“She does not have your smile, cam” he replied softly.
For one brief moment, time seemed to stand still while she fell into the mesmerizing gold of his eyes, liquid heat pouring over her, into her.
“Alexandria!” Joshua was banging the door open and hurling himself at her, releasing her from Aidan’s spell as he did so. “Alex!”
She caught him to her, hugging him so tightly, she nearly smothered him. Then she was looking him over for any signs of wounds or bruises. She paid close attention to his neck, making certain Aidan had not taken his blood. “You look great, Joshua.” She hesitated, then said, “Thank you for calling Aidan the other night when I was so sick. It was very smart of you.”
He grinned at her, his blue eyes lighting up. “I knew he’d come and he’d know what to do.” His mouth suddenly turned down at the corners. “I think that other man made you sick. Poisoned you.”
Alexandria tried not to look alarmed. “What other man?”
“Thomas Ivan. When you were having dinner with him, I think he made you eat poison,” Joshua said firmly.
Alexandria turned to glare at Aidan’s innocent face. “Thomas Ivan wouldn’t poison anyone.”
“In any case,” Aidan said in his gentle, compelling voice, “he’d be more likely to put the poison in something she drank, not something she ate. Much more efficient and likelier to hide any bitterness.”
“You would likely know,” Alexandria growled at him. “But stop encouraging Joshua to dislike Thomas Ivan. Evidently I’m soon going to be working for him.”
“Henry said Thomas Ivan was known as a rake—whatever than means, other than a garden tool—and that he was probably trying to get something besides your drawings from you,” Joshua informed her candidly. . A vision of Henry’s lifeless body rose up in Alexandria’s memory, and her grief was stark and gripping. Instantly she felt Aidan in her mind, soothing her, his soft, ancient chant providing a calming influence, an anchor allowing her to smile down at Joshua. “Henry sometimes said things that maybe weren’t quite the truth,” she managed. “He was a little colorful.”
“I do not know about that,” Aidan volunteered. “Henry seemed a pretty wise old man. I believe Thomas Ivan is interested in more than your drawings. He was adamant and aggressive when he demanded to see you. Hardly the demeanor of someone searching only for an employee.”
Joshua was nodding his agreement solemnly, looking at Aidan as if he was the smartest man in the world.
Alexandria did kick Aidan’s shin; she couldn’t stop herself. “Stop being such a pain! I’ll never be able to counteract your influence if you keep this up. Joshua, Aidan is only teasing. He doesn’t really dislike Mr. Ivan, do you, Aidan?” she prompted, admonishing him with her eyes.
There was a small, telling silence as Aidan thought about it. “I would like to help you out, cara, but the truth is, I am of the same opinion as Henry and Joshua. I think Thomas Ivan is up to no good.”
Joshua puffed out his chest. “See, Alex, women just don’t know when a man is gonna try something.”
“Where in the world did you hear that?” Alexandria glared accusingly at Aidan.
“Henry,” Joshua said immediately. “He said most men are really no good and are usually after only one thing and that Thomas Ivan was known to be the worst of them all.”
“Henry had a lot to say, didn’t he?” Alexandria gave a little sigh.
Aidan nudged her, raising his eyebrows expectantly.
She tilted her chin, deliberately ignoring him. “We both loved Henry, Joshua, but he did have some strange opinions about things.”
Aidan nudged her again.
“What?” Sounding rather haughty, she put on her most innocent expression.
“Perfect example of how devious women can be, Joshua. Your sister practically accused me of filling your head with all kinds of ideas, and now she wants to pretend she did not make a presumption.” Aidan bent down and lifted Joshua, spiriting him from the room.
“Hey!” Alexandria trailed after them into a formal, elegantly appointed dining room, her mouth opening in speechless astonishment.
Aidan had an almost overwhelming urge to kiss that look right off her face. “Do you think she should apologize for jumping to conclusions, Joshua?”