Heartstealer (Women of Character3 Read Online Free Page B

city had drawn her back.
    Looking at her flashy scarlet
jumpsuit, he’d give her two weeks tops before she was bored. He pushed
the front door open and stepped back to allow her access to the cabin.
    "What a perfect romantic
getaway," she breathed. "Pure country, yet modern."
    As her expression softened, his
mouth went dry and his gut tightened. "I’m kind of curious why you
picked August to come here," he said abruptly.
    She gave him a quizzical look.
"Why not?"
    "Are you aware August is
honeymooner’s month?"
    The surprise on her face gave him
the answer he sought. "I guess you didn’t know."
    She put her hands on her hips and
caught her lower lip between her teeth. "I can see you’re dead
serious." She gave a small, tired laugh. "How ironic,
honeymooner’s month."
    "Why ironic?"
    She waved her hand.
"It’s a long story."
     Obviously, one she
wasn’t going to share. She spun on her heel. "Did I mention that a
friend may come for a few days?"
    "That's no problem." He
wondered if it was a male friend, then dismissed the thought. It was none of
his business who she invited. Someone with her looks would have more than one
guy hanging around.
    He watched her run her fingertips
over a wooden end table as if she enjoyed the feel of the smooth wood. He
shifted his feet uncomfortably. "The kitchenette’s in there."
He indicated the small galley behind her as she placed her suitcases beside the
sofa. "You'll find silverware and plates and anything else you might need,
but meals are provided at the lodge."
    She moved through the cabin,
admiring as she went. "Don’t mind me. I like discovering everything
around me through touch." She stood on her tiptoes to look at the native bluestone
mantle over the fireplace. "What beautiful stone work." She spun
around. "I love those big windows along the wall. I bet this place is
bright with sun early in the day."
    "Those windows face west, so
you do get the late sun."
    Jacie walked over the mellowed oak
floors covered by braided throw rugs. "The indigo blue rugs with a touch
of pink are great, and the furniture goes so well with the rustic
setting," she remarked. "Someone decorated this with a lot of
thought."
    "My sister-in-law Dotty. She
used to be an interior designer. Glad you like it." He cranked open a
casement window in the kitchen. "Maybe you'll want some air in here. It's
kind of warm." She seemed oblivious to his presence as she stood by the
picture window that overlooked the ravine below.
    He wondered what she thought of the
view. It was nearing sunset and the sky had lost its light, giving the
mountains an eerie orange glow. He had seen the same light countless times but
he never tired of looking at it. "This is the only cabin this close to the
ravine," he told her.
    She peered downward. "How
strange," she said slowly. "It looks almost like a smoky mist
creeping up the cliff. What are those strangely twisted trees clinging to the
ledges?"
    "Some scrubby pine.
They’re twisted because the wind blows through here like a fiend in the
winter. Do you think the drop of the ravine will bother you?"
    "No," she said quickly.
"It'll be fine."
    He wondered about the nervous
blinking of her lids. "We figured since you skydive, it wouldn't bother
you."
    "Logical conclusion," she
murmured. "I find it mesmerizing. It’s like you look out into the
fog and expect to see something take shape."
    "If you decide being this
close to the ravine bothers you, we have another cabin set further back."
He watched her continued preoccupation with the view.
    "I imagine some people like it
. . . the height, the sense of danger."
    "There's no danger if you use
common sense. I've seen these mountains most of my life, but it can be
frightening for some." He shrugged.
    "I imagine the first settlers
found them a challenge." She directed a bright-eyed glance his way.
"I love a challenge."
    He detected a trace of defiance.
"I knew someone else who thrived on challenge," he murmured.
"She died." He regretted