Magnificent Folly Read Online Free PDF Page A

can’t leave you like this. Let me talk to her for five minutes and try to make it right between you.”
    “And tell her you’re her father?”
    “No.” His grave gaze was fixed on her face. “I don’t have that option until I earn it or you give it to me. I’ll just make her understand.” He smiled coaxingly. “I’ll even make sure she eats her dinner.”
    Lily looked at him in surprise. “How do you know she didn’t?”
    “Well, you said she was upset. Naturally, I assumed …” He gestured impatiently. “That’s not important. Do you want Cassie to have a bad night?”
    “Of course not, but I don’t want you—” She stopped when she realized what she was about to say. Was she so selfish, she would prefer Cassie to be miserable just because she couldn’t be the one to comfort her?
    “Cassie’s the most important thing in your life;it’s only reasonable that you would resent outside interference.” Andrew’s tone was infinitely gentle.
    “You’re very perceptive.” She looked him directly in the eyes. “I do resent you. If I let you talk to Cassie now, it doesn’t mean that I won’t try to get rid of you as soon as possible.”
    Andrew smiled sadly. “I know, Lily.”
    She turned away from him and looked out over the sea. “Five minutes. First door to the left.”
    “Right. I’ll leave the doors open, so that you can hear I’m not maligning you to her.”
    She heard the door behind her open, Andrew’s steps, then the knock on Cassie’s door.
    In exactly five minutes she heard his laughing farewell as he left Cassie’s room. Cassie was laughing, too, and the sound sent a pang through Lily that was half relief and half envy. A moment later, Andrew stood beside her on the deck.
    “She told me to ask you if she could have a cheeseburger for supper.” A faint smile touched his lips. “And potato chips instead of a green vegetable. I think she’s trying to wring everything she can out of this situation.”
    “She’s capable of it.” Lily turned to face him. “What did you tell her?”
    “Nothing you wouldn’t want me to tell her.” He paused, and his hands reached out and closed on the railing of the deck. “But I did say I’d stick around and hope you’d let us become better friends.”
    Lily stiffened warily.
    “Who knows? Maybe Cassie will find my company boring,” he said lightly. “They say familiarity breeds contempt.”
    “Not bloody likely.” Lily’s lips tightened. “I think you’ve hypnotized her.”
    “Instinct.” His hands loosened their grip on the railing, and one finger traced the rough pattern of the wood. “If you’re right about me, maybe I’ll be the one to grow bored and walk away. Either way, you’ll be rid of me.” His gaze narrowed on her face. “Or perhaps you don’t think I’m that immature anymore.”
    She didn’t know what to think. One moment Andrew seemed boyish, and in the next she glimpsed a maturity beyond the youthful radianceof him that startled her. “I don’t understand what you are.”
    “Then find out. Let me get to know Cassie. Let me get to know
you
, Lily.” He took a step closer, and one finger gently touched her cheek. “You won’t regret it. I’ll never hurt you.”
    Yet the touch of his finger on her cheek brought a burning sensation close to pain, she thought dazedly. His gaze was holding her own with mesmerizing intensity. She took a deep breath and moistened her lips with her tongue. “I’d never let you hurt me.” She took a step back and his hand fell away from her face. “This is crazy. I don’t know what to think. I don’t even know if you’re really who you say you are. What proof do I have?”
    “None.” Andrew thought for a moment. “Call Henry. I understand you’ve kept in touch with him over the years. Ask him for the name of Cassie’s donor.”
    “He told me the names of the donors were kept confidential.”
    “He won’t give you the same answer now.” Heasked curiously, “Just