Intrusion: A Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

automatically.
    “Yes. Yes. Of course.”
    Sarah touched Kat’s arm, a soft pressure, then turned and returned to the group at the door.
    “Exit, pursued by a bear,” murmured Maggie. “With any luck.”
    James raised an eyebrow, looked quizzically at Kat.
    “Shakespeare,” Kat explained. “Winter’s Tale.”
    James laughed as he sat down again. Kat found that her hands were trembling; there was a thrumming in her chest.
    “Now, we can leave,” she said. “Surely?”

    In the hotel room, Scott stood and stretched.
    “We should think about bed, sweetheart,” he said, smoothing Kat’s hair. “Miyamoto wants a breakfast meeting before we all head back to LA.”
    They had booked an extra room for Scott and Kat, with a king-size bed, but Kat still lounged on her bed in Maggie’s room as she sipped a nightcap.
    “Unless you want to stay here and chat for a while?” he added.
    “No. We can chat in the morning,” said Kat, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and fumbling for her shoes. She looked over at her sister, now leaning back against the headboard and yawning widely.
    “Besides, Ms. Life and Soul of the Party here is fading fast.”
    “I am. I admit it,” said Maggie. “I think the sight of Cherrington wore me out. Maggie, you haven’t changed a bit. Bloody bitch.”
    “You’re talking about Sarah Harrison?” Scott asked.
    “The very same. She was Sarah Cherrington when we knew her.”
    “She come from some kind of old-money family?” Scott asked. “James said he thought so.”
    “Because she acts like the queen?” Maggie asked.
    “Maggie, stop. She’s from an old English family,” Kat said. “But there’s no money left, I don’t think. She would never talk about her parents. They’re both dead.”
    Kat had asked Sarah about her mother once, tentatively, and Sarah had turned sharply, eyes flashing like knives: Never ask me about her. Never. Kat never asked again.
    “The partners thought she was charming,” Scott said. “Miyamoto liked her a lot.”
    “Naturally,” said Maggie. “And what did Mrs. Miyamoto have to say?”
    “She doesn’t say much. Oh, okay, I get it. Anyway, time for bed.”
    Kat, getting to her feet, turned to Maggie.
    “What time’s your flight, Mags?”
    “Not until the evening. We have plenty of time.”
    “We can have our own breakfast meeting then,” said Kat. “I’ll come get you around nine.”
    Maggie stood, still yawning, and walked with them to the door. As Scott strolled toward the elevator, Kat kissed her sister’s cheek and turned to follow him.
    “Sleep well, Maggie.”
    “I’ll probably have nightmares,” Maggie said. “Who would have thought we’d meet that damn woman again?”
    Shaking her head, Maggie closed the door.

    Kat opened the drapes a little so they could see the sky from the bed.
    “Is it too bright?” she asked Scott. “The moon will be shining right on us.”
    “Leave it. It’s nice. Come to bed.”
    She cuddled in beside him, and he pulled her against his shoulder, holding his arms loosely around her.
    “Missed you,” he said.
    “I missed you, too. It must have been horrible. An empty house,” she said. “I didn’t think about that.”
    “It was quiet.”
    He hugged her closer and Kat became aware of his erection, pressing against her thigh. The first time since Chris’s death that she had been aware of any sexual stirring in Scott at all. She stayed very still, tears building in her throat. He was kissing her shoulder, softly, persuasively, and she squeezed her eyes tightly shut, thinking— I can’t. I just can’t. But she did not want to hurt him. He was hurt enough. She lay very still, waited for a minute or two. His penis was rigid now, digging hard and painfully into her. His breathing had changed.
    “Scott. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
    He took a deep breath, held her still and tight.
    “It’s all right. Of course it’s all right.”
    “I know you want to—”
    “Hey,” he