Love’s Sweet Revenge(70)
“Well, I love seeing you that way, too, but it’s not often any of us Harkner women get to see our men looking so dapper, let alone dress up ourselves. Even Brian doesn’t wear suits as often as he used to back in Guthrie when he was doctoring full time. Since we moved to the ranch, he’s taken to denim pants and cotton shirts just like the rest of you, but doesn’t he look wonderful tonight? He’s such a handsome man in his own right.”
“Woman, you do carry on.”
“Well, you’ve produced such a beautiful family. I’m so proud of all of them.”
Jake scowled a little. “It’s all due to you, not me.” He whirled her past a group of stout women who just stared. “Tomorrow we’ll go to that landscaping business and buy the rosebushes you want,” he told Randy.
“Mostly yellow ones. I want to plant them around the veranda.”
Brian and Evie turned past them. “You two look wonderful!” Evie called to them.
Jake cast her a smile before looking down at Randy. “My baby girl seems to be having a wonderful time. I’m so glad for her and Brian.”
“So am I. And doesn’t she look wonderful in that coral chiffon dress? It beautifully accents her dark skin.”
“She looks ravishing.”
The music ended, and Jake took Randy’s arm and led her to the small table where a candle burned and a bottle of free champagne sat, along with two flutes. “I’m missing the grandkids,” Jake said as they sat down. “We’ll head home the day after tomorrow. I’m sure Little Jake is giving the men quite a time of it.”
Randy smiled and began removing her elbow-length gloves as Jake stopped a waiter.
“Bring us some water and coffee, will you?” he told the skinny young man. “Take the champagne to some other table.”
“But, Mr. Harkner, it’s the best there is, compliments of Prosecutor Harley Wicks, who would very much like to meet you.”
Jake’s affable demeanor instantly changed, and Randy stiffened.
“Is that so?” Jake asked. He straightened in his chair. “You tell Mr. Wicks that I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t drink, especially not around my wife. Neither does my son, so you can give someone else his champagne, too. And if Mr. Wicks wants to meet me, all he has to do is walk over here.”
“Yes, sir.” The waiter took the bottle of champagne. “And I’d like to say I’m privileged to meet you, Mr. Harkner.”
Jake sighed and shook his head. “I don’t know why you consider it a privilege, young man, but thank you.”
“Well, you’re…you’re pretty darn famous, sir.”
“And you read too many books.”
The words came from behind the waiter, and he turned to see Lloyd standing there. “Well, I’m glad to meet you, too, Mr. Harkner.”
Lloyd glanced at Jake and grinned. “I’m getting anxious to get out of here, but I guess we have to put up with this.”
“The women are having a good time, so let’s give them a few more dances,” Jake told him, looking him over. “You’re looking like quite the gentleman, Son.”
“Yeah? ‘Gentlemen’ isn’t usually the term people use for me and you, is it?”
“You are every bit a gentleman,” Katie told Lloyd.
“Well, I might not be such a gentleman when we get back to our room,” he told her. Lloyd kept an arm around his blushing wife and moved to a table beside his father’s as the waiter removed the champagne from both their tables. “And here comes one more beautiful woman to join us.”
A smiling Evie approached on Brian’s arm. “Daddy, Brian is taking me to the opera after this. Can you and Mother go?” She looked at Lloyd. “You, too?”
“I’d love to go!” Katie put in.
Lloyd gave his father a pained look. “Opera?”
Jake shrugged. “It’s their night.” He looked at Brian. “You agreed to go?”
“Your daughter’s wish is my command, Jake. You know that.”
Jake grinned. “And I appreciate that.” He reached out and squeezed Evie’s hand. “This lovely woman deserves to be spoiled. How are you feeling, angel?”
“I feel good, and I’m having a wonderful time.” She put a hand over Jake’s. “And I can’t say enough how beautiful mother’s ring is! Daddy, that was so romantic of you to surprise her with that ring. I’m so glad everything is all right. Mother was so worried about you, and so was I.”
“Evie, you have to stop worrying about everybody else. You just take care of yourself, and if you want us to go to the opera with you, we’ll go. I’m sure your mother and Katie would enjoy it.”