Marital Privilege by Ann Voss Peterson

Author:Ann Voss Peterson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2005-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

LAURA WAS FAMISHED by the time they walked into the Hubbard Street Diner. Scents of eggs and coffee swirled around her, making her stomach growl so hard she thought she’d be sick. Delicious-looking pies, cheesecakes and muffins caught her attention from the glass showcase as they entered, and it was all she could do to keep herself from diving over the case and digging in.

She followed Alec into the restaurant. She didn’t know if he’d gotten any sleep, but she was grateful to see him holding his shoulders strong and square as he wove through tables and around chairs. She wanted to see him strong. Not vulnerable. Not like he’d been this morning.

She should never have asked him about his past. She should have known better. She’d prepared to stomach his father’s brutality. She’d braced herself for that. But she hadn’t counted on seeing Alec’s pain so vividly etched on his face. She hadn’t counted on hearing how his decision to do the right thing had destroyed his mother. She hadn’t counted on feeling for him, caring for him.

And she couldn’t let it happen again.

Alec stopped at a booth in front of a curved wall of glass block. The man behind the table grinned at him. Crow’s-feet creased freckled skin, fanning out from eyes that didn’t seem to miss a single detail. “Nika.” He scooched out of the booth and stood. White tufts of hair topped his head, adding three inches to his height. He thumped Alec on the back, then he cocked his head in Laura’s direction. He offered her his hand. “It’s an honor meeting you, Mrs. Stanislov.”

Her mind balked at the name. “Call me Laura.” She shook his offered hand.

“Laura. A beautiful name for a beautiful lady.”

She did her best not to roll her eyes.

“Too much, huh?”

“I’d say.” She released his hand, unable to hide her smile.

An answering smile spread over the man’s thick lips. “My mother always said I was born too late, that I should have lived in a more courtly age.”

Alec motioned Laura into the booth and shot Wayne Bigelow a frown that barely concealed his grin. “You can save your courtliness for picking up the check.”

Laura slid into the booth, leaving the men to face off on either side.

The men took their seats just as the waitress appeared at the table. They placed their orders. Once the waitress had gone, Wayne focused on Alec. “I guess I owe you double congratulations. Not only a wife but a baby.”

Alec nodded. Although he seemed genuinely glad to see his friend, tension pinched the space between his brows and jiggled his leg under the table. He glanced around the restaurant as if expecting his father’s men or the police to burst in any moment. “We’ve come up with a plan about how to handle my father, Wayne, and we’re hoping you can help.”

“Of course I’ll help. What’s your plan?”

They paused as the waitress plopped coffee cups in front of them. She placed two insulated pots on the table, as well.

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