Seduced By A Steele (Forged of Steele #12) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,5
Ms. Donahue?”
“Twenty-five.”
He didn’t say anything, nor did he glance back over at her. Since he’d asked hers, she could ask his. “And how old are you, Mr. Steele?”
They’d come to another traffic light and he did glance over at her when he said, “Thirty-four.”
He kept staring at her as if he expected her to say something, and when she didn’t, he said, “When you refer to me as Mr. Steele that makes me feel even older. I prefer being called Mercury.”
She lifted a brow. “Like the planet?”
He chuckled. “Yes, like the planet, and also like the chemical element. However, I was named after one of my father’s favorite football players.”
She nodded. “I understand about being named after someone.”
He turned back to the road and asked, “Do you?”
“Yes. I was named after my grandfather. I’m Sloan Elizabeth.” She missed her grandfather and often wondered how different things would have been had he lived. He’d died of cancer six years ago. She would never forget when her parents had shown up on her college campus to deliver the news to her. At least they’d had the insight to know that receiving such news over the phone would have devastated her.
She snapped out of her reverie and saw they’d arrived at their destination.
“Here we are,” Mercury said.
Three
“In case you haven’t noticed, Mercury, Sloan Donahue is a beautiful woman.”
Mercury glared over at his oldest brother, Galen. The woman’s looks were the last thing Mercury was concerned with. He had called Galen because he lived close by, and his wife, Brittany, had dropped him off. Once his car was released to him, Mercury would need someone to drive it to his place.
“If she hadn’t bought a stolen car I wouldn’t be here.”
“True,” Galen said. “Instead you could have been at the junkyard looking at what was left after thieves dismantled it, so the way I see it, her buying it was a blessing in disguise for you. Once you get off your indignant high horse, you will realize that, as well.”
Galen paused briefly then added, “And another thing. Evidently you’ve been so into getting your car back that you failed to notice that everything about Sloan screams money. I don’t know her story now, but I’d bet in her past she lived a life of wealth. That’s obvious from her manicured nails all the way to those designer shoes. And if you took the time to talk to her instead of glaring at her, you would notice her refined voice. She spells high-class any way you want to look at it.”
Mercury didn’t want to look at it in any way. Galen was too damn observant to suit him. “Whatever,” he said, glancing at his watch.
He wondered what was taking so long. He’d given his statement and now Sloan Donahue was behind closed doors giving hers. It had taken him less than ten minutes, but she’d been in there for nearly thirty.
No sooner had he wondered at that than the closed door opened, and she walked out, followed by a smiling detective. Mercury immediately noticed the man wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. He would bet the detective had been in that room flirting with Sloan instead of doing his job. Or it could be the other way around. Sloan might have been deliberately flirting with the man for a lighter sentence. Regardless of the circumstances, possession of stolen property was a serious crime.
“Like I said, she’s a beautiful woman,” Galen leaned over to whisper.
He turned to his brother and frowned. “Need I remind you that you’re a married man and the father of twins.”
Galen chuckled. “I was making the observation for you, not for me. I am happy being Brittany’s husband and father to Ethan and Elyse. In fact, I’m looking out for their best interests. It’s about time Brittany got a new sister-in-law and the twins a new aunt, don’t you think?”
Mercury’s frown deepened. “Go to hell.”
Galen laughed but Mercury ignored his brother when the detective and Sloan approached. “Now can I get my car?” he asked