Games (Timeless Series) by Sandy Loyd Page A

,” Marcus teased, smiling. “I’m merely pointing out that you two are a perfect pair. And in a match between the two of you, I’m not sure who’d come out the winner.”
    “ You are supposed to be on my side. I am your daughter, for heaven’s sake.”
    “Yes , you are, and a beautiful one at that. So, tell me about meeting Simon. How is he? I gather he’s still doing special jobs?”
    Giselle’s annoyance vanished and she smiled . Papa was such a tease at times. Looking from him to her mother and noticing his hand covering her mother’s, she felt such warmth spread through her. It seemed such a loving gesture. The sense of love, compassion, and caring was all around her. Sighing, she realized right then she wanted what they had.
    “He was at a ball I attended in Louisville with Colin and Libby ,” she said, answering his question. “Considering the dance we shared, he is doing quite well. I assumed he was working on a case because he said he was not staying long. I have not seen him since, nor have I expected to, which sums up our time together.”
    “ You make it sound as if he is no different from all the other men you know,” Marguerite said, entering the conversation after remaining mute for most of it. “You know that is not true.”
    “Marguerite, you keep quiet,” Giselle hissed with warning in her voice . “You know nothing about it.”
    “I know you think he is an odious man.” Marguerite ignored her sister’s warning and turned to her parents. She lifted her chin, and added with a smug expression, “Giselle told me he annoyed her and she calls him Simon.”
    Marcus chuckled. “Now your description sounds more like the man I know.”
    “Mar guerite thinks she knows all.” After sticking her tongue out at her sister, Giselle glanced at her father and worked to keep the irritation out of her voice. “So what if I find Simon annoying. It does not matter, I’ll never see him again.”
    “So, it i s Simon, is it?”
    “Oh, Papa!” She blew at her the strands of hair covering her eyes in frustration. “That is not the point. The point is I am glad I will never have to set eyes on the man again.”
    “What’s this? You mean the man didn’t fall under your spell?” he teased, his eyes dancing with glee.
    Frustrated beyond means, she looked to her mother for help . “Mama, will you tell him he is not being very fatherly?” She got up from the table in a huff. “If you need me, I will be unpacking in my room,” she stated grumpily, stomping from the room.
    ~~
    Sophie attempted to cover her smile. “Marcus, you should not tease so much.” When Giselle was out of earshot, she whispered, “Did you notice how much emotion she showed when she spoke about how annoying Simon is?”
    Marcus met his wife’s gaze and grinned . “Yes, she did seem put out with him, didn’t she? I wonder what he did, or more likely, didn’t do to cause that.”
    “Whatever it was, I do not think any man has ever caused her to show such emotion. There may be hope for her after all.”
    “Of course there is, ma petite . However, I was starting to have my doubts and began wondering if we’d made a mistake coming back to the States when we did. It was selfish of me, I know, to leave right before she had a chance to find someone suitable in Paris.”
    “Hush, Marcus . We did what we felt was best for our family. You cannot regret that.”
    “No, I have no regrets . Being so far away from our baby would break our hearts. Maybe if Marguerite’s husband had lived, I’d feel differently. Perhaps we should have moved to Louisville when we came back—at least until she found someone.”
    “How wer e we to know she would be so picky? She has had plenty of opportunity to meet someone suitable, especially given our trips to Chicago. I do not think living in Louisville would make much difference.”
    He sighed and took a drink . “You’re right, of course. It’s all water under the bridge at this point.