Straight from the Heart

“It’s nothing.” Ava dismissed her daughter’s concern with a shake of her head. “It’s just that your father has to turn every party into a business meeting. I was hoping we could have only family tonight.”

That didn’t ring true, because she knew her mother enjoyed parties and cooking and everything connected to them. And she was used to her father springing extra guests on her. So what was going on? It was increasingly clear that her mother was nervous about something.

“Who’s here?” Blair asked as a way to get some answers.

“The Johnsons, the Manns, the Barkers and Calvin, Natalie and Tiffany,” her mother answered.

That didn’t give Blair any clues. Her dad’s business associates were frequent guests. Natalie was her father’s sister, and Calvin her husband. Tiffany was their daughter. Calvin was also the firm’s accountant, so their presence wasn’t out of the ordinary. Besides, they were family.

“How’s Tiffany doing?” Blair asked. Her cousin, a year younger than her, was going through a bad divorce.

“Still bitter.”

“I’m sorry.”

“So is Tiffany, but Nat felt that company might cheer her up.”

Poor Tiff, Blair thought. After five years of marriage, she’d come home one day to find her husband in bed with another woman. Joel, Tiffany’s husband, had seemed like a nice guy, but apparently he wasn’t satisfied with just one woman. He had hurt Tiffany very badly.

Blair was thankful she’d never have to deal with a situation like that. Years ago, she’d decided she didn’t care for men all that much, so the odds of her getting married were very slim. She knew she had a problem in that area, but it was her problem and her business.

Oh, God. She closed her eyes for a second. She didn’t want to be a frigid old maid. She needed to get out more, resolve those emotions that were tied to the past. Suddenly she remembered Lucas and his charming smile and— She quickly opened her eyes. Why couldn’t she stop thinking about him?

“You look beautiful,” her mother was saying. “I’m glad you didn’t wear one of those dreary suits.”

Shaking Lucas from her mind, Blair glanced down at her dress. It was deep blue with a square neck and cap sleeves that showed off her neck and long slender arms. The hem came two inches above her knees and showed more leg than she liked, but in her rush, she’d grabbed the dress at random. She didn’t want to be later than she absolutely had to.

“Darling, promise me something.” Ava’s concerned voice caught her attention.

“Sure,” Blair answered immediately.

“Don’t let your personal feelings get involved tonight. Be an adult and—”

“Hey, sis,” her brother interrupted as he came into the kitchen. “You’re finally home.”

She hugged Blake, still thinking about Ava’s odd request. She had no idea what her mother was talking about and she didn’t have time to figure it out.

Ava wrapped an arm around each of them. “My two children both at home. I can’t tell you how good that makes me feel.”

“Me, too,” Blair and Blake chorused, then laughed.

“I wish you’d stay home for good, Blake. London’s so far away,” Ava said plaintively.

“Now, Mom, don’t start.” Blake sighed. “You know that’s not possible.”

“But Blake,” Blair started, then stopped as Blake raised a hand.

“No pressure, ladies. Besides, we have a family member who’s desperately in need of our attention. Tiff can’t stop talking about Joel and the divorce, and it’s really more than I want to hear. She only drops that subject long enough to talk about—” Blake looked hesitantly at his mother, then at Blair.

“What?” Blair asked. He was hiding something from her; she’d sensed it earlier and now she was sure of it.

“Nothing.” Blake shrugged and took her hand. “Let’s join the guests.”

Blair trailed behind him into the living room and Ava followed. “I’ve brought reinforcements,” Blake announced, and glanced warily down the hall.

Everyone was acting strangely, Blair decided as she spoke to Meg Johnson, Nancy Mann and Beth Barker. She hugged her aunt and Tiffany.

“I guess Blake’s tired of listening to me,” Tiffany said.

“Never mind Blake.” Blair smiled at her beautiful cousin, who had pale blond hair and green eyes. As a young teen, she used to envy Tiffany’s hair because she’d heard that blondes had more fun. But now she was satisfied with her darker coloring.

“How’re you doing?” Blair asked sympathetically, giving her cousin another hug.

“Terrible,” Tiffany admitted, swirling wine around in her glass. “But I’m sure Blake’s already told you that. You two used to tell each other everything, and I’m sure that hasn’t changed.”

“A little,” Blair had to confess, and noticed that Blake kept looking toward the hallway leading to her father’s study. Was he nervous about seeing their dad? Their father was obviously holed up in the study with his cronies.

“But I’m feeling much better since I met that gorgeous hunk your father invited,” Tiffany said, smoothing a hand over her slim hips. “Oh, yes, I’m feeling much better.”

“For heaven’s sake, Tiff,” Natalie spoke up. “Remember your manners.” Natalie’s dark hair was now almost completely gray, but her blue eyes were as vivid as ever. Blair had always been told that she resembled her father’s sister, and she knew she had the Logan hair and eyes, but she had her mother’s dainty features.

“Mother, I’m entitled to some fun,” Tiffany reminded her.

“Just be careful. This man’s a complete stranger and we know nothing about him.”

Voices in the hall put an end to the conversation. Blair wondered who Tiffany was talking about. All the men gathered in her father’s study were married. Had he invited someone else? Her mother hadn’t said.

“Remember your promise,” Ava whispered as the men entered the living room.

Blair’s eyes swung from her father, to Derek Johnson, to Frank Mann, to Theo Barker, to Uncle Calvin—and settled on the sixth man. He was dressed stylishly in a dark brown suit, light brown shirt and darker tie. He was smiling devilishly at her, and everything in Blair exploded with a rage she hadn’t felt in a long time. How dare he! How dare he come into her home! What was Lucas Culver doing here?

She hadn’t even realized she’d spoken the words aloud until her father put an arm around her shoulder and answered, “I invited him, sweetie.”

“You invited him?” Blair repeated in an incredulous tone. “You invited Lucas Culver to dinner?”

Blair’s reaction didn’t surprise Lucas. He’d expected it. He not only saw her anger, he felt it. There was pure fire coming from those beautiful blue eyes and it was aimed directly at him. He’d seen Blair out of her element earlier, but this Blair was completely different. She was woman—all woman—from the dark hair hanging around her shoulders to the high heels. Her blue dress magnified her eyes and clung to her curves—curves that drew his eyes like a magnet.

He’d always considered Blair a petite person, but her legs were long and shapely and had his full attention. He was losing it, he told himself. The woman was furious at him, and he was mentally undressing her. Yep, he was losing it.

“Now, Blair, be reasonable,” Sam was imploring.

“Reasonable?” Blair pushed out of his arms and stared at her mother. “You knew,” she cried, then pinned her gaze on Blake. “And so did you.”

Ava and Blake had the grace to look ashamed, but it didn’t mollify Blair in the least. “No one thought to tell me. No one considered my feelings.”

“Blair, darling, don’t make a scene,” her mother begged.

“Okay, Mother,” Blair snapped. “I’ll leave, so you can get on with your party.” Having said that, she turned and stormed out of the room.