Tempting (6 page)

“She's too old for you.”

“You know what they say about older women.”

Alex squeezed Ian's shoulder. “Go torture someone else. I'll see you in a couple of days.”

“So you're going for it with her? Because if you're not, I want to know.”

“Say good-night, Ian.”

“Good night, Ian.”

D
ANI PULLED UP
in front of Gloria's house. Climbing out of her car, she stared at the elegant, three-story building that had been constructed nearly a hundred years ago.

When she'd been little, the house had terrified her. As a teenager, it had represented a way of life she couldn't understand. In her early twenties, she'd seen the structure as something to be conquered. Later, it was like her grandmother—unapproachable and solitary. Now it was just Gloria's house. Not good, not bad, just a place where someone lived. Someone who wasn't the person she'd first imagined.

She'd both loved and hated Gloria for so long, it was hard to let go of either feeling. She'd resented the other woman's harshness in declaring that Dani wasn't a real Buchanan. But in the past few weeks, Gloria had apologized several times for what she'd done. She'd claimed to have changed and from Dani's perspective, she actually had.

Oddly, Dani found herself missing Gloria as her grandmother. Not the meanness or the impossible standards, but the connection. Gloria had been a part of her world since her birth and now they weren't related at all. Perhaps the smartest decision would be to walk away but Dani couldn't bring herself to let go.

She climbed the steps to the front door and rang the bell. Reid, the middle of her three brothers, opened it and grinned at her.

“We're not interested, but thanks for coming by.”

She pushed past him before he could close the door. “Very funny.”

“Hey, kid.” Reid wrapped an arm around her. “How are you doing?”

“Good. Dealing with a lot of stuff.”

Reid led her into the living room, where Cal, her oldest brother, and Walker, her youngest, waited. Both men greeted her. Cal handed her a latte from The Daily Grind, which he owned, then hugged her.

“Gloria will be out in a minute,” Walker said as he pulled Dani close. “How are you holding up?”

She looked at her three brothers, the men who had been there for her any time she'd needed them and a lot of times when she hadn't. “I'm okay. I feel weird—sort of disconnected from my life.”

They settled on the sofas in the huge living room. Dani ignored the city view in favor of her brothers.

“I met Mark Canfield yesterday,” she said.

“And?” Walker asked.

“And, I don't know. He was very open to the possibility of me being his daughter. He admitted to the affair with Mom and said he never knew why she broke things off. He was nice and friendly….”

“But?” Cal prompted.

“I don't know. I didn't feel any connection. I guess I had this fantasy that we'd run into each other's arms and instantly bond. I'm still trying to deal.” She sipped her coffee. “Adding to the excitement is Alex Canfield, his oldest son. Alex sees himself as the protector of all things Canfield and me as a threat to his family in general and his father's presidential campaign in particular.”

“Want Walker to take care of him?” Reid asked cheerfully. “He will. I'm guessing there won't even be a stain where Alex once stood. It will be like he never existed at all.”

“I'm not sure we need to go that far,” Dani said, remembering how Alex had annoyed her, but also how she'd kind of liked him. She respected his loyalty to his family, even if it drove her crazy.

“I went over to the house last night,” she continued. “I met the whole clan. There are eight kids—okay, one of them was at college, and Katherine, Mark's wife. She's incredible. Beautiful and patient and all the kids have issues, but that doesn't matter. She's like a saint. I think I want to be her when I grow up.”

“That all sounds good,” Cal said. “So what's the problem?”

“I don't know. I keep feeling like I'm living someone else's life. That none of this is about me. I wanted to know who my father was, but I never expected this. Why can't he just be a plumber or sales executive? Why did he have to be a senator?”

Reid glared at her. “You're not going to choose them over us. Just so you're clear. You're one of us and we're not letting you go.”

She smiled. “I know. You'll always be my big brothers, which is both good and bad.”

“You're damn lucky to have us,” Cal reminded her.

“Of course I am, and you reminding me over and over really helps.” She looked at Walker. “I just want to know where I belong.”

“Why not here?” he asked.

“Because there's more. I don't have your history. Not anymore.”

She could see he wanted to disagree. They all did. While she appreciated how much they loved her, she wasn't sure they could understand what it had been like to find out she wasn't really a Buchanan. That her father was someone she'd never known.

“Just don't get any big ideas about turning your back on us,” Reid muttered.

“I won't,” she promised. “So that's my life. New father, new siblings and I'm loving my job at Bella Roma. What about with you three?”

Walker cleared his throat. “I'm hiring on permanently. Taking over the company.” He looked at Dani. “I know it's what you wanted, but you said you'd changed your mind.”

It was so like him to worry about her, she thought happily, feeling the love and support from all three of them. “I never wanted the company,” she corrected. “I wanted to run one of the restaurants. Now I have something close to that. Sure it's not Buchanan's or The Waterfront, but it's still good. I'm glad you're part of the business, and a little surprised that Gloria would be so willing to leave you in charge.”

“She's getting older,” Walker said. “She knows she can't handle it all now.”

“I'm not
that
old.”

The strong voice came from the woman standing in the doorway. Dani looked at Gloria Buchanan, well dressed as always, as straight-backed as ever, barely leaning on the cane she now used to get around.

“I can handle it if I want to,” Gloria continued. “I simply choose not to.”

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.

 

D
ANI 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.”