Aces Wild (6 page)

“
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.

“
Rory McKenna? Well, well. That is quite an association. You may have moved away from Boston but stories about your father certainly have not. Tell me, Gabriel. Is there a woman left on the east coast that he hasn’t bedded?”

In the uneasy silence that settled over the table, Ana watched Gabe put down his fork, pick up his napkin, and wipe his mouth as though wiping off an unpleasant taste. He shifted slightly and settled back in his chair. His eyes were cold, hard, when he turned to Peter, but a smile caught the corner of his mouth.

“
I wasn’t aware that he limited himself to the east coast.”

A spattering of nervous laughter from the men at the table greeted his response.

Ana saw Peter clench the edge of the table, his fingers white with the effort. He glared at Gabe, who was leaning back, an easy nonchalance marking his demeanor. Only the hard glint in his eyes, a python confronting a field mouse, spoke to the tension he must be feeling.

“
What about you, McKenna? What do you do?” Peter asked, his voice sharp, devoid of any semblance of courtesy. “I heard you’re a U. S. Marshal.”

Gabe nodded. “I was, some time ago.”

“
Your father get that position for you? It’s not easy to become a marshal. I understand it take connections and a healthy bribe under the table to get those marshal spots.”

Gabe’s cool tone held the undercurrent of a threat. “It’s easier than you might think, Peter. The best connections are the willingness and ability to shoot a man dead at forty paces or if you prefer a knife over a gun, slicing him to death.”

Peter paled then replied with a sniff. “My goodness, you have left your Boston ways behind.” Glancing at Penelope, whose expression was stony at best, Peter continued, “I don’t know, Penelope, I think your consort is more uncivilized than you might think.”

Penelope looked as stunned as everyone else at the table.

Ana was surprised when Peter refused to quit, just kept pushing.

Glaring at Gabe, he said, “What kind of work do you do now that you’re not a marshal?”

Gabe quirked a brow. “What comes my way.”

Peter didn’t hide his distain. “ Humph, I suppose living off your inheritance allows you not to work.”

Gabe glanced around the table and grinned. “Hmm, if that was true, and it is not, I would appear to be in good company.”

There were a few guffaws and Ana looked up in time to see her father nod and exchange a wink with Gabe.

Ana was intrigued by the interchange. Peter’s anger was palpable and even though she despised Gabe, Ana was glad he had put the pompous fop in his place.

At that moment Molly and several other maids entered with trays of deserts. Ana saw Molly make a beeline for Gabe. Even across the table, she could hear the husky familiarity in the hussy’s voice as she sidled up to him.

“
Sir, canna I be gettin’ you any of these sweets to polish off your dinner?”

Gabe started and then frowned. “No, thank you. I have had quite enough.”

The Chinese butler, who had been with Chao’s family as long as Ana could remember, stepped between Gabe and the impudent maid. Nudging her aside, he asked in a quiet professional tone, “Perhaps more wine, sir.’

Gabe gave him an appreciative nod. “Yes, that I will definitely have more of.”

~~~

Gabe took a sip of wine and caught Ana glaring at Molly. Seeing the darts flying across the table, he grinned to himself. He didn’t know if the missiles were intended for Molly or for him. Probably, he thought, for both.

As Molly made her way around the table offering the sweets, she came to Ana. Apparently unaware of the hostility radiating from her mistress, the brash girl asked in her sugary brogue. “Will you be havin’ some of these “binyets”, miss. They are tasty.”

“
Did you make them?”

Molly started at her mistress’s crisp tone. “Yes, miss, I did. I made them meself just this morning.”

Glancing at the slight redness circling Molly’s wrists, Ana asked, “With your bare hands?”

Molly looked confused then responded. “Uh, yes, miss. With me bare hands.”

Ana’s eyes flashed. “Then I don’t want any. Thank you. Leave please.”

Gabe choked on his wine, struggling to squelch his laughter. Wiping his eyes with his napkin, he smiled at Ana, but she just flushed and looked away. At that moment, Peter took the bottle of wine from the butler and offered to refill Ana’s glass. Ana shook her head and jumped up, knocking her chair to the floor with a noisy clatter. She paled, then shook her head and ran for the door.

~~

Chapter 6

Ana clung to the balcony railing, wanting to scream but afraid she might cry. For the moment she was trapped. The veranda door was the closest exit from the dining room and the quickest way to make her escape. At least now she could breathe. She would wait for the rest of them to leave the table, then sneak up to her chambers. One more minute at the dining room table would have done her in.

Just when she was beginning to regain her composure, she heard the door open. She felt him, sensed him. She grasped the railing for support then willed herself to face him. His voice shot tremors through her body.

“
Do you always leave the table rudely without being excused?

She swallowed hard and tried to ignore the sensations flooding over her, stunned at the sight of him. Standing in the moonlight, he was even more beautiful than she had allowed herself to remember. She forced her voice to be strong, cool. “Do you?”

Her knees buckled when he smiled at her. “No, your aunt rather reluctantly excused me.”

He moved closer to her and his smile widened, “I see we have something in common besides a penchant for barns.” Holding up his hand to stop her protest, he added, “You appear to dislike dinner parties as much as I do.”

She gave her head a vehement shake.

“
We have nothing in common!”

Holding her gaze, he dug his cigarette case out of his vest pocket and took out a cigarette. In the flare of the match she saw the gleam in his dark emerald eyes. She watched enraptured as he lit the cigarette and puffed on it. Shaking off her stupor, she snapped, “Why are you here?”

He moved closer. She took a deep breath and tried to ignore his powerful smell. The scent of sandalwood melded with the sweet pungent aroma of his Turkish cigarettes. But the smell that made her knees shake and her stomach clench was a woodsy, wild smell that was totally male.

His smile was soft, seductive. “Because I wanted to do a little more investigation, test the connection between us.”

She shook her head in disagreement and moved down the railing to put space between them. Trying to break the spell of the moment, she said, “Can I ask you a question”

He nodded.

“
Please have the decency to answer.”

He shrugged and gave her an ironic grin. “Of course. Decency has always been my strong suit.”

She ignored his joke and squeezed her eyes shut to avoid the twinkle in his. “Why are you here?”

“
I answered your question, Princess. But I’ll say it again. I want to see what’s beneath that prickly façade you wrap around yourself. I’ve been wondering. How far below the surface of this gorgeous woman in her outrageous red dress is that dirty little urchin I met in the barn?”