Larger than Life Read Online Free Page A

need of sharing my life before I stepped onstage. You go ahead and write an unauthorized version of my life,” she added imperturbably.
    “And what’ll you do if I uncover the real story of your life?”
    “You won’t.”
    “You’re so sure?”
    “Quite sure. I’m not throwing down the gauntlet, you understand; I’m simply stating a fact. You won’t find out anything I don’t want you to know.”
    After a moment, Travis said softly, “That kind of cover-up demands money.”
    She was mildly surprised. “Did I mention a cover-up?”
    “That’s what it amounts to.”
    “Not at all. You just won’t know where to look, that’s all.”
    “I know where I’ll start.”
    “Oh? Where?”
    “With the lady herself.”
    “In case you’ve forgotten,” she said politely, “I happen to be on rather a tight schedule. A performance in Detroit tonight, then one in Chicago tomorrow night.”
    “Then a vacation.”
    Saber threw him one quick glance, annoyance warring with reluctant amusement in her light eyes. “So you know that, do you? Phil must have let that slip.”
    “Yes. To do him justice, I don’t think he realized just how determined I am.”
    “Well, be that as it may, the information won’t help you.”
    “Really? I find most information useful—eventually.”
    She was quiet for a long moment. Then, in a curiously dry voice, she said, “Short of pushing you out, I can’t stop you from coming to Detroit. And though I’ll take good care you don’t board this jet again, I can’t stop you from taking a commercial plane to Chicago. But from that point, Mr. Foxx, you’ll be at a standstill. My flight plan will be filed, of course, but—for security reasons, you understand—you won’t be able to find out where I’ve gone. If you’re a betting man, bet on that.”
    Travis was well aware of the dangers of arguing with a woman who literally held his life in her hands, but the cool and certain strength of her voice intrigued him past the point of worrying about it. He gazed forward for several minutes, his keen mind working. The struggle he had with himself was brief, then his idea for the book was cast into the limbo of things unremembered and unregretted.
    “I am a betting man,” he said finally. “In fact, I’m a bit of a gambler, and when I want somethingbadly enough, I’m quite prepared to pay the price.”
    “And so?” She sent him a curious glance.
    “And so … I’ll make a deal with you, Miss Duncan.”
    “I’ve a feeling I’m going to regret this—but what kind of deal?”
    “Something for something. You agree to allow me to accompany you until, say, midway through your vacation. In the interests of our getting to know each other, you understand.”
    Noncommittally, she said, “And your part of the deal?”
    “I’ll agree—in writing if you like—to write nothing about you. No book, no article … nothing at all.”
    Saber was frowning. “There’s a hook in there somewhere,” she said.
    “Not at all. I’ll promise not to write about you if you’ll promise to let us get to know each other … without prejudice.”
    “Why?”
    “Why what?”
    “Why would you give up your idea for a book that has been your driving motivation to this point just for a couple of weeks in my company?”
    “Because you were right about me. I hate unsolved mysteries. What the public does or doesn’t know about you doesn’t particularly concern me, but I very badly want to understand you.”
    She was still frowning. “Why?” she asked again.
    “Because… you fascinate me,” he answered, turning his head to study her profile. “Maybe it’s that larger-than-life part of you—”
    “Stage presence,” she dismissed impatiently.
    “No. No, there’s more to it than that. Saber, you wouldn’t believe me if I explained what I’m feeling, and I’m no more anxious than any other man to look like a fool. So you’ll just have to accept that I want to get to know you. Period.”
    For