The Cinderella Scandal by Barbara McCauley

Author:Barbara McCauley [McCauley, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Seven

« ^ »

Aunt Yana? Reid glanced at the photo of Tina's aunt hanging on the wall, then back at the woman standing in the doorway. Yep. Aunt Yana, all right.

She wore a deep-blue, long, flowing duster over silk ivory pants. Colorful stones dangled from her ears and circled a long, slender neck. In spite of the incredibly awkward moment, it was impossible for Reid not to be stunned by the older woman's beauty. A short crop of thick, straight sable-brown hair accented high cheekbones, aristocratic nose and gypsy-green eyes.

Her mouth, wide and full, slowly curved up at the corners as she closed the door behind her.

"You … you're home early," Tina sputtered.

"My shoot finished ahead of schedule." Yana slid a large straw handbag from her shoulder and dropped it on the entry table along with her keys, slid her gaze from the tip of Reid's bare toes to the towel draping his hips, then up to his face. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend, Katina?"

"I—oh, of course." Tina gulped. "This is Reid Danforth. Reid, my aunt, Yana Alexander Dimetri Romano."

Not quite certain what the proper etiquette was for the situation, Reid simply nodded. "A pleasure, Ms. Romano."

"I think just Yana would be more appropriate." Folding her arms, Yana glanced back down at the towel. Amusement danced in her eyes. "All things considered."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Reid," Tina whispered, her voice strained. "Could you, ah, put me down?"

"Oh. Right."

When her feet touched the floor, Tina tightened the belt of her robe. Her face had gone from pale to rosy pink. "We were just … ah, going to have breakfast."

"Of course you were." Yana's smile widened. "It smells wonderful."

"I'll set another plate." Tina shifted from one bare foot to the other. "Just give me … us, a minute, to ah—"

"I believe I hear something buzzing." Yana glanced at the sport coat lying on the sofa, then looked back at Reid. Though the sound was faint, it was definitely a buzz. "Yours, I assume?"

He'd have to kill whoever was calling him, Reid decided. Holding tightly to the knot of the towel, he stepped to the sofa and retrieved his cell phone from his jacket.

"Excuse me." He backed toward the bedroom where he'd left his clothes.

"Take your time, dear," Yana called after him. "My niece and I could use a minute alone to say hello."

Closing the bedroom door behind him, Reid snapped the phone to his ear. "Yeah."

"Reid, where have you been? I've been trying to reach you all morning."

"Kimberly?" He heard the stress in his sister's voice. "Are you all right?"

"You have to come to Crofthaven right away. In the attic. They, they were working there this morning, and found—"

At the sound of her quiet sob, fear snaked through him. "Found what, Kim?"

"They found a body."

* * *

At least a dozen patrol cars were already at Crofthaven when Reid pulled in front of the mansion's main entrance. Several uniformed officers standing outside turned at the sight of the black BMW screeching to a halt, then quietly returned to their conversations after Reid hurried past them.

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