Read Fire and Ash (Immortal Touch) for Free Online Page B

I’m not going to bite you.”
    The couple exchanged clandestine smiles as if they found her off-the-cuff remark humorous. Maybe she’d inadvertently used some new idiom she wasn’t up to date on. Youthspeak was fickle. A few years ago she’d heard Eva call someone a dillhole and assumed it had something to do with the spice.
    Yeah…apparently it didn’t.
    “So Julian…I understand you’re a musician?”
    “I do dabble in musical composition, yes.”
    “What instrument do you play?”
    “Classic piano, keyboard, cello, violin, acoustic guitar…”
    “I didn’t know you played the guitar,” Eva remarked.
    “It isn’t my instrument of choice. I prefer the piano.”
    “My goodness, you are accomplished. I could barely get Eva to sit still long enough to master Mary Had A Little Lamb .”
    “Pfft. Just as well. Dad took the piano with him when he moved out,” Eva pointed out , then added facetiously, “Do you suppose Michelle is musically inclined?”
    “Oh, honey. I’d be surprised if Michelle could figure out how to get the fallboard up.” Whoops. Maybe she should watch the ex-bashing in present company. She didn’t want to give him the impression that she was some bitter old harpy.
    And s peaking of disappearing men…“So how is your father these days?”
    “I’m afraid we haven’t spoken in years,” Julian confided. “I was not a priority in his life , you see. We never had a typical father/son relationship.”
    “And your mother? Where does she live?”
    “She passed away when I was twelve. After that, I was sent to live with my grandfather in London.”
    “Oh…I’m sorry.” Situations like this always felt awkward to Abby. After all, what could be said that didn’t come off as insincere?
    “No need to be. You couldn’t have known. Besides, I still have Lainie.”
    “Is that your grandmother?”
    “Lainie was his nanny. She practically raised him,” Eva explained. “She’s the friend I told you about, the one I stayed with in Scotland.”
    “ That’s right, I remember now. Thought the name sounded familiar.”
    “You’ll meet her at the wedding,” Julian promised.
    “Which brings me to my next question…when will that be?” Abby leaned forward and targeted her daughter. “Have you set a definite date yet?”
    “Not exactly. We’re thinking end of April, first of May. Somewhere around that time.”
    “So soon?”
    “We don’t want anything elaborate. Just a simple ceremony with a few family members and friends.”
    Well, on the upside, at least they didn’t intend to bankrupt her with something ostentatious. She wasn’t about to grovel to Edwin for him to pitch in with the cost, even if it was his responsibility. He’d shown a long time ago what he thought of responsibility.
    Julian must have been reading her mind. “Incidentally, I intend to cover all the expenses myself. We would appreciate your involvement with the preparations, though. Originally we had planned on a private ceremony, but…” He hesitated at this point. “I have no family to speak of, other than Lainie, you see. It never occurred to me before how important it would be for Eva to have her family in attendance. So…I leave it to the two of you to decide who to invite. Money is no issue. I’ll take care of accommodations for the guests, travel expenses - whatever it takes. I want everyone who matters to her to be there.”
    My stars. This guy’s a definite keeper. “Are you sure? I mean, I don’t mind helping out financially…”
    “Thank you, but really, there’s no need for that. It will be no burden to me, I assure you.”
    Handsome, wealthy and one hundred percent devoted to her daughter’s happiness. He was almost too good to be true. She could only hope and pray there was no skeleton in his closet waiting to pop out after it was too late. But no…she shouldn’t think that way. He’d given her absolutely no reason to be pessimistic.
    “ Have you thought about where you want