Wilder Than the Rest: MacLarens of Fire Mountain (13 page)

The mayor glanced at her then turned fully, a smile on his round face. “Miss Gagnon. It is a pleasure to see you again.”

“Mayor Pound, I’m so glad to be included.” She looked across the mayor to his wife. “Mrs. Pound, good to see you.”

“Eva, my dear, where have you been keeping yourself? It seems like ages since we saw you at our home.” Like the mayor, his wife was a short woman, rotund, and friendly with a ready smile. No one would suspect the razor sharp mind she hid behind the genial façade.

“You know how it is, Lydia. Most days fill up, keeping me quite busy.” She turned to Theodore. “It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Crow.”

“I’m glad you were able to make the event.” Theodore looked to the others in the group. “Miss Gagnon, I’d like to introduce you to our Chief of Police, Robert Curtis, and Mr. Jock Flannigan, captain and owner of one of the most important shipping lines on the West Coast.”

“Good evening, Miss Gagnon.” Chief Curtis was a tall, lean man with a short gray beard, and eerily translucent pale yellow eyes. His hair was cropped short and the color matched that of his beard.

“Chief Curtis,” Eva responded and shifted her eyes to the other man who had made no effort to hide his stare. It was a slow, easy perusal, one meant to show his interest and, perhaps, appreciation.

Flannigan bowed, never taking his eyes from her. “It is a true pleasure, Miss Gagnon.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but stopped as several bells sounded, announcing supper. The Mayor, his wife, and the others in the group left to locate their table, leaving Eva and Jock alone.

“May I?” Captain Flannigan inquired and offered his arm to Eva. Even though she was a tall woman, he towered above her. His hair was burnished copper, similar to the colors in the setting sun, and pulled back into a neat queue at the nape of his neck. His deep amber eyes bore into hers, an amused expression flickering across his face.

She had just begun to raise her arm to his when she sensed rather than saw someone come up behind her. Two strong hands rested lightly on her waist as an all too familiar voice wafted over her.

“Eva, my dear, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Lee leaned down to place a kiss on her cheek.

The impact of his breath fanning across her neck and the soft feel of his lips against her skin slammed into Eva. She hadn’t been this close to him in four years. Four long years, and the way her body responded to him hadn’t changed a whit. She closed her eyes to calm the staccato of her heart, but made no move to put distance between them.

Lee stepped back and extended his hand to the tall, ruddy-skinned man who stood next to her.

“Lee Hatcher,” he said noting the man’s frown and the slight pause before he accepted Lee’s hand.

“Captain Jock Flannigan.” Flannigan’s eyes shifted from Lee to rest on Eva.

“Perhaps you would care to accompany us to the table? We’ve just recently come to the West Coast and I’m sure Miss Gagnon would enjoy getting to know you better.” Lee’s suggestion was genuine, although he was particularly interested in learning more about the captain and his shipping business.

“Thank you, Mr. Hatcher. I would also enjoy getting to know Miss Gagnon.”

Eva remained silent as the two men conversed, listening as Lee’s deep, smooth voice floated over her. Her chest tightened and she worked to control the rapid breathing which had followed him resting his hands on her waist, arousing every part of her body—a touch that was incredibly familiar, painfully so. She swallowed hard, trying to control the grinding ache being this close to him caused.

“Shall we, Eva?” Lee whispered close to her ear, placing her hand through his arm as he started forward.

She had yet to fully look at the one man capable of sending her emotions reeling. She walked beside him, allowing her reaction to move from surprise to anger—fury directed at Lee as well as their boss, Noah Dodd. There was nothing she could do about it tonight, not here at this formal ball with the social elite of San Francisco all around them. No, she would wait, determine the best approach, and make her displeasure known. Her resolve restored, Eva glanced up at the man who would be her partner for this one brief period of time and promised that, no matter what else happened, she’d come out of this with her reputation intact and her heart in one piece.

Chapter Twelve

Pierce watched Mollie’s eyes widen as her infectious laughter filled the air at something Gerald Black said. She stood on the other side of Viola Black, creating a distance that allowed her to converse while focusing on the festivities around them. He shifted away from her as his eyes swept the room, identifying people Eva and Chaz had described while listening to personal conversations between the guests in groups close to theirs.

One strikingly beautiful woman behind him introduced herself to another gentleman and Pierce realized he recognized her name from the list. She stood next to Thomas Traxton, her animated conversation catching the man’s attention. His wife, Virginia, was nowhere in sight.

“Excuse me a moment. There’s someone I’d like to meet. Keep track of my wife, would you, Gerald?”

“Of course, Pierce,” Gerald replied and stepped closer to the two women. “He certainly is a restless sort.”

“You have no idea,” Mollie replied as her eyes followed him. He stopped next to an impeccably dressed gentleman with thinning hair and a full mustache, whom she didn’t recognize. She watched as he introduced himself then turned to face a tall, slender woman with whitish-blonde hair.

To say that the woman was lovely would be a gross understatement. Her crimson dress dropped low in the front, to just within propriety. A dazzling combination of rubies and diamonds adorned her neck, ears, and wrists. She appeared to be bored, shifting from one foot to the other and trying to act interested in the story the man next to her was telling.

“Hello, Thomas. I’d hoped to see you here.” Pierce moved slightly so that he reached across the woman to shake the man’s hand.

“MacLaren.” Thomas’s greeting was less than enthusiastic.

“Perhaps you’d be kind enough to introduce me to this lovely lady?” Pierce could see the strained look on Traxton’s face and enjoyed any discomfort he might be causing the man.

Traxton narrowed his eyes on Pierce before he shook off whatever bothered him and made the introduction.

“Georgiana, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine, Pierce MacLaren. Pierce, this is one of Virginia’s dearest friends, Georgiana Grayson.”

The woman’s eyes swung to Pierce and her expression changed in an instant, giving him her full attention as the other conversation faded into the background. She held up a hand for Pierce to accept and he didn’t disappoint. In one fluid movement, he lifted her hand to his lips and lightly touched her skin.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Grayson.”

“Thank you, Mr. MacLaren.” She pulled her hand free. “It is Mrs. Grayson, however.”

Pierce looked at the others in the group and, judging none suitable as her husband, turned a questioning look at the woman.

“My husband passed away several months ago,” she replied to his unspoken question.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Mrs. Grayson.” He kept his eyes locked on hers, already certain he’d made a favorable impression.

“I’d be grateful if you would call me Georgiana, or Georgie, it’s what my friends call me.” Her soft voice and sparkling eyes conveyed more to Pierce than just the offer to be another of her friends.

He marveled at how quickly an innocent introduction could transform into an imminent invitation. Pierce wasn’t a conceited man, yet over the years, he’d learned that women found him attractive. It was a benefit and a curse. Tonight, he’d use it to his advantage.

Mollie watched the interaction from several feet away, somewhat jealous that he’d made the first contact and more than ready to do her part, gathering information from the men on her list. She didn’t wish to pull out the small piece of paper in front of the others and was relieved when one name popped into her head. “Gerald, would you please point out Lloyd Johnson?”

Gerald cast an odd look her way before letting his eyes gaze around the room. “Ah, yes. There he is in the corner, speaking with an elderly woman, his mother, I believe. Do you see?” He indicated a debonair gentleman about twenty feet away. “Would you like an introduction?”

“That would be marvelous.” Mollie gathered her skirts as he took her arm and escorted her across the room.

“Lloyd, how are you this evening?” Gerald asked as he came to a stop.

“Quite well, Gerald. And you?” Johnson replied while his eyes focused on Mollie.

“No complaints. I’d like to introduce you to Viola’s good friend, Mrs. Mollie MacLaren.”

Johnson made a slight bow. “Mrs. MacLaren, it’s a pleasure. I’ve just offered to get a glass of punch for my mother. May I interest you in something?”

“Punch would be wonderful, Mr. Johnson. Thank you.”

Gerald Black said his goodbyes and left to rejoin his wife, still somewhat perplexed at Mollie’s request for an introduction.

Johnson returned within minutes, holding two glasses. He handed one to his mother, who looked over her shoulder at Mollie, then turned backed to the other women.

“Excuse me, Mother.” He made a slight bow to the women before rejoining Mollie. “Are you here tonight with your husband, Mrs. MacLaren?” Lloyd asked as he handed Mollie her punch.

“Yes. He’s right over there talking with the tall woman in the red dress.”

“Ah, yes. Georgiana Grayson.”

“You know her then?” Mollie asked as she sipped the punch.

“I’ve known the Graysons for many years. Her husband passed away recently after an accident on one of his ships.” He shrugged. “Given her background, I’m sure her current life is quite a change.”

“Her background?”

“Excuse me, of course you wouldn’t know. Her husband, Walter, was partners with Jock Flannigan, the tall man with reddish hair pulled back in a queue.” He motioned across the room and Mollie noted the man who stood next to Eva. “The Graysons used to be quite the social couple. I doubt there was an event the two did not attend. Before his accident, Walter did something quite unusual, which few people know about even though he made no provision that it be kept secret. He drew up legal documents to make her a partner in the company, taking over his half interest. Jock handles the day-to-day operations, but it’s my understanding that Georgiana does play some small role.”

“That does seem unusual. What business is Georgiana in?”

“The company handles shipping up and down the West Coast. It has been in business for several decades and has quite a colorful past. Grayson and Flannigan bought it from the original owners several years ago and expanded the operation. It’s quite profitable from what I understand.”

“How fascinating. I wonder what kinds of cargo they carry.” Mollie finished her punch and handed the empty glass to a passing server.

“The company started out with government contracts to ship and deliver mail. Very lucrative contracts, I might add. They branched into other types of cargo over the years. One of the lawyers in my firm handles the legal work for the company.” He stopped and frowned at Mollie. “All this business talk must be quite boring to you, Mrs. MacLaren.”

“Not at all, Mr. Johnson. My husband often talks business at home. I find it quite fascinating, even though I don’t understand much of it.” She gave Lloyd a modest smile.

Their discussion was interrupted by the sound of bells calling guests to dinner.

“It was very nice speaking with you, Mrs. MacLaren. Perhaps you’ll save me a dance later this evening.”

“I would be happy to, Mr. Johnson,” Mollie answered before turning toward the last place she’d seen Pierce and strolling slowly in that direction.

“Who is that woman, Lloyd?” Mrs. Johnson held her glass tight between two hands, scowling at Mollie’s back as she walked away.

“Mrs. MacLaren, Mother. A friend of Gerald and Viola Black.”

“What did she want?”

Lloyd took a slow breath, becoming impatient with his mother’s constant interrogations. They’d gotten worse since his father died two years before. She questioned almost everything he did, as well as his friendships. Even though he was a good-looking man, a lawyer in his own firm, and quite well off, his mother couldn’t seem to understand that he was no longer her responsibility. Indeed, she was his. He supposed the fact that, at thirty-five, he was still single played a role in her continual interference.

Mollie couldn’t find Pierce anywhere, or Georgiana Grayson. She wondered if he’d already gone to the dining hall, but discarded the thought quickly. No, he wouldn’t leave her alone without an escort to their table. The reception hall was emptying, which made it easier to see those who remained. She took one more turn and then heard laughter from outside.

She walked to the double glass doors, grabbed the handle, and peered out, instantly recognizing the two people standing together—Georgiana smiling while Pierce laughed at something she’d said. The instant clinching of her heart surprised and angered Mollie. She dropped her hand from the knob, deciding it best not to interrupt them, and turned toward the direction of the dining hall.