Free Heartwishes by Jude Deveraux Page A

all.”
    “Oh, that’s right. Mrs. F put you under Colin’s protection, didn’t she? About the only thing that makes Lanny back off is whenever his big brother lays claim to something.”
    “It was hardly that,” Gemma said, but she was pleased to hear it. “Colin and I went into town for lunch because I was late. Could I have one of those biscuits?”
    “Nope. I was told that if you came in here I was to send you into the dining room to eat with what’s left of the Frazier family. Lanny’s been sent back to Richmond in disgrace.” Rachel grinned. “It’ll probably be three or four whole days before his mother forgives him. And Shamus is with his school buddies.”
    “What about Colin and Jean?”
    “Colin’s at work, and she’s gone. Jean just shows up, does something marvelous, jumps on Colin, then goes away to be a lawyer.”
    Gemma hid her disappointment at hearing that what she’d suspected was true, then she looked at Rachel in surprise. “You sound like you don’t like Jean.”
    Rachel put a slab of ham in a skillet. “She’s great. She gave me a Prada bag last Christmas. I expect a pair of Manolos for my birthday. She’s always kind and considerate and she makes me laugh. I have nothing to say against her.”
    “But . . . ?”
    Rachel turned around to face Gemma. “Colin seems to think Jean’s going to move to itty-bitty Edilean, pump out three kids, and they’ll live happily ever after.”
    Gemma thought of the house Colin had bought and what he’d said about his friends starting families. It looked like Rachel was right. “Isn’t it fashionable for women today to give up their careers and become stay-at-home moms?”
    Rachel snorted. “You’ve met Jean. Do you think Edilean is exciting enough for her?”
    Gemma hadn’t seen much of the cute little town, but it was true that she couldn’t see Jean in her heels and her fabulously expensive clothes walking about. “Maybe she could be mayor,” she said.
    “And deal with lost dogs? I don’t think so.” Rachel pulled a buzzing cell phone out of her pocket and looked at the screen. “It’s Mr. F. He’s sitting at the table but there’s no food. To him, this is a great catastrophe.”
    “He texted you from the dining room?”
    Rachel was smiling. “That’s right. He bought me a BlackBerry and pays the bills just so he can tell me where he is and where I’m to take his food. You’ll learn that the Fraziers aren’t like the rest of the world.” The phone vibrated again, and she looked at it. “He’s reminding me that I’m supposed to send you in.”
    Gemma got off the stool. “Now that Isla and Kirk are gone, I’d love to have breakfast with Mr. and Mrs. Frazier.” Pausing, she looked back at Rachel, her face serious. “Is there anything I should know about these people? I’m going to be here quite a while.”
    “They’re nice. A bit spoiled by too much money, maybe, but they’re good people. Stay away from Lanny—unless you want to become a notch on his bedpost, that is—and let Shamus draw you. And when Pere comes home, don’t fall for him. His parents don’t know it, but his heart is already spoken for.”
    Gemma ran her hand along the cool countertop. “What about Colin?” When Rachel didn’t answer, she looked at her.
    Rachel wasn’t smiling but her eyes were dancing. “Colin is the best of the lot. But you need to know that he is fantastically loyal and . . .”
    “And what?”
    “Jean owns him. Remember Shrek fighting the dragon to get to Princess Fiona?”
    “Yes.”
    “That dragon is a delicate little butterfly compared to Jean. Unless you plan to fight to the death, stay away from Colin.”
    “Thanks,” Gemma said and started toward the door. “What about some doctor? Tristan, was it?”
    Rachel waved her hand in dismissal. “Dr. Tris is not to be had. The impossible dream. The mountain never climbed. If you even get a date with him, consider yourself lucky, but if you set your heart on