The Lancaster Men Read Online Free PDF Page B

lucky.” Rory refused to believe it had been anything else.
    “You could say that,” Whit conceded and cast a sideways glance at Shari. “I have to admit that I didn’t expect to find Shari here. Your mother is under the impression that you’re staying with friends at Cape Hatteras.”
    “I never told her that,” Shari denied his insinuation that she had deliberately lied to her mother.
    “But you let her believe that,” Whit guessed. “I suppose you arranged to meet Rory here to give him moral support.”
    “No, I didn’t. I had no idea of his plans until he showed up here this afternoon.” She was hurt that Whit believed she had conspired with Rory to run away from home.
    “That’s the truth, Whit,” Rory supported her statement. “I didn’t know she was here.” He paused, a look of concern flickering across his expression. “I hope Mom wasn’t too upset when she realized I’d left.”
    “I find it hard to believe that you care what your mother felt.” His look was harsh, revealing the unrelenting side of his nature.
    “I do so care!” Rory reacted vigorously to the denunciation.
    “Then why didn’t you have the courage to tell her your plans?” Whit challenged. “If you couldn’t face her, the least you could have done was to leave her a note so she wouldn’t worry herself half-sick.”
    “I—” Rory faltered under the silently piercing attack. “I wanted to decide where I was going andwhat I wanted to do first. I was going to call her in a couple of days.”
    “You’re going to call her as soon as we’ve had dinner.” It was an order. It couldn’t be mistaken for anything else.
    “But what am I going to tell her?” Rory argued. “She’s going to ask me questions that I can’t answer yet.”
    “You could just tell her that you’re going to spend a couple of days here,” Shari suggested. “Until you make up your mind about what you’re going to do next, you can let her think you’re just here for a long weekend.”
    “I suppose I could,” he replied hesitantly. “What do you think, Whit?”
    “It’s the same thing I told her before I left.”
    “Do you mean” you gave me an alibi?” Rory was stunned.
    “I had to tell Elizabeth something to ease her mind,” Whit said, referring to their mother by her given name.
    “Gee, thanks, Whit. I don’t know what to say.” He shook his head in astonishment.
    “You can thank me by phoning your mother and reassuring her that you are all right.” The stern line of his mouth relaxed into a faint curve. Then Whit noticed the waiter hovering near the table and opened his menu. “Has everyone decided what they would like to order for dinner?”

Chapter Three
    After dinner, they all returned to the condominium. Doré had volunteered to ride back with Whit in his car and Shari had been forced to stifle her irritation again at the sight of the two of them together. She was troubled by her sudden desire to compete for Whit’s attention, and her possessive attitude toward her stepbrother.
    “This is the perfect night for a moonlight sail,” Doré declared as they walked to the apartment door. “There’s a good breeze and the moon is full. Didn’t you mention at dinner that you kept a boat here, Whit?”
    “Yes, I do,” he admitted and moved smoothly ahead of Shari to unlock the door.
    Since he had ignored her broad hint, Doré made her desire plainer. “Why don’t we all go for a sailtonight?” But she looked only at Whit when she made her suggestion.
    Shari gritted her teeth at her friend’s boldness and silently studied Whit’s expression as he opened the door to admit them. There was nothing in his rugged features to indicate he regarded Doré as being too forward. If anything, he appeared vaguely indulgent. He waited until everyone was inside before he responded to her suggestion.
    “You and Beth are welcome to use the sailboat tonight. This is your vacation and I don’t wish to interfere with your enjoyment of