s [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

table.
 Mr. Stone, he said in a thick Italian accent.  I m so sorry. I do not know how that
beast got in.
Mary saw Jacob s jaw tick with annoyance but he remained outwardly calm, even
though his hand had balled into a white-knuckled fist on the table.  It s not your fault,
Geraldo. They re a sneaky lot. I ll be using your back door tonight, if you don t mind.
 Sì, signore. Of course.
Geraldo stood nervously at the side of the table wringing his hands together, as Jacob
pulled his cell phone from his pocket.
 Sam. I need the car brought to the alley behind Geraldo s. He glanced at Mary and
then toward Angel.  Ten minutes. Thank you, Sam.
He closed the phone and slid it back into his pocket.  Geraldo, I believe we ll take
the rest of the pizza to go.
 Sì, signore. The man picked up the deep-edged black pan and hurried off.
 I m sorry, Jacob said to Angel.
Angel shrugged. But then she smiled up at her father and Jacob s whole demeanor
changed. He softened. The harsh lines around his eyes eased.
 Well, Mary said cheerily.  Next Sunday for our trip to the museum, you ll just
have to go in disguise.
Jacob s brows pulled together in a frown.  What else is there? I m already wearing
clothes I ve never gone out in public in.
Mary laughed.  Ye of little faith. She winked at Angel.  We ll come up with
something, won t we?
Angel grinned and nodded.  Should have gotten the hat.
 And sunglasses, Mary added. Angel had tried getting Jacob to buy a New York
Yankees baseball cap to match the Yankees sweatshirt Mary had picked out for him, but
he said that was pushing it. She figured after this little debacle, he d reconsider.
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 And a beard, Angel giggled.
Mary looked at Jacob and raised an eyebrow.  What do you think, Jacob? Next
weekend we ll rip holes in the knees of your jeans, get you that baseball cap and you
don t shave. She tipped her head to the side and grinned.  How about a black leather
biker jacket?
Jacob s lips tipped into a small grin as he looked at Angel. For the past two hours,
ever since Angel had taken his hand on the sidewalk, the smiles had come often.
He ran his hand over his chin.  I think we can do that. But wearing sunglasses inside
the museum would make it rather difficult to see, wouldn t it?
 We ll worry about it. You just be there, Mary said softly.
Jacob turned those deep-sea eyes on her.  I wouldn t miss it, he said, and she knew
his word was his vow.
 Your car has arrived, signore, Geraldo said, holding a small pizza box in front of
him.  I do apologize for your supper being interrupted so rudely. Please, Mr. Stone, do
not hold it against my humble establishment. Your patronage is important to us.
Jacob came to his feet and laid a reassuring hand on the little man s shoulder.  It is
already forgotten.
Geraldo s round face split into a huge smile.
Jacob took the box from Geraldo and held his other hand out for Angel. She
clambered off her chair and, without any hesitation this time, placed her hand in his.
They were going to be all right, Mary decided as she followed Jacob and Angel
through the kitchen, to the back door of the restaurant. It would just take a little time. And
patience.
Jacob hated the duck and cover of avoiding the paparazzi. He had ever since the day
Stone Enterprise went public almost ten years ago and his face--and life--were splashed
all over every national newspaper, magazine and tabloid. Since then there d been no
respite.
Worst of all, today, it hadn t even crossed his mind to look out for them. He d only
been interested in spending time with Angel. And Mary.
He leaned back in the plush leather seat of his car, the pizza box perched on his lap,
and glanced at Mary over the top of Angel s head. She was holding Angel s hand, and
sent him that sweet smile that made him go all gooey inside.
Mary made him forget who he was. That he was something other than a normal,
average Joe. He liked that feeling. He wanted to be normal. Wanted to be like every other
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Leanne Karella
guy. Wanted to work a nine-to-five job. Come home to his beautiful daughter and a soft,
sweet woman.
Swiping his hand down his face, he stifled a groan. He had the daughter down, but
the woman wasn t his. Never would be. She worked for him. Tolerated him because he
paid her to do so. But this morning, in the department store, she hadn t pulled any
punches when she told him to stop being so high and mighty.
And once he forced himself to shed the exterior shell of the corporate executive and
came down out of his ivory tower, as she d said, he d had an incredibly enjoyable day.
Until the flashbulb went off. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]