Rexanne Becnel Read Online Free PDF

woman. How convenient.” He cocked a dark brow. “I came to pay my respects, of course.”
    “You never visited him while he lived. Why would you visit him now that he’s dead?” she challenged.
    His eyes clouded at that, and an expression that might have been regret passed swiftly over his face.
    “Let’s just say that Kimbell is not one of my favorite places.” Then he straightened up. “Do you intend to keep me standing on the porch forever?”
    Flustered anew, Lacie led him inside. Once in the wide hall, she wasn’t sure what she was to do with him. Somehow she simply could not see this man sipping lemonade and eating biscuits in the parlor. It occurred to her that she had no idea what refreshments to offer a man under such circumstances, or how to maintain polite conversation.
    To her dismay, he hardly gave her a chance.
    “I’d like to see Frederick’s office,” he started with no introduction, “and his business files.”
    “What?” Lacie drew back. She was alarmed by his bluntness, for she had not been able to go through any of Frederick’s papers yet herself. There had been too many other matters for her to handle, and she hadn’t known precisely where to begin. But if she let this sharp-eyed man go through them now, he might be able to determine that she had never been anything more to Frederick than one of his students and then a teacher. Frederick had left no will with his attorney, and she knew that she was the only thing that stood between this school and Dillon Lockwood. Only her claim of marriage could prevent him from inheriting Sparrow Hill. Even though the marriage license appeared to be perfectly legal, she didn’t want to see it tested in court.
    “Is there any reason why I may not see his papers?” Once more he gave her that strange, searching look.
    “N-no, of course not,” Lacie stammered, her mind racing to find a reason to deny him that very freedom. “It’s just that—perhaps you would like to have supper first?”
    It was hard to say who was more startled by her invitation. One of his jet-black brows arched up in clear surprise. And if she’d worried about maintaining a few minutes of polite conversation with him, what in the world would she do with him for the course of an entire meal?
    But the damage had been done. A slight grin lit his face, and once more his eyes turned a clear, vivid green. “How kind of you to invite me. Actually, I was hoping to stay awhile. Now that the school has emptied, there’s obviously no shortage of space. Why don’t you see to the meal? My horse is still unsettled from the train ride. I’ll take care of him, then get my things.”
    After that presumptuous speech, he gave her a last look and an abbreviated bow. Then he turned on his heel and with three long strides was through the door and on his way.
    Lacie was caught between anger and dismay as she peered at his broad retreating back. Never had it occurred to her that Frederick’s brother would show up at Sparrow Hill School. She’d hoped that he would ultimately abandon any suspicions he might have about the marriage due to the difficulties of distance and time. After all, why would a wealthy Denver businessman waste his time and money on a struggling girls’ school?
    But it was clear that Dillon Lockwood was not like other wealthy businessmen. Neither distance nor time had discouraged him from coming. It was clear the school did matter to him, and that she had a terrible struggle ahead of her.
    To her dismay, Dillon Lockwood was looking more and more like a very hungry wolf.

3
    T HINGS WERE GOING BETTER than Dillon could have hoped. Just as he planned, he was going to be staying in the grand Allen-Kimbell mansion—the mansion that rightfully belonged to him.
    He slowed his stride and looked back at the huge old house. He had never lived there, but the house had loomed over his childhood in Kimbell. It had not changed in the nineteen years he’d been gone, although back then it