She was overheating just looking at him. Andre ceased talking, and she realized he'd been speaking while she ogled Gabriel.
"Come again?" she asked, sipping her wine.
Andre raised his eyebrow in polite disapproval, the same way his father did.
"Wynn's not dead, is he?"
"No, dear. You were friends?" Andre had Wynn's patience and manner, though she sensed more genuine warmth in the man before her than she had during the tenure of her friendship with Wynn.
"Are friends, you mean," she replied. "As far as I know."
"That's expensive wine, my friend," Andre said suddenly.
Deidre twisted to see Gabriel at the wine chiller. He had a bottle in his hand and twisted the cork free with little effort. He gave her the look, the one she knew was meant to remind her of his rules, before he dumped the bottle into the sink. A thrill went through her at the silent dare.
"Perhaps, if you promise him not to drink it except with me, he'll spare the rest of those precious bottles," Andre said, gaze on the wine going down the drain. "I'm French. I cannot bear this level of abuse. Would that appease you, Gabriel?"
"She knows not to drink," was the firm response.
"Judging by the stack of wine bottles near the door, there needs to be a middle ground you can agree on," Andre advised.
"Middle ground, sweetie," she repeated with exaggerated innocence. "Some sort of arrangement we can both live with."
Gabriel's jaw ticked as held her gaze for a long moment. "Very well."
"Who are you and what have you done with Gabriel?" she asked, surprised.
"I can always say no," he reminded her.
"So can I." She turned her back to him.
"I think we have an agreement," Andre said, smiling. "Yes?"
"Yes," Gabriel replied.
"I guess," she said grudgingly. "Now, about this unexpected visit."
"Without Gabe to distract you this time, perhaps you will listen," Andre said.
She flushed, grateful Gabriel wasn't able to see her face.
"My talent lies with the mind. I read, control, manipulate and anything else I need to do to the mind, I can," Andre started. "I am here simply to assess what is in your brain."
"You mean the tumor or my thoughts?" she asked.
"The tumor."
"Tell me why."
"To see if there's something I can do in order to prevent the inevitable, of course."
Gabriel moved into her peripheral, thumbs looped through his belt as he leaned against the counter on the other side of the breakfast bar's island. Deidre looked at him hard for a moment then shook her head and gripped her wine, padding into the living area. She sat in the oversized armchair, curling her legs beneath her as she drank her wine.