Treasured by Sherryl Woods Page A

too eager.
    Kathleen looked at him with amusement. “That will certainly make her less suspicious.”
    He had a hunch she was right. “Do you have a better suggestion?”
    “Ask her directly. Even if she doesn’t answer, you should be able to read her expression. And I’ll be the one to make myself scarce while you do it. Women arealways having to run to the powder room. She won’t think a thing about it.”
    “I suppose,” he said gloomily. He was no good at this kind of stuff. Subterfuge and subtlety weren’t in his nature, but Richard had already warned him that the direct approach hadn’t gotten him a thing.
    “Trust me, Ben. It’s the only way,” Kathleen insisted. “A woman like your aunt appreciates someone who’s straightforward. Trying to slip something past her won’t work. Or if by chance it does, she’ll be furious with you for having tricked her into saying something she didn’t intend to reveal. That’s the last thing you want.”
    “Okay, okay,” he grumbled. “I know you’re right. I just hate doing what I’m always accusing her of doing, meddling in something that’s none of my business.”
    “Tell her that, too,” Kathleen suggested. “She’ll identify with your position. Heck, maybe it will even give her a nudge to back off with her own meddling.”
    “I think we can eliminate that possibility. I’m not in the miracle business,” Ben responded.
    He pulled up in front of the town house where he’d grown up. In some ways it still felt more like home than the farm, but at the moment he was dreading going inside. He glanced at Kathleen.
    “I guess it’s showtime,” he said unenthusiastically.
    “Don’t sound like you expect to be shot on sight,” she said, regarding him with obvious amusement. “This is Destiny. The mere fact that I’m with you ought to buy you a certain amount of good will.”
    It ought to, Ben agreed. But he had a hunch that Destiny was going to be more furious than smug tonight. He also had a gut feeling that he and Kathleenwere going to be back out on the front steps in record time. In fact, given what Richard had told him earlier, there was a distinct possibility that Destiny might kick them straight to the curb.

Chapter Seven
    D estiny’s initial delight at finding Ben and Kathleen on her doorstep was pretty much doomed to fade quickly, quite likely because her nephew had absolutely no notion how to finesse such a touchy conversation. Kathleen barely contained a sigh when Ben declined a drink, declined to take off his coat. It was pretty much apparent that he was on a mission and he was impatient to get it over with. Kathleen spotted the immediate suspicion in Destiny’s eyes at his curt manner.
    “Actually we’re on our way to Richard’s,” he told Destiny the instant they’d stepped inside. He showed absolutely no inclination to set one foot any farther into the house.
    Destiny looked a bit taken aback, but quickly rallied. “Really? For dinner? And you invited Kathleen to join you. How lovely.”
    “We’re probably going to order pizza,” Ben told her, oblivious to the hopeful note in Destiny’s voice. “Richard’s wallpapering the nursery. And we’re planning to watch.”
    Destiny’s deep-throated chuckle cut through the tension. She seemed to relax a bit. “Yes, I can see how that would be immensely entertaining. Perhaps I’ll come along.”
    “Sure,” Ben said. “But I need to talk to you about something first.” He glanced pointedly in Kathleen’s direction.
    “May I use the powder room, Destiny?” she asked dutifully.
    Destiny clearly wasn’t fooled for a second by the abrupt pretext. She gave Ben a piercing look. “What is this about?” When Kathleen started to leave, Destiny arrowed a look in her direction. “Stay right here, Kathleen.”
    “But—” Kathleen protested, only to be cut off.
    “I would appreciate it if you would stay,” Destiny repeated, then frowned at Ben. “Does this have anything at all