Angel in Disguise (23 page)

Pete put his arm around her, letting the world see she was his, caressing her shoulder, willing her to feel his love.

“Maguire,” her father said, extending his hand, smiling.

“Senator,” he acknowledged, surprised at the cordiality.

“I understand you met my daughter on the same television show that employed your sister.”

So, the senator knew about
Dream Date.
But why mention Meggy?

“And your mother exhibits her work at the Foster Gallery in Phoenix?”

He nodded, unperturbed. It was okay for a man to check up on the guy seeing his daughter.

“I understand your mother still misses your father, though it’s been, let’s see, about two and a half years since he passed away. About the time your wife divorced you, isn’t that right?”

Sunny saw the pattern and knew it for what it was, a tactic designed to intimidate Pete. But he stood there unflinching, his half smile saying he wasn’t rattled by the senator’s efforts to push his buttons.

“Sounds like you’ve been checking up on me, sir.”

“Pete,” she said, “if I know Daddy, he had a complete dossier on you within hours of knowing you’d be my date tonight. He probably has it all, right down to your shoe size.”

Her father smiled. “My daughter knows me well.”

“Perhaps I should be flattered,” Pete said, staying so cool, she could have hugged him.

“Not necessarily,” the senator said, turning his head, dismissing Pete in one swift move.

Behind the senator’s back, Pete winked at her. Good for him. She’d seen that move demoralize lesser men.

“Charles tells me you didn’t come in the limo,”
her father said, addressing her only, his voice edged with ice.

Sunny lifted her chin. It was her turn. Pete hadn’t folded, and neither would she. “We didn’t need the limo. Pete drove.”

“What? Your Jaguar? Enjoyed that, did you, Maguire?” her father asked with a smirk.

She hated it when her father acted this way. “We didn’t come in my car, Daddy,” she corrected him quietly. “Not that it matters.”

“You didn’t show up here in Maguire’s old pickup?” the senator said in mock horror. “Well, for the sake of a good tip, I trust the boys at valet parking were kind.”

Sunny had forgotten what a snob her father could be.

But Pete reacted magnificently. “I’m impressed that you know about Old Red, Senator.”

Her father lifted a questioning brow.

“My pickup,” Pete explained with feigned innocence. “Old Red’s like one of the family. I’m sorry. I supposed you knew that.”

Sunny hid a grin. It wasn’t much of a jab, but she’d liked it.

“Maguire, you’d be surprised what I know about you,” her father retorted pompously.

“Or think you know,” Pete shot back.

“Let’s put it this way, Maguire. I know all I need to know.”

“I’m beginning to think that’s a two-way street, Senator.”

When had anyone ever stood up to her father this way? She was proud of Pete for giving as good as
he got and terribly disappointed in her father. “Daddy, a person’s worth hardly depends on his transportation. Surely there’s something more interesting we can talk about.”

“There is, but first let’s get Maguire on his way. Thanks for bringing my daughter,” he said, his smile insincere as he reached in his pocket and brought out a large bill. Tucking it behind Pete’s breast handkerchief, he said, “Use this to tip the valet attendant, or keep it for yourself if he snickers at the pickup.”

“Pete’s not leaving!” she protested, aghast at her father’s rudeness.

“Sunny, the man’s out of his league here,” her father said, signaling his bodyguards who appeared on either side of Pete.

Pete looked at her for direction, silently asking just how big of a scene should he make.

“Daddy! Why are you doing this?”

“I’m thinking of you! Can’t you see this out-of-work bum is just after your money?”

Not only was his belittling assessment all wrong, it was proof he had no respect for her or her wishes.

“Come with me,” he ordered, grasping her arm.

Resisting, she protested. “Stop it, Daddy.”

An older woman, resplendent in bugle beads and diamonds, wedged her way into their group. “Pete Maguire!” she exclaimed. “I thought it was you.”

The bodyguards took a step back. Her father relaxed his hold.

“It’s about time somebody got you into a tux.” She rained air kisses either side of his head. “Harry, look who’s here.”

Bald, portly, an unlit cigar in his hand, the man greeted Pete heartily. “Pete, my man! I didn’t know you were one of the senator’s supporters?”

“Actually, I’m one of his daughter’s.”

The man’s quick once-over counted her sequins, but in such an appreciative, nonsexual way, Sunny couldn’t really object.

“Do I see a starlet? You want to be in pictures, honey?”

Sunny spotted George tugging on his ear, the signal that said these people had a healthy bank balance the senator had yet to tap.

Her father touched his tie, a signal asking for names.

But Pete introduced them, saying, “Sunny, meet Bev and Harry Sapato. Harry’s got a couple of Oscars for producing movies, though Bev ought to have them for putting up with Harry.”

“You’ve got that right,” the woman said, lightly whacking Pete’s belly with her diamanté clutch.

“Bev, Harry, may I introduce the senator’s daughter, Sunny Keegan. The senator, no doubt, you already know.”

Before she could respond, her father took over. Charisma oozing, he said, “It’s terrific to see you again.”

Harry chewed on his cigar, a devilish look in his eyes. “Actually, Senator, we’ve never met. We’re guests of friends tonight.”

“Then you’ll have to bring them to one of our Sunday get-togethers, and we’ll all get acquainted. Have you met Eleanor?”

On cue, her mother slipped beside her husband.
Impeccably groomed, elegant in mauve, she was ready for her job. Her husband had cued her to be nice to the couple. Nothing else mattered, certainly not the presence of one wayward daughter.

For once, Sunny didn’t care, not when she had Pete by her side. He caught her gaze and returned it with such approval and love, the feeling washed over her in calming waves.

She must have missed her father introducing the Sapatos, but she heard Bev say, “We’re tickled pink to see Pete here with your daughter.”

Her mother offered her hand regally to Pete. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Eleanor Keegan.”

“Pete Maguire,” he said respectfully.

“You’re going to love Pete,” Bev gushed. “I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

“Mr. Maguire works for you?” her mother said.

Bev giggled. “Does he ever! Pete can fix anything. I’d trade him for Harry anyday. Not only that, his price is right.”

“Bev makes great carrot cake,” Pete affirmed.

“But there’ll be no carrot cake for a man who keeps secrets. We didn’t know Pete knew your daughter, Mrs. Keegan.”

“Yes, well, our daughter has so many friends,” her mother said magnanimously. “I’m sure your handyman—”

Harry’s bark of laughter caught her midsentence. “Mrs. Keegan, Pete’s not our handyman! He’s our next-door neighbor.”

“In the Colony,” Bev added, as if she’d recognized her parents’ snobbery and had little tolerance for it.

“Malibu?” the senator asked curtly, sending his aide a look that made the man flinch.

“Yes,” Harry said, apparently enjoying the senator’s discomfiture. “We’re all one big happy family out there. Pete, how are those plans coming along for that new development?”

“It’s still in the early stages, Harry. But I have an option on a good-size piece of land.”

What development? Had Pete been keeping secrets from her?

“Starter homes for young families,” Pete whispered in her ear. “I’m going to build ’em.”

She was so proud of him, she could shout.

“Bev, it’s time we found our table. Lovely to meet you, Sunny. See you tomorrow, Pete.” Pointedly ignoring the senator and his wife, they moved on.

Sunny heard her father mutter to an aide, “I thought Maguire was an out-of-work carpenter.”

Pete retrieved the money from his breast pocket and stuck it in her father’s hand. “I don’t think I’ll need this, Senator.”

Sunny beamed. “Still think you know everything you need to know, Daddy? Maybe you’d better update Pete’s file.”

It earned her the famous senatorial glare, but who cared? Pete offered her a discreet low-five, and she slid her hand through, smiling at him with her eyes.

Pete was so proud of his girl. She might look like her dad, but she was nothing like the old dinosaur.

“Well, Alexandra!”

Sunny’s mother. His hackles rose at the sound of Sunny’s formal name.

“Once again you’ve managed to be quite a disappointment.”

Sunny visibly flinched. The cruelty had caught her unaware. Socking a woman went against everything he’d been taught, but he felt like knocking Eleanor Keegan right on her fanny.

“At least I’m consistent,” his girl said, raising her chin.

“Consistently irresponsible,” her mother hissed. “When I sent Pierre and his people, I expected you to be there.”

“I told you I didn’t need them.”

“Didn’t need them?” Her mother looked Sunny up and down, contradicting the claim with a mouth pulled thin with disdain. “You’d cut off your nose to spite your own face.”

“Smile, Eleanor,” the senator murmured, joining them. “The photographers…”

As if she’d tripped a secret lever, the sweetest expression this side of heaven crossed the woman’s face. Incredible, Pete thought. Had she been born able to do that or merely practiced a lot?

“Your taste in clothes hasn’t improved.” Despite the angelic expression, the woman’s voice was dirt mean. “Sequins! Honestly, Alexandra. You look disgraceful.”

That was it. He’d had enough. “I have to disagree with you, Mrs. Keegan. Sunny looks beautiful. Any woman here would like to look half as good.”

The woman’s eyebrows rose. “Pff! What would a man like you know about appropriate dress?”

“About as much as any man, but I can recognize real beauty, the kind that comes from inside, the
kind that lifts people up instead of cuts them down. Your daughter,” he said pointedly, “is a truly beautiful woman.”

Sunny wanted to cheer. Or weep. No one had ever stood up for her like this. First with her dad, now with her mother. If she hadn’t loved Pete before, she would now.

Her mother was nearly a foot shorter than Pete, yet she managed to look down her nose. “I suppose Alexandra’s garish appearance would appeal to a man like you, but what she sees in you, I can’t imagine.” With that, her mother stalked off.

Horrified, Sunny started after her. Her mother could treat her that way, but not Pete.

But he caught her arm and whispered, “Let it go. Don’t stoop to her level.”

Clive Price and her father’s bodyguards reappeared behind Pete. “All right, Maguire, this time you leave,” her father said. “Sunny, go to the stage right now and take your seat.”

“Daddy, you don’t want me up there. It would only make you and Bruce look foolish.”

“No such thing. Do as I say.”

“Please, listen to me. Pete and I fell in love on national television. This Wednesday, when our show is aired, the whole world will know it’s him I love, not Bruce.”

Her father’s smug smile refuted her claim. “I think you’ll find that episode of
Dream Date
has been canceled.”

Shock registered all the way to her toes. “How?”

“Bruce is taking care of it,” he said arrogantly.

“Sam!” Clive interrupted. “Two minutes.”

“Sunny, take your place or you’ll regret it.”

She didn’t see how.

“That’s enough, Senator,” Pete said softly, though his eyes begged for a fight.

“Stay out of this, Maguire, or I’ll see that building project of yours never gets off the ground.”

“Daddy!” She would not have him threaten Pete. “What do I have to do to make you listen? Write some horrible tell-all about the defection of your celebrity daughter? Is that what you want?”

“You would do that?” Rage glittered in her father’s eyes.

No, but it had gotten his attention. “I don’t want it to come to that. We’re family.”

“Your family includes Bruce,” he insisted doggedly.

She put her hand on his arm, appealing to the father she’d loved all her life, “I don’t mind if Bruce is special to you, Daddy, but I won’t be his wife.”

“You have to be. Why can’t you see that?”

It was like talking to a wall.

“You’re my daughter, Sunny. I want you beside me, beside Bruce. The country needs our family. When we care about our country, we put our own wishes aside and do the right thing.”

Do the right thing? Had all these years in politics deadened his conscience? Lying and cheating weren’t right. Condoning those that did—that’s what he’d have her do? It was hopeless. She and her parents would never see things alike.

“I shouldn’t have come,” she said. Rejection burned in her chest.

“Why did you come? Why even bother to show up if you’re not going to do your duty?”

Her duty? Oh, Daddy. “I’m here because Mother asked me to be and I love you,” she said, blinking back tears.

Her father looked hopelessly puzzled. “You would show your love by killing my dream?”

“But it’s your dream,” she said softly, “not mine.”

She could see he didn’t understand and never would.

“Let’s go,” she whispered to Pete.

Her father snagged her arm roughly. “No! We don’t burn our bridges, Sunny.”

“Take your hand off her, sir,” Pete insisted, “unless you want this to get physical. People do burn their bridges…when they don’t like where they’ve been and don’t want to go back.”

The way her father looked at Pete truly frightened her. Men with power like her father could do anything, not that Daddy would dirty his hands, but he knew people who would.

Before she could act, the room darkened and a spotlight searched the width and length of the ballroom. A voice intoned, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our guest of honor, the people’s friend, Sen-a-tor Sammmmm Kee-gan!”

Applause thundered. Bleak defeat on his face, her father looked into her eyes once more. “We don’t always get what we want. But, this time, Sunshine, I guess you do.” Leaning forward, he placed a kiss on her forehead.