Free Semiautomatic Marriage by Leona Karr Page A

son, after all.” Her tone was bitter.
    “It doesn’t seem right, does it,” Adam said, deliberately fanning the fires. “I wonder why he didn’t.”
    “He was a sentimental old fool, that’s why,” Della answered, ignoring the fact of Jasper’s miserable record of business failure and bankruptcy. “And Carolyn is going to realize in short order thatHorizon needs more than sentiment to keep it afloat.” Then she added pointedly, “Of course, there’s no reason for her to get involved in the running of the company. It’s very demanding. I’m sure the two of you have plans of your own.”
    Carolyn and Adam avoided looking at each other. Della had unwittingly hit the truth right on the head. They did have plans of their own, but certainly not the kind this controlling woman expected.
    “I want to familiarize myself with Horizon,” Carolyn said smoothly. “Because of my medical background, I have an interest in the pharmaceutical industry. Of course, I don’t intend to immediately try and run the company, but I think my husband may be of help in pointing out some ways to improve production.” She gave Adam a sugary-sweet smile. “Why don’t you tell them, darling?”
    As Jasper and Della listened to Adam explain his background as an efficiency expert, their hostile resistance was almost palpable.
    “So you see,” Adam finished in an eager voice, “I’ve put all my other commitments on hold while I gain some helpful insights on Horizon and make some professional recommendations.”
    A tense muscle flickered at the corners of Della’s mouth. “Your work sounds impressive, Mr….”
    “Adam, please,” he corrected her lightly.
    “To be honest, Adam, there’s no need for that kind of streamlining at Horizon. Our production and shipping departments are running very smoothly, and I think it would be a mistake to alter them.”
    “I don’t want anybody fooling around in my laboratory, telling me what to change,” Jasper saidflatly. “Especially someone who doesn’t know a beaker from a Bunsen burner.”
    Adam laughed, trying to ease the tension. “I can appreciate your position, Jasper. You don’t have time to waste on someone who isn’t knowledgeable, who lacks the training to see what you’re about.”
    “Well, I’d love to see your laboratory,” Carolyn said smoothly, stepping into the opening, knowing Jasper couldn’t very well fault her medical background. “It will be an opportunity to educate myself even further in laboratory research.”
    Nicely done, Adam thought, pleased that Carolyn used her status as a medical doctor to eliminate any of Jasper’s objections to her presence in his work-place.
    Conversation faltered, and only Buddy’s quiet chuckle broke the silence.
    “We thought it might be appropriate for us to invite a few people over this evening,” Della said, giving Carolyn and Adam a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Just a casual get-together. Mostly staff from the company. We didn’t want to rush things, but since we really didn’t know your plans, we thought that knowing a few people might ease the situation a little. The grapevine has been thriving since the news broke that they have a new boss.”
    On the surface it seemed like a friendly gesture, but Adam was wary and suspicious. Did Della have some hidden agenda behind it? He knew that Carolyn would hate the idea of being on display and meeting a bunch of people, but as far as his investigation went, there might be a few fringe benefits in the affair.
    “You’d better put on your battle gear, Carolyn,”Buddy warned with a grin, ignoring his mother’s razor-sharp glare.
     
    L ATER , BACK IN THEIR WING of the house, Adam and Carolyn sat on a couch in the small study, talking quietly. She was trying to still the nervous fluttering that just thinking about the evening ahead caused. She felt like someone holding on to a swiftly moving raft, not knowing what lay around the next bend.
    “Why do you think