Million Dollar Mistake

Yes and no. Raven almost swallowed her tongue so the words wouldn’t pop
out, forcing her to explain. She plastered a smile on her mouth. “I slept very
well, thank you. How about you?”
Lorianne seemed to struggle for something to say before finally settling on,
“The beds are very cozy here.”
“I always thought so.” Nana smiled, a soft look in her eyes.
Raven moved farther into the room. “How’s your knee, Lorianne?”
“It’s feeling much better. I just needed a bit of rest.”
Raven walked over to the sofa. “Jackson was right, then? You pushed it
dancing last night?”
“No,” Lorianne said, “Jackson is rarely right about anything lately. He just
pretends he is and expects everyone to fall in line.”
Laughing, Nana refilled her coffee cup then settled back to enjoy herself.
“There’s nothing new about that, dear. He’s a man.”
Raven sat on the facing sofa, saying in a light, bored tone, “But what would
we do without them?”
“Run the world a bit better, I think.”
Lorianne’s tart tone captured Raven’s interest. “Ah, a political reformer?”
“Goes with the territory,” Lorianne responded.
“Your father is in politics, isn’t he? A governor or something?”
“Senator.”
“He’s been in the senate for a long time,” Nana commented. “My late husband
supported many of his campaigns.”
“That’s right.” Raven nodded. “I remember now. I’ve seen some articles about
him.”

---

“In the tabloids?” Lorianne asked, her expression a bit sly.
Raven refused to let her see she’d scored a hit and poked fun at herself
instead. “Not on the front page, of course, that’s reserved for special people like
myself.”
“You’re more decorative than my father, anyway.”
“Thank you. I try my poor pitiful best,” Raven responded, smiling and patting
her hair.
Lorianne smiled back. “Of course, my father would die if he were ever caught
dead in anything but the important publications. He’s fond of telling me that we
have a reputation to uphold.”
“Don’t we all, darling,” Raven said lightly, as her narrowed gaze awaited the
next barb from Lorianne.
It didn’t come, although Raven could see she was struggling to keep her
mouth shut. Taking the high road instead, Lorianne threw back her shoulders to
announce, “There have been Sterlings in politics for the past one hundred and
twenty-five years.”
“Lorianne grew up ingesting politics from her baby bottle, I think.” Nana
smiled.
“You’d be a great asset to someone with a political career, wouldn’t you?” So
keep your paws off, Nicholas.
“Yes. I thought it was all…” Lorianne shrugged as her voice trailed off before
her tone sharpened. “But there are a few things I didn’t count on.”
Raven played along, smiling even as Lorianne drilled her with a look. “Such
as?”
“Man’s bone-headed addictions to eye candy, lust and stubborn
independence.”
Nana chuckled and Raven’s brows rose as she leaned back against the
cushions. “Mankind in general, or are we talking one man in particular?”
“Well, that was directed to one man. Luckily, I’ve changed my mind and have
my sights set on a different target now.”
Raven sat up straight. “Oh? Anyone I know?”
Lorianne licked her lips like a hungry cat. “Could be.”
“I’d stick to the kind of man you can handle.”
“Oh, I think I can handle a lot more than you give me credit for.”
Raven glanced at Nana, who was pretending to cough to hide her laughter,
before narrowing her eyes at Lorianne. “I hate to seem rude—”
“Ah, there you are, Nicholas,” Nana said, interrupting Raven.
“Nicholas, how nice,” a newly animated Lorianne called, patting the sofa next
to her. “Why don’t you sit down and have some coffee? You missed breakfast,

---

didn’t you?”
“I had a bite in my room.”
“Well,” Nana said, glancing around, “it seems no one wanted to roll out of bed
this morning.”
“I was working,” Nicholas corrected.
“All work and no play,” Lorianne teased. “We should work on that.”
Raven gritted her teeth when Nicholas chuckled.
“Later perhaps. Right now I need to speak to Raven.”