Raven Sierra opened a set of double doors at the end
of the hallway. J.J. preceded him into a large, luxurious dining room
dominated by a huge table capable of seating at least sixteen. At one end of
the room stood an elaborate bar and at the other was a sitting area fronted
by a wall of glass. J.J. crossed to that side of the room curious to check
out the view.
It was as spectacular as she’d suspected and
surprisingly clear. The Rocky Mountains jutted upward against a vivid blue
sky, a cap of snow giving the peaks a picture-perfect appearance. How many
business deals had been closed here with a drink in one hand, a contract in
the other and a sunset painted across snow-topped mountains? More than one,
she’d be willing to bet.
Raven approached, the thick carpeting absorbing his
footfall. If she hadn’t sensed his presence the unexpected sound of his
voice would have caught her by surprise. "Something wrong?" he asked.
She decided to answer honestly. "I just wondered how
many deals this view helped close."
"Not many. I don’t do business with men or women
swayed by so little. It means they can be bent just as easily in a different
direction by another, more determined party."
Good point. "Then it’s not business at all costs?"
How unique--and how utterly opposite to her father’s approach.
"If that’s your philosophy, then your priorities are
in a deep hole headin’ one way."
She turned, smiling at the phrase. "Straight down?"
"No other direction to go once you’ve dug yourself
in over your head."
"A warning, Mr. Sierra?"
"I believe it is, Ms. Randell." He gestured toward
the table. "Why don’t we dispense with the formalities for the present and
be sociable."
Somehow she doubted he meant sociable in the same
way he had last night. "For River’s sake?"
He shook his head, the thick black waves of his hair
brushing the collar of his suit coat. "Not just hers, but for all our sakes.
Time’s of the essence and I suspect I’ll find it more difficult to butt
heads with J.J. than with Ms. Randell."
Perhaps. Unfortunately she’d find both Raven and Mr.
Sierra equally difficult. She glanced at River who had fixed her intense
blue eyes on them. Forcing a smile, J.J. inclined her head. Why not? Lunch
wouldn’t take long. And with luck, the wish would now be do-able. She could
afford to be gracious for the next few hours. Once through with this
particular Christmas wish she’d be in no hurry to request another--which
might have been Mathias’s goal all along. She couldn’t think of any other
reason he’d still be unavailable to take her calls--or Raven’s, for that
matter.
"I think your suggestion is excellent. Raven." His
name sat uncomfortably on her tongue.
His mouth twitched. "Thank you. J.J."
"Daddy? Can we sit by the windows and have a
picnic?" River requested.
He didn’t hesitate. "Excellent idea, pumpkin. It’s a
perfect day for a picnic."
The caterers had set one end of the expansive table
with silver, china and crystal marked with the consortium’s logo. In a few
expert movements, Raven stripped everything from the mahogany surface and
transferred the linen table cloth to an open spot by the windows. J.J.
collected the plates, silverware and napkins while River carefully
transported the crystal goblets. Once the impromptu "table" had been
arranged to her satisfaction, she took her place on the far side, her back
to the windows.
"You sit there," she instructed her father, pointing
to a spot across from her. "And Justice, you sit next to him."
J.J. started to correct her, then gave it up,
dropped to the floor in a graceful swirl of soft black wool. For now, it
looked like she was stuck answering to the fairy’s name.
A moment later, Raven followed suit, lowering himself to sit cross-legged
beside her, perfectly at ease. Now here was a match for Mathias. Like her
brother-in-law, Raven was comfortable in any setting, handling any occasion
or circumstance with deft authority. She could think of plenty of
businessmen who’d have looked like utter fools sitting on the floor of an
executive dining room--including her father.
But not Raven.
"Oh! I almost forgot," River exclaimed.
She jumped up and ran back to the table. An instant
later she returned, carefully transporting a bowl of flowers and a pair of
red candlesticks in cut glass holders. Once she’d placed them to her
satisfaction, Raven reached into his pocket and retrieved a gold lighter,
igniting it with a flick of his thumb. Leaning forward, he cupped his hand
around the tip of the candles, and applied the flame to each wick.
"What do you think, sweetheart?" he asked. "Is
everything how you want it?"
River’s eyes shone with pleasure. "It’s beautiful.
Thank you, Daddy."
A waitress appeared in the doorway leading to the
kitchen. Spotting them, she smothered a laugh with her hand before turning
to call a soft comment to whomever had accompanied her. A man’s head peered
around the corner, then vanished. Not the most professional caterers, J.J.
thought sourly, which surprised her. She’d have expected Raven to hire only
the best.
Straightening a haphazardly set cap on dirt-brown
hair, the woman approached and J.J. was seized with an odd feeling of
familiarity. "Good afternoon, Mr. Sierra," she greeted them cheerfully,
shoving an oversized pair of glasses higher on the bridge of her nose. "You
ready to eat?"
Raven lifted an eyebrow. "I prefer to see a menu
first and place our drink order. Isn’t that how you usually operate?"
"Oh, right." She thrust her hands into the pockets
of her apron, then into the pockets of her dress. Finally, she came up with
a pad of paper. Yanking a pencil from behind her ear she hesitated, the lead
tip poised above the pad. "What would you like to drink?"
"Mrs. Cruxley put a bottle of Chardonnay in the
refrigerator. We’ll start with that. River, what would you like,
sweetheart?"
"Orange juice, please."
"Coming right up." The waitress glanced at J.J.
"Would you care for anything beside the wine, Ms...." She arched a
questioning eyebrow.
"Randell. And no. The wine will be fine, thanks."
"Right. I’ll bring it along with the menus in just a
sec." With a quick smile the waitress hastened back in the direction of the
kitchen.
The moment she’d left, River clasped her hands
together, trembling with excitement. "Okay, I’m ready to wish," she said,
clearly unable to wait any longer to make her big announcement.
J.J. and Raven exchanged quick, uneasy glances.
"Remember, it has to be something I can do," she warned.
"I ’member." She closed her eyes and whispered, "I
wish... I wish you would be my mommy for our vacation."
Glasses rattled overhead and the waitress’s voice
cut across River’s. "Oops. Sorry to interrupt. I brought your drinks."
"Leave the wine and bring me the bottle of J&B from
the wet bar and a glass," Raven bit out, thrusting a hand through his hair.
"I’m gonna need it."
"Make that two glasses," J.J. added.
He waited until the waitress left before responding.
"No way, River. I said it had to be something we could do. And having J.J.
for a mother--"
"A pretend mother," she clarified. "Just for our
vacation."
"Pick something else. How about a new doll or a trip
to the zoo or a puppy?"
"I have a doll and we go to the zoo all the time."
She frowned, interlocking her fingers. "I do want a puppy, but I want
Justice more."
"Choose the puppy, honey," Raven advised. "J.J. is
not going to be your mother--real, pretend, or otherwise. And that’s final."
"But you promised, Daddy! You did." River leapt to
her feet, tears filling her eyes. Skirting the tablecloth, she threw herself
into J.J.’s arms. "Didn’t he? Fairies always tell the truth. Tell Daddy he
promised."
Fairies always tell the truth? J.J. groaned. Just
great. One more detail she could thank Jacq for incorporating in her books.
"Yes, he did promise. But if you’ll remember the wish had to be something I
could do."
"Being my mommy for our vacation is something you
can do."
"Let me guess. It was in the book."
"Not the part about being a mommy," River confessed,
obviously trying to be a good little fairy.
"But being a human for a while was, is that it?"
The little girl nodded, swiping at the tears with
the back of her hand. "That’s how you helped Celia. You got to be a person
while she was on vacation. Remember? When your brother kept chasing her?"
Raven groaned in exasperation. "How many times do I
have to tell you that J.J. isn’t a fairy? As for her brother--" His brows
drew together. "Wait a minute. What brother?"
"She means Cord," J.J. supplied. "He played the
troll in Jacq’s third book."
That captured his interest. "You’re kidding. Your
sister made her own brother into a troll?"
"He’s one of Jacq’s most popular characters," she
retorted defensively. "The children love him."
"He was very nice when he stopped being bad," River
explained. She slipped from J.J.’s arms into her father’s. "Please, Daddy,"
she whispered. "Please let Justice be my mommy for a little while. I’ll be
good for ever and ever if you say yes."
Raven closed his eyes. "Ah, sweetheart. It’s not
because you’re bad," he assured softly, cradling her close. "You know that."
"But I want a mommy more than anything in the whole
world." Her voice was muffled against the front of his shirt. "Even more
than a puppy."
J.J. felt laughter fighting with tears. How could
Raven resist such a plea? For that matter, how could she?
Raven swallowed convulsively. "I know you do. But
isn’t a Dad good enough? It’s always been the two of us. You and me. Best
buds, remember?"
"Best buds," River repeated. "Forever and ever."
His jaw tightened. "You still want a mom, though,
don’t you?"
"Yes." The confession impacted like a blow. "I’ve
been wishing and wishing as hard as I can."
Raven exhaled harshly, his face drawn into taut
lines. "I...I didn’t realize."
She peeked up at him. "I’ll still love you best. I
promise."
He chuckled, a gruff sound that fought a path from
deep in his chest. "I know you will."
"So can I have her? For my Mommy?"
