Tidewater Lover Read Online Free PDF Page B

of her face. "I used a key to get into the house. You are the one who broke in."
    Lacey stared at it open-mouthed. "That's impossible!" she exclaimed finally. "Just because you say that's a key to the door, that doesn't mean it is."
    "Believe me, it is." He smiled lazily, folding his fingers around the key and placing it back in his pocket. "So it's time for you to cut the innocent act."
    "Act?"
    He ignored her look of outrage. "You have two choices. Either get dressed and get out—I presume you do have some other clothes—or if you're desperately in need of a place to sleep tonight, I can recommend my bed." His finger traced the hollow of her collarbone, sending fiery tingles over her skin. "The last couple of nights I've found it to be quite comfortable, if slightly empty."
    "The last couple of nights!" Lacey burst out angrily.
    "I think this house has developed an echo," he chuckled.
    "You accuse me of telling tales! You have to be the absolute tops," she sputtered. "You're nothing but a liar! Trying to con me into thinking you have any right to be in this house. Well, you just got caught in your own snare. I'll have you know that I've been sleeping in this house for the last two nights, as well, and I certainly haven't seen you."
    "You don't give up, do you?" he declared with an exasperated sigh, and swung his feet to the floor to stand up.
    "No, I don't," Lacey retorted, her brown eyes snapping. "And since you've so magnanimously given me the choice of staying here with you or going, I'll leave!"
    "Good." His mouth had thinned into a grim line. "And pass on the word to any of your friends who were thinking this house might be vacant and available for a few nights' free lodging that it isn't."
    Lacey was on her feet, halfway across the living room headed toward her bedroom, when he finished his comment. She stopped, glaring at him over her shoulder.
    "I'll pass the word along," she promised impulsively. "As soon as I'm dressed, I'm going to get into my car and drive straight to the police." Turning away, she muttered aloud, "Margo was right to worry about leaving this place empty while they were away."
    Long strides cleaved the distance between them. The soft flesh of her arm was grabbed to spin her around. She clutched at the drooping side of her pajama top, feeling the inherent intimidation of his looming height. But she faced him boldly.
    "What did you say just now?" he demanded.
    "I said I was going straight to the police," she returned coolly.
    "Not that." He frowned impatiently, not relaxing his biting hold of her arm. "The last part that you muttered under your breath."
    "About Margo?" Lacey questioned with surprise.
    His gaze sharpened. "Who's she?"
    "The owner of the house, of course. Didn't you know that?" she asked sarcastically.
    "I knew it," he answered, nodding. "I'm just wondering how you found out. I suppose you've been snooping around the house this evening."
    Lacey counted to ten swiftly. "Margo Richards happens to be my cousin."
    "Really?" he said with jeering skepticism.
    "Yes, really." She forced a smile.
    "Then where is your cousin now?"
    "She and her husband flew to Florida to visit his family before leaving on a Caribbean cruise. That's why I'm here, so the house won't be standing vacant while they're gone," Lacey said with all of the righteousness of the wronged. "You're the trespasser, not I."
    "And Margo asked you to stay here?" he repeated, drawing his head back to study her as he let go of her arm.
    "Yes."
    "Her husband Bob asked me to stay," he told her.
    "What?" Lacey was taken aback for a minute by his statement, then she shrugged it away. "You don't honestly expect me to believe that."
    "Believe it or not, it's the truth." He reached into the pocket of his khaki-colored top and took out a pack of cigarettes, calmly lighting one while Lacey stared at him with disbelief. "I don't know your cousin Margo very well—" he blew a thin trail of smoke into the air "—but Bob's family and mine