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As the oldest, Cole had learned his mechanical skills at his father’s side helping him restore a 1957 Harley Sportster. Others had followed, but that one had always been Cole’s favorite. Since his father had never sold it, Cole suspected he felt the same way.
Cole smiled, seeing that his father was polishing a piece of chrome on his newest machine.
“Here’s that industrial solvent you wanted.”
“Thanks.”
“It’s quiet in the house.”
His father picked up the can of polish, measuring out a few more drops on to the cloth. “Your mother’s either at the donkey rescue or her beach preservation thing.”
“Shannon in class?” he asked about his younger sister who attended college.
John glanced at the clock over the work bench. “Uh-huh. But Robbie should be home in an hour or so.”
Cole would’ve liked to see his younger brother but he didn’t have the time to wait. “Dad, I need to run something by you.”
“Shoot.”
Cole laid out what he knew about Tess Spencer, from the missing designs and her return of his computer to the death of her brother in the war.
“I don’t know anything about corporate piracy.” John put down the chrome tailpipe. “But I can’t imagine this woman using her brother’s death to get some kind of upper hand over your company. When did you say he died? Seven months ago? And they’re twins?” He winced. “She strike you as that cold?”
“I don’t know. It just seems awfully suspicious that she brought the computer back wiped clean of all my work.”
“Maybe the computer’s a coincidence, like she said, something she just ended up with.”
“I wonder if someone’s playing her,” Cole admitted. “To get inside my company. But I can’t figure out what advantage there is in letting me know she had the computer.”
John shook his head. “Restaurants and technical engineering firms don’t seem to go together. Anyone in her family with connections to your line of work?”
“Not that I know of. Yet, anyway.”
John picked up the tailpipe again. “Anything I can do?”
“Yeah. Get that bike together so we can go for a ride. I’m going to need a clear head.”
His father laughed. “Do my best, son. Do my best.”
IT WAS THE CUSTOM of Tess and three of her cousins to meet at least once a month for breakfast. Normally, they saw each other a lot more than that, as well. Or they had, until David’s death.
Rachel, Kate and Sandy De Villard, daughters of three of Judith’s brothers, had all been born within approximately a year of Tess. And it had been natural to grow as close as sisters. At every holiday and family gathering the four stuck together like a unit. They were fierce guardians of one another’s secrets and dreams.
This Saturday they’d decided to meet at Kate’s sprawling ranch-style home rather than at the restaurant. Nearly all of the De Villard cousins had worked at Spencers when they were teens. Some liked it better than others. Two of the De Villards, Eric and Joseph, had gone on to get degrees in hospitality and now worked in the restaurant business.
The terrace behind Kate’s house led into a lush green lawn and well-tended beds of roses, petunias and daffodils. In the corner, a three-tiered fountain splashed softly against bronze fretwork. The fifty-plus-year-old house sat in the middle of two acres, enough land to ensure privacy, not too much to be unmanageable. Kate had chosen the unpretentious house for its charm and comfort.
Tess stepped through the French doors that led from the living room to the terrace. Like the house, it was so Kate—from the wicker and wrought iron chairs with their plump, colorful cushions to the table Kate had set with fragile china, despite the casual occasion.
“Aren’t you afraid we’ll break these?” Tess asked as she picked up a dainty cup.
“I’ll risk it.” Kate, who owned a successful vintage clothing store, hugged Tess, then adjusted one of the freshly cut roses on the table.
“Mimosa?” Rachel asked, entering through the second set of French doors from the kitchen. She carried a frosty pitcher of orange juice and champagne.
Tess hesitated. But she didn’t have to be at the restaurant for a few hours. “Sure.”
Sandy stood at the outdoor stove housed in a stone alcove along with a grill. “Hey! Perfect timing. Did you get the Shipley’s doughnuts?”
Tess pretended to look shocked. “Would I forget?”
Sandy grinned. “My fellow sugar junkie.”
Tess had missed these lazy Saturday morning breakfasts. But now there wasn’t much time for anything but work. It was a struggle just to find a few hours for the Families of the Fallen.
Sandy joined them, holding a platter with her signature fresh veggie omelet. “Hope you’re hungry.”
Tess sniffed appreciatively. “Smells good.”
After they were seated at the cozy round table, Sandy served the main dish. She scooped an overly large portion on Tess’s plate.
“I didn’t say I was starving.”
“No, but it looks like you haven’t stopped working long enough to eat in a while,” Sandy replied. “Who wants Parmesan?”
As Sandy grated the cheese, Tess studied her other two cousins. “This isn’t a conspiracy, is it?”
Rachel and Kate appeared innocent, too innocent.
“Of course not,” Kate replied.
Rachel started to speak, then sighed. “Yeah. We’d prefer to think of it as more of an intervention, though.”
“I haven’t joined a cult.”
Kate placed her hand over Tess’s. “You haven’t done anything, sweetie, other than work. You’re spending every waking hour at the restaurants.”
“I don’t want to let my parents down,” Tess protested. She wasn’t ready yet to tell them how much she was volunteering at Families of the Fallen. The controversial group touched a sore spot within her family.
“We know you don’t.” Sandy fiddled with the serving spoon. “But you’re not going to help them by making yourself sick.”
“I’m just fine!”
Kate’s pretty face was drawn, lined with concern. “You never take a moment for yourself.”
“That’s not true!”
“When’s the last time you had a date?” Rachel challenged.
All three women stared expectantly at Tess. She groped for an answer that wouldn’t reveal more than she was ready to tell them. “Thursday.”
Matching stares of astonishment gave way to oohs and aahs.
“Who is he?” Rachel demanded.
“Cole Harrington,” she replied reluctantly.
“What does he do?” Sandy asked next.
“He owns his own company.”
“What does he look like?” This from Kate, always the romantic.
“Nice.”
“Nice?” the trio repeated in unison.
“Details,” Sandy urged.
Trapped, Tess decided to opt for the truth. “He has these blue eyes, really mesmerizing.”
A chorus of sighs greeted this statement, but her cousins continued to stare at her in expectation.
Tess didn’t have any trouble remembering his appearance, just putting the image into words that wouldn’t intrigue her cousins. “He’s good-looking, handsome really. Dark hair.”
“Harrington Engineering!” Rachel announced. “I knew I’d heard that name.”
Again Tess met three matching stares. “Well, yes.”
“About a year ago he made the list of Houston’s most eligible bachelors,” Rachel mused.
Tess was surprised. “You seem to know a lot about him.”
“Financial circles aren’t that large,” Rachel reminded her. “More like a small town with a very credible grapevine.”
“Oh.”
Sandy wriggled her eyebrows. “He sounds yummy.”
“Yes,” Kate agreed.
Years ago, they had sworn never to let a man come between them. They’d survived a few simultaneous crushes during high school, but they’d never had a serious threat to their pledge.
But Tess didn’t want to overplay her nonexistent relationship. “It’s not serious.”
“Is that why you haven’t told us about him?” Kate asked. She looked hurt.
Tess wanted to kick herself. She knew how sensitive Kate was. “Of course not. It’s really just begun.” She crossed her fingers against the fib she planned to tell. “I saved it to tell you together this morning.”
Kate smiled. “Oh! That’s wonderful. I’m so glad you’ve met someone.”
Tess tried to ignore the guilt nibbling at her conscience. “It’s no big deal.”
“No big deal?” Kate looked appalled. “Of course it is. In fact, you have to bring him to the party.”
“Party?”
“The anniversary party.”
For Kate’s parents, of course. “Sorry. I haven’t been very good with dates lately.”
All three gaped at her. Tess was known for having a mind like a Rolodex, organizing events for family, friends and the restaurants.
Tess smiled. “The anniversary party, of course. I remember.”
They didn’t believe her. She saw it in their faces.
“You’ll bring him?” Kate asked.
Tess wanted to say no, but she had to convince her cousins that she was all right. “I’ll ask him.”
“Then I’ll count on it,” Kate replied happily.
“I didn’t say he could come!”
“If you ask him surely he will,” Kate countered.
“Yes,” Sandy chimed in.
“My vote’s on you,” Rachel agreed.
Tess wished it were that easy, that she could simply pick up the phone and invite Cole. He’d be shocked to know he was now the man in her life. Especially after they’d ended the evening on such an antagonistic note. But she didn’t see a way to pull her foot out of her mouth.
Sandy lifted her glass. “To Tess and Cole.”
Rachel and Kate clinked their glasses with Sandy’s, then glanced at Tess expectantly.
Seeing no other choice, she picked up her glass, joining the toast. What in the world was she going to say to Cole?
“So have you decided on the gift for your parents?” Sandy asked Kate. “Or are your brothers still arguing?”
Kate sipped her mimosa. “If it had been up to them, my parents would have gone deep-sea fishing either in Mexico or Alaska, but I held out for the European river cruise to Vienna.”
“They’ll love that,” Sandy agreed. “Even on my budget, I’d have voted for that one.”
Rachel reached for a doughnut. “You and Tess sharing these?”
Sandy counted the remaining doughnuts. “Possibly.”
“Tess, your mother had the pastry chef design an incredible cake. Did she tell you about it?” Kate asked.
Tess blanked again. “No.”
“It’ll be fantastic. Be sure and ask her about it. He’s going to use their original cake topper.”
“That’s amazing,” Sandy said, wiping her fingers on a napkin.
Rachel groaned. “No wonder you’re such a romantic, Kate. It’s genetic. You can’t escape it.”
Tess met Kate’s eyes, knowing that in truth her cousin actually guarded her heart. It was one of the few secrets they shared from the others. Kate had been so devastated by a bad experience, she rarely opened herself to new relationships. Tess reached for a gooey, chocolate-filled doughnut, her favorite. So much for romance. Maybe they should buy a cruise for the four of them and just be done with it.
DAN NELSON held the latest financials. “You could accept one of the offers to sell, Cole. It wouldn’t have to be from Alton. You’d get out with enough for another start-up.”
“I’ve got employees, including you, who count on their paychecks. After a new owner stripped the place, you’d all be out.”
Nelson thrummed his fingers on the printout. “There’s another option. Borrow enough to float us.”
“I’m running out of property to mortgage. Short of selling a kidney, I don’t see any cash looming in the future.”
Nelson allowed a few beats of silence. “So, you want me to put together a loan package?”
“Yeah.” Cole waited until the door closed to cross to the window. He stared out at the plant. When the building was first erected five years ago, he didn’t have a single doubt that his business would succeed. All the economic factors were in place. He’d done his research, put in the long hours. He’d hired the most talented, the most competent people. But he hadn’t counted on his deployment.
His fingers itched for a cigarette, but he’d broken the habit while he was overseas. Surviving withdrawal once was enough.
Someone knocked lightly on the door, pushing it open at the same time. Marcia. She was the only employee brazen enough to believe a closed door meant come in.
“Hi, boss. Mail call.”
He didn’t turn around. “Anything interesting?”
“There’s an article in Texas magazine about the Spencers restaurants, how they’ve been in the magazine’s top picks every year. Even has something about that pretty Spencer girl.”
That did make him turn.
Marcia’s smile was wide. “I marked it for you.”
Cole picked up the magazine, flipping it to the marked pages. Tess looked almost as pretty in the glossy photo as she did in person. And classy.
He’d noticed that right away. From the sleek cut of her dark hair to the confidence in her walk.
Glancing at the picture of her parents, he saw where she got her beauty. But there wasn’t a group picture of them together, he noticed. Maybe the reporter had been sensitive to the painful omission of David.
The article talked about Tess’s management style, her stamp on the restaurant scene in general.
Nothing about a boyfriend or fiancé.
And nothing that gave him a clue or connection. He needed a way in. And they didn’t have one thing in common that was going to get him there.
CHAPTER FIVE
TESS WAITED until the last possible moment to invite Cole. Her cousins wouldn’t be fooled if she invented a reason he couldn’t attend.
She expected him to have an excuse for not going to the party with her. To her relief, he accepted. She felt odd asking him, but he didn’t sound as though it was unusual.
Because of restaurant events, Tess had an extensive collection of evening wear. But nothing seemed right as she picked through the dresses.
She finally settled on a long-sleeved, high-necked silk that bared her back. Since her hair matched the dark dress, Tess decided to pile it loosely in a topknot. She kept her accessories simple. Diamond stud earrings, heels and a purse just large enough to hold keys and lipstick.
And, of course, a gift for her aunt and uncle. Since she hadn’t elaborated on the reason for the party, she was still trying to decide how to explain it to Cole.
Then there were her cousins. They’d be watching. Like cats on a fence.
She hadn’t been on a date since David’s death. It was guilt. Going back to her old life didn’t seem right. Not when David had no life.
The doorbell rang, and the dogs let out a barrage of barking. Tess glanced in the mirror, then opened the door. Cole, in black tie, was an impressive sight. “Hello.”
“Evening. Am I early?”
“No. You’re perfect.” She bit her tongue. “I mean your timing’s perfect.”
He bent to greet Hector and Molly, who’d stopped barking as soon as they recognized him.
She checked the clock. “Would you like a glass of red wine?”
“A small one.” His glance followed her, taking in the gift-wrapped package on the table.
She poured two glasses, then handed him one. But she didn’t raise her glass, nervously running her fingers over the stem. “I should explain about tonight’s party.”
“It requires an explanation?”
Tess cleared her throat. “It’s an anniversary party for my aunt and uncle.”
“And?”
“Well, that’s it. I just didn’t want you to get the wrong idea about the family gathering.”
“And what idea would that be?”
Flustered, her cheeks warmed. “My cousins tend to give anyone…new…the third degree.”
“I’m not easily intimidated.”
She suspected as much, but then she hadn’t given him a true picture of her cousin’s expectations. “Good.”
“Does your family usually have their parties at the restaurant?”
Tess nodded. “At the original location. Uncle Stephen is on my mother’s side, but her family took up the Spencer tradition after she married my father. His family is a lot smaller, while Mother’s is a mob. Over the years, they’ve come to blend. We all get along reasonably well, so…” Nerves. She was talking too much. Sipping her wine, she tried to collect herself.
“You’re lucky.”
“Lucky?”
“Not every family is so close.”
“I’ve always taken that for granted. Dad’s older sisters, Gayle and Ruth, never married. They spoiled David and me—it was great. They did the same for all the kids. At Christmas, it was like having three Santas.”
“It sounds almost too good to be true.”
“I suppose.”
When Cole took the last sip of his wine, Tess smiled. “If you’re ready, I’ll grab my bag.”
He tipped his glass in her direction. “Ready.”
Tucked into Cole’s ground-hugging Mercedes CLK, it didn’t take long to reach Spencers. The valet quickly took their car.
“Good service.”
“It’s what we’re known for.”
Inside, Tess led the way to one of the private dining rooms. The room was overflowing with aunts, uncles, their children and significant others. More than sixty people crowded around the bar and buffet tables. She noticed Cole’s eyes widen when he saw the overwhelming amount of relatives. “I did warn you there’d be a mob.”
“As long as you don’t expect me to remember all their names.”
She grinned. “On my mother’s side there are seven De Villard siblings, three brothers, four sisters. Short version—I have fifteen first cousins and some of them are married and have children.”
Her aunt who was being honored that night waved from the head table, but it was impossible to get past the crowd. “That’s my aunt Lily,” Tess explained, waving back. “It’s her anniversary. And Stephen’s the one with the rosebud in his lapel.”
A waiter deftly swerved by, recognized Tess and paused, offering them champagne.
“I thought you weren’t going to stop, Ernie,” she teased, picking up a flute.
“These are for the head table,” he explained, offering Cole a drink.
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