"How did you meet my sister, and what exactly do you want from her?" Evelyn's tone reminded him of being cross-examined by Belle's attorney during their divorce proceedings.
He gestured toward the couch in the formal sitting room just off the foyer. "Would you like to sit down before we begin?"
"I prefer to stand." Evelyn crossed her arms and leveled a glare in his direction. "Now, answer my questions."
If that's how she wanted to play, fine. "I'll answer your questions, and then you answer mine."
Her blue eyes blazed, but she nodded. Melodie hadn't exaggerated the focus of the elder Alexander women. "Mel and I met in Dallas…well, on the plane between Chicago and Dallas." He smiled, remembering their first encounter.
"Melodie hates to fly, and I'm supposed to believe she fell head over heels for you in the two hours or so it takes to get to Dallas?"
If every other man Melodie brought home received this treatment, no wonder she guarded her heart so carefully. Or maybe she hasn't brought too many other men home. "You obviously aren't a hopeless romantic like your sister. It was love almost at first sight for me when I met her on the flight. She took a little more convincing."
"You seduced my sister." An accusation rather than a question clearly delivered in her tone.
"Damn straight I did. She's worth the effort, emotion, and energy it takes to get through the walls she's built around her heart, thanks to growing up in your shadow." Face the enemy head-on. No subversion. No strategy. Time to set up the kill.
"My sister's inability to find a man is my fault?"
Anger replaced accusation in her tone. Daniel knew his target now rested clearly in his sites, an eminent strike. "Not entirely. Your mother played a pretty significant role, from what I've been able to learn in the time I've known your sister. Marie compares Melodie to you in everything."
Her shoulders straightened. "I may set the bar high, but I'm very successful. Melodie would do well to be like me."
Time for the kill. He stepped closer, meeting her challenge and lowering his voice so no one else could hear. "So she should cheat on her husband when she's in India on business with a soldier who's on leave?"
Evelyn's red cheeks drained of color, and the fury in her eyes morphed from surprise to recognition and, finally, embarrassment. "How could you…? I mean… It was…"
Daniel wished Mel could witness the crack in her sister's façade, but that wasn't part of the plan. Family was important to him, and he wanted to see these fences mended, not torn down completely. "The world is a small place. When I saw a family picture, a candid shot, rather than the head shot from your firm, I remembered seeing you with my buddy when we were on leave. I never forget a face. You didn't even take off your wedding ring. Tsk, tsk. What would your family say? What would Marie say if she knew her perfect daughter happened to be flawed and human like the rest of us?"
"You wouldn't!" Both a question and a demand.
"By the way, you broke my buddy's heart. In case you care. I'm not going to tell Melodie because there's something I want more than airing your dirty little secret."
"I'm listening."
The sword raised, ready to hand off to Evelyn to finish slaying the real dragon, Marie. "Two things. First, stop treating your sister like she's a second-class citizen, and see her for the amazing woman she is, even if that happens to be different from you and your mother. Second, find a way to get your mother to back off as well."
She shook her head. "Number one I can do. Mother has a mind of her own and is very set in her ways."
He shrugged. "Your problem, not mine. You're the brilliant and highly successful attorney. Make it happen, or I'll let Mom in on our little secret, and you can deal with the fallout of your little indiscretion."
Evelyn's eyes cleared, and the thin line of her mouth hardened. The ice in her blue eyes fired in Daniel's direction. "I'm going to find out your secrets and tell Melodie. Everyone has secrets."
Sibling rivalry he could deal with, especially since he had nothing left to hide. "I'm an open and easy-to-read book, so give it your best shot. Besides, I've already confessed all my secrets to your sister. Surprise, surprise, she still wants me in her life, in her bed, and in her heart. Apparently she's more willing to overlook flaws than you and your mother."
"You're a bastard."
Daniel smiled, thinking of all the times Melodie had inferred the very same characterization through things she said or did. She was classier than her sister, though, and had never called him one straight out. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are her favorite nicknames for me. "This is no secret to your sister either. I'm a bastard. You're a bitch. Enough name-calling. We both know who we are. The question is, are we going to partner up to make life easier for your sister, or am I about to make your life more difficult?"
The redness covering her face and her clenched fists might intimidate others, but he stood his ground. He had her right where he wanted her—she'd protect her secret.
She moved into his personal space and extended her hand. "Partners."