Undying Laughter. Kelsey Roberts

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СКАЧАТЬ know what I meant,” Wesley countered with a frown.

      “I know,” she said, softening her expression with a genuine smile. “But you’re wrong about me.”

      “Really?”

      “I’m not intimidated by this guy.”

      “Caution and intimidation aren’t the same thing.”

      “I know,” she said, winking in an attempt to lighten his mood. “I’m smart. Remember?”

      “Then be smart enough to do whatever’s necessary to find out why you’re being stalked.”

      Destiny swatted his hand away and ran her fingers through her hair. “Please stop using the word stalked. And either put on the air-conditioning or throw back the top. I’m going to expire in this heat.”

      “Avoidance,” he grumbled as he reached over and pressed something that made a whirring sound.

      Blue skies, bright sun and a sweet-smelling breeze filled the car. “I’m not avoiding anything,” she told him as he put the car into Drive.

      “Uh-huh.”

      “I’m not.” Destiny turned in the seat, tucking her leg beneath her in the process. Her eyes took in the strong angles of his face. Everything about this man seemed to exude strength.

      “Whatever you say.”

      “I’m not,” she insisted. “I’m simply not willing to allow some lunatic to dictate my actions.”

      “And what happens if this lunatic decides he wants to do more than just admire you from afar? Then what?”

      “Are you trying to scare me to death?”

      “No. I’m trying to get you to understand the potential danger of this situation.”

      “Why are you doing this?”

      “Doing what?”

      “Caring.”

      Wesley met her eyes briefly. “Don’t most people care about you?”

      “You answered my question with a question. You do that a lot.”

      “Sorry.”

      “My friends care about me, Doctor. But we’re hardly friends.”

      “Really?”

      “That’s another question.”

      “Sorry.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Why aren’t we friends?”

      “We don’t know each other,” Destiny said with a little laugh. “Maybe we would have been friends. That isn’t the point. I don’t understand why you’ve made me your cause du jour.”

      “You aren’t a cause. You’re a woman with a serious problem.”

      As she digested his answer, she wasn’t quite sure whether she liked it or not. “I’m a woman used to solving her own problems.”

      “I’m sure you are,” Wesley told her easily. “But there’s no crime in asking for help. Especially when it’s freely offered.”

      “Nothing in life is free, Doctor.”

      “Very cynical,” he observed. “Care to expound?”

      “Not particularly. Suffice it to say that I strongly believe that you have to pay for everything in one way or another.”

      “I believe you’ve just simplified the dynamics of karma into a cross-stitch sampler.”

      “Cute,” Destiny remarked, feeling herself relax. “Beneath that professional exterior lives a wicked sense of humor.”

      “Don’t tell anyone.”

      “Your secret is safe. Besides, I’m not keen on any more competition.”

      “Do you constantly look over your shoulder for the next shining star?”

      Destiny smiled and captured her hair in her fist as the car accelerated out of the city. “I try never to look back. It isn’t healthy.”

      “Are you always this evasive?” Wesley queried.

      “I guess it’s been a long time since I carried on a conversation with anyone other than Gina or David.”

      “Very limited. Too limited for such a beautiful young woman.”

      “Thanks, I think. You certainly are good at giving backhanded compliments.”

      “Sorry. Must be Rose’s influence.”

      “She seems like a very nice lady. Very real.”

      “Except for her delusions about Elvis Presley and her passion for wearing animal prints.”

      “There’s nothing wrong with a flamboyant personal style or an appreciation of the King.”

      “I agree. But I’ll admit it was something of a shock to discover my mother looked and acted like a reject from some BBC comedy.”

      “What do you mean, discover?”

      “I’ve only recently reestablished a relationship with Rose. Mostly because of my brother, J.D. He and his wife went back to Florida shortly after they were married.”

      “He’s the guy who did the dependency?” she asked.

      Wesley nodded. “He and Tory—that’s his wife—had some trouble with the renovations.”

      “What kind of trouble?”

      “They found a body shorn up in the wall.”

      “Yuk!” Destiny said with a groan. “Thanks for sharing that with me. It will make standing on that stage really comfortable.”

      “It wasn’t a body, actually. It was a skeleton. And everything worked out in the end.”

      “Sounds peachy,” Destiny managed to say. “Anything else you’d like to share with me?”

      “I could tell you about Chad’s kidnapping, but I’ll save that for another time.”

      “Chad? Isn’t that Agent Tanner’s son?”

      “Yep.”

      “Is The Rose Tattoo cursed, or something?”

      “Nothing so sinister,” Wes assured her. “Just a bad year or so for the locals.”

      “I guess if my admirer shows up, he’ll be in good company here in Charleston. That’s something.”

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