connection with his mother meant that Mac felt guilt lying to her. Instead, he raised one brow in what he hope was nonchalance, and said merely, “What makes you ask?”
Her slight smile told him she knew he was avoiding the question, but was willing to allow him his pretext. Waving her hand dismissively, she picked up her own tea cup. “Oh, I was just wondering. Recently he asked me who else was courting my daughter.”
She paused for a moment, as if to allow him to confess, and her brown eyes narrowed slightly in irritation when he didn’t. “Of course, it was news to us that Major Creel was courting Rebecca Beckett, since that was the first he’d mentioned it to me. But apparently he is now.” Her lips pursed slightly as if she’d tasted something sour. “And he wants to know who he’ll need to contend with.”
Mac crossed his ankles and leaned back on the settee as if slightly bored by her tale. She didn’t look like she bought it.
“I merely ask, McKee, because he’s claiming that he met one of Rebecca Beckett’s other suitors here on Beckett land right around the time you visited last.” She took a sip, her shrewd eyes never leaving his. “Of course, I told him that he was mistaken, but he insinuated that this…beau of hers kissed her.” A pause. “In front of him.” A longer pause. “And then refused to tell him his name.”
Two pairs of eyes locked. Mac had never met a woman he couldn’t bully if he needed to. Eugenia, though, was a different animal. She raised one brow and met his gaze with the intensity born of righteousness. She wasn’t a lady to intimidate easily. Come to think of it, her daughter hadn’t been either.
That daughter hadn’t been far from his mind since that night in Nassau when they’d discussed the future of their business. They’d landed last night, and Eugenia had been waiting for them. He wasn’t sure how she’d always known when they were on their way in, but she was usually seated on one of the rockers on the back veranda, smoking her pipe beside the beacon of the lit lamp. Last night had been no different, but after they’d transferred the barrels to her storeroom as usual, she’d invited them to stay the night. “Some things to discuss,” was all she’d said as she’d led them towards the guest room.
The offer was a first, and so was Mac’s acceptance. He still wasn’t sure why he’d agreed, other than to have a chance to discuss their future plans with Eugenia. Robert kept watch at the storeroom for the remainder of the night, and had fallen gratefully into the bed when Mac vacated it, which left Mac alone to be grilled by Eugenia. About her daughter, apparently.
He narrowed his eyes at the older lady, and managed to hide his scowl at the way her chin just lifted higher. Lord, she was stubborn. But then, why was Mac bothering to lie to her? She was just as practical as he was about their partnership. She’d understand, surely?
It was a risk, to admit the truth to her. To admit that he’d kissed her daughter. He honestly didn’t know enough about this old friend of his mother’s to know how she’d react. Maybe her daughter was the one line he shouldn’t have crossed with her.
But on the other hand, she’d given him no reason not to tell her. She’d always been open with him, and their partnership worked well. And she was staring him down now, like he was an errant child. She knew he was hiding something.
So he smiled slightly and folded his arms across his chest. “I didn’t think it would be a good idea to tell him who I was. That could’ve been… difficult .”
She exhaled then, and broke eye contact with him to take another sip of the tea. She placed it on the table between them, and he couldn’t help but admire how carefully blank she managed to keep her expression. He had no idea what she was thinking.
Eugenia smoothed her palms across her thighs, as if straightening the material, and took a deep breath. Then, back rigid,
Her slight smile told him she knew he was avoiding the question, but was willing to allow him his pretext. Waving her hand dismissively, she picked up her own tea cup. “Oh, I was just wondering. Recently he asked me who else was courting my daughter.”
She paused for a moment, as if to allow him to confess, and her brown eyes narrowed slightly in irritation when he didn’t. “Of course, it was news to us that Major Creel was courting Rebecca Beckett, since that was the first he’d mentioned it to me. But apparently he is now.” Her lips pursed slightly as if she’d tasted something sour. “And he wants to know who he’ll need to contend with.”
Mac crossed his ankles and leaned back on the settee as if slightly bored by her tale. She didn’t look like she bought it.
“I merely ask, McKee, because he’s claiming that he met one of Rebecca Beckett’s other suitors here on Beckett land right around the time you visited last.” She took a sip, her shrewd eyes never leaving his. “Of course, I told him that he was mistaken, but he insinuated that this…beau of hers kissed her.” A pause. “In front of him.” A longer pause. “And then refused to tell him his name.”
Two pairs of eyes locked. Mac had never met a woman he couldn’t bully if he needed to. Eugenia, though, was a different animal. She raised one brow and met his gaze with the intensity born of righteousness. She wasn’t a lady to intimidate easily. Come to think of it, her daughter hadn’t been either.
That daughter hadn’t been far from his mind since that night in Nassau when they’d discussed the future of their business. They’d landed last night, and Eugenia had been waiting for them. He wasn’t sure how she’d always known when they were on their way in, but she was usually seated on one of the rockers on the back veranda, smoking her pipe beside the beacon of the lit lamp. Last night had been no different, but after they’d transferred the barrels to her storeroom as usual, she’d invited them to stay the night. “Some things to discuss,” was all she’d said as she’d led them towards the guest room.
The offer was a first, and so was Mac’s acceptance. He still wasn’t sure why he’d agreed, other than to have a chance to discuss their future plans with Eugenia. Robert kept watch at the storeroom for the remainder of the night, and had fallen gratefully into the bed when Mac vacated it, which left Mac alone to be grilled by Eugenia. About her daughter, apparently.
He narrowed his eyes at the older lady, and managed to hide his scowl at the way her chin just lifted higher. Lord, she was stubborn. But then, why was Mac bothering to lie to her? She was just as practical as he was about their partnership. She’d understand, surely?
It was a risk, to admit the truth to her. To admit that he’d kissed her daughter. He honestly didn’t know enough about this old friend of his mother’s to know how she’d react. Maybe her daughter was the one line he shouldn’t have crossed with her.
But on the other hand, she’d given him no reason not to tell her. She’d always been open with him, and their partnership worked well. And she was staring him down now, like he was an errant child. She knew he was hiding something.
So he smiled slightly and folded his arms across his chest. “I didn’t think it would be a good idea to tell him who I was. That could’ve been… difficult .”
She exhaled then, and broke eye contact with him to take another sip of the tea. She placed it on the table between them, and he couldn’t help but admire how carefully blank she managed to keep her expression. He had no idea what she was thinking.
Eugenia smoothed her palms across her thighs, as if straightening the material, and took a deep breath. Then, back rigid,
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