Page 16 of Lawbreaker

“We were busy saving our future opera star here from that lizard-lipped houseguest of yours,” Connie told him.

Tony’s face tautened. “Why?”

“He was putting the make on her,” Connie said. “She was very much the lady, although she did tell him that water found its own level.” She smiled sweetly.

The other women laughed. Tony didn’t. His black eyes swept to Odalie, searching out any trace of upset. It was well concealed, but it was there. The thought of Donalson even touching her made him wince. He hated having Burt near her. He’d have something to say to the guy about that later, after he’d convinced Tom to turn loose of that Renoir and the other famous paintings he owned. He was having some success even this early into the weekend.

Odalie didn’t know what to say. Tony was glaring at her. She averted her eyes, feeling miserable. Tony had such a low opinion of her. He probably thought she’d encouraged the disgusting man.

His black eyes slid over her exquisite figure in that beautiful dress. She was gorgeous. Any man could be forgiven for trying his luck. But Donalson...!

“If he goes near her again, you come get me,” Tony said curtly. “I’ll settle his hash for him!”

“Oh, no, please, not on my account,” Odalie said at once. “If he’s driving the other man, the one with the paintings, it could cause you to lose them.”

He was surprised at her reply. It bothered him that he liked having her concerned for him. But he couldn’t afford to let it show.

“It won’t,” he said. “I thought you three were headed home tonight.”

“We are,” Connie said. “I don’t want to go, but Mama’s sister is coming. We thought it would be quicker to drive up and get her than to wait for her to try and figure out how to get out of the airport,” she added on a laugh.

Tony smiled. “I know. Tell Aunt Lucia I love her. You could bring her back by here,” he added.

“Sorry. It will be midnight before we get home anyway.”

“Okay. No pressure. But you come back the next time I throw a big party, got that?”

“You bet,” Connie said. “We should leave,” she told the other women, who got up, and all of them hugged Tony.

“Thanks for coming. Even if you barely stayed long enough to warm a sofa cushion,” he added shortly.

“We’ll stay longer next time.” Connie turned to Odalie and hugged her. “You come down to Jersey and see us sometime,” she added. “We got lots of room. It’s a big house. We’ll feed you up,” she added, noting the other woman’s slender figure. “You need some bulking up to sing opera properly,” she chuckled with a wicked smile.

Odalie laughed, too, and hugged Connie again. “Thanks.”

They went out the door and Tony turned to Odalie. “Stasia’s lying down,” he said quietly. “She’s having morning sickness at night. You can come in to the party with us or go see about her.”

She knew which one he was thinking about. “I’ll go see about her,” she said quietly.

He glanced at the empty glass in her hand. “Need a refill?”

“I’ll get it on the way. It’s just ginger ale.”

His black eyes twinkled. “Ginger ale.”

“I can’t drink,” she confessed.

“It’s a bad habit.” He indicated the ice-touched whiskey in his squat crystal glass. “Better not to ever start.”

She nodded.

“If Donalson bothers you again, come get me,” he said.

She felt bubbles in her stomach. She was certain he didn’t mean it the way she was thinking it, but it made her warm all over. “Okay,” she said.

“I mean it.”

“I’ll just stay out of his way,” she said.