The Sea Star Read Online Free PDF Page A

I’ll enjoy it.”
          Susanna signaled to the maître d’hôtel. While she gave him instructions, Dallas produced a silver case and offered Jay a cigarette.
          “Thank you, no,” Jay said, glancing at Susanna.
          “Sunny doesn’t mind,” Dallas assured him. “I smoke like a chimney and it never bothers her.”
          “‘Sunny’?” Jay said, curious.
          “That’s what I’ve called her ever since I can remember. It fits her, you know. She’s been my one ray of sunshine in an otherwise dreary world.”
          “Why is that?” Jay asked with more than casual interest.
          “Well, for one thing,” Dallas explained, “she practically raised me singlehandedly. Our mother ran off with an actor when I was ten, and my father was too busy to—”
          “ Dallas !” Susanna said as the maître d’hôtel left. “I’m sure Mr. Grainger doesn’t want to hear about our family history.” She turned a daunting look on Jay. “Do you, Mr. Grainger?”
          “No,” he said quietly. “Not if it distresses you to talk about it.”
          His gentle tone disarmed her. Everything about this man seemed to disarm her. Flustered, she said, “It doesn’t distress me. I just don’t want to bore you with old dead tales that couldn’t possibly interest you.”
          He said nothing for a moment; he only watched her in silence. In his eyes she saw not pity—which would have infuriated her—but a tacit understanding that further disconcerted her.
          “Perhaps after dinner,” he finally said, “you could show me around the hotel, Miss Sterling. My attorney tells me it’s quite a handsome place.”
          There wasn’t the least hint of condescension in his tone, but Susanna, her emotions in a turmoil, answered sharply, “I doubt you’ll find it to your liking, Mr. Grainger. A man like yourself is probably used to more opulent surroundings.”
          Dallas kicked her under the table. Susanna glared at him. “What she means,” Dallas said tactfully, “is that the Sea Star—”
          “I caught your sister’s meaning,” Jay said, watching Susanna. “I take it she disapproves of our business transaction.”
          Susanna turned her glare on Jay and started to respond, but Dallas intervened again. “It did take her by surprise,” he admitted. “She’s used to doing things her own way, you see, and she thinks you’ll force all sorts of new ideas on her.”
          “I wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing,” Jay said at once. “Miss Sterling, let me assure you that the Sea Star is solely an investment for me. I have absolutely no intention of...” He paused and grinned. “...sticking my nose in your business. That is what you’re worried about, isn’t it?”
          For the second time that evening Susanna found herself at a loss for words. Was he being honest? His tone was sincere, although faintly amused. Did he regret what he had done to Dallas and was he now trying to make up for it by giving Susanna free rein over the hotel?
          “Do you mean that, Mr. Grainger?” She needed—no, she wanted —to be convinced.
          “Miss Sterling,” he said in that low expressive voice that fell so pleasantly on the ears, “when you come to know me better, you’ll learn that I never say anything I don’t mean.”
     
          The evening passed more quickly than Susanna had expected it to do. Jay Grainger was not the monster she had imagined him to be. Far from it. He was warm and charming and such a spellbinding raconteur that Susanna’s antagonism disappeared entirely.
          His range of topics seemed inexhaustible. He spoke of the difficulties associated with owning numerous hotels, the many people he had met, his trips to England and the Continent, the exotic beauty of foreign shores, the Broadway stage, Impressionist art. Rather than making Susanna feel