Loveswept 460 - The Rocky Road to Romance by Evanovich Janet

Author:Evanovich, Janet
Language: eng
Format: epub

Loveswept 460 - The Rocky Road to Romance

Seven

Steve took his eyes off the road for a moment to smile at Daisy. She was wearing a little white number that hugged her body in all the right places and still miraculously projected an image of classy respectability. The slim skirt stopped a few inches above her knee, showing off long tanned legs and dainty feet trapped in gold strappy sandals. The top of the dress was off-​the-​shoulder with a band of material that wrapped across her upper arms and slanted down to minimize full breasts. It was entirely devoid of ornamentation, proving the old adage that less is sometimes more. She wore dangly gold earrings and wide gold bands at each wrist. She was a knockout, and Aunt Zena would love her, Steve thought. Zena would also be suspicious and nosy as hell, but an impetuous love-​at-​first-​sight ro?mance would appeal to her.

They rolled through Potomac, Maryland, in the racy black car, down wide streets where high six-​digit incomes and suburban sprawl had spawned the tract mansion. Steve turned into a gated driveway and followed the smooth blacktop to a monster of a house riddled with columns and porticos and upgraded window trim. It rose phoenixlike, in red brick splen?dor, from silver-​dollar wood chips and a great expanse of manicured lawn, its nether parts obscured by professionally tended azalea, holly, and rhododendron.

“An architectural masterpiece,” Steve said. “Neobeltway.”

Daisy gaped at it. “I'm glad I don't have to deliver papers here.”

A white-​coated attendant helped her from the car and ran around to the driver's side.

“Is this Zena's house?” Daisy asked Steve.

“No. Aunt Zena has a condo in Georgetown. This little honey belongs to George and Ethel Begley. They're really very nice people. I don't know why they chose to live at Tara here.”

They walked into the vaulted foyer and were greeted by Ethel. She gave Steve a cheek-​kiss, rewarded Daisy with a dazzling smile, and propelled them forward into the cool interior of the house.

A sideboard held liver pate, salmon mousse, and French bread crusts. The pate and mousse looked fresh on their lettuce beds, and Steve took a crust and scooped up some mousse.

An older woman barreled through the French doors leading to the patio. Her hair was black and pulled into a tight knot at the nape of her neck. She wore dark red lipstick and plum eye shadow. Her gray silk suit firmly whispered designer original. Daisy knew it was Aunt Zena from the first moment. She was a big, strong, handsome woman. Near seventy, Daisy guessed, and still going strong.

Zena hugged her nephew. “I've been waiting for you.”

Steve returned the hug, then slid his arm around Daisy's shoulders. “Aunt Zena, I'd like you to meet my friend Daisy Adams.”

“Daisy Adams, that name sounds so famil?iar. Are you a Republican?” she asked Daisy.

“No,” Daisy said, “I'm a graduate student.”

“Daisy Adams, Daisy Adams,” Zena re?peated. “Oh my Lord, you're the Dog Lady!”

A small crowd was forming behind Zena. “Is it really the Dog Lady?” someone asked.

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