The Scandalous Heiress. Kathryn Taylor

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СКАЧАТЬ stepped into the hall. Her shoes clacked against the marble floor as she walked to the staircase. The light fragrance of fresh flowers was a welcome change from the humid smog of the city. At the bottom landing she paused to view a painting. She recognized the name of the artist, but the sterile cubist picture left her cold.

      “A little early to be appraising the inventory.”

      The deep voice, laced with contempt, gave her a start. She whirled around and met the chilling glare of the stranger. “Excuse me?”

      He took a menacing step forward, then staggered. The smell of gin assaulted her. “So, Meg...”

      “Mikki. And you are?”

      A sneer marred his handsome features. “Don’t you know?”

      “Should I?”

      “What? No welcoming kiss for your favorite cousin?”

      Not even if he was sober, she thought. So, he was one of the beloved cousins Clayton had spoken of earlier. She guessed him to be in his mid-thirties, although his behavior was adolescent. “Joseph?”

      He tipped his head. “Right the first time. But then I expect that Clayton has coached you well.”

      She laughed in spite of her anger. Clayton had been more guarded with his information than a courier holding national security secrets.

      “It’s nice to see you entertaining our guest, Joseph.” Clayton’s timely arrival spared her from having to answer the accusation, but she doubted the grilling was over.

      Joseph clenched his fingers into tight fists. “If it isn’t our esteemed president back from the hunt.” His gaze swept over Mikki. “Pick up a little roadkill on the trip?”

      She wiped her palms against her linen skirt. “Last time I checked, I was still breathing.”

      Clayton cupped his hand around her elbow. “He is better without a half bottle of gin in him. However, he prefers life from the bottom of the bottle.”

      She realized that she was about to learn how slowly twenty-four hours could pass. With only Clayton to count on for support, her dreams were crumbling like stale crackers.

      Joseph stumbled away and Clayton shrugged an apology. “I should have warned you.”

      “Hey, no one will accuse you of failing to show a woman a fun time.”

      “I’m sure my last few dates would disagree.”

      “Maybe that’s because you didn’t bring them home to meet the family.”

      His fingers tightened perceptibly. “They’re not my family.”

      “I thought your aunt is married to Mr. Hawthorne.”

      “That’s true. But in this family, blood is everything.”

      No one knew that better than he did. For twelve years he had worked for Hawthorne Enterprises, the last four as president. A position he would lose if Richard’s condition worsened. Only a blood relative could inherit the company. If Mikki wasn’t the missing heir, William and Joseph would eventually gain control. The thought of those two pampered playboys ruining the business made Clayton ill.

      He glanced toward Mikki. Her wide eyes reflected the effects of Joseph’s stinging comments. Just because she didn’t dress in a thousand-dollar suit or have her hair and nails done weekly, this didn’t take away from her natural beauty.

      He searched for a compliment that would ease the hurt. “Dinner will be served soon.” He groaned inwardly. That was the extent of his charm and sophistication? How did this woman turn him into a social idiot?

      “My head on a silver platter, no doubt,” she muttered.

      “No. Rack of lamb, string beans almandine and new potatoes sauteed in sweet butter.” Mikki was strictly dessert. Luckily, he had sworn off sweets. Before his wandering thoughts gave him more than a toothache, he led her to the salon. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet first.”

      She paused at the doorway and took a deep breath. After her confrontation with Joseph, he understood her reluctance.

      His aunt rose as they entered the room. Her warm smile greeted them. “Clay. And you must be Meg.”

      “Mikki,” he said, with deliberate emphasis, “I’d like you to meet my aunt Alicia.”

      “No, no. She’s Meg. I can tell.” Alicia shook her head. His aunt wanted Michelle to be Megan Hawthorne almost as much as Richard. Alicia had never forgiven herself for failing to stop the kidnapping, and the family had never allowed her to forget. As if she could have overtaken two burly men with the help of one scrawny eleven-year-old. “Look at her, Clay. She’s only gotten prettier.”

      Mikki looked to him for a response.

      “Yes, she’s pretty, I suppose.”

      “Well, don’t choke on the words,” she said for Clay’s benefit and offered her hand to Alicia. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Hawthorne.”

      “Please call me Alicia. Your father will be down any moment. The doctor told him to slow down, but he wouldn’t allow you to greet him in his bedroom like some invalid.”

      “He hasn’t been well?” Mikki asked.

      Alicia shot a stern glare at her nephew. “You didn’t tell her about her father?”

      Clayton shook his head. “The subject never came up. Mikki shows a remarkable lack of curiosity about the Hawthorne family tree.”

      “You flatter me,” Mikki said. “There’s nothing remarkable about it. You’re not convinced that I belong here. Why should I dare to assume I do?”

      Alicia smiled sadly. “My Clayton is far too conservative and serious. He thinks everyone has an ulterior motive.”

      Mikki blew a puff of air, lifting the wisp of bangs on her forehead. “That’s not conservatism. It’s paranoia.”

      “Only if I’m wrong,” he said.

      A moment later Clayton watched in astonishment as Richard made his grand entrance. His slow, shuffling steps implied a frailness that hadn’t been evident earlier. For some reason, he seemed to want to appear more weak and helpless than he actually was. Who was this charade for? Mikki, or the rest of the family?

      “Hello, Michelle. I’m glad you accepted my invitation.” Richard extended his hand in a greeting.

      Mikki touched him lightly, as if afraid of hurting him. “Thank you.”

      “I trust the plane ride was uneventful.”

      Clayton couldn’t stop the grin twitching at the corner of his mouth. From liftoff to landing, the trip had been an ordeal for her.

      She glowered at him, then returned her attention to Richard. “It was fine, thank you, sir.”

      “Please, call СКАЧАТЬ