Free The Secret Agent's Surprises (Harlequin American Romance) by Tina Leonard Page A

Part of the price of country living. Then we had this thing where you dialed up and asked an operator to put the call through. Of course we had a party line, and it was hell waiting on a chance to get a call through. There was no such thing, of course, as a transatlantic call, not out here. Maybe in the big city.” He glanced at his son. “’Course nowadays, calling around the world is nothing difficult.”
    Nothing difficult, said his world-traveling father.
    “Guess I’ll turn in,” Pop said. “You’re boring after all the pretty ladies we had here.”
    The doorbell rang, and Pop perked up. “Perhaps a straggler,” he said, his hopes high. “Maybe one of those gals was taken with you and is trying to get an early jump on her rivals. Let’s go see.”
    “Sure, Pop,” Pete said, putting up with the teasing with good humor, until he opened the door and saw Cricket and Priscilla standing on the porch.
    “We heard there was a party,” Priscilla said, her smile a little shy. “Suzy said we should come.” She glanced over her shoulder. “But I don’t see any cars. Do we have the wrong time?”
    Josiah grinned at Pete, not ruffled at all by his daughter-in-law’s interference. “That Suzy has such true Morgan spirit.”
    Priscilla’s gaze searched Pete’s. “She said it was a matchmaking party. We have no idea what that is, but it sounded like fun, and since she invited us, we thought we could at least help out.”
    Josiah ushered them inside. “We love any kind of gathering around here.”
    Cricket glanced around. “Did we miss the party?” she asked, eyeing the desserts, which were still on the dining-room table.
    “It wasn’t much of a party,” Pete said. “Help yourself to some snacks.”
    “By all means,” Josiah said, “and if you’ll excuseme, I think I’ll retire to the TV room. Cricket, you can join me if you like.”
    Cricket looked at Pete. “He’s not very subtle, is he?”
    Pete shook his head. “‘Subtle’ is not a word that’s used to describe Pop.”
    Cricket followed Josiah from the room after filling a paper plate with some treats. Priscilla looked at Pete. “What just happened here?”
    Pete had a feeling these women, too, were victims of Pop’s good intentions. “Have a seat,” he said. “The story’s not your typical boy-meets-girl.”
    “Sounds interesting.”
    He was glad to see her. Priscilla gave him a feeling none of the other women who’d visited had. “It’s always interesting with Pop. He threw me a lady shower.”
    She raised a brow. “Oh, how nice for you.”
    “It was.” She frowned at him, and he reconsidered his words. “I mean, it was nice that Pop did that for me, but talking to a bunch of women is taxing.”
    “Oh, I’m sure. ”
    She didn’t sound sure. “It is,” he told her. “How much can a guy say to women he doesn’t know?”
    “I have no idea. But I bet you gave it your best effort.”
    He looked at her. She didn’t sound jealous—and part of him sort of hoped she would be.
    “So he’s moved on from me and looking for a new candidate?” Priscilla asked.
    “I suppose so. You know, I didn’t ask Pop what the plan had been. I just asked him not to do it again.”
    “You did?”
    “Yes.” He nodded, hoping she believed him. “I used to wonder why he hadn’t found me a bride. Not that I wanted one, of course. But I’d wondered if he didn’t deem me as worthy of a wife as my brothers. Maybe he didn’t see the same potential in me as a good husband, good father, good son. But since he learned about the babies, he’s gone into overdrive. I’m merely a pawn in this game of achieving his greater goal.”
    She smiled. “I think he loves you very much. It’s nice when parents are concerned about their children.”
    “It’s a new phase in our relationship.” He thought it was a topic best left alone and tried to change the subject. “So, pretty cold outside, huh?”
    “I’d say it’s normal for February.”