Leanne Banks - The Danforths - Marc, Tanya & Abe - The Laws of Passion / Terms of Surrender / Shocking the Senator

Marc introduced her to the family’s cook, Florence, as they made their way to a swinging door on the other side of the big kitchen. “Where is everyone, Flo?” he asked.

Before the cook could answer, a paunchy man in his early fifties came through the door. “There you are.” He shook Marc’s hand and beamed at him from under his stock of thick dark hair and bushy eyebrows. “How are you holding up, son? You look tired.”

“I’m all right, Uncle Harry. But I’ll be a lot better when I find the proof to clear my name.” Marc turned to her. “Dana, I’d like for you to meet my uncle, Harold Danforth.”

The older man turned his kind blue eyes in her direction. “Ah yes. The FBI agent who’s going to help clear Marc’s name.” He took her hand. “I’ve heard you are quite capable. Thank you for taking an interest in my nephew. We’ve all been very worried about him.”

“Where’s Dad?” Marc asked his uncle.

“He and Nicola and Jake are in a last minute campaign strategy meeting in the library.”

Marc lowered his voice to a whisper. “What’s with all the reporters outside?”

“Nicola’s best guess is that John Van Gelder’s campaign forces have been spreading rumors that Abraham will be calling a press conference to announce he’s bowing out of the race.”

“What?” Marc asked with force. “But why? There’s hardly a month left until the election.”

Harold looked thoughtful. “I believe its supposed to be due to your arrest. The rumor mill apparently has it that Abraham is so embarrassed by your arrest that he doesn’t want the taint of your crimes to rub off on his good name.” He screwed up his mouth in a scowl. “Humph. As if there’d never been a Senator tainted by family scandals…or by their own personal crimes…for that matter.”

“Well, it’s just…ridiculous,” Marc sputtered.

He was about to say more, but his uncle laid a firm hand on his shoulder. “Don’t give it another thought, Marc. Of course it’s ridiculous. Your father has no intention of quitting. Abraham never quit anything intentionally in his whole life.”

Harold smiled up at his nephew, who stood a good four inches taller. “Your father knows you’re innocent of the charges, and it’s only a matter of time until that’s proven. We all know you’re innocent, Marc. And we want to help.”

Dana was stunned by the tender look she saw in Harold Danforth’s eyes when he spoke to Marc. She’d seen it twice before coming from the Danforths. Those times it had been coming from his brothers, Adam and Ian. And now that same loving look came from his uncle.

The obvious affection gave her a knot in the center of her stomach. Family. Oh, what she would’ve given when she was a child to feel anything resembling that tenderness from her own family.

Not only was Marc a world away from her by reason of his wealth and privilege. But he was also in a different universe when it came to knowing about family trust and honor. She stifled a sigh, quickly deciding that the two of them had nothing on which to build a relationship.

All those little tingles of connection to him she’d been feeling must’ve been coming from her imagination. Or perhaps…it had just been the lust talking. She’d never wanted a man so badly. Her body apparently was confusing desire with caring.

Well, it was time to go back to her job. No more daydreaming about someone who was on the other side of such a great divide.

“I’m on my way to find your aunt Miranda. We’ll be going out to the terrace in a minute to visit with our new daughter-in-law and grandson,” Harold told Dana with a smile. “Jake will be joining us shortly for dinner. He’s very anxious to put his two cents’ worth into any plan that will come to Marc’s defense.” Harold headed back inside the house.

Marc touched her elbow and led her out the way they’d come.

“Who’s Jake?” she whispered.

“Harry and Miranda’s son, Jacob Danforth,” he said under his breath. “He and Adam are the founders of the D & D Coffeehouse chain. Jake and his new wife have been helping with Dad’s campaign during the last couple of months, while most of the rest of us have been tied up with other things. Jake’s an absolute genius when it comes to PR and raising money.”

Dana followed Marc out into shadowy sunshine that was flooding the parklike grounds with golden stripes from a beautiful fall sunset. It was a good thing she had instant memory recall. Just keeping track of all the family members was a chore not many could handle.

* * *

“Marc!” Jake’s son, Peter, spotted them the minute they stepped onto the terrace.

The little boy threw down his toys and raced across the lawn toward them. Marc knelt on one knee and braced himself, spreading his arms out wide. Peter’s chubby little legs churned furiously as the boy shrieked and giggled, running full out. It was a game the two of them had played for several months now, ever since Jake had discovered that he had a son and married Larissa, Peter’s mom.

Peter reached the terrace and flung himself into Marc’s open embrace, knocking both of them over. Marc laughed so hard he barely had the breath left to capture the squirming child against his chest, protecting him from the hard surface as they rolled over.

“Peter, stop that. You’re ruining Marc’s clothes.” Larissa came running toward the terrace, trying to keep a straight face. But it was a losing battle.

Finally, Marc wrestled Peter around and managed to balance them both as he got to his feet. “Okay, partner,” he said to the giggling little boy. “That’s enough now. There’s someone I want you to meet.”

Dana eyes were wide and glittering with fun as she watched Peter squirm. Marc dusted the boy off, straightened his T-shirt and hiked up his pants. With every touch, Peter giggled and stomped his feet with laughter.

Marc’s heart skipped wildly with affection for the sweet child. For the first time since he’d lost himself in Dana’s kiss last night, Marc completely forgot about being arrested and framed by the cartel. Nothing could be very wrong in this world as long as children could laugh so freely.

He threw his arm around Peter to keep him still and introduced the boy to Dana. She bent over and extended her hand. “How do you do, Peter?”

“I’m four,” he told her.

Out of breath, Larissa came up on the terrace and swung Peter into her arms. “When someone says ‘how do you do,’ you’re supposed to answer ‘fine thank you’.” She looked as if she was still trying to keep the smile off her face, but her eyes were giggling like a schoolgirl’s.

Marc introduced Dana to Larissa and they made their way over to the huge glass-top table that had been set for dinner. He went past the table and checked the bar for ice, offering both women a drink.

“You two fix yourselves something,” Larissa told them. “I’m going to take Peter inside and clean him up for dinner.” She carried her son off through the French doors. But long after Marc lost sight of the boy, he could still hear Peter chatting on about the meaning of fine .

“Cute kid,” Dana chuckled.

“Yeah, he’s the best. He’s the kind that makes me wish I had a few dozen of my own.”

Dana looked startled for a minute, then she laughed. “Good luck finding a woman that’ll agree to be the mother to such a brood.”

Chuckling along with her, he offered her a drink, but she shook her head. “I’d better keep my mind clear so I can tell one of you family members from the next.”

Just then Jake appeared at the kitchen door. But before Marc could introduce his cousin to Dana, she had to excuse herself to take a cell phone call.