Page 48 of Merrick

“I don’t think we have the time. And did you have to refer to me as your lady?” She hissed.

He only arched a brow at her. “I might mention that you called yourself my sex partner.”

Before she could respond, they were veering to the right and entering a large room with an enormous fireplace. The polished wooden floor with a lovely butter colored patina shone like glass.

Three men were standing near to the fireplace with drinks in hands. From various photographs, she could pick out who was who.

Maurice Pendergast looked even more unimpressive in person than in the photos and was a pale shadow of his dynamic brother. The two young men were tall, taller than their dad and had the same shade of dark hair and piercing gray eyes which told her it was a family deal.

Jason looked jittery and was moving from one foot to the next restlessly.

Michael was charming and had a genuine smile that welcomed her openly. A sudden movement caught her eye and Janey Pendergast moved forward – glided rather, the stunning red gown molding her voluptuous curves. Diamonds glittered at her lobes and around her neck and her lustrous blonde hair flowed over one shoulder.

“Darling.” With arms outstretched, she completely ignored Margo and came towards Merrick.

Margo started to move away, when he clamped a hand around her waist, holding her to his side. Bending, he kissed his sister-in-law’s cheek, before turning to the rest of the family.

“I would like you to meet Margo Sullivan.” He announced with a smile. “Darling…,” he added deliberately, making it clear who she was to him. “Meet the family.” When he called their names, they stepped forward to greet her.

Maurice was cool and reserved, making his opinion of her clear. Jason was sullen and uncommunicative, but Michael took her hand and kissed the back of it gallantly. “Welcome to our home.”

“Thank you.”

Janey swept her blue gaze over Margo’s black dress pants and black and white sweater with a disparaging look and gave her a cool nod.

Merrick was about to offer her something to drink when a maid slid into the room and announced dinner.

The dining room was huge as well and formal, with an elegant breakfast nook to one side, a floor to ceiling windows with a stunning view of the lush grounds and a dazzlingly white gazebo. A table stood in the middle of the floor that could easily seat twenty people.

Flower were everywhere, on the table, the credenza in one corner of the room and in alcoves all around the space. Taking her hand, Merrick kept her next to him, but still Janey, playing the less than gracious hostess managed to find herself at the opposite side of him.

She caught the annoyed look on her husband’s face as he slid into his seat at the head of the table.

The conversation at the start of the meal was mainly centered around the business while Margo listened with interest as she tasted her creamy spinach soup and found it to her liking. She also had time to make her impressions.

Jason was definitely on something. She recognized the signs. The restless tapping of his fingers on the white tablecloth, the hunching of his shoulders and his sullen expression and she wondered if the family were deliberately being obtuse.

Michael was charming and explaining that his girlfriend or fiancée was away for work. She decided that she liked him. He was genuine and charming, and his smile came easily. Maurice on the other hand, divided his gaze between her and his wife, his frown getting heavier.

She could not blame him. Janey used every opportunity to touch Merrick and behaved as if they were the only two people at the table.

Margo wanted to deck the woman and pull out her phony blonde hair by the roots.

“So, Margo my dear,” Maurice spoke over the conversations going on, “what is it that you do?”

She was prepared for that question, but it unnerved her just the same when they all stared at her.

“I was a photographer and now I am an aspiring novelist,” she said smoothly as she cut into her veal.

“Aspiring? What genre?”

“Historical romance.” Picking up her hand off the table, Merrick kissed the knuckles and ignored her effort to pull away. “She has yet to show me what she is writing.”

“A quirk of mine.” She turned a sweet smile at him. “It’s bad luck to share too early.”

“And where did you two meet?” This was from Janey who was staring at her in disbelief.

“At the gallery a few weeks ago.”

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