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Her eyes widened. "You sure have a way with people."
"I don't want you to have anything to do with that man."
Alex laughed. "Right."
Trey gripped her arms hard. "I'm serious, Alexandra. He's dangerous."
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She turned to look at Andrew, who had found another dance partner, and twirled the
woman across the floor. "He looks harmless to me."
"Looks can be deceiving."
She rolled her eyes. "Trey."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Let's get some fresh air."
"Why do you defend him?" He gripped her arm as he led her away from the dance area.
Her hands went to her hips. "Why were you so rude to him?"
"Is he the one who hired you?"
Alex froze for a moment. How ludicrous. She tried to take a deep breath, but the corset
restricted her. "So what are you going to ask next, if we're lovers?"
"The question did cross my mind."
She stepped up close to Trey. A loud slap rang in the air. "You are a jerk!"
Before she could walk away, Trey snagged her hand.
"Mr. Dalton, please release my hand."
"I'm sorry, Alexandra."
She looked up at him, surprised that he apologized so easily. Then it dawned on her. He
only did it to save face. A couple in love shouldn't argue.
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"Oh no, Mr. Dalton, no need to apologize." She spoke softly, but her anger showed. "I
have dealt with men like you before. Arrogant, insufferable..."
"Male chauvinist?"
Alex gave him a cross look. "Yes. Rude and obnoxious."
"A pig?"
"Yes." She frowned. "Where did you hear that?"
"From you. What is a male chauvinist pig?"
Alex stared at him. She wanted to remain mad at him, but his innocent look made it too
difficult. "It is an insult."
"I thought so." Trey paused for a moment. "Are you attracted to Andrew?"
Alex sighed, knowing her anger had dissipated. "No. Trey, he's like a brother."
"Are you saying he's related to you?"
Alex looked up into his angry face. "Yes."
"How?"
"You won't believe me," she replied.
He took a step closer to her. "Try me."
"He's my great-great-great grandfather."
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Trey looked at her for a few seconds with a straight face. He really tried to remain
solemn, but he couldn't stop the laughter as it bubbled to the surface.
She continued to speak calmly. "In 1885 he will marry a Elizabeth Beaudreaux. They
will have four children. One will die in childbirth. The oldest of the remaining three will be
named Joseph. He will marry Katherine Donnelly in 1911. They will have a total of nine
children. The third child will be a boy. His name will be Patrick. He will get married in
1938 to a Miss Marie O'Sullivan. They will have four boys, the second boy; Michael will
marry Janine Manning just before his thirtieth birthday. Seven years after they marry, they
will have a daughter, Alex."
Trey's laughter stopped. "You meant to start in 1785."
She shook her head. "No, I didn't."
"You can't honestly want me to believe..."
"The truth?" she asked. "Yes I do. Trey the evidence is there. Look at the money, or my
watch. Check out the clothing I wore that first day. Have you ever seen anything like it?"
"It is just a hoax. When Beaudreaux returns..."
"What are you going to do when he says he didn't hire me?" she asked, lifting her skirt to
take a step closer. "When are you going to believe what is in front of your eyes. What do I
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have to do to convince you?"
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Chapter 8
A HOT, HUMID breeze stirred the curtains. Alex welcomed anything that would help
cool her. God, she hated the heat. It was one of the reasons she left New Orleans to go to
college in Boston.
M.I.T., renowned for their science programs, was the perfect place for her to find what
she liked doing best. Once she started her studies it didn't take her long to find a niche in
astrophysics and a love for cooler temperature. Her friends couldn't understand why she
wanted to lock herself up in a cold observatory. If only she could go back to that cold
building right now.
A bead of moisture rolled down her throat, over her collarbone and into the front of her
blouse. Sitting back on her heals; Alex stopped scrubbing the floors to wipe her face with a
handkerchief. The sharp tang of ammonia rose from her hands and made her eyes water.
She closed her eyes against the fumes.
When she opened her eyes again, Fluerette stood in front of her, holding a tall glass of
lemonade. "Oh, Fluerette, you are a life saver."
Fluerette just stared at her.
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She decided to try again. "Thank you."
This time Fluerette smiled. "You're welcome. I just made a whole pi'ture if you'd like
some more."
Alex smiled as she struggled to get up from the floor without stepping on some part of
her dress. She'd never get use to so much clothing. She needed a break, from her work as
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