Read Online Secrets by Brenda Joyce - Free Book Online Page B

always aware of the differences between us, that I was the heir to Miramar while he was an orphan working in our winery. Back in those days, my father was like the old Spanish dons of centuries ago. He was the king of this entire county and everyone knew it. The law answered to him. Whole towns answered to him. You couldn’t breathe without his okaying it. See what I mean?”
    Regina nodded, fascinated.
    â€œBut George was smart, I gotta hand it to him. He took off at sixteen and soon opened a store in San Luis Obispo. He made himself a fortune, not as a merchant but by speculating in real estate way before everyone else jumped on the bandwagon. He saw the railroadcoming in the early ’80s. We stayed in touch. An’ one day we agreed on an alliance between our two families. George was getting for his grandson—your son—what he’d always wanted for himself: to be boss of Miramar. To be the king.”
    Regina understood it all then. She could sympathize with the man who had grown up as an orphan and consequently was determined to secure for his family the land and position, the power and the roots, that Miramar would bring. And to secure that, he would do it through her, his daughter. Of course, she was only an acceptable bride to someone like James because she was a wealthy heiress. She didn’t have to ask to know that had George remained penniless, friend or not, Rick would not have affianced his son to her. But Regina accepted that as the way of the world. And in accepting it, she realized that she was a somewhat worldly young woman, another clue to her character. And she was sorry for the father she couldn’t remember, because his dreams had died with James.
    â€œGeorge and I were like brothers,” Rick said. “He’s dead and James is dead, but you can count on me, Elizabeth. You can count on me to be a father to you.”
    Regina was moved. How could she not be? She was no longer marrying his son, no longer marrying into the family, and Rick did not have to extend himself the way that he was doing. “Thank you.”
    Slade had stopped back-kicking the bureau, but now he thumped it once, hard, reminding everyone that he was there. “My father, Mr. Kindness himself.”
    Rick lunged to his feet. “You got something you want to say?”
    Slade slid abruptly to his feet. “No. But don’t you? Don’t you have something to add?”
    Regina regarded the two men in shock and fright, wondering if they might actually come to blows. Both of them were suffused with anger, while she didn’t understand the hidden meaning in Slade’s question.
    â€œYou leave her alone,” Rick said.
    â€œOh, so now you want me to leave her alone!”
    Rick controlled himself. When he turned to Regina, he managed to smile. “Your daddy would turn over in his grave if I didn’t take care of you.”
    Regina looked at Rick, who was now smiling warmly at her, and she looked at Slade, who wasn’t smiling at all. What on earth was going on? And did she have any choice?
    â€œThank you,” she said, making the only decision possible. “I’ll take you up on your offer of hospitality, for a while anyway.” She could not speak calmly. She was shaking inside and afraid to look at Slade and witness his reaction to her decision. It had somehow become important to her that he approve, not just of her decision, but of her.
    And she didn’t think that he did. His next words confirmed her fears.
    â€œI guess that settles it,” Slade said darkly. “Let me guess. You’re gonna head out now, right, Dad? And you want me to escort our guest to Miramar once she’s ready.”
    Rick scowled. “Do you think you might extend yourself to do that?”
    Slade didn’t answer. Without even looking at Regina, he strode from the room, but not before Regina saw how angry he was.
    Rick and Regina were left alone. Regina was