Silver Sparks Read Online Free PDF

other two were new. Were there really that many tabloids? Her first instinct was to ignore them, but she realized they wouldn’t go away. They’d just wait until she opened for business and bother her while she had paying customers in the store. It might be better to get it over with now.
    The four straightened alertly as she reached for her ring of keys and unlocked the two heavy front doors. They pulled them open before she had the keys back in her pocket. She stepped back as all four pushed inside, holding up both palms while blocking their path. “Hold it right here, fellas. I know you have questions. I’m willing to answer if it’ll get you out of the way before I’m open for business. Agreed?”
    A chorus of agreements assaulted her, followed by a jumble of loud questions, with each one trying to talk over the other.
    “One at a time!” In the brief pause, she pointed to one at random, a man in his mid-thirties, balding, with a thin ponytail. “You first.”
    He held up a miniature tape recorder as three more arms shot out, all holding recording devices. At least she’d be accurately quoted. Shifting his camera strap aside, he moved the recorder under her nose and asked, “How long have you been seeing Rafe De Luca, and what’s the status of your relationship?”
    She pushed his hand back to a polite distance, giving him a free lesson in manners. “I’m not seeing Rafe. There is no relationship.” She cut off his follow-up question, pointing at the next man. “You.”
    “Why did you hit Rafe? Was that the first instance of abuse in your relationship, or have there been more?”
    She frowned. “I told you, there’s no relationship. I never met him before last night. And I hit him because he made inappropriate suggestions and wouldn’t keep his hands off me.” This was going better than she’d hoped. There was obviously a serious gap in the facts, and they were listening eagerly to every word, allowing her to clear up the story. No matter what spin the De Lucas tried to put on it, at least her version would be out there to counter it. She pointed again, this time to the short guy from the parking lot. “Your turn.”
    “Was Cara Rockford the reason for your breakup with Rafe?”
    “Who?” Maggie shook her head. “I told you, there was no breakup. I don’t even know Rafe. We just met last night.”
    The man nodded, as if she had just confirmed what he’d said. She hoped he replayed that tape before writing his story. Before she could move on, he insisted, “But what about Cara?”
    “Never heard of her.” Speaking over his next question, she pointed to the tall man behind him. “You.”
    “What’s your response to Blaster’s threats against you?”
    She wrinkled her brow. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “The Blaster—Rafe’s bodyguard. That’s the name he used in pro wrestling. He was fired after you assaulted Rafe, and he swore to get even. What do you have to say about it?”
    Four pairs of eyes fastened on her as she shook her head. “I had nothing to do with his getting fired. I imagine it was because he pulled a gun, and had been drinking on the job.” Thank you, Cal. It might be a good thing he’d stepped into that mess after all, or she wouldn’t be this prepared. “It’s not my fault if the man can’t keep Rafe from forcing himself on women.”
    They all grinned, and a couple nodded in agreement. “You certainly handled yourself well, Maggie,” the first one said.
    “Thank you.” It was about time someone showed some appreciation for how she’d dealt with two bullies.
    “Maggie, can you tell us who the mystery man is?” Someone spoke out of turn, and before she could reply, another one took off on the new topic.
    “Is he an old boyfriend?”
    “Did he force you to leave against your will?”
    “What’s his name, Maggie?”
    Her orderly system was breaking down in the face of their renewed excitement.
    There was no way she was going to give