All the Possibilities by Nora Roberts Page A

up to Atlantic City to lose money in her casino."
    "I dropped a bit myself the last time I was up there." Alan sat back knowing Myra would get to the point of her visit in her own time.
    "How's Caine? What a naughty boy he always was," she went on before Alan could answer. "Whoever thought he'd turn out to be a brilliant attorney?"
    "Life's full of surprises," Alan murmured. Caine had been the naughty boy and he the disciplined one. Why should he think of that now?
    "Oh, how true. Ah, here goes my diet. Thank God," she announced as McGee entered with a tray. "I'll pour, McGee, bless you." Myra lifted the Meissen teapot, busying herself while Alan watched her with amusement. Whatever she was up to, she was going to enjoy her scones and tea first. "How I envy you your butler," she told Alan as she handed him a cup. "Did you know I tried to steal him away from your parents twenty years ago?"
    "No, I didn't." Alan grinned. "But then McGee's much too discreet to have mentioned it."
    "And too loyal to succumb to my clever bribes. It was the first time I tasted one of these." Myra bit into a scone and rolled her eyes. "Naturally I thought it was the cook's doing and considered snatching her, but when I found out the scones were McGee's

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    ah, well, my consolation is that if I'd succeeded, I'd be as big as an elephant. Which reminds me." She dusted her fingers on a napkin. "I noticed you've taken an interest in elephants."
    Alan lifted a brow as he sipped. So this was it. "I'm always interested in the opposing party," he said mildly.
    "I'm not talking about political symbols," Myra retorted archly. "Did you have a good time at the zoo?"
    "You've seen the paper."
    "Of course. I must say the two of you looked very good together. I thought you would." She took a self-satisfied sip of tea. "Was Shelby annoyed by the picture?"
    "I don't know." Alan's brows lowered in puzzlement. He'd lived his life in the public eye too long to give it any more than a passing thought. "Should she be?"
    "Normally no; but then, Shelby's prone to feel and do the unexpected. I'm not prying, Alan
    yes, I am," she corrected with an irresistible grin. "But only be cause I've known
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    you both since you were children. I'm very fond of both you and Shelby." Giving in to temptation with only a token struggle, she helped herself to another scone. "I was quite pleased when I saw the picture this morning."
    Enjoying her healthy appetite as well as her irrepressible meddling, Alan smiled back at her. "Why?"
    "Actually
    elped herself to a generous spoonful of cream. "I shouldn't be. I h

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    was planning to get you two together myself. It's really put my nose out of joint that you handled matters without me, even though I approve of the end result." Knowing the way her mind worked, Alan leaned back against the sofa, resting one arm over the back. "An afternoon at the zoo doesn't equal matrimony."
    "Spoken like a true politician." With a sigh of pure gastronomic pleasure, Myra sat back.
    "If I could only wrangle the recipe for these scones out of McGee

    "
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    Alan gave her a smile that was more amused than apologetic. "I don't think so."
    "Ah, well. I happened to be in Shelby's shop when a basket of strawberries was delivered," she added casually. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you, dear?"
    "Strawberries?" Alan gave another noncommital smile. "I'm quite fond of them myself."
    "I'm much too clever to be conned," Myra told him, shaking her finger. "And I know you entirely too well. A man like you doesn't send baskets of strawberries or spend afternoons at the zoo unless he's infatuated."
    "I'm not infatuated with Shelby," Alan corrected mildly as he sipped his tea. "I'm in love with her."
    Myra's planned retort came out as a huff of breath. "Well then," she managed. "That was quicker than even I expected."
    "It was instant," Alan murmured, not quite as easy now that he'd made the statement.
    "Lovely." Myra leaned forward