Sail Away Read Online Free PDF Page B

whispered in the corridors of Montgomery Inns for years. You’re a legend, you know.”
    “As part of the poor and infamous?”
    She plucked a shrimp canapé from a tray. “What’re you doing here? Don’t you know you’ll be drawn and quartered before the night is out? That’s what they do to party crashers.” She plopped the canape into her mouth and washed it down with a sip of champagne.
    He couldn’t believe that she was actually baiting him. Adam’s mouth slashed at a sardonic angle. “And here I thought my invitation had just gotten lost in the mail.”
    “Right,” Marnie replied dryly, her ice blue dress glimmering seductively under the lights. “If I were you, this is the last place I would’ve shown up.”
    “Never was one to miss a party.”
    “You must be a glutton for punishment. My father will flip when he finds out you’re here—and he will, you know. It won’t take long.”
    “I’m counting on it.”
    “Why?” For the first time, the teasing glint disappeared from her eyes. She lifted her glass to her lips and appraised him solemnly over the rim.
    “He and I need to talk, and he’s been dodging my calls.” Adam glanced back to the fountain-cum-podium where Victor was introducing Kent Simms and congratulating him on his promotion to executive vice president. Adam finished his drink in one gulp, as Simms accepted Victor’s hearty congratulations, shook hands with the mayor and rained a brilliant pretty-boy smile on the crowd.
    “You’ve called Dad?” Marnie asked, apparently stunned.
    Adam swung his gaze back to her. “Several times. Never got past Kate. Victor didn’t bother to call me back.”
    “But—”
    “I even stopped in at the offices. Kate ran interference. Wouldn’t let me in to see him.”
    Marnie couldn’t believe it. Her father hadn’t said a word about Adam trying to contact him, and she would have thought, given Victor’s feelings about Adam Drake, he would have ranted and raved for days at the younger man’s impertinence. “What did you want to talk to him about?”
    “Believe me, I have a lot to discuss with your father—or if I can’t talk to him, Simms’ll do.” He cocked his head toward the fountain. “By the way, your fiancé seems to be enjoying himself. Shouldn’t you be up there, basking in some of the glory?”
    “It got a little crowded,” she said, her lips tightening.
    “I noticed.”
    “Adam Drake?” Kate’s voice was low and cold. When he turned, her large eyes were suspicious, the color in her cheeks high. “What do you think you’re doing here?” she whispered, then before he could answer, asked, “How did you get past security?”
    “I helped design this building, remember—including the security system.”
    “You bastard,” she shot back, ignoring Marnie. “You want to ruin it for him, don’t you? This is Victor’s night, and you’re going to make sure that it blows up in his face!”
    “I just want to talk to him.”
    “Well, you can’t. Not tonight,” she said, her features hardening. “If the press gets wind that you’re here, it’ll ruin everything! You’ve got to leave! Now!” Her voice had taken on a frantic tone that seemed to surprise Marnie as she watched the exchange in stunned silence.
    “I’m not taking off just yet.”
    “But why would you want to stay? It’ll just cause problems.” Kate glanced nervously toward Victor.
    Marnie laid a hand on her arm. “Relax, Kate,” Marnie said, as if she, too, were trying to avoid a scene, but Kate raged on.
    “Please, Adam, just go quietly, before you do something that can’t be undone and everything’s dredged up again. This is Victor’s night. Please don’t spoil it!”
    “I need to talk to him.”
    “But not here—”
    “I tried the office,” he replied, fighting to control his anger. “You wouldn’t let me see him.”
    “My mistake. Come back next week, I’ll get you an appointment,” she promised, pinning a winning smile on her