Every Move She Makes. Jannine Gallant

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СКАЧАТЬ is why I insisted he join us. Anyone who plans to commune with nature for more than a night deserves a civilized send off.”

      Their server delivered the drinks.

      Rachel took a sip of her Irish coffee. “Where’re you camping?”

      “My brother runs a wilderness camp on Donner Summit called Granite Lake Retreat. There’re cabins to sleep in, and all the food is provided for the guests. He offers nature hikes and canoeing, that sort of thing. I volunteered to give him a hand until the rest of his summer staff arrives.”

      Rachel smiled. “Sounds like fun. I haven’t been camping in ages.”

      “My sister actually enjoys sleeping in a tent.” Grace shuddered. “She hikes for fun. If I’m on vacation, I want a luxury hotel with a gym.”

      “I’m with you there, babe.”

      “You two are soft.” Rachel shook her head. “You’re missing out. Nature is good for the soul.”

      “You didn’t tell me you had a crazy sister.” Nolan gazed into Grace’s eyes.

      “I try to keep it a secret. A whacko in the family might reflect badly on the rest of us.”

      Kane raised a brow. “How many of you are there?”

      “Five.” Grace rolled her eyes. “We have another sister and two brothers. It was always a battle for the bathrooms when we all lived at home.”

      “That’s nothing.” Nolan tapped his chest. “My mama raised seven boys and two girls.”

      “I thought having one brother was more than enough.” Kane swallowed the last of his cocktail. “I’m sorry to break up the party, but I really should go. I still have to pack, and I want to hit the road early to beat the morning traffic.”

      “Me, too.” Rachel pushed back her chair. “It was nice meeting you, Nolan.” She turned to face the man beside her. “I hope you enjoy your vacation.”

      “I’ll walk you to your car.”

      “Thanks, but it’s a bit of a hike. I couldn’t find any parking close by.”

      “All the more reason to have an escort. Are you ready to go?”

      “As soon as I pay the bill.” She stood and swooped to retrieve the folder from the approaching server.

      “I’ll get the drinks.” He pulled his wallet out of his pocket.

      “Don’t be silly. You’re our guests, right, Grace?”

      “Right. Let her pay. She always gets her way in the end, so you may as well save the argument.”

      After Rachel handed the young man her credit card, he retreated, nearly bumping into an older woman hovering nearby. The woman stepped around him with a broad smile.

      “It is you! I told my husband I couldn’t be mistaken. I said, ‘Ted, that’s Jordan Hale.’ Sure enough, I was right. Honey, would you mind signing an autograph. I adored you before you fell off that cliff and drowned.” The woman paused for breath and pulled a notepad from her purse.

      Rachel pasted on a smile. “I’d be happy to.”

      “Make it out to Mary Cooke, with an e, please. And can you sign it from Jordan Hale and then your real name? I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to meet you in person. I don’t know why those horrible writers had to go and kill you.”

      “Here you go, Mrs. Cooke. It’s always a pleasure to meet a fan who still remembers me.”

      “Thank you, dear. Why you’re just as nice as you were on the show.” The woman backed toward her own table. “Wait until I tell Mildred. She’s going to be green with envy.”

      Rachel laughed. “Tell Mildred I said hello.” When the server returned with the credit card slip, she signed it.

      Nolan looked from Rachel to Grace. “What was that all about?”

      Kane’s brow creased. “Yeah, why did that woman call you Jordan Hale?”

      “Because that’s who she was back in the day. My sister was Jordan Hale, seductress extraordinaire on Days of Desire.” Grace grinned. “Pretty cool, huh?”

      Rachel shook her head. “Neither of them looks like a soap fan, so I doubt they know what you’re talking about.”

      “Don’t be such a sexist. Plenty of men watch soap operas. After all, the women are hot. Why shouldn’t men watch them?”

      Nolan scowled. “Grace, what the hell are you rambling on about?”

      Rachel took pity on him and explained. “I was on a soap opera while Bryce and I lived in New York. You might remember he played for the Giants before he was traded to San Francisco. Anyway, my character’s name was Jordan Hale.”

      Kane pushed his chair in and stepped closer. “That was, what, a dozen years ago?”

      “Soap fans have long memories, and mine was a popular character. I had quite a following back then.”

      “You still get recognized, though not as often since you cut your hair shorter.” Her sister studied her and tapped one manicured nail on the table. “Jordan Hale looked a lot younger than you do.”

      Rachel rolled her eyes. “Thanks, Gracie. Remind me to break out the support hose.”

      “I don’t think you’re ready for a nursing home yet.” A smile tugged at the edges of Kane’s firm mouth. “Shall we go?”

      She nodded. “Good night, Nolan. Grace, I’ll talk to you soon.”

      “You certainly will.” A speculative gleam lit her eyes. “I’ll expect a full report.”

      Kane guided Rachel through the restaurant with a warm hand against the small of her back. “What did your sister mean by that?”

      “Nothing. Grace is just being Grace. She’s a nut.” Rachel’s cheeks heated. She knew full well what her sister had meant. Unfortunately, Grace had seen her attraction to Kane and was undoubtedly hoping for a juicy end to the evening. As Rachel wasn’t in the habit of jumping into bed with relative strangers, her sister was doomed to disappointment.

      “Where’d you park?” Kane waited for her response as they stepped out into the brisk spring air.

      “Down the Embarcadero.” She shrugged on the sweater her mother had knit her the previous Christmas. “I suppose you’re in the opposite direction.”

      “No, I’m that way, too.” Taking her arm, he led her around a crowd of people who’d stopped to listen to a street musician.

      The clear, clean notes of his saxophone followed them as they strolled down the brick-paved sidewalk. The moon was out, a silver orb shining over the bay.

      She tilted her chin. “Look at that sky.”

      “Beautiful, СКАЧАТЬ