Broddock-Black 05 - Force of Nature Read Online Free PDF Page B

Bookstore first or second. Do you like fiction or nonfiction best?”
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    While Blaze introduced Jo to the shopping establishments of note in Helena with the aplomb and immunity to gossip that enormous wealth conferred, Hazard and Lucy faced each other across a marquetry tea table. Sheldon Whitney sat off to one side, as though understanding he was there as duenna and referee.
    “I’m finding Helena most charming, Jon. Thanks to you,” Lucy purred. “I can’t believe you have grown children. You look so wonderfully virile . .The last word was the merest of whispers as she leaned forward to show off her cleavage.
    Lucy had dressed for the occasion—provocatively, rather than appropriately—in a lacy pink froth of a gown more suitable to the boudoir than a morning visit. Carefully focusing his eyes well above her partially exposed bosom, Hazard expected Sheldon was enjoying the view. Personally, she wasn’t his style—nor had she ever been—but in his youth, he rarely said no to a woman.
    That conduct unfortunately brought him here today.
    Not that he begrudged Jo’s existence.
    He begrudged Lucy’s use of their daughter to line her own pockets.
    “If you didn’t need money, would I have ever seen my daughter?”
    It took Lucy a moment to reply. She’d not expected such bluntness. “I didn’t think you so uncivil, Jon,” she said with a pettish toss of her head. “Our visit is purely social.”
    “Ah . . . then, we won’t be needing Sheldon.” Hazard tipped his head toward his associate. “Sheldon brought the company checkbook with him.”
    Lucy shot a quick glance at the man she’d barely acknowledged when they’d been introduced and silently chastised herself for being so obtuse as to not notice that lovely black leather folio he carried. “Jon, you needn’t be so crass.” She made a pouty little moue. “I’m sure our discussion needn’t be ungracious or venal. Would you like some tea? Would you, Mr. Sheldon?” she queried, offering the man with the checkbook a charming smile.
    “No tea,” Hazard said, brusquely, “And Sheldon’s here to keep your price down, so you needn’t smile at him.”
    “My goodness, how surly you’ve become. I don’t recall you being ill-natured at all. In fact, you were one of the most accommodating men I’ve ever had the good fortune to meet,” she murmured, sweetly.
    “If you had thought to tell me about my daughter sooner, I might be more accommodating,” Hazard muttered. “Twenty-three years is a long time to wait for the news.”
    “Well, we’re here now,” Lucy said, brightly, as though their presence was enough to erase all the years she’d kept him in ignorance. “Don’t tell me you’re going to hold a grudge against me because I didn’t inform you in a more timely manner. Actually, I didn’t think your wife would appreciate the information,” she added, coyly, thinking herself very clever to have devised such a good excuse. “I’m sure I wouldn’t if I were your wife.”
    The thought of Lucy being his wife was terrifying enough to put everything about their visit back into perspective. And just because Lucy was as avaricious and self-centered as ever needn’t obscure the fact that he had a lovely daughter. So it was only left for him to give Lucy what she wanted and see that she departed as soon as possible. “Why don’t you tell me what you need to say, live comfortably once again,” he offered, mildly. “I’m not au courant on prices in Florence.”
    His sudden volte face was disconcerting and Lucy debated how best to answer. Was he being sly? Was he trying to disarm her with politeness? How much could she reasonably ask for without jeopardizing the negotiations? “My little villa wasn’t too expensive,” she said, trying to read his expression. “Jo had her own small apartment as well,” she lied, thinking to influence him with her concern for her daughter and add to her expenses in the bargain. “The darling girl is