The Soft Whisper of Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page B

actually talked to her. Maddie believed her friend, because she knew Kayla wasn’t capable of lying, but it wasn’t something they spoke of much now. It was just too weird.
    She looked at the picture and saw a marked resemblance between Jago, the bastard son of an earlier baronet and a travelling woman, and his descendants. There was definitely gypsy blood in Wes and his brother. Dark hair, skin that tanned at the slightest touch of the sun’s rays, and piercing blue eyes with amazingly long, dark lashes. Not to mention broad shoulders, perfectly defined muscles and smiles that could melt a woman’s heart without them even trying … Maddie tried to control her wayward thoughts.
    ‘What do I think of Alex? Well, if you ask me, he takes after his ancestor Jago in both looks and piratical tendencies. Not to mention womanising, I’m sure,’ she replied somewhat tartly. ‘Annie was telling me only this morning how he used to bring home a different girl every weekend.’
    Kayla giggled. ‘Oh, come on, Maddie. He’s not that bad and that was a long time ago. He may have inherited Jago’s best features, including those incredible blue eyes, but he’s definitely grown out of his smuggling days. As for womanising, I’d say Alex has changed a lot since he’s been in prison.’
    By ‘smuggling days’, Maddie knew Kayla was referring to the crime Alex had committed. She didn’t know much about it, other than that he’d been involved in drugs smuggling, which was very serious. She had no idea why or if he’d been into drugs himself, but hoped not.
    ‘How can you tell he’s changed? He’s only been free for a few days. The way he was looking me up and down yesterday I’m sure he thinks he’s irresistible.’
    ‘Well, isn’t he? He’s the most gorgeous man I know apart from Wes. Not that I was ever attracted to him, but that was probably because I was already in love with Wes.’
    Maddie shook her head. ‘I think men like that are nothing but trouble. They know they’re handsome and they know they can have any woman they want, so they don’t stay with anyone for any length of time. Has he ever had a steady girlfriend?’
    ‘Not that I know of, but …’
    ‘There you are, then. He’s probably not capable of it. And now he’s been locked up for three years, he’s sure to go berserk with the local female population. I, for one, intend to stay firmly out of the way. I’ve had enough trouble recently without getting myself mixed up in that sort of situation.’
    ‘You’re too cynical, Maddie. I still think Alex has changed. He’s grown up a lot since I last saw him and he’s much quieter. He hardly said a word last night at dinner.’
    ‘No, but he stared a lot.’
    ‘He probably finds you attractive. What’s wrong with that? You should feel flattered.’
    ‘Flattered, my foot. Why would a man like that find me attractive? A five-foot-ten beanpole with wild red hair and freckles and no figure to speak of? Only for one reason and if he was desperate. I’d say being locked up for three years might make a man desperate.’
    ‘Maddie, you don’t do yourself justice. You are very pretty with those gorgeous green eyes, and you’re not a beanpole, you have curves. I would love to be tall like you. Everything you wear looks wonderful on you, and what’s wrong with freckles anyway?’
    ‘Personally, I’d rather have your figure, but hey, no one’s ever satisfied with the way they look, are they?’ Maddie sighed. ‘And it wasn’t me who described myself like that, it was David.’
    Kayla gasped. ‘No! How could he? The utter, utter bastard!’
    ‘Yep. Told you he was. Didn’t exactly make me feel good about myself, I can tell you.’
    ‘Well, all I can say is, not every man is like that.’
    ‘Maybe not.’ Maddie smiled. ‘Just the handsome ones, huh?’
    ‘No, stop it! Anyway, if you mean Alex, I definitely think you’re wrong.’
    ‘Hmm, we’ll see.’ Maddie decided to change the