Absolutely, Positively

my wife,” Brandon said tightly. “She loves me. When the chips are down, she'll back me.”

    Harry said nothing. He was no judge of Olivia's affections. He had certainly misread her a year and a half ago, when he had convinced himself that Olivia had loved him.

5

    “Well, Molly, did you carry out your threat to fire your so-called consultant?” Cutter Latteridge sliced into the thick, rare steak that took up half of his plate. Blood red juices ran onto the nearby baked potato.

    “I've decided to give Trevelyan another chance.” Molly averted her gaze from the sight of the bleeding steak. She looked at her aunt, who was sitting next to Cutter on the other side of the table. “It's not like there's a lot of choice. People with his sort of expertise are few and far between.”

    “Yes, I know, dear, but you did say he was being awfully difficult,” Venicia reminded her. “You told me he hadn't approved a single grant proposal.”

    “True,” Molly admitted. “But I have hopes.”

    “I trust you do.” Venicia made atut-tutt sound. “Pity to think of all that money sitting around waiting to go to a worthy cause. Jasper would have been so disappointed.”

    “I know.” Molly smiled.

    She was very fond of Venicia. Her aunt had always been part of her life. Venicia had offered comfort and support in the traumatic period following the death of Molly's mother. Years later, in the wake of the failed experiment that had taken the lives of the Abberwick brothers, Molly, Kelsey, and Venicia had grieved together and consoled each other.

    Venicia was a slightly plump, energetic woman in her mid-fifties. Shortly after the patent royalty checks had begun arriving on a regular basis, she had discovered an abiding enthusiasm for trendy fashion. Tonight she was wearing a gold-studded, purple silk jumpsuit, huge purple and gold earrings, and several pounds of gold necklaces.

    “Not much point in having a well-endowed foundation if you can't find anyone to fund,” Cutter observed. His bushy gray brows bounced as he chewed vigorously on his steak.

    “Jasper is probably turning over in his grave,” Venicia murmured. “He and Julius were both so eager to help out other financially strapped inventors. They both spent most of their lives scrounging for cash for their projects. They wanted to make it easier for others who found themselves in their position. I wonder why it is that so many inventors are unable to handle finances.”

    Cutter shook his head sympathetically. “Unfortunately the same brilliant mind that can focus so keenly on invention is often not very good with the financial aspects of the work.”

    “How true.” Venicia sighed. “Neither Jasper nor my husband could be bothered with such concerns. Jasper was worse than Julius, truth be known. He really got into deep trouble with the banks on a couple of occasions, didn't he, Molly?”

    “Yes.” Molly concentrated on her spicy Thai-flavored pasta. It made her uncomfortable to discuss Jasper's lamentable money habits outside the family. And although it appeared that he soon would be a member of the clan, Cutter Latteridge had not yet made the transition.

    “I do believe Jasper's family would have wound up on food stamps after Samantha died if it hadn't been for Molly,” Venicia told Cutter. “Poor girl had to drop out of college to go to work in order to keep a roof over their heads.”

    “Dad more than made up for it in the end,” Molly reminded her quietly. “That patent he took out for the industrial robotic systems will provide a large, steady income for years.”

    “But the money came too late for you, my dear,” Venicia said wistfully. “You had already made a success of your tea and spice shop by the time the royalties started arriving.”

    Molly shrugged. “Depends on your point of view. I had the satisfaction of achieving my success with my own efforts.”

    “An excellent attitude.” Cutter gave her an approving look. “And you should be commended for not squandering the income from those patents on frivolous things. I'm sure Jasper Abberwick would be pleased to know that you've channeled so much money into his foundation.”

    “She's done exactly what Jasper would have wanted,” Venicia said proudly. “Goodness knows she's been generous to me, and she's taken excellent care of Kelsey. There's plenty left over for the foundation.”

    Cutter assumed a grave expression. “Excellent cause. Never enough money for