Now, he watched the dynamic between mother and daughter. Watched Annie’s every move as her mother introduced her to Vanessa, Beatrice’s second cousin, once removed, a sixty-something woman with a Queen Elizabeth accent, and the woman’s son, Nigel, a man pretty close to Nic’s own thirty-six, who was dressed in an expensive suit and had an accent that probably drew women like flies.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Andrea.” Nigel didn’t release her hand right away. “Your mother’s been telling us all about you.”
Yeah, Nic bet she had been. This is probably exactly the type of man Beatrice hoped her daughter would marry. Certainly not Nic, who didn’t have a designer suit in his closet that his mother or sister hadn’t forced him to buy. Hell, he’d let Annie pick his clothes tonight. Black slacks and a royal blue shirt.
Beatrice turned to Nic with that same welcoming smile and introduced him as Annie’s—sorry, Andrea’s work colleague.
“And what type of business are you in, Mr. DeMarco?”
“Private investigation.”
Nigel’s eyebrows raised. “Really? That sounds fascinating. How long have you been in the business?”
“The firm has been in Philadelphia for more than twenty years.” Annie placed her hand on Nic’s arm. “Nic’s parents are former military intelligence officers and Nic is a former Army Ranger. His brother and sister also work in the firm. I’ve recently taken over as office manager.”
“Why don’t you and Dominic sit down, dear, and I’ll get you drinks.” Beatrice waved at the couch. “We’re planning to eat around eight. I hope you can stay until then?”
“I don’t—”
“Sure, that shouldn’t be a problem.” Nic interrupted before Annie could finish. He recognized the look on Beatrice’s face. She wanted them to stay for dinner but she was too polite to ask. And even though he wasn’t typically a coward, Nic thought staying here for dinner tonight might just give him and Annie a little breathing room. “We didn’t have confirmed plans for tonight.”
Beatrice’s control was nearly as good as his mother’s, but at his words, her expression turned hopeful. “Would you like to stay then?” Her gaze flashed to Annie’s for a brief second before returning to Nic. “I’d certainly love for you to join us.”
He stole a glance at Annie, whose expression was a mix of disappointment and resignation, before answering. “Thanks. If you’re sure it’s not a problem.”
Beatrice’s smile beamed. “Actually, it’s no problem at all. I was hoping I could convince you to stay. I had the cook prepare in case.”
With Beatrice at the helm, conversation flowed smoothly for an hour. For a woman Nic was sure wanted to set her daughter up with another man, she was a gracious host.
But then, Beatrice Reed had been born and raised on the Main Line, the widow of a millionaire adventurer who’d been the sole heir to one of the largest and oldest steel fortunes on the East Coast. Her own parents had been wealthy business owners who could trace their lineage through English royalty.
She kept the conversation rolling, never let anyone flounder. Actually, she reminded Nic of his mother. His mom could make the most awkward conversation and the most diverse group of people flow with one well-placed comment.
And Annie… Annie simply dazzled. When she and Nigel started debating the usefulness of the English peerage, Annie knew exactly what she was talking about and argued so well, Nigel started nodding his head in agreement. Another conquest for his beauty. Jealousy flared but he squelched it by remembering her voice as she told him she loved him.
Just the thought brought with it a rush of feelings he forced back only with an effort.
“Oh, Andrea, you are so much like your father.” Vanessa laughed. “He could charm the birds out the trees, couldn’t he, Beatrice?”
Nic’s gaze shot to Annie, who smiled but he could tell she had to force herself to maintain it. He checked out Beatrice and found her smiling, as well, though Nic was pretty sure hers was genuine.
“Theo was a force of nature,” Beatrice said. “If he wanted to do it and everyone told him it couldn’t be done, he would find a way. He was an adventurer through and through. I never doubted that, with him, I would never be bored. My Andrea gets her zest for living from him. Without Theo, I would have led a very boring life.”
“Do you remember Bangkok? That bar where you danced on the table and the man who wanted to buy us for the night? For a bit, I thought Theo would sell us to him.”
Beatrice laughed outright, a surprisingly strong laugh that left Annie gaping.
“And the night in Egypt, when he paid that man to take us into the pyramids. I must have been nearly six months pregnant then. It was his anniversary gift to me. He knew how much I enjoyed the pyramids.”
As Vanessa and Beatrice continued to reminisce, Nic watched Annie. She was fascinated by her mother’s stories, her expression rapt.
“And there was nothing he wouldn’t do for you or Andrea, for that matter.”
Beatrice nodded. “No, there wasn’t. My parents came to realize that, finally.”
“Nanny and Granddad didn’t like Daddy?” Annie’s voice was hesitant. “I didn’t know that.”
“Oh, they weren’t at all pleased that Bea married your father.” Vanessa waved a hand in the air. “They thought he was reckless and would ruin her standing in society. But I’d never seen two people more in love. Even as young as they were, they knew what they wanted and they convinced everyone else that it was the best for them. And after you came along, they simply packed you up and took you along. You were the most well-traveled child I’d ever met. You spoke Portuguese like a pro when you were four. Do you remember?”
Annie nodded, the ghost of a smile on her lips. “I still speak some, enough to get along.”
“Andrea, you’re selling yourself short,” her mother cut in. “She also speaks Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and French.”
Annie huffed, but the look she gave her mother was amused. “I know enough French to find a restroom in Paris.”
Nic hadn’t known she could speak other languages. His sister Janey had inherited that gift from their mother. He’d had trouble learning a few key Spanish phrases for cases in Mexico but he did know enough Italian to get him around.
Beatrice surprised him by turning to him. “And I know you speak Italian, Dominic. Your mother told me you spent some time with your uncle at the vineyards.”
Nic nodded slowly. He’d retreated there—okay, hidden there for five months after he’d left the army. “Yeah. I’m not fluent, but I can get the jist of things.”
He was saved from answering any more questions by the arrival of the maid, announcing that dinner would be served in five minutes.
“Speaking of the vineyards, I thought you could choose the wine for us tonight.” Beatrice turned to him. “Your parents sent an assorted case as a Christmas present last year and I was hoping you would help me select one for tonight’s meal.”
Well, the night was just full of surprises. He hadn’t known his parents were so friendly with Beatrice.
With a quick glance at Annie, who looked as surprised as he felt, he followed Beatrice out of the room and into the basement where five full racks of wine stood in a small climate-controlled room.
After a short discussion of the menu, Beatrice stepped back so Nic could examine the wine.
“You do know my daughter is in love with you, so I’m not going to waste time with that,” Beatrice said and Nic nearly dropped bottle in his hand. “I also know you broke her heart in college and, at the time, I was thankful.” Beatrice stopped, her smile poignant. “She seemed so young but, in reality, she was the same age I had been when I’d met her father. Do you love my daughter, Dominic?”
He didn’t answer right away. What the hell did she want him to say? He didn’t have a clue as she stared at him with no condemnation in her eyes. So he told the truth.
“Yeah, I do. I’ve been in love with her for years.”
Beatrice’s smile returned, shocking the hell out of him. “Then I’d just like to say how very highly I think of you. Your parents have been two of the best friends I’ve ever had. Andrea and I haven’t always been as close as I’d have liked, and that’s mostly my fault.” She frowned then tried to shake it off. “When I lost my husband, I was inconsolable for months. Some could argue it was years. We were inseparable, the three of us, and losing Theo cut out a part of our hearts. Andrea took it as hard as I did and, for a while, I’m sure she felt she’d lost both parents. I literally couldn’t function. Luckily, my parents were here to care for us and shortly after Theo’s death, Andrea met your sister.”
His mind flashed back to the first time he’d met Annie. She’d been twelve and so polite, so stiff, he hadn’t understood why Janey had made friends with her. Until he’d looked into Annie’s eyes and seen the despair. He’d been twenty-two, already a Ranger for three years and cynical as hell, but he’d wanted to comfort the girl and make everything better. For years, he’d come home on leave and there’d be Annie, always underfoot in his parents’ home. He knew she’d had a crush on him, but he’d never encouraged her, never treated her as anything other than another sister.
“I want you to know, I never took advantage of Annie. I never thought—”
Beatrice laughed at that. “I have no doubt you were a perfect gentleman. If you hadn’t been, if you had taken advantage of my daughter, I would have known. And your father would have taken you to task for it. But she’s no longer a teenager. And now, I think we’d better return or Andrea will come looking for us. Did you decide on a bottle?”
He nodded and gave the wines a cursory look before pulling out one of his favorites. Then he followed Beatrice back up the stairs, shaking his head.
* * * * *
“Andrea, could you help me with dessert, please, dear?”
Okay, here it comes. The inquisition.
As she followed her mother to the kitchen, Annie straightened her spine. She’d been waiting for this all night. She refused to cave to her mother’s subtle yet persistent meddling, though she was dying to know what her mom had said to Nic. Then again, maybe she didn’t want to know. He’d said nothing when they’d returned and he hadn’t seemed to be in a bad mood. But they’d been gone so long…
The swinging door to the kitchen closed behind them and Beatrice moved to the counter and the cake sitting there.
“Mother, what did you and Nic talk about?”
“I hope no one’s allergic to chocolate. Does Dominic like chocolate?”
“Yes, he does, but, Mom—”
Beatrice looked straight into her eyes. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
Annie frowned. “What? Chocolate cake?” A split second later, she realized that wasn’t what her mother was asking. “Oh. Mom, I don’t—”
“Yes, you do.” Her mother picked up the cake and put it on the wooden tray they’d bought in Bali nearly twenty years ago. “I know you think I’m completely clueless about your life, but you are my daughter. Do you ever wonder why I never remarried?”
Annie couldn’t wrap her mind around the constant twists of her mother’s conversation. She shook her head. “No. Mom—”
“Your father was the love of my life. He was the most handsome and the most exciting man I’d ever met. We were young, rich and in love. We had the whole world. And when you came along, we had the sun and the moon, too. After your father died, I wanted to die, as well. But I had you.”
Beatrice smiled, her gaze warm. “And I was so afraid I would lose you, too. You’ve led such a cautious life since your dad died, and I know that’s not what he would have wanted for you. I’m so proud of you, just the way you are, Andrea. I know I don’t express that often or well, but I am. Fear makes you cautious.”
Annie was sure she had the most bemused expression on her face, but she couldn’t seem to wrap her brain around her mother’s meaning.
But her mother’s next words cleared it all up for her.