house. Alex wandered into the garden and admired the pots of colorful daisies and geraniums that sprang from an artful display. A man with his back to her was talking on a cell phone. She began to move away, but he turned and offered her a smile, shaking his head in silent apology.
She acknowledged him with a nod and wandered off a short distance to admire a beautiful glazed urn that stood almost as tall as she, and was filled with sweet-smelling jasmine that cascaded down the side.
“I’m sorry; that was very rude of me. I’m at a party and I shouldn’t be on the phone.”
Alex turned and laughed, taking in the man’s short, graying hair and lithe athletic build. He was only about her height, but the cut and cost of his clothing and the glint of humor in his dark eyes gave him an air of confidence and authority that belied his medium stature.
He held out his hand and smiled again, showing a set of even, white teeth.
“I’m Jim, by the way.”
Alex returned his warm handshake. His brown eyes, glinting with curiosity, crinkled behind his wire-rimmed glasses.
“Alex. I’m a…friend of the family.”
A nicely shaped eyebrow arched. “You say that like you’re not quite sure.”
Alex blushed and looked at her feet. “No, no, I’m sure. I’m an old friend of Tom and Lily.”
“Funny, I haven’t seen you around here before.”
“Well, um…it’s been awhile.”
Although the curiosity in his eyes flared brighter, he didn’t push. She breathed a silent sigh of relief when he changed the subject.
“It’s been awhile for me, too. My work often takes me out of town. Every now and then, Lily sends me an invitation that happens to coincide with when I’m around.”
“How do you know Lily?”
“We’re related by marriage,” Jim answered with a smile. “My father married her mother when we were kids. I was nearly sixteen and I think she was about nine. I left home not long after, so we didn’t have much to do with each other, but Lily makes an effort at keeping in touch.” He shrugged and grinned ruefully. “She’s better at it than I am.”
Alex smiled back. “What do you do? You said you’re often out of town? Are you in sa—”
“There you are. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show.”
The low drawl behind her sent a rush of butterflies through her stomach. Alex turned and found Brandon much too close for her equilibrium. She snatched a quick breath and did her best to still her racing heart.
“Brandon. Hi. Have you met Jim? He’s Lily’s—”
“Stepbrother. Yes, we’ve met.”
Alex frowned at Brandon’s brusqueness, but Jim seemed to take it in stride.
“I’d better go and mingle or Lily will have my head. She’s always saying I spend far too much time working. Nice to meet you, Alex.”
He wended his way through the garden in the direction of the crowd that had gathered around the barbeque. Alex followed his progress with her eyes, trying to delay the moment when she’d have to talk to Brandon.
“How did you get caught with that jerk?”
She looked at him, surprised by his rancor. “I’m not sure what you mean. He seemed perfectly civilized to me.”
“Humph. Don’t fall for the smooth tongue. There’s something I don’t trust about him. Ask Tom.”
Alex shook her head. “Yes, well…thank you for warning me. I’ll keep that in mind next time I happen across a handsome stranger.”
Brandon frowned again, his expression dark. “Stay away from him, Alex. There’s something about that man I’ve never liked.”
“How long have you known him?”
“Long enough.” He made an impatient sound. “Forget about him. I’d rather talk about you.” He ran an appreciative gaze over her simple white blouse and denim jeans. She’d topped it with a black leather jacket. “You look great, by the way. Thank you for coming.”
Thank you for inviting me. Us. It’s lovely to see everyone again.”
“Where’s Sam? I hope he’s not too
She acknowledged him with a nod and wandered off a short distance to admire a beautiful glazed urn that stood almost as tall as she, and was filled with sweet-smelling jasmine that cascaded down the side.
“I’m sorry; that was very rude of me. I’m at a party and I shouldn’t be on the phone.”
Alex turned and laughed, taking in the man’s short, graying hair and lithe athletic build. He was only about her height, but the cut and cost of his clothing and the glint of humor in his dark eyes gave him an air of confidence and authority that belied his medium stature.
He held out his hand and smiled again, showing a set of even, white teeth.
“I’m Jim, by the way.”
Alex returned his warm handshake. His brown eyes, glinting with curiosity, crinkled behind his wire-rimmed glasses.
“Alex. I’m a…friend of the family.”
A nicely shaped eyebrow arched. “You say that like you’re not quite sure.”
Alex blushed and looked at her feet. “No, no, I’m sure. I’m an old friend of Tom and Lily.”
“Funny, I haven’t seen you around here before.”
“Well, um…it’s been awhile.”
Although the curiosity in his eyes flared brighter, he didn’t push. She breathed a silent sigh of relief when he changed the subject.
“It’s been awhile for me, too. My work often takes me out of town. Every now and then, Lily sends me an invitation that happens to coincide with when I’m around.”
“How do you know Lily?”
“We’re related by marriage,” Jim answered with a smile. “My father married her mother when we were kids. I was nearly sixteen and I think she was about nine. I left home not long after, so we didn’t have much to do with each other, but Lily makes an effort at keeping in touch.” He shrugged and grinned ruefully. “She’s better at it than I am.”
Alex smiled back. “What do you do? You said you’re often out of town? Are you in sa—”
“There you are. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show.”
The low drawl behind her sent a rush of butterflies through her stomach. Alex turned and found Brandon much too close for her equilibrium. She snatched a quick breath and did her best to still her racing heart.
“Brandon. Hi. Have you met Jim? He’s Lily’s—”
“Stepbrother. Yes, we’ve met.”
Alex frowned at Brandon’s brusqueness, but Jim seemed to take it in stride.
“I’d better go and mingle or Lily will have my head. She’s always saying I spend far too much time working. Nice to meet you, Alex.”
He wended his way through the garden in the direction of the crowd that had gathered around the barbeque. Alex followed his progress with her eyes, trying to delay the moment when she’d have to talk to Brandon.
“How did you get caught with that jerk?”
She looked at him, surprised by his rancor. “I’m not sure what you mean. He seemed perfectly civilized to me.”
“Humph. Don’t fall for the smooth tongue. There’s something I don’t trust about him. Ask Tom.”
Alex shook her head. “Yes, well…thank you for warning me. I’ll keep that in mind next time I happen across a handsome stranger.”
Brandon frowned again, his expression dark. “Stay away from him, Alex. There’s something about that man I’ve never liked.”
“How long have you known him?”
“Long enough.” He made an impatient sound. “Forget about him. I’d rather talk about you.” He ran an appreciative gaze over her simple white blouse and denim jeans. She’d topped it with a black leather jacket. “You look great, by the way. Thank you for coming.”
Thank you for inviting me. Us. It’s lovely to see everyone again.”
“Where’s Sam? I hope he’s not too
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