had to deal with brides all day. Alex couldn’t even imagine.
His father did like pretty young women. And as much as Samantha tried to hide her beauty, Alex didn’t think his father would miss it any more than he had.
Alex pulled up to the gate and cursed under his breath as the attendant stepped out of his stone booth and gave Alex’s pickup then Alex the once-over before hitting the button that opened the gate into the huge estate.
Samantha had said little on the drive and Alex hadn’t felt like trying to draw her out. He had too much on his mind. The last thing he wanted to do was to see his father.
“You grew up here?” Samantha asked now.
He glanced over at her. “You sound surprised.”
“It’s just that you seem so down-to-earth,” she said, then seemed embarrassed as if she’d spoken without thinking, something he’d learned she seldom did.
He laughed. “I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
He was sure in her business she’d seen her share of the rich and pretentious, but as he looked at the grounds and the huge mansion looming out of the palms, he saw it through her eyes.
“It takes ostentatious to a new level, don’t you think?” he said. “I left here the first chance I got and haven’t looked back.”
“It’s really magnificent.”
“I suppose. I always felt like I couldn’t breathe here. I guess it’s the burden that comes with being a Graham. The price was too high.”
He glanced over at her wondering about her background. It was impossible to explain to someone who didn’t come from the kind of money the Graham family had what it was like. Most people thought if they had money their problems would be over.
After a winding lane of towering palms and flower-choked beds, Alex pulled around the circular drive and swore at the sight of his brother’s sleek, red sports car parked out front.
“Great,” he said, cutting the pickup’s engine. “You’re going to get to meet my brother. Brian is always a real treat,” he said sarcastically as he opened his door and hurried around to open hers.
She stepped out and he watched her take it all in, the massive white gleaming Spanish-style mansion, the English garden, the Olympic-size swimming pool and huge rock waterfalls, the six-car garage, the manmade lake, the guest cottages that were larger than most people’s houses.
“I’ve only seen photographs of where the wedding was to be held,” she said, sounding like a wedding planner again. “We hadn’t gotten to the on-site preparations yet. I knew there was plenty of room but this is a phenomenal space for a wedding the size of your sister’s.”
How could the woman still think Caroline was getting married, let alone here. He couldn’t imagine getting married here. If it didn’t put a curse on the marriage he didn’t know what would.
He took Samantha’s elbow and walked her to the front door, smiling to himself as he felt her pulse jump at his touch.
SAMANTHA TRIED to find that cool calm she’d become famous for as she surreptitiously studied the man next to her. He rang the doorbell and waited. From inside the house came a few bars of a Mozart classic.
She felt jittery, even a little light-headed with her heart beating too quickly. She promised herself that when she returned to the office she would ask Rachel to put someone else on this case. She couldn’t handle being around Alex Graham. Not for another second.
Alex fidgeted, clearly nervous and getting upset as he pressed the doorbell, holding it down this time. He’d been quiet driving here except for a brief thumbnail sketch of his family: father C.B., overbearing; Brian equally pretentious and overbearing and Caroline— That was where his expression softened. “Spoiled rotten.” He’d smiled. “But you couldn’t help but love her.”
“Herbert,” Alex said as the butler opened the door. Alex didn’t wait for an invitation, just pushed past the uniformed stiff-necked man, drawing her with him as he ushered her into a foyer that was as big as the house she’d grown up in.
Herbert called after them, his voice echoing through the marbled entryway. “Was Mr. Graham expecting you?”
Alex gave a humorless laugh. “Not hardly,” he said over his shoulder.
With Samantha in tow, he headed down the long tiled hallway. All she caught was a blur of crystal chandeliers and rich rare wood paneling.
At a large solid wood door, Alex stopped, took a breath and threw the door open exposing an opulent den and making the