She and Leila grinned and waved cheerfully as they seated themselves sedately in the car.

  Once settled into the backseat with Dan, Silvey gazed at the luxurious interior which was white leather and burgundy satin with touches of gold trim that she could have sworn was real. On each door frame was an ornate bud vase holding a dewy-fresh white rose.

  For the first time, Silvey took a mental step back from herself and considered just what kind of world she and her grandmother had stumbled into. Up until now she had been concentrating on keeping her mental balance in everything that had happened in the past twenty-four hours. Looking around, she realized that she and Leila were in a far different world than their usual, very ordinary one.

  It was true that money could make a big difference in a person's lifestyle, but for all his wealth, she knew that Lawrence had never been a particularly happy man.

  What about Dan? His alter ego as D.K. Wilinson must keep him financially well-fixed if he was able to use the income to pay for his archaeological interests. But was he happy?

  Reaching out, she touched the gold trim edging the door. It even felt expensive.

  She glanced up to see Dan watching her. Self-consciously, she drew her hand away and folded her fingers together in her lap.

  "Yes, it's real," he said, drawing her attention back to him.

  "You mean the trim? Isn't Lawrence afraid of thieves?"

  "He rarely drives this car."

  "Then what's the point of owning it?"

  "Thinking it would bring in quite a nice profit if he sold it?"

  A sharp retort sprang to her lips, but she bit it back, aware of Leila and Lawrence in the front seat. She forced her jaw to relax as she said, "I suppose you can think that if you choose."

  Dan's eyes narrowed at her cool tone. "I suppose I can-at least until I find out differently."

  Silvey looked into his eyes, wishing there was something she could say or do to change his opinion of her... and of Leila, but it wouldn't be easy. There were reserves of determination in this man that she could only guess at.

  Practicing a little determination of her own, she pulled her mind away from disturbing thoughts and gave him an appreciative look.

  She studied his elegant profile, the perfect cut of his dinner jacket.

  She'd never before been out with a man in a dinner jacket, although she admitted it was something she could probably get used to very quickly.

  Glancing down, she touched the skirt of her dress. She had bought it slightly damaged on clearance sale at an upscale department store.

  It was beautiful, but she suddenly felt self-conscious as her fingers sought out the almost invisible repair of the tiny hole near the hem.

  Something about knowing it was there made her feel as if she was out of place.

  When Dan gave her a questioning glance, she realized she was crumpling the fabric. She forced her hands to relax and let her spine rest against the plush seat. This was just one evening out of her life, after all. It wasn't as if she'd be dressing like this and riding around in a Rolls every day.

  Silvey's thoughts were interrupted by Lawrence, who launched into a story about the time he had gone on a driving vacation through Mexico. Dan, then twelve, had gone along and their adventures sounded like an old Laurel and Hardy film.

  "Actually, it all went pretty well," Dan admitted. "That is, until some of the women in one little village recognized Dad and started throwing themselves at him, begging for autographs. While he was busy getting writer's cramp, I went off and stumbled across my first archaeological dig-a group from a university in Mexico City."

  "Were they looking for Aztec artifacts?"

  He nodded, his eyes flashing in eagerness that was both boyish and masculine. "While I was watching, they found a gold medallion. Very small, but perfect." His grin flickered. "I was hooked."

  Silvey gave him a curious look as Lawrence and Leila became absorbed in a conversation of their own. "And what about you? Have you personally found anything of historical significance?"

  "Not yet." He leaned back in the seat and stretched one arm along the plush back as he answered in a low tone, "Maybe I'll make my big discovery on Branaman Mountain."

  "Then again, maybe you won't."

  Challenge lightened his eyes and he leaned close to her. "Why don't we wait and see?"

  "Why don't we?"

  She'd had the last word, but when he chuckled deep in his throat, she knew she hadn't won the skirmish.

  She looked away and was glad when they pulled up outside a restaurant which specialized in international cuisine.

  As they walked inside, Silvey could only look around in awed pleasure at the dark-paneled walls, the heavy damask tablecloths, bone china and sterling silver. She didn't know about Leila, but this place was by far the nicest restaurant she'd ever been in. She sincerely hoped she didn't disgrace herself.

  When she caught Dan looking at her, she lifted her chin and sailed along behind the maitre d' as he showed them to their table in a secluded alcove.

  Their dinner would be wonderful and fabulously expensive. Silvey could barely keep from gasping aloud when she opened her menu and saw the prices printed inside.

  Once their orders had been placed, Silvey sipped cautiously at a glass of wine and listened to the conversation between the other three at the table.

  Dan asked Leila about her background in the circus and about her work as a social activist. Silvey relaxed until she realized that his questions were much more pointed and went much deeper than polite interest.

  She sat forward and gave him a straight look as she spoke to his father. "So, Lawrence, tell us about the role you'll have in the miniseries."

  Before Lawrence could open his mouth, Dan answered, "Dad doesn't like to discuss his roles before shooting actually begins. Says it saps his creativity. Tell me, Leila, what got you interested in being an activist? You've had a busy life. Don't you feel that you deserve to take things easy?"

  Irritated, Silvey said, "Grandma says staying busy watching out for others keeps her young." "Well, it certainly seems to be working," Dan observed.

  Leila treated him to a coy smile. Lawrence beamed
approvingly. As the two of them gazed into each other's eyes, Silvey wrinkled her nose as if she'd caught a whiff of something rotten.

  Dan's eyes glittered at her over the rim of his wineglass.

  Silvey smirked and he coughed as if the wine had gone down the wrong way. Inwardly, she fumed at his pointed tactics and she desperately wanted to tell him what she thought of him.

  Their food arrived at that moment and she was saved from blurting out something she might regret. She contented herself with a warning glance, which Dan greeted with complete innocence.

  She calmed down enough to enjoy her delicious dinner, but she vowed she would discuss this with him later. When they prepared to leave, Dan withdrew his chequebook to pay for their meal. Silvey deliberately swept her evening bag from her lap. On the pretext of picking it up, she leaned close to Dan and gave his chequebook a thorough enough glance to memorize his phone number. He gave her a curious look, but she merely smiled.

  Two could play at this innocence game.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  UNHURRIEDLY, they drove 'home and when they reached the house, Leila and Lawrence seemed to want a few moments alone. Silvey felt inclined to linger, but this time it was Dan who pointed out that the older couple might like some privacy. He helped her from the car and she walked, back straight, to her front porch. She pulled her key out and Dan took it from her to unlock the front door.

  "Aren't you afraid your spine will snap, holding it so stiff like that?"

  he asked, bending slightly from the waist to give her back a considering look.

  "Aren't you afraid you'll get a reputation for being two-faced?" she countered.

  "Why would I?"

  "I thought you were going to give her the benefit of the doubt, but you were positively grilling my grandmother. It wouldn't have surprised me if you'd whipped out hot lights and a one-way mirror."

  "You're exaggerating," he scoffed. "I was taking a polite interest in her activities."

  "Polite," she sputtered, tossing her head back so hard that a few of her curls slipped loose from their anchorage. Distracted, she shoved them back into place. "Polite is not the word."