Tempting

Dani’s brothers rose as Gloria walked into the living room. Reid ushered his grandmother to a chair and everyone sat.

Dani eyed the woman who had been such a large part of her childhood. Doing well to impress Gloria had once meant everything to her. The praise had been hard-won and more meaningful because of it…until Dani had entered her teens and there hadn’t been any more praise.

The old woman had been difficult and cruel, yet Dani still found herself missing Gloria. Which probably meant she, Dani, needed some serious time in therapy.

“Thank you all for coming,” Gloria said, smiling at them, then leaning forward and touching Dani’s hand. “I know you’re all busy.”

The touch was familiar and made Dani’s chest tighten. A few years ago, a hint of kindness would have meant the world. After years of rejection Dani had done her best not to care what the old woman thought of her. Now Gloria was trying to reconnect and Dani wasn’t sure what to do about that. Did she trust again or not?

“I want to talk about my estate,” Gloria continued.

“Why?” Walker asked bluntly. “What aren’t you telling us?”

“Nothing. Don’t get too excited. I’m not dying anytime soon. I’m simply getting things in order. I’m unlikely to live forever.”

Dani wondered if Gloria’s recent medical trouble had made mortality seem more real. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

“I’m worth a lot,” Gloria said. “My shares in the family business alone are worth several million. I have investments, this house, some real estate, that sort of thing. I’m dividing it up for all of you.”

Dani wanted to run. She didn’t want to hear about all this. She was happy for her brothers, but as she wasn’t actually Gloria’s grandchild, there was no reason for her to—

“I’m dividing my estate into fourths,” Gloria added.

None of her brothers reacted, but Dani felt as if she’d been struck by lightning. She couldn’t hear, couldn’t speak and sure as hell couldn’t understand what was happening.

“Why?” Dani asked without thinking. “I’m not a Buchanan.”

Gloria turned to her. “Of course you are, child. I’m sorry about what I said before. How cruel I was to you. There aren’t any excuses. Not really. I wish I could have been different for you. I can’t change the past, but I can make sure you know that you matter to me. That you all matter. The estate will be divided equally in value. Reid and Lori will get the house in a few years, when they’re done with that ridiculous houseboat of his and are ready to start their family. Walker is taking over the business, so he’ll get more shares. Dani will get my jewelry, along with a stake in the company. Cal, I happen to be a major stockholder in the Daily Grind. I’ll turn that over to you.”

Cal frowned. “I know the major stockholders. You’re not one of them.”

“You don’t know the name of my holding company.”

He swore under his breath. “You’re good.”

“No, but I should have been. Now don’t expect to get anything right away. I haven’t changed that much. But I wanted you to know it was there for you.”

Reid stood and pulled Gloria to her feet. Then he hugged her. Dani rose and found herself pulled into the embrace. Soon they were all hugging and for Dani, it felt long overdue.

A few minutes later, the party broke up. Her brothers headed out, but Dani lingered. Gloria settled back on the sofa.

“Tell me about your meeting with your father.”

Dani gave her a brief outline of what had happened. “I thought there would be more,” she admitted. “I guess that’s not fair.”

“Sometimes we don’t know our expectations until we’re in the situation,” Gloria told her. “Alex sounds interesting.”

Dani laughed. “Are you matchmaking? Don’t bother. My luck with men is hideous. Besides, he’s so the wrong guy for me. We’re practically related.”

“You’re not blood relatives at all. How was Katherine?”

“Elegant. Gracious.” Dani sighed as she remembered the other woman’s patience with her children. “Their family is like something out of a movie. All those kids and the household runs smoothly. Ian’s in a wheelchair and a couple of the kids have Down’s syndrome. Trisha’s deaf. I know the others are special-needs kids, as well, but I don’t know the reasons.”

“Why that woman would burden herself and her husband that way is beyond me,” Gloria said. “Who needs eight children with problems? It’s ridiculous. She’s practically a martyr. Does she want to be on a stamp?”

The mini outburst was vintage Gloria. Dani couldn’t help smiling. “So you haven’t changed totally.”

Gloria sighed. “Apparently not. But I’m working on it. I’ve met Katherine a few times. She’s lovely and gracious—reasons why we were never close.”

“She was so nice to me. I don’t think I would have been able to act that way if I’d been her.”

“Perhaps not. Still, watch yourself. The situation is complicated.” Gloria shook her head. “You’ll do what you want to do. You’ve always been stubborn.”

“I get that from you,” Dani said, then pressed her lips together. “I mean—”

Gloria grabbed her hand. “Stop! Stop backtracking. You do get that from me. Maybe it’s just from watching me be stubborn all your life. Dani, I still want to be your grandmother. We have a history. I want you to think about forgiving me for all I did. Is that possible?”

Dani wasn’t sure. Did forgiveness imply trust? Because she wasn’t totally ready to believe Gloria wouldn’t turn on her again. Still, under the circumstances, saying “Of course it’s possible,” seemed the right thing to do.

DANI FLIPPED THROUGH the receipts for the night. Not bad for a Wednesday, she thought as she did a quick mental tally. Nick’s pasta special had been a huge hit and they’d sold a fair number of her wine pairings, as well.

It had taken Dani the better part of a week to convince Bernie to offer wine pairing suggestions. He kept telling her that guests found it insulting to be told what wine went with what foods. As if the management assumed they were too stupid to figure it out themselves.

Dani argued that people liked being given ideas that allowed them to try a wine they might not have taken a chance on otherwise.

Their compromise had been to add a wine pairing to half the specials and see if they sold. She had a feeling Bernie would want to add more pairings to other items on the menu.

Her minor success pleased her. She wanted to do well in her work. This was her first real job outside the Buchanan empire, so in her mind, it was a make-it or break-it situation.

“Dani, one of our guests wants to talk to you. He didn’t say why.”

Dani smiled at the server. “Thanks, Eddie. Which table?”

“Fifteen.”

“I’ll head right over.”

A request to see a manager could mean anything from a tirade to praise for exceptional service. Things ran smoothly enough at Bella Roma that Dani wasn’t worried.

She rounded the corner and was halfway through her “Hi, I’m Dani Buchanan. How may I help you?” when she recognized the lone diner. The power suit was familiar as were the dark eyes and stubborn jaw.

“This is a surprise,” she told Alex Canfield.

“I heard the food was good.”

She glanced at the menu in his hand. “I take it you haven’t ordered. Would you like a few suggestions?”

“Are you going to spit on my food before they bring it to me?”