Kiss Me Forever/Love Me Forever. Rosemary Laurey
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Название: Kiss Me Forever/Love Me Forever
Автор: Rosemary Laurey
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Эротическая литература
isbn: 9781420114546
isbn:
“I’m not worried about burglars.”
He actually had the gall to grin. Dixie pressed her palms on the table and leaned forward, her face tensing in a frown. “You’re avoiding my question, buster. Where did you get it and why was it sitting in your kitchen?”
“Isn’t that two questions?” He raised his hands up, palms out, as she leaned across the tale. “Alright, Dixie. You want to know where I got it?”
“Yup.” She waited, determined to stand her ground until she got her answer.
“Caughleigh gave it to me. I offered to return it to you.”
“But you didn’t.”
“I’m afraid I forgot about it.”
She’d worked in schools long enough to know a lie when she heard one. “Why would Sebastian give it to you? I was in his office on Wednesday and I’m seeing him tomorrow night.”
Christopher’s mouth twisted as his eyebrows curled. “Enjoy yourself, my dear.”
That did it! “I expect to.”
“I hope you’re not disappointed.” It was almost a whisper but she heard it clear as day.
“Why should I be?”
“Because, my dear Dixie, Sebastian Caughleigh is not the man for you.”
The laugh came from somewhere deep inside. She shook her head. “I’m thirty years old, Christopher. Old enough to decide these things for myself. Look, I didn’t come here to fight. I just wanted a straight answer. Maybe I got it. I’ll probably never know. Thanks for the check. Assuming it clears okay, our business is over.”
“Maybe,” he replied and walked her to the door. “Take care, Dixie. Make sure you choose the right company.”
Just what did he mean by that?
What was the truth about her organizer? Had she dropped it in Sebastian’s office? If so, why would he give it to Christopher? They acted more like adversaries that friends.
Christopher had to be lying. Why did she want to believe him? Did it matter? She’d see Sebastian tomorrow night. She’d ask him. And why believe him? Being a lawyer didn’t guarantee integrity. She’d learned that the hard way.
Chapter Six
Perched high in the elm tree, Christopher watched Dixie lock her car and then go in the front door. He’d replayed their conversation a dozen times since she left. She didn’t trust him now, just as well. He was nothing but bad news. But how he ached for her—his own fault. If he hadn’t tasted that one time he’d never have known the warmth of her soul and the sweetness of her lifeblood, and now he’d spend eternity missing her.
He had no choice. He had to leave Bringham. Tom was right—it was getting too dangerous. If he stayed, it was only a matter of time before Caughleigh sussed the situation. And the thought of Caughleigh weaving Dixie into his machinations…Christopher’s fists balled up at the idea. He’d take up Tom’s invitation to stay in South Audley Street. Soon. He sagged against the tree trunk. By Abel! He was weaker than a fledgling. He shouldn’t have gone out this afternoon. The sun sapped his strength and it would take more than a day’s rest to restore him.
He had to feed. Sebastian’s new hunter wouldn’t match Dixie’s sweetness, but the prospect held a certain satisfaction.
Clicking her seat belt as Sebastian closed the door, Dixie wondered why she’d agreed to come.
He seemed to have no doubts at all. “I feel lucky tonight. I think we’ll win.” He flashed white teeth at her.
Win or score? She’d play Whist and that was all.
The same people she met at the Whytes’ filled the village hall. Hardly surprising. This village made a small town seem like a metropolis, but there was a certain security in placing names on familiar faces—Emma with Ian, Sally, who looked very different with her hair cut short all over, Mark Flynn, the bank manager, and Emily Reade.
“Emily!” Sebastian almost hissed the name as she toddled towards them, a tin tray of sherry glasses in her hands.
She beamed at Sebastian. Dixie merited a polite nod. “Settled in your new place, are you? Have a sherry. We’ve sweet or dry. What do you prefer?”
Dixie chose dry. It suited her mood. She took two sips from the thick-rimmed glass and then almost gulped it all. Christopher was here! She scanned the hall but didn’t see him.
“Looking for someone?” Sebastian smiled. He was at her elbow, close enough so she could smell his aftershave. She didn’t care for his aftershave. “Anyone I know?”
Something told her he wouldn’t appreciate the truth. “Just admiring the building.” She looked up at the high ceiling and age-darkened rafters. “It looks like an old barn.”
“It is.” Emily was back. “An old tithe barn. They planned on demolishing it between the wars but the parish bought it.”
By the look of the two of them, another war wasn’t far off. Dixie remembered Emily’s hurried exit to meet Sebastian after the Whytes. What was going on and how had she ended up in the middle? If Emily imagined some sort of duel for Sebastian, she could put her weapons away. Dixie wasn’t interested.
“We’re at the same table. Isn’t that nice? I can talk to Dixie about her house. I’ve always wanted to see inside it. Your aunts were reclusive. They never invited anyone over.”
“Drop by sometime.” They reached the table and Sebastian held both their chairs. Dixie sat down, and again the certainty hit her—Christopher was very close. Was she going lightheaded from skipping lunch? Was sherry stronger than she thought?
“Got a partner, Emily? Or are we playing three-handed?”
Emily giggled. “We’ll have four. Emma said there were several odd people.”
“How unkind of her. She may call me eccentric, but I take exception at ‘odd.”
At the familiar voice Sebastian hissed, Emily popped her eyes, and Dixie felt a warm glow inside. “Hello, Christopher. You never said you were coming.”
“A last minute decision.” He settled himself in the empty chair. “Well, Caughleigh, you look ready to cut.”
Thank heavens they weren’t playing Bridge. She’d never be able to concentrate in this company. Testosterone sparked between Sebastian and Christopher, and Emily smiled in a way that suggested Lucrezia Borgia. Come to think of it, the big opal on her finger suited the part.
Sebastian cut spades as trumps and dealt in silence. Dixie was fanning out her hand as Christopher asked, “Play to win and take no prisoners, right, Emily?”
He and Emily won the first three hands.
Dixie played carefully and remembered discards but her play couldn’t match Christopher’s. Even when she held four trumps СКАЧАТЬ