Pale Stranger (PALE Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

itching."
    I couldn't imagine living with such a terrible ailment. "And the only things that protect you are clothes and that sunscreen?"
    "And even the sunscreen is a prescription. Anything over the counter is too weak to work," he replied. "The reason for my weakness yesterday was I was recovering from overexposure. Constance was in a terrible mood and refused to assist in the application."
    Sievers had to be lesbian; that was the only way she could have refused to perform that delicious duty. "Ouch. So if you stay out of sunlight you're fine?"
    "Perfectly."
    "No wonder you don't believe the day exists before noon. You must be a hell of a night owl," I remarked.
    He nodded. "Yes, I like to take walks and roam the garden."
    I glanced up at the sky; the sun was really bright today. "Don't you think you should go inside? I mean, you don't really need to show me around the place, and I'm sure you have some sort of secretary duties you want me to do."
    "I treat my secretaries as companions, in a platonic fashion," he assured me. I squashed down the disappointment. "That is why I couldn't give you firm hours when you asked for them."
    "You'd probably be better with a male companion. We women can be pretty bitchy," I pointed out.
    "Yes, but they keep me in line," he countered. "Though I admit I have turned away several who displeased me beyond even my patience."
    "Like Miss Sievers?" I guessed, and he nodded.
    "Yes. She had been with me for five years, and had come to believe she was the employer rather than me." He sighed and shook his head. "I must admit I'm not sure what I'll do without her. She was my chauffeur and manager."
    I smirked when a realization hit me. "So that explains how you came to the diner. You were lost because she wasn't driving you."
    He sheepishly smiled. "Perfectly and utterly lost."
    The earth was ending; a man admitted that he wasn't the map. "It takes quite a man to admit he was lost. You've got a lot of guts just going out on your own in your condition."
    He shrugged. "I needed a refill of my sunscreen, and I dislike having an unfinished chore at the end of the day."
    "And you sure did pick a day to do it!" I laughed, remembered that wild storm.
    Benson smiled. "Perhaps it was fate that brought us together."
    "No, I'm pretty sure it was one hell of a lightning storm," I countered. I glanced at my watch and sighed. "If we're going to finish our little walk before that phone call we're going to have to start moving."
    I dragged him along and he explained to me all the types of trees that stood in the yard and the flowers that sometimes edged the path. It was all riveting stuff for a botanist, but I was just a simple diner waitress and was glad when we wound our way back to the house. He looked glad to get out of the sun, and take off his heavy coat and hat on the porch. We stood there for a few quiet moments and enjoyed the coolness of the shade. "I must have bored you a great deal to make you so quiet."
    "You don't pay me to talk, do you?" I wondered.
    "I don't believe we discussed money at all for this experiment. I can pay you the full salary if that's what you want," he offered.
    "If you really want to." I couldn't turn down easy money.
    He grinned. "Would a very nice salary guarantee your staying here?"
    I shrugged and crossed my arms over my chest. "That depends on whether I like it here or not. You could pay me all the money in the world, but if I'm not happy I won't stay."
    "Then you're happy working at that diner?" he wondered in surprise.
    "I'm comfortable with what I do and the boss won't dare fire me. He knows the place would blow up if I wasn't around to keep Sheila from accidentally turning on the kitchen stoves." I looked him up and down, and grinned. "Besides, you meet some pretty interesting people at those places."
    He glanced down at himself. "At least unusual, but I see on your watch that it's almost time for my meeting. If you don't mind I'd like to be alone during the phone