The Very Thought of You by Carolann Camillo Read Free Book Online Page B

fingers. “That’s why you look familiar. Your picture was in the Bay Area section of the Chronicle about two or three months ago. You auctioned off a five-hundred-dollar bottle of wine. That’s something not easy to forget. It was to raise money for a clinic.”
    â€œActually, it was a raffle. The wine was donated along with a number of other expensive bottles. The event I put together was a wine tasting. I’m doing an auction, though, this Thursday evening. I usually do four events a year.” Molly speared a plump strawberry with her fork and bit into it. She wondered if she and Nick would stay long enough to sample the cake. She had a sudden craving for sweet, fluffy icing.
    â€œThat sounds like fun. Where will you hold it? Can anyone attend?”
    Molly didn’t have the heart to say her fundraisers were by invitation only and limited to no more than one hundred. That sounded snobby. She could always squeeze in an extra person.
    â€œIf you’re interested, I’ll leave your name at the door. The auction is at the Grill House on Van Ness. The owners volunteered the use of the upstairs party room. We’ll start around eight. I have an extra list of donations somewhere for you to browse.” She set her plate on the sideboard and rummaged through her purse and found a copy. She handed it to Barbara who made a quick perusal. Molly picked up her plate and rewarded herself with another bite of quiche.
    Barbara folded the list and slipped it into her skirt pocket. “Thanks. I’ve never been to an auction. I’m looking forward to it.”
    Molly managed to stick a cold asparagus tip in her mouth when a boy of about ten burst into the dining room. He slowed down as he skidded toward her.
    â€œAre you with my uncle Nick?”
    This was weird. It wouldn’t surprise her if next thing, someone asked where she was registered and if she’d picked out her china pattern.
    â€œYes, she is.” Barbara smoothed back the boy’s auburn hair and adjusted the collar of his white dress shirt in what seemed like a motherly gesture. “Speaking of which … here comes the Martian twin now.”
    Nick entered the room, and Molly could have sworn the light rose in intensity. He kissed his sister on the cheek. “Don’t listen to her. She’s called me a space monster ever since the day I played Commando with her dolls.”
    Commando.
    â€œYou cut off all their hair.” Barbara brought her hand up like she wanted to swat him.
    Nick raised both of his as if to ward off an impending blow. “You can’t charge into battle with flowing locks. If you wanted to join the Commandos, you had to surrender your hair.” He laughed in that deep, masculine way but with an ease of a man who rarely had to force it. “Right, Joey?”
    â€œRight, Uncle Nick.” The kid performed a quick karate chopping motion.
    â€œYou’re twins.” Upon closer inspection, Molly saw the resemblance. Only Barbara seemed to possess a certain kind of gentleness Nick distinctly lacked. She was sweet, sticky lollipops and ruffled pinafores. He came across more like a chainsaw and boxing gloves.
    â€œI’m four minutes older.”
    His sister patted him on the shoulder. “That made you top dog.”
    â€œOh yeah, all that meant was I had to jump in the middle of everyone’s squabbles and whip the rest of you guys into shape.”
    The Commando in action. Molly wondered if he planned to whip her into shape once they started apartment hunting.
    Barbara smiled and nodded as if in acknowledgment of the role he played in their childhood. “Do you have any brothers, Molly?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œSisters?”
    She shook her head.
    â€œThat’s too bad. In spite of how we sound, we’re all pretty close. Maybe next time you come around you’ll meet my younger sister. As usual, she’s late.”
    Next time? Molly didn’t