Mr. Unforgettable Read Online Free PDF Page A

Liz dropped her bra and grabbed the towel, holding it against her front. Briefly her eyes met Luke’s.
    He turned his back, reaching one hand behind him to fumble for the handle. Harriet grabbed his fingers instead. “Juice,” she demanded, and started leading him down the hall.
    â€œNice towel,” he mentioned casually over his shoulder.
    Liz shoved the door shut, turned back to the mirror and started rebuilding her shattered image.
    Â 
    T HE MAYOR CAME into the kitchen while Luke and Harriet were staring into the fridge.
    The mayor, not the woman. She’d pulled her wet hair into a French twist and covered her cute freckles with makeup. The ice-blue dress she wore was calf length and her heeled sandals matched perfectly.
    â€œI gave her water,” he said, “but she’s hungry. Is there anything suitable for a baby in this fridge?” He looked again at the row of brightly colored sports drinks, the raw steak, a bar of chocolate and a small carton of long-life milk.
    â€œThat’s kind of you,” she said formally, picking Harriet up, “but I carry food.” Out of the voluminous bag she produced a can of baby custard and a banana and sat with Harriet at the breakfast bar.
    The baby ate it with lip-smacking relish while Luke finished making tea and brought Liz a mug. She avoided meeting his eyes. “Thank you.”
    Taking a stool next to her, he said curiously, “How did you grow up in Beacon Bay and not learn to swim?”
    For a moment he thought she’d deny it, then she sighed. “I’m not from around here.”
    â€œAuckland?”
    Scraping banana custard off Harriet’s chin, she didn’t answer.
    â€œI feel compelled to mention the mayoral swim-safe campaign.”
    â€œIronic, isn’t it?” She took off Harriet’s bib and finally looked at him. “So now you know my terrible secret. The poster girl for water safety can’t swim. It’s an initiative I inherited.”
    He read the anxiety in her eyes. “I can keep secrets. Why don’t you take lessons?”
    â€œBecause no one can see me learning. It would undermine the campaign.” She put down a squirming Harriet who immediately toddled into the adjoining lounge toward a coffee table holding a crystal chess set. Liz caught her as she got there and turned her in another direction.
    â€œThis is lovely.” She picked up a chess piece and caressed it with a tactile appreciation that surprised him. He didn’t think of her as a sensual person. “It must be a joy to play with.”
    â€œI haven’t had a game since I’ve been here.” Too few friends in Beacon Bay and none of them chess players. “You play?”
    She put the knight down. “I used to.”
    Luke followed Harriet, who had her nose and palms pressed against the ranch slider that separated the western side of the lounge from a private courtyard. “Let me make sure this is locked, little lady. We don’t want you falling in.”
    The baby stared beyond the glass to where the lap pool sparkled sky blue in a garden of hibiscus, palms and frangipani.
    Retrieving Harriet, Liz asked, “What, the ocean isn’t big enough?”
    â€œA pool lets me swim year-round. Old habits die hard, I guess.” He checked the catch on the ranch slider, but Harriet had already lost interest and had begun playing with the fine silver chain around Liz’s neck.
    â€œI saw you win the gold medal,” the mayor said as they sat down again, “on TV. I was very proud to be a Kiwi that day.” She misread his expression. “I’m sorry. You must get tired of being public property, having everyone claim a connection.”
    Smoothly he turned the subject. “You know how that feels, I imagine.”
    â€œI think your fan club’s bigger.”
    â€œIt was a long time ago.” They weren’t good days for him.
    â€œPeople don’t