LITMIR.BIZ

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nodded to him. “I’m Rick Austin.”

      “Come in, Mr. Austin. I’m Peter, Betty’s husband. Uh, I’m supposed to give you this and wait for you to read it.”

      Rick frowned as he took the note and read the flowing writing. Vanessa wanted him to know that his sister was wearing a new dress this evening and that he should compliment her on it.

      He crumpled the note in his hand, leaving Peter watching him with a nervous expression.

      “Thank you, Peter,” Rick said, hoping to ease the man’s apprehension. He resented the note because he knew how to behave. His own mother insisted on good manners. But maybe Miss Shaw—he corrected himself, Vanessa—had a point. He had seen his sister only once since she was six—today when she’d fainted at the sight of him. Maybe a pleasant compliment would enable things to proceed smoothly.

      “Where am I to go, Peter?”

      “This way, please.” He turned and started down the hall, and Rick followed.

      When Peter opened a door across from the library, Rick drew a deep breath. Then, pasting a smile on his face, he entered the room.

      Vivian immediately rose to greet him. Once again he was struck by the petite woman’s beauty. In her forties, she had strawberry blond hair with but a few strands of gray. She welcomed him and introduced him to Jeff Jacobs, his wife Rebecca, their children Joey and Jamie, as well as Jeff’s partner, Bill Wallace, and his wife, Chelsea, who was obviously pregnant.

      Will invited him to sit down, and Rick did so. But he didn’t see Vanessa or Lindy.

      Just as he was making conversation with the others, the door opened again. Vanessa, looking stunning in a chic black dress, entered the room, followed by a beautiful younger woman.

      Rick stood and stared at the two women. He remembered the note he’d received. Of course, praise was due both for their appearance, but he couldn’t help seeing his stepmother when he looked at Lindy. Her blond hair and slender figure looked so much like Anita’s.

      He crossed the room to greet them. “Hello, Vanessa. You look beautiful tonight.”

      “Thank you,” she said coolly, and stepped aside for him to face his sister.

      “You look very nice, Lindy. Like your mother,” he couldn’t help adding.

      Lindy appeared stricken, and she let out a gasp.

      Vanessa wrapped an arm around the child. “It’s all right, Lindy. He didn’t mean that.”

      “What do you mean?” Rick demanded. “She does look like her mother.”

      “The woman you hated? Does that mean you hate Lindy, too?”

      “No, of course not—I mean—I don’t know her!”

      “Exactly. Let me assure you, she may look like her mother, but that’s where the resemblance ends!” Vanessa exclaimed.

      “Dear,” Vivian said, “aren’t you asking a little too much of Rick to react as if he knows his sister? He’s scarcely seen her in nine years.”

      “And whose fault is that?” Vanessa demanded.

      Jeff stood and joined Rick. “Maybe you should cut him some slack, Vanessa. He may have been careless, but he had no choice about leaving her with her mother, unless he knew of any abuse. Any court would agree with that.”

      Vanessa wasn’t satisfied with legal obligations. “That still doesn’t—”

      At that moment Betty stepped into the room. “Dinner is served.”

      And that ended their conversation…for the time being.

      Chapter Three

      Vanessa had asked her mother to seat Lindy next to her, in case the girl continued to be nervous about her half brother. Vivian had done as Vanessa had asked, but she’d put Rick Austin across the table from Lindy.

      However, much to Vanessa’s surprise, Lindy seemed eager to talk to her brother.

      “Rick, do you still live in Dad’s house?” Lindy asked in a quiet moment.

      He frowned. “Yes, of course.”

      “It’s a wonderful house,” Lindy said. “I remember thinking it was like a castle.”

      Rick gave her a surprised look. “A castle? It doesn’t look anything like a castle.”

      Lindy withdrew immediately, and Vanessa intervened, telling Rick, “You’ll have to remember she was only six years old. Is it here in Highland Park?”

      “Yes, of course. I didn’t think,” Rick said, apologizing at once. “Would you like to visit the house?” he asked Lindy. “I’ll be out of town next week, but I’ll let my housekeeper know you’d like to drop by, if you want.”

      “Is it still Mrs. Abby?” Lindy asked, but her enthusiasm seemed to have disappeared.

      “Yes, it is.”

      Lindy turned to Vanessa. “She’s a lot like Betty, Vanessa. You’ll like her if you meet her.”

      “Of course, honey, I’m sure I will. Maybe your brother will tell us a convenient time. We wouldn’t want to show up at an inappropriate moment.” She sent a pointed look to Rick to let him know she’d understood his parameters…and didn’t like them.

      He squared his jaw but said nothing. Fortunately, Rebecca asked him a question that caused him to turn away.

      Vanessa felt Lindy withdraw beside her, but she couldn’t follow suit. She sensed that she had to be on alert whenever the man was near. He was dangerous, in so many ways. He was way too handsome. His good looks could make a susceptible woman believe anything he said. She wasn’t susceptible, of course.

      After they left the table, she whispered to Lindy, “Have you changed your mind about visiting the house?”

      Lindy shrugged. “He doesn’t want me there. I’ll manage without seeing it.” Her voice showed the hurt she was feeling.

      When they settled for coffee in the morning room, Vivian invited the children to join them, saying she seldom saw Rebecca’s two anymore. After the children arrived, Vanessa noticed Lindy relax for the first time that evening, losing her self-consciousness with Jamie, Rebecca and Jeff’s youngest.

      A glance across the room told her she wasn’t the only one who had noticed the change. Rick Austin had his eye on his sister, too. Good. She intended to have a word with Mr. Austin before he went home tonight!

      Rick leaned close to Vivian and asked a question, then Rick, Jeff and Bill stood and left the room.

      She asked, “Where are they going?”

      Vivian said, “Rick asked if I minded if he talked to Bill and Jeff in private.”

      “Is he coming back in here?” Vanessa demanded.

      Will said, “Why wouldn’t he?”

      Vanessa didn’t say anything. Since her parents had supported Rick several times, she didn’t want to tell them that she intended to chastise him in private. All the clothes she’d bought Lindy were worth nothing if her brother didn’t show some acceptance. He was like an absentee father figure for Lindy. Vanessa didn’t think it would be easy to make up for all the years of emotional neglect without some assistance from Rick.

      She breathed a sigh of relief when the men returned half an hour later. All three looked pleased with themselves, so Vanessa guessed Rick had hired Jeff and his partner to handle his private affairs.

      But he had better not think he could pass off Lindy to his lawyers. She wouldn’t allow that. Besides, that plan had already failed.

      Bill and Chelsea left first, Chelsea explaining apologetically that she had to go

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