If Looks Could Kill

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Authors: Heather Graham
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them,” Jassy reminded her.
    â€œYes, I’m Kyle. And you must be Carrie Anne. I’ve heard very nice things about you. Nice to meet you.” He offered her his hand. She shook it, smiling.
    â€œIt’s nice to meet you. Mom said that Uncle Rafe was nicer, though.”
    â€œCarrie Anne, I said no such thing—” Madison began, startled and appalled.
    â€œDid she say that? Well, she’s wrong,” Kyle told Carrie Anne, grinning. “I’m a lot nicer.” He sat back, and though Madison couldn’t see his eyes, she could feel them.
    â€œI said no such thing,” she protested lamely. She looked quickly to her sister. “Are you coming out on the water, Jass?”
    â€œI don’t know. Dad’s decided to plan a party tonight—”
    â€œWhat?” Madison said, interrupting her.
    â€œYeah, I thought a big get-together would be nice,” Jordan said, shrugging. “It’s not too often that so many of our family and friends are around. Rafe and Roger can come on down, Jass is already here, Kaila should make it with the kids in a couple of hours, and her husband is supposed to make it back by about seven.” He hesitated for a minute, looking at Madison. “Darryl’s been down for a few weeks now, but we haven’t had a chance to see him, and—”
    â€œYou invited my daddy?” Carrie Anne said, delighted.
    â€œYou don’t mind?” Jordan said brusquely to Madison.
    She didn’t mind in the least; she and Darryl got along fine. Probably because deep passion—involving love, spite or jealousy—had never gotten in the way of their divorce, as it did with so many people.
    But she felt Kyle watching her, and she flushed. Angry at her own reaction, she said coolly, “It will be fine.”
    â€œJimmy Gates will come down,” Jordan continued, “and a bunch of locals. Your band, Madison, and Trent and Rafe can both make it. And Roger Montgomery, of course. It will be like a big family reunion.”
    Right.
    Their big, dysfunctional family.
    Minus Lainie.
    And the other mothers, too, Madison admitted silently to herself. She knew almost nothing about Rafe’s mother, except that she had been sick a long time before she died. Kyle had been just a few years old when his mother was killed in a car accident. Jassy’s mom, at least, was alive and well, in Portland, Oregon, studying the effects of carcinogens on sharks. Jassy had definitely inherited her medical inclinations from her mother.
    As to Madison’s half brother Trent’s mother, she’d been a very gentle scientist working to cure the world of the common cold. Her dedication and nobility had apparently appealed to Jordan as a young man, but marriage—and a life in the remote regions of Montana, where she worked—hadn’t been for Jordan. Trent’s mother had passed away quietly of a heart attack just a few years ago. Madison thought that Trent was the lucky one of her father’s offspring. He had his mother’s slow, easy nature. He was hard to rile, and not as passionate, pigheaded or angry as she could be herself.
    As Lainie had so often been.
    Trent loved literature and had spent most of his formative years with his father. He and Jordan had remained close. He, Jassy, Kaila and Madison met for lunch at least once a month, usually with Rafe. It was a firm date.
    Kyle was the only member of their strange “sibling” group who was consistently missing.
    And now he was here.
    The prodigal son returning. And her father was planning a great feast.
    Curious. Well, Jimmy would be here. Maybe she could learn a little bit about what was going on.
    Jordan turned to his oldest daughter. “There’s no reason for you not to go out on the boat, Jassy. You’ll be back in plenty of time.” He threw up his hands suddenly, shaking his head and turning to Kyle. “Can’t get this one married off. But

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