Deadly Liaisons. Elle James

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СКАЧАТЬ one knows for sure,” Molly continued. “If she did kill Ian on purpose, why would she have joined him?”

      “Unless someone pushed her,” said a big guy with pale blond, wispy hair and glasses. He’d sat near Talia all evening, his gaze rarely leaving her.

      Nova concealed a smile. The man had a thing for the dark-haired woman, and by the looks of it, she didn’t know he existed.

      Talia’s gaze shifted to Nova as if she could sense his thoughts. Nova’s glance returned to Molly’s clear, green gaze.

      “What happened to Ian and Rose’s son?” a man asked.

      Molly grinned. “That would be my great-great-grandfather. He was raised by an elderly aunt who came to Cape Churn from Philadelphia.”

      Another guest raised her hand. “Have you ever seen Ian and Rose’s ghosts?”

      Molly nodded. “Once I saw Ian on the upper landing late in the night, wearing his nightgown and carrying a candle.”

      “What about Rose?” she asked.

      “I’ve seen her by the cliffs. Not that I recommend anyone go out there tonight. Because, you see, while you were enjoying the evening meal, the Devil’s Shroud crept over the cliffs and cloaked McGregor Manor in thick fog.”

      As one, the roomful of people moved, everyone leaping to their feet to crowd through the door onto the wide front porch of the mansion.

      Nova remained behind. “Beautiful.”

      Molly’s cheeks flushed and she looked at her hands. “Thank you. And thank you for helping with the dishes.” She collected coffee cups from tables and started for the kitchen.

      Not wanting to let her get away, he followed, picking up dessert plates and glasses as he passed through the dining room and into the kitchen. He shouldn’t start anything with the McGregor woman, especially when he was about to leave, but something about her touched him and made him want to get to know her better. Was it the way she empathized with the former owners of the grand mansion? Or the perpetual smile that remained permanently affixed to her lips?

      Molly was already elbow deep in the sudsy water when Nova entered the kitchen, carrying more dishes.

      “Really, you didn’t have to do that.” She blew at a strand of hair falling over her forehead.

      Nova set the dishes on the counter beside her and brushed the strand of hair behind her ear. “Better?”

      He stood so close, he could see the tiny flecks of gold in her green eyes. She blinked, her lips parting.

      Before he could think better of the idea, he lifted her chin with the crook of his finger. “I imagine you are as beautiful as Ian’s Rose.”

      “I’m sure she was much prettier,” Molly replied, her voice breathy, her gaze dropping to his mouth.

      “I seriously doubt it.”

      When her tongue darted out to wet her lips, Nova was drawn to her, wanting a kiss to taste those damp lips. He bent toward her, his breath mingling with hers.

      When their gazes met, her green irises flared. She raised a wet, sudsy hand to his chest, the warm water penetrating the fabric of his shirt.

      Nova wondered what it would feel like to have her soap-covered hand running across his bare skin. His pulse leaped and he closed in on those luscious lips.

      “Molly, your guests are ready for their tour.” Gabe McGregor swung the kitchen door open and backed through, carrying a tray of mugs and glasses.

      With great reluctance, Nova stepped away from Molly.

      “I’ll be right there.” Molly’s gaze dropped from his and she went back to work, scrubbing furiously at the already clean dish.

      Nova faced the intruder.

      Gabe grinned when he spotted Nova and Molly. “Ah, Casanova, thanks for helping out. I should have jumped up when you did. Molly always seems so capable, I forget she could use an extra hand now and then.” Gabe set the tray on the butcher block in the middle of the kitchen. “Why don’t you two take a break while I finish up the dishes?”

      Molly refused to look up as she rinsed a pot and reached for a towel.

      Gabe handed one to Nova. “I’ll be right back with the last of the glasses, then I’ll finish up the dishes.” He pointed at his sister. “No excuses.”

      “You heard the man. No excuses.” Nova took the pot from Molly, dried it and then dried her hands. “Come on, you’ve been working all evening. I’ll bet you didn’t even eat dinner.”

      Molly glanced around the kitchen as if gauging the amount of work still needing done. “I sat down at your table.”

      “You didn’t touch the food on your plate.” He gripped her hand in his and tugged her toward the door, knowing he needed to get going, but not until he finished what he’d started with a real kiss.

      Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of red. “Have you been watching me?”

      “Not much. But enough to tell when a beautiful green-eyed blonde, with cheeks that can blush as brightly as a ripe peach, isn’t eating her meal.”

      Her hand flew to her face. “I’m not blushing. It’s hot in here.”

      He smiled, knowing better, but seizing an opportunity wherever he could find it. “Then we should step outside so that you can cool off. Come, cariña.”

      By the time they emerged onto the porch, the ghost hunters and Nova’s teammates had reconvened in the lounge around a blazing fire.

      Refusing to release Molly’s hand, Nova leaned against the rail, his back to the wall of fog that had crept in on the McGregor B&B. Like a cocooning, impenetrable shroud, the fog blocked the beautiful view of the cape. The only residual evidence of the ocean nearby was the soft splashing sound of waves slapping the rocks far below the cliffs.

      Molly didn’t pull free, allowing him to lace his fingers with hers.

      “I lied,” he began.

      She stared at where their fingers wove together. “Oh? When?”

      “When I said I didn’t watch you much.”

      Her gaze rose to his. “Why me?”

      He smiled. “I’m curioso.”

      “Curious about what?” she whispered.

      “I wanted to know one thing before I left.” He tugged her closer.

      “Yeah?” She stopped when they were toe-to-toe. “And what’s that?”

      “Just how good you taste.” He started his descent, his mouth angling toward hers.

      Before he could get there, she raised a finger and planted it on his lips. СКАЧАТЬ