Wronged (The Cuvier Widows Book 1) by Sylvia McDaniel Page A

shipment start off for some
far-off destination. Would you like that?”
    “Yes!” the boy said loudly, his eyes growing
large in anticipation, a tentative smile on his face.
    It was the first smile Louis had seen on the
boy’s face and it pleased him that he’d managed to draw it out of
the kid.
    Marian turned and stared at Louis, frowning
slightly, yet her gray eyes were surprised. He smiled and watched
as the wind teased wisps of her hair about her lovely face.
    He swallowed and glanced away. It would not
do for Philip to see Louis’s desire for Marian. Philip wouldn’t
recognize Louis’s longing for his mother as the simple flirtation
Louis knew his lust to be.
    “Hey look, we’re right here at Tony’s,” said
Louis. “How about we stop for an Italian ice? It would cool us all
off.”
    “Would you like that, Philip?” Marian
asked.
    The boy glanced with longing at the outdoor
cafe and then at Louis, his eyes so much like Jean’s. “All
right.”
    Leaving the buggy at the curb, Louis helped
Philip out then he reached up to help Marian alight His hands
encircled her waist and he lifted her out. When he placed her on
the ground, her eyes met his.
    “Thank you,” she whispered.
    “My pleasure,” he said indulging his gaze in
the depths of her gray eyes.
    He took them into the courtyard where a water
fountain babbled from a cherubic angel, the water splashing down
over rocks into a pool. Lantana bloomed in pots in the courtyard,
with crepe myrtle growing along the sides.
    Louis seated them at a table and ordered the
ices.
    They sat there awkwardly staring at one
another, the boy watching him with interest.
    “I remember you,” he said finally. “You were
at my father’s funeral.”
    “Yes, I was,” Louis replied, as the waitress
served the Italian ices.
    “My mom is working with you now,” the boy
said.
    “Yes, she is.”
    “Do you like her?” he questioned.
    “Philip! What a question to ask the
gentleman! You don’t ask that kind of question,” Marian
scolded.
    “It’s okay, Marian. Of course I do, Philip.
She’s a nice lady. Awfully smart, too.” Louis glanced over at
Marian and noticed her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright in
the afternoon sunshine. She spooned the ice between her full lips,
while he tried not to notice that her mouth was more tempting than
any chilled dessert.
    If the boy hadn’t been there, he would have
considered trying to kiss her again. Just to experience the velvet
and sweetness, with a hint of orange Italian ice.
    “If you like her, then why don’t you want her
in the office?” young Philip asked.
    Louis was taken aback. While he sat thinking
lustful thoughts about the boy’s mother, Philip surprised him and
he didn’t quite know how to answer him.
    “Philip! What’s gotten into you?” said
Marian.
    “Its okay, Marian.” He paused.
    “Where did you hear that?” Marian asked
Philip.
    “You told Aunt Claire he didn’t want you
there.”
    Marian looked at Louis with an apologetic
smile. “I did.”
    “Philip, the business your father and I ran
has no women in it. It’s not that I don’t want your mother there,
it just isn’t a place for a woman. One day you’ll understand. I’m
trying to look out for her.”
    “Oh,” the boy said, and once again delved the
spoon into his Italian ice, somehow satisfied with Louis’s
response.
    Marian glanced at her son and then at Louis.
She raised her brows with a questioning look. “And Philip, I’m
trying to look out for our family’s interest, since someday you
will take over. Until then, I’m going to take your place.”
    The child glanced at the adults like he knew
something wasn’t quite right, but didn’t understand exactly
what.
    Louis pushed away the niggling feeling of
guilt that suddenly appeared. He had to have the business. Marian
Cuvier would many a wealthy man to take care of her and then he
would have his new business. He would not give up until he won this
battle. He needed the