Jake landed on the soft ground. The lights from the house spread out over the lawn, illuminating the middle-aged man who stood there watching him. “Who wants to know?”
“I’m not security, if that’s what you’re worried about. I couldn’t care less if you ran off with everything Taylor Anderson owns. I’m just an uninvited guest.”
“I thought everyone and his brother was invited to this shindig,” Jake said bitterly. “Though I can’t imagine why anyone would choose to go if they didn’t have to.”
“Well, since I’m a party crasher I obviously disagree with you,” he said pleasantly.
“Not much of a party crasher if you’re down here and the party’s going on up there. Trust me, you’re not missing much. The champagne is too warm and the food is too cold.”
“I’m not particularly interested in eating. How are the happy couple?”
Jake snorted in derision. “Happy enough,” he said. “After all, they’re a match made in blue-blood heaven.”
“So they are,” the man said thoughtfully. He held out a hand. “I’m Alex Donovan, by the way. Outcast from blue-blood heaven.”
“I never belonged in the first place,” Jake said, shaking his hand. “Why don’t you go on in? There are so damned many people they’d never notice an extra one.”
“I don’t need to get any closer. I prefer it this way.” He glanced at Jake. “Are you a friend of Edward’s?”
“No.”
“Then you must be a friend of Susan’s.”
“Not particularly. I’m a friend of her godmother’s, here under duress.”
“Louisa? How extraordinary,” Alex murmured. “I can’t believe she’d turn up after all these years.”
“She didn’t.”
“She was smart I should have kept my distance, as well,” he said. “Are you going back in there?”
“Not if my life depended on it.”
“Then let me buy you a drink,” Alex said.
“Why? A sudden longing for company?” Jake had survived a rough thirty-five years by never taking anything at face value. He’d also survived by using his instinct, and his instincts told him that though Alex Donovan might have some secrets, he was a decent man.
“No. I just want to find out anything you know about Susan Abbott.”
“I don’t know much. Why should you care, anyway?” For some reason he liked him. Better than almost anyone he’d met since he’d come to Connecticut.
Alex Donovan smiled wryly. “Because I haven’t seen her in twenty-nine years, and she’s my daughter.”
“Well, I think that was very successful, don’t you?” Susan said breathlessly as she followed her mother into the house. “All the right people, excellent food, decent champagne.”
“Mmm.” Her mother made a noncommittal sound.
“Even Jake Whatsisname looked halfway presentable.” She kicked off her fiat shoes and sprawled on her mother’s chintz sofa. She never wore heels around Edward—they were the same height, and while he’d never complained, she suspected he didn’t like it when she towered over him. Unfortunately it put her at a disadvantage with Jake Wyczynski—he positively loomed over her and she would have given anything to be able to look him in the eye.
“Wyczynski, darling, and you know it,” Mary said gently. “Actually I think he looked quite gorgeous, and so did every single one of your bridesmaids. Laura Hayden was practically drooling over him.”
“Deb was worse.” Susan stretched out her long legs, yawning. “I told her he was married, but I don’t think even that discouraged her.”
“Why on earth did you do that? He isn’t, is he? I’m sure Louisa would have mentioned it.”
Susan jerked her head up. “You’ve talked with her?”
“She sent me a little note, explaining about Jake and the wedding gifts. Not that I needed any explanation. Louisa can always be expected to do the unusual.”
