Seduced By A Steele (Forged of Steele #12) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,12

of Mercury’s?”

“No,” he answered quickly before Sloan could. “Sloan and I just met today.”

His mother looked up at him. “Oh?”

“It’s a long story, and unfortunately, I don’t have time to explain since I have an important appointment at the office. She needs you.”

Eden lifted a brow. “She does?”

“Yes. I’m leaving her here with you. She’ll explain everything.”

Then, not waiting for his mother’s questions—or Sloan’s, for that matter—he quickly headed for the door.

Sloan watched Mercury leave, feeling embarrassed that he was doing so without an explanation to his mother or even a goodbye to her. They might not be seeing each other again. She forced her attention away from the closed French doors and looked at the woman standing in front of her.

Eden Tyson Steele’s eyes were the exact shade of green as her son’s and she was simply gorgeous. Sloan didn’t want to keep staring, but her face looked familiar. The woman still had such a warm smile on her face that Sloan felt even worse.

“I’m sorry,” she finally found her voice to say. “I should not have let Mercury bring me here.”

“Nonsense. I saw the luggage by the door and wondered who it belonged to. Have you had lunch yet?”

Lunch? She’d barely had breakfast. She had grabbed a doughnut and coffee at the diner on the corner. That was when she’d spilled coffee on her blouse. “No, but I couldn’t possibly let you feed me, too. Mercury said I could stay the night, but it’s your house and your decision. If you prefer I leave, then—”

“Of course you won’t be leaving. I will show you to the guest room, where you can get settled, freshen up and join me and my husband, Drew, for lunch.”

“Did I hear my name?”

Sloan turned to see a very handsome older gentleman stroll into the courtyard. Eden’s son might have her eyes, but everything else belonged to the man who came over to join them and place an arm around Eden’s shoulders. Galen’s and Mercury’s coloring was a combination of their two parents, but their chiseled, handsome looks were from this man. She couldn’t help wondering about the other four brothers. Galen said all six had their mother’s eyes, but did they have their father’s handsome features?

“Yes, sweetheart.” Sloan watched as Eden smiled up at the man with both love and adoration in her eyes. Sloan wasn’t sure how she recognized such emotions, since she wasn’t around them often, but in this case, she could. “Mercury brought us a houseguest. A friend of his, Sloan Donahue.” Then to Sloan, she said, “This is Mercury’s father, Drew.”

He bestowed a smile that was nearly identical to Galen’s. She couldn’t say it was similar to Mercury’s, since she’d yet to see him smile. “How are you, Sloan?”

She took the hand he extended. “I’m fine, but I need to correct something,” she said, looking from Drew to Eden. “I’m not a friend of Mercury’s.”

Drew lifted his brow. “You’re not?”

“No. In fact, I’m almost certain he doesn’t like me very much.”

“Why do you think that?” Eden asked.

Sloan released a deep breath. “His car was stolen a few nights ago and he found it today...with me driving it.” At the surprised look on their faces she said, “I unknowingly bought a stolen car.” She then told them about their trip to police headquarters and meeting Galen.

“And Mercury brought you here after leaving police headquarters?” Drew asked curiously.

Sloan shook her head. “No, there’s more. It’s a rather long story.”

Eden smiled and gently patted her shoulder. “And we definitely have time to hear it. Over lunch.”

Mercury got off the elevator and walked over to the woman sitting at the huge desk in the reception area. “Good afternoon, Pauline. Have the Eastwoods arrived?”

“Good afternoon, Mr. Steele, and no. They did call and say they were on their way. They got caught up in road-construction traffic.”

Good, Mercury thought. The last thing he wanted was to keep them waiting again. “Thanks. I’ll be in my office. Please send them in the minute they arrive.”