by Taylor Lee
Seeing the horrified look on Ana’s face when she recognized him, Gabe almost laughed out loud. Shoving aside the urge to charge across the room and capture her in his arms, he gave her a slight bow and didn’t hide his grin. When she flushed and stumbled back, the tall young Chinese man hovering next to her frowned and tightened his protective grip on her elbow. Ah, hell, a jealous suitor, Gabe thought when the hostile young man followed Ana’s glance and saw Gabe. His frown turned to a ferocious scowl when Gabe flicked his wrist in a challenging salute.
At that moment, Chao Li also saw Gabe. A wide smile lit his normally stern face as he moved toward him, his reluctant daughter in tow. Amused by the identical scowls on Ana’s face and her fierce suitor, Gabe stepped forward, an aggressive move matched by the glowering young man. Unaware of the drama unfolding beside him, Chao Li bowed to Gabe and said in a voice rich with pride, “Ah, Gabriel, I want you to meet my daughter, Ana Ming, and my son, Kai Quan. Ana, Kai, this is my friend and business partner, Gabriel McKenna. Gabe nodded to Kai, ignoring his deepening scowl and turned to Ana. Holding her gaze, he bowed and at the same time reached for her hand. Ana’s eyes flashed an angry warning and she clamped her hand behind her back. Kai gave a low growl and moved several inches forward only to be stopped by the angry hiss from the woman plastered next to him.
All but forgotten by her family, Penelope stepped into their midst, her pinched face marked by ugly red splotches. Ignoring the three men, she pounced on Ana. Grabbing Ana’s wrist she twisted it hard. Her voice was low, harsh.
“How dare you?” she hissed, the splotches on her face deepening to an ominous shade of purple.
Ana started, then snatched her arm back, rubbing at the marks left by her aunt’s fierce grip.
Tossing her head, Ana’s voice was bored, dismissive. “What have I done now to annoy you, Auntie?
Massive tremors shook Penelope’s body. It was a wonder her scrawny body didn’t shake apart. She struggled to speak, then shoving her face inches away from Ana’s, she spit out, “How dare you come to my party dressed like this?”
Chao Li’s stern face hardened. His voice was low, careful. Nodding to Gabe, he cautioned, “Penelope, we have guests.”
Penelope’s intense anger didn’t allow her to stand on protocol. Glaring first at Ana and then turning her rage on Chao, she sputtered. “Look at her! She…she cut up her dress, Chao. Cut up her dress to show off her body. Her bare legs! Don’t you care that she looks like a whore?”
Ana raised her chin and met her aunt’s glare, defiance radiating from every tense pore. “Really, auntie, you are making a scene. I merely made it easier to walk in my dress. You know I dislike restrictions.”
Chao stepped between the furious woman and his errant daughter. Nodding over his shoulder at Ana, he said, “Yes, Penelope, I noticed that Ana altered her dress. I am confident she did it to ease her movements, not to annoy you, correct Ana?”
Ana gave a soft snort and a slight toss of her head. “Of course, Father. Why would I ever want to annoy auntie?”
Her father frowned, his darkening gaze a warning that Ana promptly ignored with a thrust of her chin.
As much as he enjoyed the drama, Gabe saw that other guests were aware of the altercation. Attempting to help his host defuse the situation between the angry women, Gabe moved closer to Ana. Putting a light restraining hand on Ana’s arm, he turned to Penelope and said in a pleasant voice, “Actually, madam, your niece has unusual fashion sense, although I will grant you she is a little ahead of her time. Many of the European designers I meet in my travels are beginning to see the advantage of less restrictive clothing for women.”
Before her aunt could respond, Ana knocked Gabe’s hand off her arm and glared up at him. The nearness of him, the slight touch on her arm, scalded her sensitive nerve endings, ramping up sensations she thought she had buried in the barn. Her lips trembled and her dark eyes flashed ominously, but her voice was cool, with just a hint of the intense anger racking her. “This isn’t any of your business, sir. What you have learned in your various exploits is of no interest to me and not pertinent to this conversation.”
Chao reached out for her, his voice soft. “Ana, please, dear…”
Ana brushed aside her father’s plea and turned to her brother, “Kai will you please bring me a glass of champagne?” Then thinking better of it, she stamped her foot and added, “Oh never mind, I’ll get it myself.” Glaring at her aunt, she added with a slight sneer, “Whores should be self sufficient don’t you agree, auntie?” Throwing a piercing glare at Gabe, she added, “Or unscrupulous men might try to take advantage of them.” She turned on her heel and strode across the room toward a servant balancing a large tray of wine glasses and a bottle of champagne. Kai trailed in her wake.
Penelope stood for a moment staring at her retreating niece, then whirled on Chao. “This is your fault, Chao. You and Sarah spoiled her from the minute she was born. I should have insisted she stay in Boston with me. I would have seen that she developed manners and learned to act like a proper young lady, not a disgraceful hoyden or worse, a..a heathen. As it stands now she is wild, unruly, unteachable!”
Seeming to remember her important guest, she made a visible effort to smooth her grim expression and turned to Gabe. “I regret that you were a party to this conversation, Mr. McKenna. I hope you understand that this is only the California branch of my family. The Boston branch is much more refined, more… pure.” Plastering an artificial smile on her angry visage, she squared her thin shoulders like a general marching to battle and moved toward her other guests.
Gabe watched Ana snatch a glass of champagne from the startled servant. She tipped the glass up to her lips and drained it. Putting the empty glass back on the tray, she took another and moved next to Kai. Like bees to a honey pot, within seconds, her protective brother was joined by an onslaught of eligible young men-- as well as some older, less eligible men. Soon the room was divided in two camps. One camp contained a bevy of twittering, gossiping women. The common element among them was their obvious disapproval of the stunning woman in red anchoring the other camp—a group of openly lusting men. Neither group seemed aware of the amusing picture they presented to an unaffiliated observer.
Gabe dragged his attention away from Ana to respond to Chao. The older man’s stern face was tight with a mix of emotions, the muscles in his neck tense, straining. “I apologize, Gabriel. I am sorry you were party to this disagreement in my family. As you can see, there is much anger between my sister-in-law and my children, especially my daughter.”
Gabe kept his voice even, attempting to allay his friend’s upset. “Family dynamics can be challenging, Chao. Of all people, I understand those challenges.”
Chao nodded in agreement. “I know you do, Gabriel. But my daughter was unnecessarily rude to you. She .. she doesn’t get out much. By her own choice, she refuses most company, especially her aunt’s. She is strong willed, determined…perhaps a little wild.” His voice trailed off as if he didn’t want to reveal more of his beloved daughter’s foibles.
Gabe quirked a brow, an ironic grin tugging at his mouth. “No need to go on, Chao. I can see you have your hands full with that young woman.”
“That I do, Gabriel, that I do.” A soft smile spread over the older man’s face when he added, “It is a task that has brought me a lifetime of happiness.”
“I can understand that, Chao,” Gabe said with a noncommittal shrug. To himself he thought, a little discipline along the way wouldn’t have hurt. Watching the striking young woman in her outrageous dress surrounded by men who were having difficulty keeping their tongues in their mouths, he swallowed a primal grunt, not wanting to add to the growing arousal straining his trousers. Staring across the room at Ana, his hands twitched in anticipation. Oh yeah! Discipline is clearly in order for that little hellcat– by someone who knows how to wield it.
~~
Chapter 5
Ana felt Gabe’s gaze from across the room. The
skin on her neck tingled. Her palms were sweaty. Heat and cold tormented her simultaneously. One minute she was shivering, the next she needed fresh air. She was angry with her aunt for causing the ugly scene and furious that Gabe had observed it. Why was he here? How could he possibly be working with her father? Did her father know the kind of man he was? What would he say if he knew what had happened in the barn?
“Ana, excuse me. Did you hear me? I asked if I could have the pleasure of escorting you to dinner.”
Ana looked up at the large blond haired man standing beside her peering at her as if she was deaf.
“I…I’m sorry, Alex, I’m a little distracted. What did you say about dinner?’
The young man took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his brow. “I was hoping you might sit beside me at dinner? Is…Is that possible?”
Ana did her best to collect her wits. This is what she hated about these parties. All these men—God there had to be at least six of them hovering next to her--waiting to hear her response like eager mice spying a hunk of cheese.
“I don’t know, Alex. Usually my aunt has some grand scheme about these kinds of things. You know it is her fondest wish that someday she will be appointed to run the world.”
Ana laughed when she said it. Instantly, six grown men roared in response as though she had uttered the most amusing witticism. Ana choked down her annoyance wondering how she could escape. She had to get away from these tiresome men. How could all six men surrounding her be so boring? So insipid? Oh God. What could she do? If she left these men, she was certain he would confront her. She could feel him, sense him. Peeking over her shoulder, she saw him less than twenty feet away. He was sipping on a glass of champagne and no fewer than eight women were hanging on every word he said.
She cast a longing glance at the doorway, wondering if she dared make a dash for it. She’d run up the stairs, lock the door to her chambers, and never come out again. Contemplating her narrow options, she heard her father’s welcome request and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Ana, your aunt has summoned us to dinner. May I escort you to the table?”
Relieved that her father didn’t seem angry with her, she cast him a grateful glance and surged toward him.
He smiled and pulled her close, whispering in her ear.
“I’m not too old, my dear, to recognize a maiden who needs rescuing.”
Tears pricked at the back of her eyelids as she gazed up at her father.
“Thank you, Father. Even though you are not wearing armor and I don’t see a white horse, you most certainly are my knight in shining armor. And, yes, I do need to be rescued.”
Her father laughed softly as he guided her away from the pack of hungry wolves jostling one another for a favored spot.
“You know, Ana, that I will always protect you.”
“Even from my aunt?
He smiled at her. “Especially from your aunt. Now, come, my dear. If I know you, you haven’t eaten since morning and you will need your strength to keep this pack at bay,” he added with an amused glance over his shoulder at the crowd of men who were elbowing one another out of the way to come closer.
~~~
Penelope batted her eyes up at him and said in a simpering tone, “Would you do me the honor of sitting beside me at dinner, Mr. McKenna?”
Gabe forced himself to look away from Chao and Ana and focus on the annoying woman who had latched on to him. He bowed slightly.
“It will be my pleasure, Mrs. Hamilton.”
Gazing at him with her cold, colorless eyes, she pursed her lips as though aggrieved. “Please, dear boy, call me Penelope.”
He nodded forcing himself not to grimace. “But, of course, Penelope.”
“May I call you, Gabriel?’
Yanking his gaze away from the negotiations taking place between Chao and the men lined up behind Ana, he turned back to his diminutive tormentor.
“What…I mean, of course, you may call me Gabriel.”
Now that it was clear he would not have the opportunity to sit by Ana, Gabe burned to know who would win that prize. He was grateful when Kai elbowed the blond haired lapdog out of the way and plunked himself down next to his sister. He was mildly comforted when Chao allowed the dullest-looking of the crowd of men who had been circling her to sit at her left. Even though he was stuck with Penelope, at least from this distance he could see and hear most of the conversation involving her.
He pulled out Penelope’s chair, helping her to sit, pretending not to see her attempt at a flirtatious smile. Turning to the plump blond woman on his left, he realized she was waiting for him to seat her. As he pulled out her chair then settled in his own, he was reminded of how much he despised these rituals. Gazing around the table at the well-dressed, wealthy crowd, his gut clenched at the familiar sight. From experience, he knew the conversation would be a competition among the men to see who was the richest, who had pulled off the biggest deal, and who had stepped on the most people in the process. And the women, God yes, if the giggly blond next to him was an example, the distaff side of the conversation would be more subtle but even more vicious in the attempt to outdo one another than the one among their mates. He nodded to the grey haired, sharp-eyed woman across the table, agreeing that it was a pity he missed the Broadcrest dance, as it was no doubt the event of the season. He didn’t mention that the event coincided with his biggest night yet at the Shoe Horn brothel where he won a record $200,000 in a fifteen hour poker game.
Keeping a surreptitious eye on the other end of the table, he was gratified to see that the only person who looked less happy to be there than Ana was her brother Kai. He was saved from an argument with Penelope and the grey-haired battleaxe as to which dressmaker was the most expensive by the discussion emanating between Ana and the young man to her left. He realized that he had misjudged the foppish looking fellow next to her, appropriately named Peter Harcourt, the third. Gabe knew men’s clothing and jewelry. He estimated that the pale would-be suitor sidling up to Ana was wearing a small fortune on his back and around his wrist. No question he was a wealthy aristocrat with all the pretentious mannerisms Gabe despised. The two of them exchanged enough knowing glances to establish that they were rivals. It was just a matter of time until they took each other on. Given the snob’s appearance, Gabe knew to his regret, their altercation would be verbal not physical.
In a lull in the conversation he overheard Peter say to Ana, “I rarely see you at these parties, Miss Li. Where have you been hiding?”
Her response was short, cutting. “I haven’t been hiding. I despise parties.”
A dead silence greeted her vehement response.
Aware that everyone at the table was listening to their exchange, Peter made the mistake of trying to salvage his pride.
As though convincing a misbehaving child to eat her vegetables, he gave Ana an unctuous smile. “I see. Perhaps that is because you have not been seated by the right man.”
Ana lifted her chin and stared at Peter, a gesture that Gabe now knew signaled an attack. He wasn’t disappointed.
In a sweet voice she said, “You are correct. I never have been.” Then as if to drive in the knife she added, “Including now.”
Penelope’s gasp was echoed by a dozen others around the table.
Gabe grinned to himself. Damn, the little spitfire is as smart as she is rude. At least she recognizes slime when she sees it. Penelope’s gasp, a warning salvo to Chao, confirmed that she did not share Gabe’s appreciation of her niece’s bad manners.
Up to this point, Penelope had been drooling over Gabe, drawing him into one trite conversation after another. Her mannerisms were driving him crazy. He wondered if she really did not know how off-putting they were. Twirling her wineglass with gnarled fingers while affecting a pretend pout at his curt replies, she looked like the archetypical bad witch in children’s fairy tales.
As if to cover for her disreputable niece and the insult to the wealthiest of the suitors she had
brought in to annoy Ana, Penelope turned to Gabe, her question a blatant attempt to change the conversation.
“Tell me, Gabriel, you must miss Boston as much as I do. How have you managed to survive in this uncivilized part of the country? “
Gabe smiled at her, but his words were brusque. “To the contrary, Penelope. I am pleased to be as far away from Boston as I can be. “
Penelope flushed at his abrupt retort with a disbelieving mutter, “Really…well..I never...”
Stepping into the uncomfortable silence, the older man sitting next to the battleaxe gave Gabe a confrontational once over.
“Let’s hear more about you, young fella? Did you say your name was McKenna?’
Gabe allowed a slight smile to cross his lips.
“I didn’t say. But, yes, my name is Gabriel McKenna.”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “McKenna, huh? Any relationship to the senator?’
Penelope jumped in now back on solid ground. She simpered, “Oh, I thought everyone knew. Gabriel is Senator McKenna’s son.”
~~~
From the other end of the table, Ana looked up. She was as surprised as many of the others at this latest cannonball. What intrigued her most was Gabe’s clear discomfort. Rather than responding to Penelope’s gushing announcement, he simply nodded and looked down at the table.
The gruff old man persisted, “I knew your father some years ago. Still pokin’ his nose into every kind of business, legal or not??
“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t seen my father in some time,” Gabe responded coolly as if to end the conversation.
Ana felt Peter come to attention. He had been silent since she nailed him with her put down, but now he was staring at Gabe with a glint in his eyes.
