Lois Faye Dyer - Beauty and the Wolf

T he living room of Harry Hunts lakeside mansion in Seattle glowed with warm light. Two matching Tiffany chandeliers were suspended from the high ceiling at each end of the spacious room, their stained-glass flowers vibrant with color. Outside, the rain and wind of a Pacific Northwest storm picked up speed as it raced across Lake Washington to hammer against the window glass. Inside, the people gathered in the big room were warm and comfortable, thanks to the fire crackling in the hearth beneath the hand-carved cedar mantel.

Frankie Fairchild rose from an overstuffed armchair and crossed the room to the bar, leaving her mother, Cornelia, chatting animatedly with Lily Hunt. Several bottles were clustered on the gleaming mahogany surface, and Frankie chose one with a distinctive label. The tart white wine from the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery just north of Seattle was a personal favorite. She tilted the bottle to refill her glass.

As she sipped from the stemmed crystal, her gaze drifted idly over the room, pausing at the sight of her cousin Justins little daughter, Ava, hopping along the edge of the oriental wool carpet.

Harrys neighbor, local actress Madge Edgley, bent to speak to Ava as the child reached the quartet of people chatting together on the bright red and blue carpet.

Harry always invites the nicest mix of friends and interesting people to his get-togethers, Frankie thought with appreciation. She moved on, noting familiar faces in the groups of people scattered around the long room, until she reached the group of men standing in front of the fireplace. Her uncle Harry and his son Justin were deep in conversation with two other men. Frankie knew one of themNicholas Deanonly slightly. The fourth man she knew very well. Eli Wolf was tall and broad-shouldered, with black hair and a rugged handsomeness that could make a womans heart stutter if he smiled directly at her.

Eli looked up, snaring her with an intent look from smoky blue eyes. Frankie froze, unable to look away.

It wasnt until he turned to answer a question from Harry that Frankie realized shed been holding her breath, caught by that enigmatic, very male stare.

She spun around to face the bar, topping off her wine with faintly trembling fingers.

What on earth is wrong with me?

Ever since Eli had given her a kiss at her last birthday party, shed been thinking about him much too often.

The kiss had sizzled, smoked, even though it was too short. In fact, the memory of his mouth on hers hadnt faded in the four months since; if she closed her eyes, she could still feel the heat. Shed actually conducted an experiment over the last couple of months, purpose fully kissing three other very attractive men. Though all three were adept, practiced and assured at kissing, none of them had stirred one iota of serious interest, let alone lust. Shed felt nothing remotely resembling what shed felt with Eli. Zero. Zip. Nada.

It was very annoying.

She couldnt decide what to do about it, if anything.

And inaction was so unlike her that her inability to decisively resolve the issue and put it behind her was worrisome.

Frankie. A friendly pat on her shoulder accompanied the greeting. How are you, honey?

She turned around, glad of the distraction from her thoughts, smiling with affection at the tall, lanky man who was her host. Im good, Uncle Harry. She glanced over his shoulder. I thought you were busy talking business with Nicholas.

I was. Harrys shrewd gaze went from Frankies face and down the length of the room to the fireplace, where the owner of Dean Construction stood with Jus tin and Eli. I must say Im impressed with Nicholas. Hes built his daddys construction company into a solid corporation, despite strong competition. Id bet money hell triple his net worth in the next five years.

Youre rarely wrong about these things, so he must be an excellent businessman. Frankie sipped her white wine, her gaze following Harrys. There was no question Nicholas Deans appearance backed up Harrys assessment of his potential for success; he fairly oozed self-confidence. He was tall, well built and had an air of easy, affable friendliness that was belied by his sharply intelligent eyes. His presence here tonight, at a gathering of Harrys family and personal friends, was significant. Frankie met Harrys eyes once again. Youre thinking of giving him the contract for building the new HuntCom campus in south Seattle, arent you? she guessed.

Im considering it. Harry nodded. Ive narrowed the list down to twoits between him and Eli.

Hmm. Frankie wasnt surprised. Elijah Wolf was the head of Wolf Construction and fiercely competitive. He and Justin were in their thirties now and remained close, although Justin was married, with a little girl, and Eli was still a bachelor.

If Nicholas gets the contract, well be seeing a lot more of him, Harry told her.