LITMIR.BIZ

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meant her. “I’m not here to hurt anyone.”

      “That doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen.”

      Dani was used to being liked and disliked on her own merits. She wasn’t perfect, but she wasn’t channeling the devil, either.

      Before she could point that out, a slim, well-dressed woman in her fifties walked into the room. Dani rose automatically as she took in the woman’s classically beautiful features and sleek upswept hair.

      Alex stood, as well, crossed to her and kissed her on the cheek. “This is Dani Buchanan,” he said. “Dani, my mother, Katherine Canfield.”

      Katherine’s dark blue eyes crinkled slightly as she smiled in welcome. “Dani. How lovely to meet you. We’re delighted you could join us for dinner tonight.”

      Her tone was as gracious as her words. Dani knew this had to be awkward for all of them, but Katherine’s smile never wavered.

      The older woman turned to her son. “No drinks? Nothing to eat? Are you planning to starve her into submission?”

      “I asked,” he said, sounding slightly defensive. “She said she didn’t want anything.”

      Dani stared at him. Was this a crack in dragon-boy’s armor? Was his need to protect his family by harassing her about to conflict with his mother’s sense of good manners?

      Katherine’s smile widened. “I can only imagine how graciously you inquired.” She turned to Dani. “I always enjoy a glass of white wine. Would you join me?”

      “I’d love to,” Dani said and had to fight the urge to stick out her tongue at Alex.

      He muttered something under his breath as he crossed to the small bar in the corner.

      Katherine sat down and motioned for Dani to do the same. “Mark mentioned you only recently discovered your connection to him.”

      “That’s right. It’s complicated, but my grandmother told me a couple of weeks ago. I’ve been working up the courage to go see him.”

      “We have both samples for the DNA testing,” Alex said as he handed first his mother, then Dani, a glass of wine. “We’ll have the results in a couple of days.”

      Katherine smiled. “There’s certainly room for one more at our table. Mark and I have always wanted a large family. We made the decision to adopt all our children long before we got married. But my husband is a typical man and should you turn out to be his biological child, I know he’ll be thrilled to know he’s passed on the family gene pool.”

      Everything about Katherine screamed grace and acceptance. Dani was stunned—but in the best way possible. If their situations were reversed, Dani wasn’t sure she could be so open and friendly toward her husband’s unexpected child, even after all these years.

      “You’re being very kind,” she murmured.

      “Too kind,” Alex said.

      Katherine glanced at her son, then turned back to Dani. “You’ll meet our other children tonight.”

      “I already met Ian.”

      “Oh, dear.” Katherine shook her head. “Should I brace myself?”

      Dani laughed. “I think he’s terrific.”

      “And?”

      “He wanted to know if I was a stripper.”

      “I swear, that boy. I apologize for any offense.”

      “Please don’t,” Dani told her. “He’s funny and charming. I really liked him.” Unlike Alex, Ian had been genuine.

      “Ian deals with life in his own way. He’s brilliant. Stanford has offered him a four-year scholarship, as have several Ivy League schools. He’ll get a technical degree and advance to a level where we’ll have nothing to talk about.”

      She sounded proud as she spoke.

      Alex sipped his drink. “You can always ask him about the latest stripper.”

      Katherine sighed. “I should have adopted only girls.”

      Dani laughed. “You love him. I can hear it in your voice.”

      “Of course I do,” Katherine said. “He’s my son.”

      There was such acceptance in her tone. The Canfield children were very lucky to have her in their lives. Mark was, too.

      “We are telling them you’re a friend of the family,” Katherine continued. “Until we have confirmation on your relationship with Mark.”

      “Of course,” Dani said quickly. “Even if I am Mark’s daughter, there’s no rush on letting anyone know. I don’t want to make any trouble.”

      Something flickered in Katherine’s eyes, but before Dani could figure out what it was, she heard the sound of running footsteps. Dani looked toward the door as several children rushed inside.

      It was common knowledge that the Canfields had deliberately chosen special needs children when they’d decided to adopt. Two, a teenage girl and a younger boy, had Down’s syndrome. The other children’s issues were less visible. She glanced at Alex. All she knew about his past was that he’d been adopted when he was eight or nine. So what was his story and why had Katherine picked him?

      Katherine held out her arms. The children hurried close, all talking at once. She touched and greeted each one, moving her hands as she spoke to a pretty girl of eleven or twelve.

      Alex was next. The group enveloped him in hugs, then bombarded him with dozens of questions.

      “You didn’t tell me you’d be here for dinner. Why not?”

      “Did you bring me anything?”

      “Did you see the Mariners game last night? They kicked butt.”

      Finally he pulled two young boys onto his lap and pointed at Dani. “We have company.”

      “That’s right,” Katherine said. “Dani, these are my children. You’ve already met Alex, of course. Julie is away at college, so she won’t be joining us. Next is Bailey.”

      “Hi.”

      Bailey was the older girl with Down’s. She had beautiful wavy red hair and a huge smile.

      “I like your hair,” Dani told her.

      “I like yours. I’d like it cut short, like you have it.” Bailey swayed slightly as she spoke, her voice was soft.

      Dani shook her head. “Trust me. Of the two of us, you have the great hair. Don’t change a thing.”

      Bailey blushed and dropped her chin to her chest.

      Katherine looked at Dani for a second, then continued with the introductions. There was Trisha, who was deaf, Quinn, who looked normal but didn’t speak, then Oliver, the other child with Down’s.

      “Last is Sasha,” Katherine said, lifting the little girl onto the sofa.

      Sasha sighed heavily. “I’m always last. I hate being last. I want to go first.”

      “You’re the baby,” Bailey told her. “Everybody likes the baby.”

      “I want to be the oldest.”

      Dani crouched down in front of Sasha. “I’m the baby of my family. I have three big brothers. Sometimes it’s okay, but sometimes they don’t tell me anything. I hate that.”

      Sasha bobbed her head up and down. “Me, too.”

      Alex didn’t realize he was tense until he started to relax. Whatever Dani’s intentions, she was doing okay with the kids. Unlike his ex-wife, who had never known how to deal with them. At least she’d left. Having Fiona at the table would have added

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