of perspiring sun-baked tourists, as cool as an iced drink in the desert.
“Lacey.” His tone was faintly mocking. “Are you our chauffeur?”
“Jordan sends his apologies, he couldn’t get away.” She shifted her attention to Jack, who was gazing up at her with the expression of a lovesick swain. “Jack, it’s great to see you.”
“You, too, Aunt Lacey!”
“I’ve got something for you, darling. A present. I got it in France when I was there last week…”
Dermid felt a sense of irritation as he watched them chat.
She had a way with men, no doubt about it. And with boys. She never talked down to Jack, never had; she always treated him like an adult. And he, poor sod, had been mad about her from the time his newborn eyes could focus, and he could see that sheet of ink-black hair, those green cat-eyes and that impossibly flawless creamy skin. Soon the poor kid would be old enough to notice the endless legs, the seductive walk, the sexy rear end, the—
“Well, Dermid, shall we go?” She swung away toward the street, the movement sending a drift of her perfume into his space. To follow her, he had to walk through the mingled scent of gardenia petals and enough musk to make a red-blooded male howl at the moon!
“I’m parked over here.” With self-assurance in every elegant step, she led the way into the parking lot. And stopped by her silver convertible, which had the top down.
“Your car is so cool, Aunt Lacey!” Jack’s eyes glowed with excitement. “Can I sit in front with you?”
“I don’t see why not,” she said gaily. “If your father doesn’t mind?”
“Do you, Dad?”
“No,” he growled.
And within seconds they were on their way out of the parking lot and on their way up to the high-way…the driver’s hair flying out behind her with a life of its own.
She and Jack talked to each other nonstop. Occasionally she’d call over her shoulder, “Are you okay back there?” and he’d answer with a curt “Yes!”
Once he caught a glimpse of her in the rearview mirror, looking at him. For just a second, their eyes locked, before she quickly fixed hers on the road again; but in that fleeting exchange he thought he detected not only vulnerability, but a look of wistful wisdom.
And he knew only too well that he must have been mistaken, for Lacey Maxwell was neither vulnerable nor wistful nor wise.
What she was, was a beautiful bore.
But she’d done him a favor by coming to pick him up…and although given a choice he’d rather have walked, he was now beholden to her.
And the sooner he paid that debt, the happier he’d be.
So when they approached the next exit, he leaned forward and yelled, into the streaming ribbons of her black hair, “Could you stop by at the Caulfeild mall?”
She nodded. And putting out her signal, drove onto the exit ramp.
The shopping center was just minutes from the highway, and as soon as she’d parked, he jumped out.
“I’ll be right back.”
He’d intended buying flowers, but at the last moment he changed his mind and bought a box of Belgian chocolates instead. The woman could do with a bit of beef on her!
When he walked back toward the car, he could see she and Jack were talking. They didn’t notice him approach, but he could hear Jack’s eager voice from twenty feet away.
“…and me and my dad aren’t big on family parties, and I told him I’d have rather stayed home and mucked about on the ranch than come over here and act gaga over some baby—”
He broke off as he noticed his father.
“Oh, hi, Dad. I was just telling Aunt Lacey that—”
“Yeah, I heard.”
Lacey looked up at him, her expression amused. “Your son and I are on the same wavelength when it comes to babies—we agree they’re no fun to be around till they’re toilet-trained and able to have a decent conversation.”
“Aunt Lacey thinks they’re messy and noisy and need attention 24-7…24-7, Dad. Aunt Lacey says that means twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.”
“In other words, a full-time job.” Dermid got into the back seat. And added, as Lacey turned around in her seat to look at him, “A bit more exhausting, I’d imagine, and certainly more fulfilling, than spending an hour or two, here or there, leaning against a coconut palm and getting your picture taken for some glossy magazine! How would you describe your job, Lacey? Maybe a 3-2?”
Her green eyes, which had been twinkling with laughter, now clouded over. And he got the sense that he’d doused whatever joy she’d been feeling in the day.
Lips compressed, she turned from him, flicked the key in the ignition, and set the car in motion.
Jack appeared to have noticed the clashing vibrations, for he sank, obviously subdued, back in his seat.
And neither he, nor his aunt, spoke one more word to him or to each other for the rest of the journey.
Deerhaven, the Maxwell’s five-bedroom home, stood high on the slopes of West Vancouver. With a panoramic view of the ocean, it sat in parklike grounds, with a swimming pool, a white-painted cabana, and a play area for the children.
Lacey had her own condo a few minutes away, but every chance she got, she visited Deerhaven. Over the years, Felicity had become her closest friend…but there was one secret Lacey kept from Felicity, and it concerned Dermid.
Felicity thought highly of her brother-in-law, and both she and Jordan considered the ongoing thrust-and-parry between him and Lacey to be harmless. What neither of them knew was that in recent months, Dermid’s put-downs had become more cutting.
And Lacey was afraid that if she wasn’t careful she’d let her guard down and he’d see that he was drawing blood.
Today’s snide comment had been particularly hurtful.
“How would you describe your job, Lacey? Maybe 3-2?”
At his sarcastic comment, all her joy in the day had faded. And she’d felt a surge of resentment. He considered a model’s life to be one of glamour and ease; little did he know that sometimes she was so exhausted she almost fell apart. Not only was she constantly traveling, the shoots themselves were extremely stressful, as were the fashion shows in Milan, Paris, London…
Stifling a sigh, she pushed all her negative thoughts aside as she drew her car to a halt in front of Deerhaven. She was not going to let Dermid’s unpleasant jabs dampen her mood; she had planned to have a good time at today’s party and that was exactly what she was going to do.
Jack opened his seat belt buckle. “Dad, can I go around the back and see if my cousins are out there?”
“Sure,
