Lady Moonlight Read Online Free

near a spreading green plant that would have intimidated a normal-size room. "Don't look behind you," she murmured, turning to admire large, shiny green leaves, "but someone dark and determined has been following you since we got here."
    Obediently not looking over her shoulder, Kara stared straight ahead into a mirror and met a silvery-green gaze. "Oh, Lord," she murmured, closing her eyes, hoping the apparition would fade before she opened them.
    When she did, and it hadn't, she turned to Judy.
    "Let me introduce you," she said brightly.
    "Your rescuer?" The question was redundant.
    Kara's description had been remarkably graphic.
    "Hm-hmm."
    "You don't know his name, remember?"
    "I'll find out! I'll bring him over," she decided, avoiding the mirror.
    "Don't bother," Judy said in amusement. "He's saving you the trouble. He's on his way."
    "Terrific," was Kara's weak response. She grabbed her friend's arm. "Remember what I said," she ordered. "He's just your type. You'll be crazy about him!"
    "Kara, we both know the kind of men I like, but that one is too much of a good thing. Besides, he's looked right through me several times, and he still doesn't know I'm in the room." She edged away with a grin, forcing Kara to drop her hand. "But he's been eyeing you like a hungry lion who's just found a juicy chunk of meat. I'm removing myself from the line of fire, but I expect a full report on Monday."
    "Some friend," Kara mumbled to the space Judy no longer occupied. Oh, come on, she lectured herself in the instant before she turned to face him. It won't be that bad. You say hello; he says hello. You make a clever remark about the incident last week, and he smiles. You thank him again; he nods. You say good-bye, so does he, and that's it. She mustered up a smile and turned.
    "Hello."
    He looked down, resisting the temptation to touch her hair and see if it was as baby soft as it looked.
    Instead, he asked, "Are you about ready to eat?"
    "What?" She might have known he wouldn't follow a script, she told herself in resignation.
    "Are you hungry?"
    She nodded. "I'm starved. I haven't eaten since this morning."
    "Neither have I. Will you have dinner with me?"
    So much for Judy's interpretation of his hungry look, she thought. "You mean, sit with you?" she asked, aware that a lavish buffet was being set up in the next room.
    "It's customary."
    The man is a complete enigma, she decided, puzzling over his comment. Her response was polite and untruthful. "Thank you, that'll be nice."
    "Good. Let's go." One large hand touched the small of her back and nudged her toward the door.
    "We're walking away from the food," she pointed out.
    "I wasn't talking about salads made from whipped cream, tissue-thin slices of ham, and funny meatballs the size of grapes. I want a steak. Big and thick and rare."
    "You mean at a restaurant?" She dug her high heels into the deep pile of the rug and stopped.
    "Bright girl." The slight pressure of his hand increased, urging her forward. She halted again as the door closed behind her. "Now what's the matter?" he asked, when she wouldn't budge.
    She backed up against the house, arms folded across her chest. "I'm not going. I don't even know your name. A perfect stranger hauls me out of a house and expects ..."
    He propped a large hand on the wall behind her, just a few inches above her shoulder, and rested his weight on it. His mustache twitched. "I have it on good authority that I'm not perfect."
    "You'd better watch it," she warned. "In a minute you're going to break down and smile."
    "Dane Logan's the name. Apparently we both own businesses in La Jolla. Can we eat now, or do you need a formal introduction?"
    "We eat," she said impulsively as her stomach rumbled. "Where's your car?"
    They walked down the curving street past an unself-conscious array of cars ranging from small, economy models to discreet and blatant symbols of wealth.
    Dane stopped and opened the door of a sleek, black Porsche. As he walked around to