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Fiona glances up at me, gaze full of blue steel. “Yes, I do. And I will. But before I do that, sir—” She takes a deep breath, steadies herself. “I’d like you to do something for me.”
Grandfather chuckles again. I can’t tell if he’s amused or if this is his way of toying with Fiona. Like a lion before he smacks down a mouse.
Fiona is proving she’s no mouse. And I won’t let him slap her down.
“And what would that be?” Grandfather drawls, a bit of Texas coming out.
She takes another deep breath. “Recognize Mase for who he is, not for who you want him to be.”
Her voice is clear, concise, like she’s practiced. “Fee…”
“Mase is a baseball player, and a darn good one,” she begins, clenching her hands together. “He might not be involved with the family business like you want him to, but he’s forged his own path, and you should be proud of him for that. There’s plenty of time for him to do both. Unfortunately, baseball careers don’t last forever, even for someone of Mase’s talent. When he’s finished playing, maybe he’ll prove to be a success at whatever you want him to do. Or maybe he’ll go on to do something else. Either way, your companies will continue to flourish, because you have a team of people ready to do things your way, including two very capable granddaughters.”
Another slow beat of silence. Riese turns to me with an expression of astonishment and gives me a thumbs-up.
Fiona deserves more than a thumbs-up. She’s amazing. I knew it before I brought her here, knew it from the moment I saw her, but seeing her like this—
I’d really like to throw her over my shoulder and get her out of here.
“And this is how things are done in your family?” Grandfather asks, almost like he’s interested in Fiona’s answer.
“I don’t have a family, sir. I have a brother I love very much, and who is proud of anything I do.”
“And what is it that you do, Miss Stark.”
She gives a delicate snort. “I’m sure you’ve already found that out. I call myself a librarian, but the reality is that I shelve more than books. I’m a senior archivist for the National Intelligence and Information Agency, which is something like Canada’s version of the CIA. Both my parents are deceased, but my mother also worked for the Agency as an agent.” She glances at me with a shrug. “Full transparency here.”
My mouth falls open. “Your mother was a spy?”
“That’s what I’ve found out. Some of the reports are pretty fascinating. Of course, I’m bound to secrecy and—” She raises her chin in the most adorable way. “I’m a woman of my word.”
“I can see that.” Grandfather has an expression on his face that might be a smile—or his ulcer may be acting up. I can never be sure.
But I'm positive that Fiona is someone I will always want in my corner.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Fiona
Afterthat,thedayis pretty anti-climactic.
Gordon—or Grandfather, as Gordon Stirling suggests I call him—invites us to sit down, calls in Mase’s other sister, Carter, and orders champagne from an intercom on his desk.
“We’ll have a toast for the blessed event,” Grandfather says. “Although I’m not sure how much of a blessing you’ll find it, my dear. You did marry Mason.”
There’s a twinkle in his eye that’s just like Mase’s.
I gulp the sparkling wine as Riese demands to know everything about the wedding. I let Mase tell her, but eventually, my pulse stops racing and I’m able to join in. Grandfather has many questions for me, as does Carter, but Riese just keeps smiling at me.
And Mase…
He shakes his head, looking as stunned as if he’d hit a home run using a tennis racket. Once he refills my glass, he takes my hand and doesn’t let go, stroking a thumb over my knuckles in a way that makes my knees quiver.
His parents join us as we finish the first bottle, so Grandfather orders a second. When Mase mentions neither of us have eaten today, he arranges lunch to be brought up.
We eat lunch together in the huge office overlooking the tennis courts.
Eventually, I get up from my seat on unsteady legs for a closer examination of the shelves of books. I’m not surprised when Grandfather joins me.
