His Wicked Dream (Velvet Lies, Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

plannin' on kickin' the bucket today," Claudia snapped, "so you can stop panderin' fer the fortune yer uncle left me. Eden, this here's Bonnie."
    Bonnie turned fire-engine red.
    "Pleased to know you," Eden said mildly.
    Bonnie gave her a stiff nod, recovering her dignity and her chilly demeanor. "So you're Eden, Aunt Claudia's great-niece. Really, my dear, you've been the talkof the town. No one even knew you existed until youwired Aunt Claudia out of the blue. Strange how you should show up now, of all times."
    Claudia snorted. Eden darted her aunt an uneasy glance. What had Bonnie meant by that last dig? Was Claudia's heart condition worse than she pretended?
    Meanwhile, thunder rumbled, making the ground tremble. Eden hugged her fluttering hat tighter. The elm's canopy was lashing back and forth so crazily that leaves were starting to rip free. Anastasia, bless her mutinous soul, clung as tenaciously to her limb as a flea does to a dog.
    "Jamie, come along," Bonnie ordered, holding out her hand.
    The boy glanced anxiously over his shoulder, and Bonnie's eyes narrowed.
    "What's that you're hiding behind your back?"
    "Nothing," Jamie lied.
    Clearly suspicious, Bonnie started forward when another clap of thunder made them all jump. Jamie dropped his toad. Bonnie spied the tumbling creature and emitted a strangled gasp.
    "Warts!" Alarmed, she grabbed Jamie's wrists and turned over his hands. "Jamie Harragan, you are going to have—"
    Her words broke off in midsentence, and she made a tiny mew. Her gaze was no longer fastened on Jamie. Instead, it was riveted behind the boy's head, on the yard beside the depot. A tall man in a well-tailored suitcoat was leading a black gelding out of the farrier's shop.
    The blacksmith himself trailed in the gentleman's wake, but Bonnie hardly seemed to notice the stout and soiled smith. Instead, she stared at the gentleman, whose lean waist and narrow hips were accentuated by the dark fabric of his impeccable suit. When the gentleman stooped, running his hands over his horse's rear legs, Bonnie's eyes slitted, and her features took on a predatory expression, one much like Stazzie wore when she was anticipating the epicurean delights of a mouse.
    Suddenly, Jamie was free. He collided with Eden, chirped an apology, then sprinted after his toad, which had made a beeline for the rhododendron bushes near Stazzie's tree.
    Claudia chuckled, a low, throaty sound that hinted as much at mischief as amusement. "That there's Michael," she said, giving Eden a wink.
    Her curiosity piqued, Eden glanced back toward the farrier's yard. Michael had stripped off his coat and now stood rolling up his sleeves. Eden had a moment to notice that the cut and color of the outer garment had been deceiving: the stark contrast of his white shirt against the silky black of his vest proved he was much broader across his chest and shoulders than she'd first imagined. Then he turned his back. When he squatted, exposing taut buttocks to examine his gelding's hocks, Bonnie breathed a dreamy little sigh.
    The sound Eden made was more exasperated.
    She supposed the man was attractive enough, with his form-fitting breeches and Olympian shoulders, but really. Her cat was about to be electrocuted!
    "Aunt Claudia?"
    No answer.
    "Aunt Claudia," she insisted again, raising her voice above the rattle of an oncoming wagon. "Do you know where I can get a saucer of milk? I want to try to lure Stazzie down."
    Claudia didn't answer. Apparently she was too busy oogling at Michael.
    Before Eden could repeat her question, lightning spat, arching earthward in an eerie blue display. It struck the grounding rod on the roof of Claudia's general store. A premonition scuttled down Eden's spine. She watched the horse spook in its harness. The wagon veered off course.
    Suddenly Jamie dashed out from the bushes in pursuit of his toad.
    Dear God.
    It all happened so quickly. The driver cursed; the horse reared; Bonnie screamed a warning. Flailing hooves