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Great. Seeing the Roswell home would be interesting, but dealing with his family might be...challenging. Chances were slim that they hadn’t heard all the details of her family’s past.
The house and the grounds were everything she’d imagined as a child—from the sweeping curve of the circular driveway and massive, two-story brick home, to the formal double front doors. In the marble-floored entry hall, gracefully curved double staircases rose to an open landing, something straight out of a fairy tale.
Everything was beautifully designed, artistically decorated in white on white, with touches of black and taupe. It all left her feeling inexplicably cold.
Or perhaps that sensation came from Patrick and Elena Roswell and their platinum-haired daughter Meredith, who’d all radiated disapproval from the moment Sara stepped into their home.
“And your family, dear?” Elena asked politely as she rearranged a linen napkin on her lap. “They’re from here?”
The bite of flaky, feather-light dinner roll in Sara’s mouth turned to sawdust. “Yes—yes they are. Or were. My father died many years ago.”
Across the table from Sara, Meredith’s perfectly sculpted mouth twisted into a smirk. “What did you say he did before he died?”
Meredith’s intent to embarrass her was clear, but Sara chose to ignore it. “He worked at Sanderson. Before that, he was self-employed.”
Nathan leveled a look of irritation at his sister and deftly changed the subject. “I hear you’re going to Spain next month. Holiday or business?”
“Business. What else? With Father managing things here, I need to do the traveling.” She gave an offhand flip of her wrist. “Not that I mind. I love the thrill of the chase. Last month we nailed two new accounts in Washington.” She shifted her gaze back to Sara. “And what is it that you do?”
I help keep the world safe for people like you. The thought brought a smile to Sara’s lips that she couldn’t quite contain. “I’m job hunting right now and taking some time to be with my mom.”
“And what you do is...?”
“Accounting.” She actually did have the degree, one she’d struggled to achieve through years of night school, and it had come in handy during some of the undercover operations she’d done.
“And there aren’t any little office jobs open in town?” The faint look of disdain Meredith cast her brother clearly said, you can’t do any better than this? “Surely there must be something.”
“She’s an accountant, Merry,” Nathan said. “The same degree you got a long time ago.” To his parents he added, “Sara has been living in Dallas for quite a few years. She’s hoping to relocate here permanently.”
Patrick, an elegant man in his early sixties, nodded politely, then turned back to cutting the turkey on his plate. He’d welcomed her warmly, though, and on the whole seemed nicer than his wife and daughter.
Elena cleared her throat and continued rearranging her small portions without actually consuming more than a few small bites.
“This is a wonderful meal, Mr. and Mrs. Roswell,” Sara ventured after savoring yet another mouthful of the wild rice dressing. Seasoned with fresh garlic and onion, herbs, and strewn with sautéed mushrooms, it was just as incredible as Nathan had promised. “I appreciate your invitation.”
When the pager on Nathan’s belt interrupted yet another awkward silence during dessert, Sara could have wept with relief. “Oh, dear. Does this mean we need to leave?”
He must have caught the hopeful edge in her voice, because when their gazes met and held, she noticed an answering glimmer of amusement in his eyes. He studied his pager screen, then shook his head with regret. “I’m afraid I have to. You could stay, though, and finish—”
“No, no. I’ll come along. Harold has been alone in the apartment for quite a long time now. I really should get back.”
“Harold?” Meredith’s mouth formed a moue of disapproval.
“My dog.”
Nathan pulled back her chair and helped her up. “Wonderful meal as always, Mother.”
“And as always, you have to race off. Surely you must be getting a bit tired of all those demands on your time by now.” Elena caught her lower lip between her teeth. “And those awful types you have to deal with—I just hope you’re careful, Nathan.”
“Most of them are people just like us, and they need help.” He rested his fingertips at the small of Sara’s back. “I’m sorry we can’t stay longer. Sara?”
After saying their farewells, Nathan guided her back to the front hall, where they gathered their coats and stepped outside. Halfway down the wide steps, he pulled to a halt. “Did you really want to leave?”
Narrowing her eyes, she rested one hand on her hip. “That wasn’t really a call?”
“Oh, it was a call all right. But the other county deputies are covering it because I’ve taken the day off.”
“So you didn’t need to leave.”
