“Not exactly. But the lady has conditions.”
“Which are?”
“Actual furniture in the living room and he has to redo the kitchen.”
“No kidding?” The idea had Dana feeling both amused and sentimental at once. “Thats our Mal. Before Flynn knows it, hell be living in a real house instead of a building with doors and windows and packing boxes.”
“He bought dishes. The kind you wash, not the land you chuck in the trash.”
The amusement peaked, bringing shallow dimples to her cheeks. “He did not.”
“And knives and forks that arent plastic.”
“Oh, my God, stemware could be next.”
“Im afraid so.” ,
She let out a roll of laughter, toasted to her brothers back. “Hook, line, and sinker.”
“Thats something Ive missed,”Jordan murmured. “Thats the first time Ive heard you laugh and mean it since Ive been back.”
She sobered instantly. “It didnt have anything to do with you.”
“Dont I know it.”
Before she could speak again,Zoe McCourt rushed into the room, steps ahead of Bradley Vane. She looked flustered, irritated, and embarrassed. Like a sexy wood sprite, Dana thought, whod had a particularly bad day.
“Im sorry. Im so sorry Im late.”
She wore a short, clingy black dress with long, snug sleeves and an abbreviated hem that showcased her slim and sinuous curves. Her hair, black and glossy, was short and straight with a long fringe of bangs accenting long-lidded amber eyes.
Behind her, Brad looked like some golden faerie-tale prince in an Italian suit.
Seeing them together made Dana think what a stunning couple they made—if you didnt count the frustration emanating fromZoe , or the uncharacteristic stiffness in Brads stance.
“Dont be silly.” Rowena was already up and crossing to them. “Youre not at all late.”
“I am. My car. I had trouble with my car. They were supposed to fix it, but… Well, Im very grateful Bradley was driving by and stopped.”
She didnt sound grateful, Dana noted. She sounded pissed, with that hint of theWest Virginia hills in her voice giving the temper a nice little edge.
Rowena made sympathetic noises as she ledZoe to a chair, served her champagne.
“I think I couldve fixed it,”Zoe muttered. “That may be.” With obvious gratitude, Bradley accepted a drink. “But youd have ended up with grease all over your dress. Then youd have needed to go home and change andyoudve been even later. Its hardly a slap in the face to accept a ride from someone you know whos going to exactly the same place at the same time.”
“I said I was grateful,”Zoe shot back, then took a deep breath. “Im sorry,” she said to the room in general. “Its been one of those days. And Im nervous on top of it. I hope I havent held anything up.”
“Not at all.” Rowena brushed a hand over her shoulder as a servant came to the archway and announced dinner. “There, you see? Right on time.”
* * *
IT wasnt every day you ate rack of lamb in a castle on a mountaintop inPennsylvania . The fact that the dining room had twelve-foot ceilings, a trio of chandeliers sparkling with white and red crystal drops, and a ruby granite fireplace big enough to hold the population ofRhode Island certainly added to the perks.
The atmosphere should have been intimidating and formal, yet it was welcoming. Not the sort of place youd chow down on pepperoni pizza, Dana reflected, but a nice ambience for sharing an exquisitely prepared meal with interesting people.
Conversation flowed—travel, books, business. It showed Dana the power of their hosts. It wasnt the norm for a librarian from a small valley town to sit around and break bread with a couple of Celtic gods, but Rowena andPitte made it seem normal.
And what was to come, the next step in the quest, was a subject no one broached.