Family Matters by Justine Wittich

Author:Justine Wittich [Wittich, Justine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 2004-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Gabe pretended to scan the nineteenth century decor with appreciation. “What happened to that guy? I don’t see him.”

“He and his party are gone,” Jenny informed him. “They left while we were being seated.”

He reached inside his jacket, fumbled at the pocket, and pulled out a hammered silver cigar case.

“You can’t smoke in here, Gabe.”

“I don’t intend to. I just wanted to show you my birthday present from Sterling.” Gabe flipped one end open and began sliding the case around the surface of the table. “Pretty thing,

isn’t it?” He reached for her hand and squeezed her fingers tightly. When she nodded, he said, “See how the light changes the surface of the silver?” He held the gadget up so she could see it. The strip of tiny jewels, part of the design, pulsed.

“May I see it?”

He gave her the miniature bug sweeper and she moved the heavy silver case cautiously across her side of the table. Then he took it back and hitched the tablecloth over his knees while

he swept beneath the table. A tiny beep sounded.

“Might I be of any assistance?”

Gabe looked up into the waiter’s face. The young man’s eyes implied that although he’d already seen everything, the two of them had just made the top ten. Gabe frowned and said, “It felt as if I might have snagged my suit pants when I sat down, and I was checking for a rough place on the table.”

“I’m so sorry. Perhaps you would be more comfortable with different seating.” The waiter gestured toward a table further along the wall.

Jenny was already gathering her tote. “Let’s not take any chances, Gabe. You’ve had such ghastly luck with your suits lately.”

Settled at the new table and their drink order taken, an unfamiliar sound caught Gabe unawares. Jenny’s laughter. “Do that again,” he ordered. Light sparkled in her eyes, which reflected the blue of her dress. “I’ve never heard you laugh before.”

Her expression sobered, but a ghost of mirth lingered in her eyes. She shook out her napkin, spread it across her lap and picked up her menu. “I used to. Laugh, that is. After today, I would have said I’d never laugh again.” Her lips quirked in an irrepressible smile. “But if you’d seen yourself with your arm beneath the table . . . “ Laughter shook her slender shoulders.

“The waiter thought I was trying to cop a feel,” he replied, dazzled. Her smile stole his breath. The fear and sadness had disappeared from her blue-green eyes, and her whole face lit up like a child’s at the circus. Her sleek blond hair, shifting color in the candlelight, swung forward along her elegant jaw line. He wanted to plunge his fingers into the shining silk and hold her face still, capturing all that light and happiness.

Jenny giggled again. “That wouldn’t have shocked him half so much as if you’d admitted what you were really doing.”

“I was just being cautious.” As if to back up his statement, he checked their new table.

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