Page 15 of An Unexpected Love

“I doubt that.” Jordan scowled. “I’ve known him all this time and not once did he ever mention he’d lost a son.”

“It was almost thirty years ago, and as I told you, it’s the reason his company’s done so much cancer research. Howard Pharmaceuticals makes several of the leading cancer-fighting drugs.” When Andrew Howard had told her about his son’s death, a tear had come to his eye. Although Jeff Howard had succumbed to childhood leukemia a long time ago, his father still grieved. Andrew had become a widower a few years later, and he’d never fully recovered from the double blow. Jill was deeply touched by his story. During their conversation, she’d shared a little of the pain she’d felt at her own father’s death, something she rarely did, even with her mother or her closest friend.

“What shocks me,” Jordan continued, “is that I’ve worked on different projects with him over the years. We’ve also kept in touch socially. And not once,not once, did he mention a son.”

“Perhaps there was never a reason.”

Jordan dismissed that idea with a shake of his head.

“Mr. Howard’s a sweet man. I really like him,” Jill asserted.

“Sweet? Andrew Howard?” Jordan grinned, his eyes bright with humor. “I’ve known alligators with more agreeable personalities.”

“Apparently there’s more to your friend than you realized.”

“My friend,” Jordan repeated. “Funny, I’d always thought of him as my father’s friend, not mine. But you’re right—heismy friend and— Oh, here’s the car.” With a hand on her arm, he escorted her outside.

A tall, uniformed driver stepped from the long white limousine. “Ms. Morrison and Mr. Wilcox?” he asked crisply.

Jordan nodded, and the chauffeur ceremoniously opened the back door for them. Soon they were heading out of the city toward the island’s opposite coast.

“Do you still play the piano?” Jordan asked unexpectedly.

“Every so often, when the mood strikes me,” Jill told him a bit ruefully. “Not as much as I’d like.”

“I take it you still haven’t conquered the caesura?”

“Not yet, but I’m learning.” She wasn’t sure what had prompted his question, then decided to ask one of her own. “What about you? Do you think you might be interested in learning to play the piano?”

Jordan shook his head adamantly. “Unfortunately, I’ve never had much interest in that sort of thing.”

Jill sighed and looked away.

Nearly thirty minutes passed before they reached Andrew Howard’s oceanside estate. Jill suspected it was the longest Jordan had gone without a business conversation since he’d registered at the hotel.

Her heart pounded as they approached the beautifully landscaped grounds. A security guard pushed a button that opened a huge wrought-iron gate. They drove down a private road, nearly a mile long and bordered on each side by rolling green lawns and tropical flower beds. At the end stood a sprawling stone house.

No sooner had the car stopped than Mr. Howard hurried out of the house, grinning broadly.

“Welcome, welcome!” He greeted them expansively, holding out his arms to Jill.

In a spontaneous display of affection, she hugged him and kissed his cheek. “Thank you so much for inviting us.”

“The pleasure’s all mine. Come inside. Everything’s ready and waiting.” After exchanging a hearty handshake with Jordan, Mr. Howard led the way into his home.

Jill had been impressed with the outside, but the beauty of the interior overwhelmed her. The entry was tiled in white marble and illuminated by a sparkling crystal chandelier. Huge crystal vases of vivid pink and purple hibiscus added color and life. From there, Mr. Howard escorted them into a massive living room with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the Pacific. Frothing waves crashed against the shore, bathed in the fire of an island sunset.

“This is so lovely,” Jill breathed in awe.

“I knew you’d appreciate it.” Mr. Howard reached for a bell, which he rang once. Almost immediately the housekeeper appeared, carrying a tray of glasses and bottles of white and red wine, sherry and assorted aperitifs.

They were sipping their drinks when the same woman reappeared. “Mr. Wilcox, there’s a phone call for you.”

It was all Jill could do not to gnash her teeth. The man was never free, the phone cord wrapped around his neck more tightly than a hangman’s noose.

“Excuse me, please,” Jordan said as he left the room, his step brisk.

Jill looked away, refusing to watch him go.

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