My Deadly Valentine Read Online Free PDF Page A

introduced him to so many people he was thoroughly confused, especially when she tried to relate one to another by mentioning the participants’ kinship.
    Finally, he held up his hands in surrender. “Whoa. I appreciate your trying to orient me as to who’s who, but you lost me at the last third-cousin-twice-removed.”
    Rachel chuckled. “Sorry. You’ll be all right as long as you remember that nearly everyone is related in some way to everybody else.”
    He saw her jaw clench and noticed that she’d suddenly sobered. “What is it? Something wrong?”
    “Only the usual,” she said. “See that man over there in the tan sport jacket? That’s my father. I had hoped we could get in and out of here without running into him, but he’s seen us.”
    “Who’s that with him?”
    “One of the guys I told you about. Dad wants me to date him.”
    “How can I help?”
    “Just be yourself.” She snickered. “I think. I really don’t know you well enough to be certain, but I suspect my father won’t like you much. He’s never approved of any of my friends.”
    “Then we should give him something to think about,” Jace said, slipping his left arm lightly around the waist of her coat and pulling her close to his side in spite of the resistance he could feel from her as her father walked toward them. “Try to act as if you like me. We’ll never fool him if you look like you’re about to clobber me for getting fresh.”
    “Who says I’m not?”
    He laughed. “Atta girl. Keep that spunky spirit and you’ll be fine.” Sticking out his free hand and smiling, he preempted Mr. Hollister’s anticipated criticism with a cheerful, “Glad to meet you, sir. Rachel’s told me so much about you. It’s a real pleasure.”
    Beside him, he felt the young woman’s tension start to ebb, especially once her father had accepted the offer to shake hands. Although the older gentleman was scowling and so was the slim, twentysomething man with him, Jace felt as if he had won the first skirmish. He was sure it helped that their meeting had taken place right outside the church and in the presence of so many townspeople.
    Rachel found her voice. “Dad, I’d like you to meet Jace Morgan. Jace, this is my father, George Hollister. And this is…”
    “Alan Caldwell,” the younger, dark-haired man said, also offering his hand.
    “Pleased to meet you both.” There was no doubt in Jace’s mind that neither George nor Alan was really pleased to make his acquaintance. They were both smiling and acting amiable enough but there was an undercurrent of tension as thick as L.A. smog on a windless day.
    George cleared his throat. “So, you’re the new deputy Harlan hired. I’d wondered what you looked like. Should have spotted you from the military haircut.”
    “And now we’ve officially met, so you know,” Jace said with a smile, then turned his eyes on Rachel and gave her a barely perceptible squeeze. “I think I’m really going to like it here.”
    To his surprise and amusement, she tilted her head, looked up and batted her eyelashes at him. Jace nearly burst into laughter. Whether her father took her actions seriously or not, the whole scenario was hilarious.
    Apparently, Alan was not amused. The younger man wheeled and stalked off while Rachel’s father blustered something about having to meet someone for Sunday dinner, then also took his leave.
    As soon as George was out of sight, Jace loosened his grip and stepped away. “That was fun. I think we got his attention.”
    Rachel giggled. “Looks like it. I can hardly wait till he phones me and reads me the riot act about keeping company with a man who’s not from around here.”
    “That’s a prerequisite?”
    “Absolutely. Dad will want to know your grandpa and father, at least, not to mention your more distant kin.”
    “Then he’s out of luck,” Jace said, still smiling. “They’re both deceased.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Yeah, me, too. But life goes on.” He