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“Maybe,” she said. “Then again, I might want to start with summer school, sort of ease back into it, you know.”
Summer. He worked his frown into a smile. “Where were you thinking of going?”
She gulped. “I—I haven’t decided yet.”
He made an understanding sound, utterly convinced that she was lying to him. “Well, no rush,” he said.
She smiled. “Right. No rush.”
He steeled himself for the killing thrust. “Where did you go before?” She yanked her gaze up to meet his, and in the instant before she covered it, he saw what she hadn’t wanted him to see: fear.
“No place you’ve ever heard of,” she murmured.
“Out of state?” he asked pointedly.
She folded her napkin and laid it beside her plate. The gaze she leveled at him was implacable, unapologetic. “Yes,” she said flatly, pushing back her chair to stand. She swept the table with a look. “Excuse me.” Then she turned and left the room without another word.
Adam took a deep breath. She had lied to him, and she was afraid that he knew it, which he did. The question now was why, and what he was going to do about it.
“Bedtime, my lovelies.”
Adam looked at the crew on the couch and chuckled to himself. Bedtime, indeed. Not one of them could keep his or her eyes open. Laura’s change in the evening schedule had been a wise one. Instead of putting off baths until right before bedtime, she had played with the kids for a while after dinner, then bathed them early and cuddled them on the couch, reading. They had slipped, one by one, into a relaxed stupor. Bed undoubtedly seemed delicious right about now. Laura was urging first one and then another twin to his feet when the doorbell rang. Adam got up immediately to answer it, suspecting who would be stubborn enough to call at this time on a cold February night.
Sure enough, he opened the door to find his father flapping his arms on the stoop.
“Adam.”
“Father.”
It was the standard greeting.
Jake moved inside without waiting for an invitation and closed the door behind. “Frigid out there.”
“Some might even be inclined to stay inside,” Adam commented lightly.
“All right, all right, don’t give me any of your attitude. I have a couple of important reasons to be here.”
Adam knew very well what at least one of those reasons would be. He put his hands in the pockets of his pants. “What’s up?”
Jake grimaced. “It’s your sister.”
“Caroline?”
“No. Caroline’s fine.”
Adam was glad to hear it. “Married life seems to agree with her.”
Jake nodded and suddenly grinned. “Who’d have thought it? The career woman has definitely softened. I’ve never seen her so happy.”
At least you’ve finally noticed, Adam thought uncharitably. He said, “Well, that leaves three. Natalie’s the levelheaded one, so it must be one of the twins.”
Jake’s grin abruptly turned to a grimace. “Can we sit down?”
Adam could tell that Jake was genuinely concerned about something, so he led him across the hall to the living room. Laura was herding the kids down the hall toward them, and they brightened predictably at the sight of their grandfather. Instantly they were pelting after them and swarming over Jake the moment he dropped onto the sofa.
Adam squelched a flash of irritation as Jake patted and hugged his children. He was actually relieved when Laura appeared.
“Sorry,” she said.
“No, that’s all right. Laura, I’d like you to meet my father, Jacob Fortune.” Again Adam noted that the Fortune name meant nothing to Laura. Ever the gentleman, Jake stood. She stuck her hand out.
“Hello.”
“Dad, this is Laura Beaumont, our new nanny.”
Jake’s eyebrows went up at that, but he smiled almost flirtatiously at Laura as his big hand swallowed her delicate one.
“My pleasure.”
She smiled apologetically at Jake. “We were on our way to bed.”
“Oh, well…” Jake kissed each child in turn and sent them back to Laura.
“Thank you.”
She smiled at Adam as they exited the room. Jake watched with undisguised curiosity.
“She’s worlds more attractive than that Godiva creature,” he said, reclaiming his seat.
Adam had to laugh. “Yes, well, she’s that much and more a better nanny, too.”
“Truly?”
Adam nodded and wandered over and dropped onto a stiff chair. “She’s accomplished more with those kids in one day than Godiva and all the rest of them put together.”
Jake frowned. “You’ve never understood children.”
Adam gaped. “I’ve never understood—? You’re one to talk!”
“That isn’t fair, Adam. At least I tried—”
“I believe,” Adam said, interrupting firmly, “that you were going to tell me which of my sisters has done the unforgivable.”
Jake’s face turned red, but, to his credit, he gritted his teeth until his anger abated. “Rachel,” he said flatly.
Adam rolled his eyes. He should have known. “Look, Rocky has a right to live her life her own way. I knew you might not approve of Luke Greywolf, but he seems like a decent fellow to me. He’s a doctor, for pity’s sake!”
“She’s pregnant,” Jake told him. “Did you know she’s pregnant?”
Adam kept his face carefully impassive. “Good thing you’re a better grandfather than you were a—” He stopped, feeling the color drain from his face. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
“Didn’t you?” Jake curled his hands into fists.
Adam sighed. “I know you’re worried about her,” he said placatingly, “but honestly, I don’t think you have to.”
“You know how careless she is,” Jake pointed out.
“Not careless,” Adam replied. “Adventurous, maybe, independent, definitely, but not careless.”
Jake made a face. “When I spoke with your mother she said that Rocky really loves him.”
“I’m sure she does,” Adam said, “or she wouldn’t have agreed to marry him, baby or no baby.”
“But what about him?” Jake’s voice rumbled dangerously. “That’s what I want to know.”
“Well,” Adam said, sliding his hands into his pockets once more, “I’d say you have to trust Rocky for that.” But Jake Fortune had a hard time trusting any of his children. Adam lifted a hand to the back of his neck. “Look, as independent and stubborn as Rocky is, do you honestly believe she’d settle for anyone who wasn’t absolutely wild for her?”
Jake looked up at him with something very near gratitude. “You’re right. Yes, you’re exactly right.” He sat back and smiled. “I hadn’t looked at it that way.”
Adam smiled to himself, feeling inordinately proud. Maybe there was hope for them, after all.
“Your mother wants to give them a party, sort of a family reception.”
Adam shook his head, grinning again. “Are we welcoming him or disemboweling him?”
Jake scowled. “Your mother means to welcome him, but frankly, I’m not sure it wouldn’t be the other way around, given the current climate.”
Adam folded his hands. “You’re talking about the Monica Malone thing now.”
Jake’s face instantly closed up. “The less said on that subject, the better.”
Adam shrugged. “Fine with me.”
“I only wish my brother and his crew agreed with you.”
“That’ll be the day.”
“I suppose so.”
Adam fingered the crease in his pants silently, sure they weren’t through. He didn’t have to wait long.
Jake drew himself up and put on a stern face. “Now,” he said, “when are you are going to give up this ridiculous search and come to work for the company?”
“Oops!” Adam shot up to his feet. “Time to go. Sorry you can’t stay longer, but for once I’d like to part without daggers drawn.”
“Damn it, Adam, I’m being serious!”
Adam swept a hand over his head. “Will you drop it? I don’t want to have this conversation again.”
Jake came to his feet. “Why can’t you see that you belong with the family company?”
“No.”
“Adam, please, I need you now. The cosmetics company is in dire need of leadership. You’re a natural. You could—”
“No! Damnation! Why do you always do this to me? I won’t step into the great maw of the Fortune companies!”
“Then just what are you going to do?” Jake demanded. “Sell cars? Install central heating?”
“No! I don’t know! But I’ll find something, something right for me.”
“But this job is right for you!”
“No!”
“Won’t you even hear me out?”
“No.”
Jake balled his hands into fists, obviously struggling with his temper. “I don’t understand you.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
“You’ve never understood what being part of this family means.”
“It’s not the family,” Adam told him firmly. “It’s the family business that I want no part of.”
Jake looked to be gathering himself for a real explosion when Laura meekly interrupted.
“Can I get you gentlemen anything before I call it a night?”
Jake swallowed whatever he had been about to say and shook his head.
“My father was just leaving,” Adam said, pointedly but quietly. “Thank you anyway.”
“No problem. It was good to meet you, Mr. Fortune. Be careful out in that cold, won’t you?”
Jake nodded and buttoned up his coat. “Good evening, Miss Beaumont.” He started forward, then stopped and passed a look from Adam to Laura. “It is ‘Miss,’ isn’t it?”
Laura blinked, then blushed. “Yes.”
“I thought so,” he murmured. “A pleasure to meet you.” He sent a hard look at his son. “Adam.”
“Father.”
He stormed out of the room, muttering that he could see himself out.
Adam sighed. Would it never change? His gaze went almost involuntarily to Laura. Or had change already begun? She had certainly derailed a shouting match with her timely, gracious interruption. Had she meant to do just that? he wondered as she said good-night and slipped away. Yes, he believed she had. Now if only he could decide how he felt about that and just how important the truth about her was.
