Free Keys to the Castle by Donna Ball

oblivious?
    â€œI’m so sorry,” he said swiftly. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
    She had to swallow before she could speak. “No,” she said. But she couldn’t turn around to face him. “I’m the one who should apologize. I’m just so embarrassed. I should have realized who you were sooner.”
    â€œMy fault entirely,” he assured her. “I should have been more clear in my introduction.”
    She could tell by his voice that his brief discomfiture was gone. He was back in his element now, saying the right thing, knowing what to do, putting people at their ease. As she turned, he came over to her and made a small movement with his hand, as though to touch her, and then seemed to change his mind. “I understand,” he said simply. “I do.”
    She had no doubt that he was sincere in his effort to make her feel better. And that was also exactly the right thing to say.
    Sara tried to think of something to say. “How long did you know Daniel?”
    He gestured her toward one of the teak chairs that was drawn up around a low table, and waited until she was seated to answer. “Since we were boys, off and on. His family did business with my father, and later, we were at Oxford together.” He smiled as he leaned back in the chair opposite her and sipped his drink. “He was the most impractical fellow I’ve ever known, and probably the most fun. Life was a circus to him. It was almost as though . . .”
    â€œAs though he knew his time was short,” Sara finished for him softly, “and he was determined to make the most of it.”
    Ash said simply, “Yes.”
    â€œSo,” she said, when she could speak again. “That explains why you took over from Mr. Winkle.”
    He looked a little uncomfortable. “Truth is, I should have done so from the beginning. Our firm has handled the Orsay affairs for generations, but estate law isn’t really my specialty, and I thought you’d be better served by Winkle. I meant no disrespect.”
    â€œWhat is your specialty, Mr. Lindeman?” Sara asked, with interest. “I have to be honest, I always assumed Daniel’s lawyers were, well, a small-time operation . . . you know, the type who do wills and trusts and not much else. I didn’t expect one of them to speak Japanese.”
    He said, “Lindeman and Lindeman specializes in international law. Truth be told, we do very little estate work these days, but the Orsays, as I mentioned, are old friends of the family. For myself, I’m what you call in America a closer , I believe. I put together the impossible deals. When Coca-Cola wants to bottle Perrier, or McDonald’s wants to franchise in China, my job is to make certain everything goes smoothly for everyone involved. And if Apple Computer wanted to buy Microsoft, for example, I would find a way to convince Mr. Gates that the deal is not only in his best interest, but that he simply cannot survive without it. I package proposals; I make them look irresistible; I make certain everyone comes away feeling he has won the game. It’s really quite exhilarating.”
    Sara blew out a soft breath. “Why do I feel I need to call my stockbroker?”
    Those lines about his eyes appeared again, and he tipped his glass to her. “The moment I hear from Apple, I’ll be certain to give you a call.”
    â€œSo,” she said, “how did you end up with a castle in France?”
    â€œA portion of a castle,” he corrected her. And then he paused with his glass halfway to his lips, an odd expression coming over his face. “Don’t you know?”
    She shook her head, uncomfortable with the way he was looking at her. “Know what?”
    Still he fixed her with that penetrating gaze, his whiskey untasted, as though he were seeing her for the first time. “Impossible,” he muttered, almost to himself. And, aloud,