Dancing with Deception Read Online Free

deliberately hurt her, she may have just given them the painting. It would have served her father right. But she hadn’t, and now her head throbbed, her cheekbone burned, and her throat felt like she had swallowed nails—and she wasn’t giving them a damn thing.
    But it wouldn’t have mattered anyway, she realized on a ragged sigh. She wouldn’t have given it to them, even if they asked for it. No matter what, she would keep her promise. In that case, she was not her father’s daughter.
    She was jolted from her thoughts when Gideon cut the engine. She moved over to help him dock but was issued a stern command to stay put. Seething a little at his order, she took her seat on one of the long, padded benches. She watched Gideon tie the rope to the wood with quick, efficient movements. The muscles in his bare back strained as he moved. She averted her gaze quickly, annoyed with the little tug in her belly and her increasing heart rate.
    “Need a hand up?”
    She looked back up to see Gideon opening a door on the side of the boat. She stood up on heavy legs and crossed the deck.
    “I got it.” She managed to jump off the boat and onto the dock without falling face-first into the water. She turned back to Gideon. His dark brows were raised in question. “Thank you for everything. Sorry I was so much trouble.”
    She didn’t wait for a response. She slung her bag over her shoulder and set off at a brisk pace. When she finally rounded the first corner, she began to breathe easier. She was grateful to Gideon Avery more than she could say, but it was relief—pure and simple—she felt now that she was away from him. As much help as he’d been, there was something untamed about him. Yet, her gut told her to trust him. But she didn’t dare; the stakes were too high.
    She was unfamiliar with the area, so she picked a steady flow of pedestrians and tagged along. Tourists snapped pictures of the great lake and children scampered up and down the sidewalks. The smell of corn dogs made her stomach growl, reminding her again that she needed food. She watched a group of men carry tackle boxes toward the pier and smiled. Everything felt so normal—like she hadn’t just taken a running dive into a boat, escaping gun shots, and being saved by a modern day pirate.
    She spotted a pay phone and dug for loose change in her bag as she walked. After slipping the coins in the slot, she dialed her house number and sighed with relief when Mary answered with her normal ‘Channing residence’ greeting.
    “Mary, its Rebecca. Is my mother home?”
    “Miss Lilah’s plane left hours ago,” their housekeeper informed her with a hint of New Orleans in her accent. Rebecca pictured the plump lady who’d given her cookies after school as a girl.
    “Plane?”
    “For Texas. Her cruise ship sails this evening. Didn’t you know?”
    Of course she didn’t know. Lilah hadn’t told her. Rebecca closed her eyes. “It must have slipped my mind. Mary, I’m staying a week at a friend’s house. Would you like some time off? Paid. You can come back Saturday to get the house ready for my mother’s return if you’d like.”
    “Are you sure, Miss Rebecca?”
    She had no idea if this whole situation would be resolved by Saturday, but at least Mary wouldn’t be alone in the house. If her father still hadn’t contacted her by then, she’d think of something else.
    “Of course. No one will be there until then. It’d be silly to stay.”
    “I’d like that real well. Thank you, Miss.”
    Rebecca yelped in shock when a big, hard hand closed over hers on the phone. She spun around and saw Gideon.
    “What are you doing?”
    “We need to talk.” He guided her hand to replace the phone back in the cradle before pulling her to the street with him. Without another word, he hailed the next taxi and all but shoved her inside.
    “Just drive. I’ll tell you when,” he said to the driver.
    “What in the hell are you doing?” she asked again.
    “I