Free Touch of Heaven by Maureen Smith Page B

know good and damn well how she still feels about you. Don’t start something you can’t finish.”
    Warrick nodded slowly. “I hear what you’re saying, Uncle Randall. Believe me, I do. But Deniece and I have always been up front with each other. It’s one of the reasons our relationship worked so well in high school. We understood each other. I really don’t see anything wrong with two mature, consenting adults enjoying each other’s company for a while. No empty promises, no strings attached.”
    Randall gave him a shrewd, assessing look. “Have you had any false paternity suits brought against you?”
    â€œ What? Hell, no! I’m not stupid. I don’t take any chances.”
    â€œGood. Because when it comes to Deniece Labelle, I wouldn’t put it past her to try anything to trap you into marriage.”
    Warrick chuckled grimly. “Don’t worry, Uncle Randall. Nobody’s trapping me into anything.” He slid Randall an amused sidelong glance. “You know, you’re the only one in the family who’s never really liked Deniece. And even after all these years, you’re still hard on her.”
    Randall shrugged, poking at the engine’s crankshaft. “Maybe she reminds me a little of your aunt Clarissa. Beautiful to look at, but high-maintenance.”
    Warrick grinned. “Qualities you can appreciate in a car—”
    â€œâ€”but not in a woman,” Randall finished.
    The two men laughed.
    After a few moments, Warrick ventured casually, “Have you seen Raina lately?”
    â€œNot recently,” Randall murmured.
    Warrick looked at his uncle’s face, as expressionless as his voice, and knew he wasn’t being entirely truthful. While Randall had never made any secret of his dislike for Deniece, he’d always had a softspot for Raina St. James. Growing up, Warrick remembered being both amused and annoyed that his uncle had always brought an extra treat for Raina whenever he visited the house. He’d always invited her along whenever he took Warrick and his siblings on trips to the amusement park, the beach and various sporting events. And at family cookouts, Randall had always let Raina choose the best steak or burger on the grill; when others complained about the preferential treatment, Randall laughingly explained that people whose names began with the letter R had to look out for one another.
    Randall was the only member of the family who didn’t blame Raina for what had happened to Yolanda Mayne. In fact, Randall had defended Raina from the start, much to the displeasure of the rest of the family, who viewed his stance as the worst of defections. For several months after the trial, Warrick was the only one who had remained on speaking terms with Randall. But as much as Warrick loved and respected his uncle, even he had a hard time understanding how Randall could so easily forgive Raina for betraying his own niece. But Randall, who’d always been the maverick of the family, had never apologized for what he believed.
    Nonetheless, he didn’t exactly go out of his way to remind Warrick that he still kept in touch with Raina. Some things were better left unsaid.
    Which was why Warrick hadn’t told his uncle about his plans to buy Raina’s property. He knew Randall wouldn’t approve, and although Warrick had always valued his uncle’s judgment, this was one decision he couldn’t be talked out of.
    â€œWhy did you ask about Raina?” Randall asked, breaking into Warrick’s thoughts. “Did you happen to see her?”
    Warrick hesitated, then nodded. “At the restaurant last night,” he said, deliberately omitting the part about him visiting her spa earlier that day.
    â€œReally? Raina was at the same restaurant?”
    Again Warrick nodded. “She’s beautiful,” he murmured, the words tumbling out before he could stop himself.
    Randall smiled.