Night of the Wolf by Elaine Barbieri

Author:Elaine Barbieri
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781428503434
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.

CHAPTER SIX

“Is something wrong, Aunt Letty?”

Mason sat at a table across from Letty in Adolfo’s Café with an expression of feigned concern. One of the city’s premier restaurants, a haunt of the rich and famous, where people came to see and be seen, Adolfo’s had a reputation to uphold. That reputation was supported by Letty’s patronage, and it was obvious that Adolfo’s treated her accordingly. She had been given a prominent table amid New York’s social elite. It did not miss his notice that she was completely at home among the crystal chandeliers, flowers, silver, and sparkling dinnerware that graced the flawless scene. Mason inwardly scowled at the thought that her access to such luxury had come at the expense of many men like his uncle, whom she had manipulated to her advantage.

The preferential seating was not really necessary, because no one could miss seeing Miss Letty Wolf wherever she sat. She was dressed in a conservative brown silk gown that enhanced her petite frame. The faint circles under her eyes imparted to her gaze an appealing, almost haunted look, and the hollowness to her cheeks was silent testimony to difficulties she had not yet declared. Still, she was without a doubt the most beautiful woman in the room. Silently analyzing her appearance, he supposed her apparent delicacy expanded the power of her dark-eyed gaze, while the conservative color of the gown added an aura of sobriety without distracting from her femininity. It was a ploy he was certain she had employed many times with his extremely susceptible uncle before seducing him.

Gratified that her ploys had no chance of deceiving him, Mason summoned a waiter so they could order. He waited only until they were alone at the table once more before covering Letty’s small hand briefly with his own. “I received your message to meet you here for lunch, but I admit that I was disturbed. I know you don’t commonly venture out until later in the day.”

“You’re right, of course,” Letty interrupted with a forced smile. “That is one of my indulgences, but I had no desire to sleep this morning. Nothing is especially wrong. I . . . I just needed to talk to you, to family that I know has my daughters’ best interests at heart.”

“I am pleased to be considered your family, Aunt Letty, but why did you want to talk to me here?” Mason glanced around him as the tables nearby rapidly filled and the sound of conversation heightened. “You know I’d be happy to come to your apartment to talk to you privately anytime you need me.”

“I didn’t want to make the conversation too dreary.”

“You never do that, Aunt Letty.”

“Oh, yes, I’m sure I do. For that reason I chose to meet you here so we may enjoy a comfortable lunch while we speak.” Letty paused, and then added, “If I am to be completely honest, this outing is also for my benefit. It helps me to maintain a certain decorum that is expected of me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.