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“Angie!”

Mara froze. The pen stopped twirling and dropped to the desktop.

“What about Angie?” Mara asked hoarsely. Was Angie hurt . . . or worse? What had happened? Mara’s throat went dry before she realized that not even Dena would derive satisfaction from the child’s pain. And that was the feeling that was written all over Dena’s fine-boned features: satisfaction.

“Well,” Dena mused, looking at the ceiling as if lost in thought. Idly she rubbed a corner of her mouth, drawing out the suspense. Dena loved theatrics and she was playing her role well. “It’s really not just about Angie . . . actually it involves Shane as well.”

Mara swallowed back the apprehension that threatened to overtake her. “What about Shane?” she asked calmly.

“I’ve been noticing the way that he acts when he’s around the child.”

“And?”

“Possessiveis the word that seems to describe his actions.” Dena nodded to herself before her dark green eyes flashed to Mara. “Yes, he’s very possessive, I’d say.”

“He thinks a great deal of Angie.”

“I’ll just bet he does!” Dena said sarcastically. Her polished lips curled into a self-satisfied smile.

“Dena,” Mara said, her breath catching in her throat. She knew what was coming from the fiery woman, but Mara tried to stem some of the vehemence by appearing in command and in control of the situation. She drew herself up to her full height and, despite the heat, smoothed her dress and hoped to appear cool as she crossed round to the front of the desk and leaned against it. “Why don’t you stop beating around the bush and tell me what you wanted to tell me. Then we can both go home.”

“Why does Shane seem so possessive aboutPeter’skid?”

“I told you. He loves Angie.”

“Hmph! Shane Kennedy doesn’t strike me as the kind of man that would be fascinated by children.”

It was Mara’s turn to smile. “I think you’re wrong on that one. Despite his hard business tactics, Shane’s a very caring man.”

“You should know.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, don’t play naive with me, Mara. I know you better than that! The dumb virgin routine seems to work on my mother, but it doesn’t wash with me! As a matter of fact, it makes me sick!” Her last words were spoken with such a vehemence that Mara was slightly taken aback. Did Dena actually hate her that much? Why?

Mara’s face tightened. She thought about telling Dena the flat-out, no-holds-barred truth, but she hesitated slightly. It would be better to tell June first. Her voice seemed frail, and she knew that drops of perspiration were beading on her forehead, but she forced herself to tell Dena a portion of the truth. Dena deserved that much. No matter how much Dena disliked Mara, she was Peter’s sister and entitled to the truth.

“It’s true. Shane cares for Angie very much—”

“And you, too,” Dena snapped. “I’d be a fool if I couldn’t see the way that he looks at you.” A sadness seemed to sweep over Dena’s features for a minute, and her voice lowered. “He . . . he looks at you as if he doesn’t ever want to stop.” She bit at her lip and some of the satisfaction and spunk seemed to have drained out of her.

“He’s asked me to marry him. He wants to adopt Angie.”

Mara’s surprise announcement seemed to startle her.

“Sudden, isn’t it?” Dena asked, her eyes calculating.

“A little . . . I guess . . .”

“I wonder what all the board members would think about this. First you coerce them into approving sale of stock to Shane Kennedy, and then, quick as a bunny, you marry the guy, giving you, Shane, and Angie’s trust control of Imagination. Convenient, wouldn’t you say . . . too convenient!” Dena’s green eyes blazed with accusation.

“Oh, no, Dena that’s not the way it is . . .”

“Then what way is it? I’m only telling you what it looks like—a hasty marriage of convenience to get control of Imagination!”

“I’ve known Shane for years . . .” Mara attempted to explain, feeling her weight sag a little against the desk. Dena sensed her advantage and unfolded her long, jean-clad legs to stand up and face her sister-in-law.

“I just bet you did . . . I’ll also bet that you’ve been seeing him on the side for years.”