To Love a Stranger Read Online Free PDF Page A

beaming P.I. said.
    â€œChris,” Madeline hissed, but in the next instant, words died on her lips when a bearded and mustached Russell Stone stepped into the room.
    Forty people made a collective gasp. Chairs screeched as dinner guests jumped to their feet.
    Russell’s eyes zeroed in on his beautiful wife. “Hello, Madeline,” he said.
    Madeline fainted.

Chapter 4
    â€œS omeone call a doctor!”
    â€œIt’s Thanksgiving. Where are we going to find a doctor to make a house call?”
    Madeline wasn’t sure, but she was almost certain the last exasperated remark had come from Tiffani.
    â€œWait. Look, I think she’s coming around,” someone said.”
    Moaning, Madeline pried open her eyes, but all she managed was a few millimeters when an explosion of pain forced her to close them again.
    â€œIs she all right?”
    That voice. It couldn’t be.
    No one answered the question, which led Madeline to believe that maybe she’d imagine it. Imagined Russell walking into the dining room as though he’d merely been gone on a fishing trip.
    She opened her eyes again, this time forcing them as wide as she could manage. And sure enough she was staring straight into familiar inky black pools of concern.
    â€œIt’s is you. I didn’t dream…” She reached out a hand and winced when she met warm flesh. He was real.
    Russell smiled tenderly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to alarm you.”
    Her shock gave way to anger and she whipped her hand hard across his perfectly chiseled features and relished the way his head snapped back. “How dare you?” She jumped up from the leather couch to see that someone had transported her to Christopher’s private study. “What is this, some kind of joke?”
    Madeline’s chest heaved as the first waves of hysteria crashed to shore. “Christopher, are you behind this?”
    When her gaze sliced toward her former brother-in-law, she found most of the color had drained from his face and he’d ditched glasses to drink his beloved Crown Royal straight from the bottle.
    Shaw stepped forward and flashed everyone his yellow-toothed smile. “I assure you, this is no joke. This is your long lost husband, Mrs. Stone.”
    â€œThat’s impossible,” Madeline said, clinging to denial. “Russell died in a plane crash.”
    â€œI’m sure I don’t have to remind you his body was never found.”
    â€œSo what? You’re telling me he washed ashore on some desolate island with his bimbo mistress and they’ve been playing Tarzan and Jane for the past six years?”
    Russell stepped back from her obvious hostility.
    â€œUh, Nova Scotia,” Shaw amended. “And there were no signs of the bimbo mistress.”
    Madeline settled a hand on her hip in annoyance at the short man. “What are you—his publicist? How come he can’t talk for himself?”
    â€œWell, there’s the slight hiccup,” Shaw said, stepping forward. “Seems Mr. Stone here is suffering from amnesia.”
    â€œWhat?” Christopher and Tiffani asked at the same time.
    â€œOh, give me a break. No one ever has amnesia. That stuff only happens in soap operas. Christopher, this man is trying to take us for a pair of fools. He probably hired some actor and gave him an expensive face job,” Madeline said.
    â€œLook, obviously coming here was a mistake,” the Russell clone said quietly.
    â€œWhat was your first clue, Einstein?” Madeline challenged.
    â€œAll right. Settle down, Maddie.” Christopher finally broke away from his wife’s side and approached the imposter. “Of course, tests will need to be done first.” He squinted and studied the man’s features. “If this is a face job, it’s one of the best I’ve ever seen.” He cast a glance over at Madeline. “But how do you explain the voice? I know