Slow Burn Read Online Free PDF Page B

She laughed and shook her head.
    Isabel frowned. “It’s not funny. There were a couple of paintings on the wall behind her, and she kept pointing to them while she was being interviewed. I think maybe she was doing a little advertising.”
    “Has anyone determined what caused the explosion?” Kiera asked.
    Nate turned to her. “We’re not sure what kind yet, but it was definitely a bomb. We have a team working on it.”
    He looked at Kate again. “If you remember anything . . .” he said as he headed for the door.
    Kate nodded.
    Isabel waited until she was certain he was out of earshot and then said, “Isn’t he adorable?”
    “Yes, he’s definitely adorable,” Kiera agreed. “But he’s too old for you. He’s got to be in his thirties. And . . .”
    Isabel folded her arms across her waist. “And what?”
    “And he’s interested in Kate.”
    Kate hadn’t been paying much attention to the conversation until she heard her name. “As a witness,” she corrected. “He’s interested in me as a witness. That’s all.”
    “He is not too old for me,” Isabel said. “I wonder if he’s single or married. I didn’t see a ring on his finger.”
    “Let it go,” Kiera said, her exasperation obvious. “He’s not interested in you.”
    Isabel ignored her sister. “You should have asked him, Kate.”
    “I was unconscious, for heaven’s sake.” She gingerly lay back against the pillow. Her head was throbbing, but the conversation, as ludicrous as it was, did distract her. “When should I have asked him? In the ambulance?”
    “No, of course not. I was just saying . . .”
    “Yes?”
    “You let another opportunity pass by.”
    “You’ve got to be kidding.” She would have laughed if her head hadn’t hurt so much.
    “I’m most certainly not kidding. I swear I don’t remember the last serious relationship you were in. In fact, I don’t think you’ve ever been in a—”
    “Kate darling!” Carl Bertolli called from the doorway.
    He waited until all eyes were on him and then rushed into the room with a flurry. Carl did so love to make a grand entrance, no matter what the occasion.
    Isabel was thrilled to see him again. She’d only met him once, when he’d stopped by the house to pick up Kate for some sort of important benefit, but he’d made a lasting impression. Carl was so flamboyant, so bigger than life. She told Kate she was sure he must own at least one cape to wear to all his winter social events.
    He clasped Kate’s hand in both of his and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
    “My poor, poor darling. This is a nightmare, a complete nightmare. It’s amazing no one was seriously injured or killed in the explosion, and I tell you, if I were not wearing this white suit, I would get down on my knees to thank God.”
    Kiera coughed to cover her laughter. Kate tugged her hand away and said, “You remember my sisters, Kiera and Isabel.”
    “Yes, of course I do.” He flashed a smile and said, “I do hope you don’t blame me for what happened. I never should have allowed that crazy artist to show her work. I was warned, but I didn’t believe anyone would take the woman seriously.” He turned back to Kate and added, “And so I guess the blame should rest on my shoulders.”
    He wanted to be consoled. Kate was having none of it. “Carl, the police will sort it all out. You couldn’t have known someone would go to such extremes.”
    “It’s good of you to say so. Do you know the gallery was untouched? Not a stone was jarred loose. Isn’t that astonishing? Of course I have a hole the size of a swimming pool in the lawn that I’m going to have to do something about, but when I think how much worse it could have been . . .” He paused, gave an elaborate shrug, and patted her hand again. “I shall let you rest now that I know you forgive me. If you need anything, anything at all . . .”
    “I’ll be sure to call you.”
    He gave her another dazzling smile, bowed to Isabel and Kiera,