The Danforths: Reid, Kimberly and Jake: The Cinderella Scandal / Man Beneath the Uniform / Sin City Wedding. Maureen Child
together, she’d gone to him with her eyes wide open.
Unfortunately, her heart had been wide open, as well.
Sometime during the night, or maybe the first time she’d laid eyes on him, she realized, she’d fallen in love with Reid. She’d fought it, of course. It was, after all, very foolish and completely reckless. But clearly, reason did not prevail when it came to love. It simply was.
At the sound of the shower turning off, she slipped her omelettes onto plates, loaded on potatoes and was setting them on the table when he walked into the kitchen wearing nothing but a knotted towel slung low on his hips. Her heart jumped at the sight, and that ache she’d become so familiar with last night pulsed through her veins. The intensity of it startled her, had her wondering, and worrying, about tomorrow.
She couldn’t think about that now, refused to let herself give in to fear. She would accept what they had and be happy for it.
And then he smiled at her and her heart shattered.
‘‘Hey.’’
‘‘Hey, yourself.’’ She swallowed the lump in her throat and forced herself to smile back. ‘‘Breakfast is ready.’’
‘‘Smells great.’’
He walked toward her, made every piece of her heart vibrate with longing.
‘‘It’ll be on the breakfast menu of my restaurant in one year.’’ She hoped her voice sounded as easy as she intended. ‘‘As soon as I have my space back from you, of course.’’
When he moved beside her and leaned close, her breath held, waiting for his kiss. But he reached past her to the table and snatched a slice of potato instead, then popped it in his mouth.
‘‘Tasty.’’
‘‘Thanks.’’
She was about to turn when he tugged her to him, then covered her mouth with his. She melted into the kiss, felt it sing through her entire body.
‘‘Very tasty,’’ he murmured against her lips and pulled her closer. ‘‘You know what they say, don’t you?’’
‘‘What?’’ she whispered, sliding her arms around his neck.
‘‘If you can’t stand the heat—’’ he scooped her up in his arms ‘‘—get out of the kitchen.’’
Laughing, she wrapped her arms around him and held on as he headed for the bedroom. At the sound of keys jangling in the doorknob, Reid stopped and turned. Tina froze, watched in horror as the door swung open.
‘‘Well, now, what have we here?’’
Ohmigod.
Clutching her robe together across her bared breasts, Tina blinked, then sucked in a lungful of air and managed a weak smile. ‘‘Hi, Aunt Yana.’’
Seven
Aunt Yana? Reid glanced at the photo of Tina’s aunt hanging on the wall, then back at the woman standing in the doorway. Yep. Aunt Yana, all right.
She wore a deep-blue, long, flowing duster over silk ivory pants. Colorful stones dangled from her ears and circled a long, slender neck. In spite of the incredibly awkward moment, it was impossible for Reid not to be stunned by the older woman’s beauty. A short crop of thick, straight sable-brown hair accented high cheekbones, aristocratic nose and gypsy-green eyes.
Her mouth, wide and full, slowly curved up at the corners as she closed the door behind her.
‘‘You…you’re home early,’’ Tina sputtered.
‘‘My shoot finished ahead of schedule.’’ Yana slid a large straw handbag from her shoulder and dropped it on the entry table along with her keys, slid her gaze from the tip of Reid’s bare toes to the towel draping his hips, then up to his face. ‘‘Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend, Katina?’’
‘‘I—oh, of course.’’ Tina gulped. ‘‘This is Reid Danforth. Reid, my aunt, Yana Alexander Dimetri Romano.’’
Not quite certain what the proper etiquette was for the situation, Reid simply nodded. ‘‘A pleasure, Ms. Romano.’’
‘‘I think just Yana would be more appropriate.’’ Folding her arms, Yana glanced back down at the towel. Amusement danced in her eyes. ‘‘All things considered.’’
‘‘Yes, ma’am.’’
‘‘Reid,’’ Tina whispered, her voice strained. ‘‘Could you, ah, put me down?’’
‘‘Oh. Right.’’
When her feet touched the floor, Tina tightened the belt of her robe. Her face had gone from pale to rosy pink. ‘‘We were just…ah, going to have breakfast.’’
‘‘Of course you were.’’ Yana’s smile widened. ‘‘It smells wonderful.’’
‘‘I’ll set another plate.’’ Tina shifted from one bare foot to the other. ‘‘Just give me…us, a minute, to ah—’’
‘‘I believe I hear something buzzing.’’ Yana glanced at the sport coat lying on the sofa, then looked back at Reid. Though the sound was faint, it was definitely a buzz. ‘‘Yours, I assume?’’
He’d have to kill whoever was calling him, Reid decided. Holding tightly to the knot of the towel, he stepped to the sofa and retrieved his cell phone from his jacket.
‘‘Excuse me.’’ He backed toward the bedroom where he’d left his clothes.
‘‘Take your time, dear,’’ Yana called after him. ‘‘My niece and I could use a minute alone to say hello.’’
Closing the bedroom door behind him, Reid snapped the phone to his ear. ‘‘Yeah.’’
‘‘Reid, where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you all morning.’’
‘‘Kimberly?’’ He heard the stress in his sister’s voice. ‘‘Are you all right?’’
‘‘You have to come to Crofthaven right away. In the attic. They, they were working there this morning, and found—’’
At the sound of her quiet sob, fear snaked through him. ‘‘Found what, Kim?’’
‘‘They found a body.’’
At least a dozen patrol cars were already at Crofthaven when Reid pulled in front of the mansion’s main entrance. Several uniformed officers standing outside turned at the sight of the black BMW screeching to a halt, then quietly returned to their conversations after Reid hurried past them.
The first officers on the scene had carefully taken in every detail of the activities at Crofthaven. Later they would have the inside scoop to give to the rest of the station, not to mention their friends and family. And if they were really lucky, they just might find their faces on TV or in the newspapers.
The public, not to mention Abraham’s rival candidates, would eat up every tasty morsel of the juicy story.
‘‘Reid.’’ Ian was coming down the stairs as Reid stepped into the foyer. ‘‘Thank God you’re here.’’
‘‘Tell me what’s happened.’’ Reid met his brother at the base of the stairs. ‘‘Kimberly called and said they found a body in the attic, but I didn’t get much more out of her.’’
‘‘She’s pretty shook up.’’ Ian dragged a hand through his hair and sighed. ‘‘Reid, we think it might be Victoria.’’
It was like taking a punch in the gut, and it was a moment before Reid could speak. ‘‘Vickie?’’
‘‘’Fraid so.’’
Victoria Danforth had suddenly disappeared