Beverly Jenkins Read Online Free PDF Page B

out on the town in San Francisco, only to surface months later via a letter to reveal that he’d been shanghaied. Impatience was why she prayed every night for her sons to marry so she’d have grandchildren; a petty want in some minds but she’d already admitted to being flawed. None of the challenges in her life settled themselves easily or quickly and that continued to be the case with Drew. She wanted him to find the woman of his heart, but would he? Where Logan had his feet planted firmly on the ground and focused only on what he could touch and see, Drew was the dreamer. Growing up, he’d wanted to hear stories of the conquistadores and their search for El Dorado. At the age of seven he’d fallen in love with tales of the great Amazon warrior queen Calafia and moped for months upon learning that Calafia, her griffins, and island of gold were only imagined and not real. Since reaching his majority he’d taken up the law and the pursuit of women. The curly-haired toddler had grown into a man with features that made women weep, as one of her aunts had once described him. From the thick black waterfall of hair, which he usually wore tied back, to the matching onyx-black eyes, he was truly something to behold. Because of that, women came to him as easily as the fog to Yerba Buena and she’d despaired that he’d ever settle down long enough to seriously consider taking a wife, but it seemed the time had finally come. However, she worried that because he was so accustomed to flitting from woman to woman like a bee in a valley of flowers that he’d choose casually and not take the time to find love.
    She stepped out to join him. “What time does your train leave in the morning?”
    “Ten.”
    “I have to admit that for the past few minutes I’ve been watching you from inside. You look very pensive. Are you well?”
    “I am. Was sitting here realizing I’ll probably never have a love match like Logan.”
    She took a seat at the table. “And why not?” Unlike Logan, Drew had always been open with her about his feelings. That he continued to do so was pleasing.
    “I know nothing of love, Mama, only dalliances.”
    “Life has a way of changing us when we least expect it. You’ll find your own Mariah, I’m sure.”
    “You just want more grandbabies.”
    His teasing made her laugh. “True. Is that such a terrible thing?”
    “No, Mama, but for the moment, you’ll have to enjoy the prospect of Logan’s and Mariah’s child. Might be a while before you pass down all the new baby items to me.”
    She sighed. “Your brother has threatened to close all my accounts from here to Mexico City if I purchase one more thing for my grandchild.” His chuckling made a smile curve her lips. “I keep telling him to wait until he has his own. Only then will he understand.”
    “So, how are you and Max getting along?”
    Because the change in subject was so abrupt Alanza didn’t respond at first. It was one thing for her to ask questions about her sons’ personal lives but quite another to be questioned by them about her own. “We’re fine. He’s back East. His sister is ill and he’s gone to see about her.”
    He leaned over and peered into her face.
    “What?”
    “And that’s all you have to say? We’re fine?”
    “Yes, my nosey son.” Max Rudd was an old friend who’d taken it into his head that courting her was what he wanted to do. Her feelings for him were impossible to deny and since his departure back East she missed him terribly, but the reality of opening her heart to another man had her scared half to death. There’d been no other since Abraham.
    His knowing look made her echo, “What?”
    “Nothing. Just wondering when you’re going to admit that you love the man.”
    She puffed up because it was her way of denying what they both knew to be the truth. “That is none of your business.”
    “Uh-huh.” Getting to his feet, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I love you, Mama.”
    “Go away,