Wilder Than the Rest: MacLarens of Fire Mountain Read Online Free PDF

fashionable suit who sat at a table near the front window. He stood when she approached.
    “Ah, Miss Gagnon. It is a pleasure to see you again.” He lifted her hand to place a kiss on her delicate fingers.
    “Thank you, Mr. Crow. The pleasure is mine.” Eva sat down and smiled at the older gentleman. She’d arrived in San Francisco the week before and wasted no time beginning her charade as a wealthy widow looking to make contacts in the rapidly expanding West Coast city.
    Eva met Crow and his wife the previous night at a party hosted by the mayor of San Francisco, Edwin Pound, and his wife, Lydia. Noah Dodd had provided her with a list of businessmen most apt to assist a wealthy widow assimilate into the city’s higher social circle, the kind of men who would have a feel for what was happening around them. All the men on the list possessed the required connections, and Eva was determined to identify those who could provide the answers the agents needed.
    Theodore Crow sipped his wine and exchanged pleasantries with Eva. He wasn’t an unattractive man. His medium height and average appearance, with curly red hair mixed with gray, made him seem approachable and sincere. Those qualities, paired with the massive wealth his family had accumulated from generations in the shipping business, made him high on Eva’s list. He’d married a woman a few years his senior who’d inherited an unthinkable sum when her parents died in a train accident. It was a marriage of social and financial equals, which suited them both. Mrs. Crow lived her life of charity events, social issues, and luncheons, and Theodore pursued his own business interests. He was known for helping those new to San Francisco get to know the city.
    “The mayor and his wife will be hosting their annual ball this month. His wife is quite the hostess, as you know from last night’s supper party. Do you plan to attend?” Crow finished his wine and watched as their efficient server hastened to fill his glass.
    “Yes, I do. The mayor’s wife, Lydia, invited me and a guest.” Eva smiled, planning to get a message off to Lee Hatcher the following day, requesting another agent join her to act as an escort. It would be easier to flow through the social circles on the arm of a wealthy bachelor. “I have some close friends who have recently moved to the city, and Lydia graciously invited them to attend. He works for a wealthy businessman from Denver and will be expanding the gentleman’s operations on the West Coast. His wife is a beautiful woman and quite charming. However, they’re in need of a proper introduction.”
    “I’d be happy to introduce the three of you to those I know.”
    “What a marvelous idea, Theodore. I’m sure we’ll all have a wonderful time.” Eva relaxed, having already accomplished her objective for the evening.
    ******
    “Mr. MacLaren?”
    Pierce looked up from his breakfast to see the housekeeper standing at the entrance to the dining room. “What is it, Penelope?”
    “There’s a Miss Gagnon here to see you.” The servant stood erect, keeping her hands clasped in front of her as she waited for his response.
    “Please show her to the library.”
    They’d been in San Francisco two days without contact from the other female agent. Pierce was glad the waiting was over. He gave Penelope a few minutes to get their guest settled before joining her in the library. He was ready to move this assignment forward.
    “Hello, Miss Gagnon. It’s a pleasure.” Pierce walked into the wood-paneled room and took a seat near his guest.
    “Thank you for receiving me without notice, Mr. MacLaren. I appreciate your courtesy,” Eva said for the benefit of the housekeeper who still stood at the door.
    “Please bring us some coffee, Penelope.” Pierce watched as she left the room then turned to face the woman in front of him.
    He wasted no time. “Tell me what’s going on.”
    Eva arched a brow as her mouth turned up at the corners.