Midnight in Ruby Bayou Read Online Free PDF Page A

delighted, wary, and totally smitten all at once. It made him handsome enough to stop traffic.
    It certainly did unwelcome things to her pulse.
    â€œMake a loud smacking sound,” Archer advised. “That’s how she knows you mean it.”
    Walker added suitable sound effects. Summer kissed him again with more enthusiasm than precision, then cooed and leaned against him. Between one breath and another she was asleep.
    â€œUh, Archer?” Walker’s voice was barely a whisper.
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œShe went limp.”
    â€œIt’s all in the technique,” Archer agreed. “Good going.”
    Faith snickered. Walker turned his head toward her. The lapis lazuli blaze of his eyes surprised her. Over the last few months while he had been in Afghanistan looking for a source of uncut, untreated rubies, she had forgotten just how gorgeous his eyes were. In fact, she had made a point of forgetting.
    â€œJust in time,” Walker said, gesturing with his chin at the sleeping child. “Rescue your niece.”
    â€œWhy would I rescue her from paradise?” Faith asked.
    â€œRescue me, then.”
    â€œCan’t. My hands are dirty.” She held out her gritty fingers. “Besides, you look pretty comfortable yourself.”
    â€œKids terrify me.”
    â€œYeah, sure,” Faith said, unimpressed. “I could see that right away when you kissed her the third time.”
    Faith went to the sink and began washing grit from her hands.
    â€œHow’s the Montegeau necklace going?” Archer asked as he spread marinade over two huge salmon fillets. “Going to be done in time for the show and the wedding?”
    â€œJust barely.” She rinsed her hands, shook them, and wiped them on her jeans. Grit dampened on her thighs, making muddy streaks against the faded cloth. They matched the random grit marks on her cheeks.
    Archer looked at Walker again. Delicate, huh?
    Walker just smiled.
    â€œDid you hear from your insurer about covering the necklace from here to Savannah?” Archer asked his sister.
    â€œNot yet.” The tone of Faith’s voice said that it was none of her brother’s business.
    Like older brothers since time began, Archer ignored the warning signal. “They’ll want a GIA appraisal or its equivalent.”
    â€œTell me something I don’t know,” she retorted. The Gemological Institute of America was a benchmark of reliability. Unfortunately, GIA-certified appraisers took weeks to get the job done. She didn’t have one week, much less several. She simply couldn’t let the rubies out of her hands for so long and still get the necklace done by Valentine’s Day.
    â€œIs getting an appraisal going to be a problem?” Archer asked.
    She didn’t answer.
    â€œFaith?” Archer asked. But his steady look told her that he already knew. “You have less than a week before you leave.”
    â€œI’ll work it out.”
    Before Archer could ask another question, the phone rang.
    â€œI’ll get it,” Faith said instantly, relieved. She didn’t like being cross-examined by her brother.
    Especially when he was right.
    â€œIt’s by the bookcase near the paintings,” Walker said.
    â€œThanks,” Faith called over her shoulder. She found the wandering phone after one more ring. “Hello?”
    â€œFaith Donovan, please.”
    â€œSpeaking.”
    â€œOne moment, please.”
    There was a click as the call was handed off. Then Tony’s voice came into her ear, freezing her in place. “Hello, baby. It took me a while to get this number, but—”
    â€œNo, thanks, I don’t need any tinfoil siding.”
    â€œWait, Faith! Don’t hang up! Damn it, you’ve got to listen to me! I didn’t mean to hit you. I’ll never do it again. I love you and I want to have kids with you and—”
    â€œI’m sorry,” she cut in hoarsely.