The Harder They Fall Read Online Free PDF Page B

around the edges, but all in all Michael respected him a great deal. Michael didn’t think the man would appreciate his prurient thoughts.
    Ed Welham had a very distinguished air, his teak-brown hair going gray only at the temples, and his deep green eyes stamping proof of his relationship to his daughter upon him. Yet, Ed’s eyes gleamed with shrewd business sense. His daughter’s sparkled with something else. Something Michael didn’t want to decipher.
    “Hello, gentlemen,” Darcy said, all business. “I’m Darcy, and I’ll be taking care of you this evening.”
    With a promise like that coming from Darcy, Michael wondered if he shouldn’t have paramedics standing by.
    Her father chuckled. “Ah, Princess, cut the crap.”
    Princess? Yup, figures he’d call her Princess.
    Darcy darted a look both ways, then quickly bent and pressed a kiss on her father’s cheek. “Hi, Daddy.”
    Edward patted her hand, gazing up at her fondly. “Staying out of trouble, Princess?”
    Michael almost snorted. Darcy’s narrowed gaze stopped him. She returned her attention to her father. “I’m having fun, Daddy.”
    Touché , Michael thought. That was probably the best non-answer he’d ever heard. Of course, she probably had a lot of practice.
    “Darcy, who burned down the house?”
    “Want to roast some wienies, Daddy?”
    Straightening to almost military stiffness, she said, “Now, what can I get you two from the bar?”
    They ordered cocktails, then, as Darcy walked away without a single mishap in round one, Michael watched Edward watch his daughter. His eyes glowed with a father’s pride. That told Michael he needed to tread carefully. He didn’t want to offend the man by insulting his daughter.
    Edward dragged his attention away from Darcy. “She blow anything up yet?” he asked, grinning.
    Michael’s mouth almost dropped open. He stared mutely at the man.
    Laughing, Edward said, “Don’t worry, Davidson. I know all about my daughter’s . . . hmm . . . accident-prone nature.” He sighed. “Her mother and I used to believe that Darcy’s exploits were a way of getting attention, because we were gone so much. But as she grew up and didn’t grow out of it, we were forced to face facts.”
    Michael sat forward. “With all due respect, sir, a restaurant is a dangerous place for someone with your daughter’s . . . nature.”
    “This is true. Which was why we always thought it best to keep her away when she was younger. We were just too busy to supervise her.” He looked at his hand thoughtfully. “I’m not certain that wasn’t a mistake.”
    “I’m sure you did what you thought best,” Michael said. But he wondered about that. The restaurant business kept crazy hours, especially for an owner. Who’d watched Darcy while her parents built an empire?
    He shook his head. What did he care who’d baby-sat the woman? As far as he was concerned, she still needed a keeper, if for nothing else than to save her from killing herself or someone else.
    Leaning on his crossed forearms, he asked, “If Darcy didn’t have anything to do with the restaurants growing up, why her sudden interest in keeping them now?”
    “Got me by the tail. I was as surprised as anyone when she came flying home in a huff. I’d had no idea she was so sentimental about the restaurants.” His lips pursed. “To tell you the truth, I lost all sentiment for the restaurants the moment Jeannie died. I only kept them this long to give me something to keep me busy.” He grinned. “But I’m at that age where a round of golf a day is all the busy I need.”
    Their drinks arrived, and Michael braced himself to get his poured in his lap. When she deposited them without incident, he frowned.
    Darcy shot him a triumphant, haughty look, then gave full attention to her father. “The specials tonight are trout amandine, broiled prawns and veal marsala. The soups are black bean and cream of broccoli, and the vegetable is steamed zucchini.