Must Be Magic (Spellbound) by Sydney Somers

newlyweds. “It would probably be easier if he wasn’t so disapproving.”
    “The friction between our families isn’t entirely Tom’s fault.” He leaned forward, crossing his arms on the table. “You see that scar on his cheek, next to his ear? I gave him that.”
    “You two got in a fight?”
    Her father laughed. “No. I was practicing my golf swing with my dad’s club and he got too close.”
    She couldn’t imagine the pair of them golfing together, when she’d never seen them exchange more than a civil nod to acknowledge each other. “How old were you?”
    “Twelve, I think.”
    “I didn’t know you two were ever friends.”
    “It was a long time ago.”
    “What happened?” And why had she never heard anything about this before?
    “Tom’s grandfather. Tom needed stitches from the golf club and when his grandfather found out I was the one who caused the trip to the ER…”
    “That doesn’t seem like a reason to hate our entire family. The scar isn’t exactly disfiguring.”
    “For as long as I can remember there has always been friction between the Calders and Lancasters, but for us, it was the car accident that changed everything.” Her father stood up without offering any more of an explanation. “Your mother is waving me over. I’d better get over there before she sends Dante to get me.” He dropped a quick kiss on the top of her head.
    “Dad,” she began.
    “Some things are best left in the past, pumpkin.”
    That coming from a man who had built an entire business around uncovering other people’s secrets?
    Her father had no sooner walked away than Riley sank into the chair he’d abandoned.
    “You are looking way too serious over here. Dad must have been telling you about the couple who washed up on the beach in a life raft.”
    “What?”
    “Yeah, he and mom were lounging on the beach at the time. Apparently the couple’s boat was taken by modern-day pirates. The guy was shot in the leg before they were set adrift. Dad stayed with them until the police arrived, and he overheard the cops saying there have been half a dozen other incidents in the last month, probably executed by the same crew.”
    “He didn’t mention that.”
    Riley shrugged. “So what was the topic of conversation that had your heads bent so close together?”
    “Do you know anything about a car accident involving the Lancasters?”
    “Accident?” Riley sounded like she didn’t have a clue what Darby was talking about, but the frown lines between her eyes told a different story. They were more pronounced, just like they were whenever she tried looking like a question hadn’t caught her off guard.
    “Are you really going to play dumb?”
    Her sister grinned. “Are you going to tell me what happened between you and Bryce last night that has Dante’s boxers in a bunch?”
    Damn it, Dante. Of course he would have blabbed to Riley about it.
    “Nothing happened.”
    Riley crossed her arms and Darby knew there would be no information on the car accident forthcoming without offering up something in exchange.
    “Fine. I tried to get into his pants, okay?”
    Riley blinked, then burst out laughing, drawing at least half the room’s attention. Riley didn’t do small or understated, and her laugh was no exception. Their Aunt Libby was probably the only one in the room who could come close to turning heads with a laugh the way Riley could.
    “Sure,” she drawled. “I would have believed you if you told me he tried to cop a feel before you knocked him on his ass. But you as the instigator…” Riley broke off again, laughing. “It looks like Bree is getting ready to throw her bouquet.”
    Her sister stood up before Darby could insist she was telling the truth. Maybe it was better if Riley thought it was a lie, but it didn’t get her any more information on the accident or what was really behind Thomas Lancaster’s grudge against their family.
    She wasn’t about to approach Dante about it and Finn was