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“My mother and I have a long, steadfast tradition of doing everything in our power to avoid actually talking to each other,” she informed him. “We’ve gone years without exchanging a word. I’m not sure I can make her tell me why she gave Nat a present, but I can guarantee she won’t say a word if you’re there.”
He scowled. “I don’t like the thought of you facing her on your own.”
There was a fierceness in his tone that sent tingles of heat swirling through her body. It’d been a very long time since anyone had been worried about her. Certainly not since Nat died.
“I’ll be fine.” Her voice was oddly husky.
He reached out to brush his fingers down the length of her jaw. “You have fifteen minutes and then I’m coming in.”
“Niko—”
“If you haven’t managed to get her to talk in that amount of time, she’s not going to,” he interrupted in a tone that defied argument.
Rayne clicked her tongue, pretending to be annoyed. The truth was that she savored his concern.
“You’re very pushy.”
He offered a wry smile. “It’s part of my charm.”
“Is that what you call it?”
“If I don’t, who will?” Swooping his head down, he brushed a light kiss over her lips. “Be careful.”
A shiver of pleasure raced through her. Or maybe it was the icy breeze that was making her shake. Shoving open her door, she sent Niko a stern glance.
“Keep the van running. I don’t want you to freeze.”
His glance was equally stern. “Fifteen minutes, Rayne. The clock has started.”
Jumping out of the van, Rayne crossed the street and climbed the steps. For the first time in years she used the old key she’d kept for emergencies to let herself in the front door. She paused in the foyer, not sure which direction to take. During the late afternoon her mother was usually preparing for some event to take place that night. Or being pampered at her favorite spa.
It was at last the clink of ice in a glass that led her into the sitting room. Stepping through the opening, she blinked as she was swallowed into the white space. As an artist, she could appreciate the simplicity of monochrome. But this was just . . . blinding.
“Mark?”
Rayne turned toward her mother’s voice, discovering the older woman in the corner, pouring herself a large glass of whiskey. Obviously, Tami was of the opinion it was five o’clock somewhere.
“No,” Rayne said. “It’s me.”
“Rayne?” Tami whirled around, her eyes wide with surprise. She was wearing a long, satin robe that was tied around her waist, as if she’d just stepped out of the shower. “What are you doing here? Did you forget something?”
Rayne left on her coat. She didn’t doubt for a second if this conversation wasn’t done in fifteen minutes, Niko would come charging to the rescue.
“I have a few questions for you,” she said.
“Now?” Tami gave a sharp shake of her head. “I’m expecting guests tonight and I still have to change.”
“Now.”
Her mother made a sound of impatience. “You’ll have to hurry.”
Rayne had spent the drive to this house trying to decide the best way to approach her mother. It wasn’t going to be easy. Tami was a master at avoiding anything she considered unpleasant. If she didn’t want to discuss a subject, she would come up with a dozen excuses why she needed to leave the room. Rayne couldn’t count the number of times she was speaking only to have her mother turn her back and walk away.
Her only hope was to go straight for the jugular and try to shock the truth out of the older woman.
Stiffening her spine, she spoke the words that had been hovering on her lips since Niko had recognized her mother in the picture.
“Why did you give Natalie Scantlin five thousand dollars when you came to Austria for our graduation?”
