Magic Read Online Free Page A

argue his case to Rachel Lindquist.
    Let her think what she liked, he told himself. He was going to be much better off simply leaving her alone. Between his involuntary attraction to her and his anger over the way she’d treated her mother, there was no telling what would happen if he let himself get involved. Not that he wanted to get involved, he amended hastily. Noninvolvement was his credo these days. He was just minding his own business, looking for ghosts.
    “You play on the superstitions and fears of lonely old women,” Rachel said, her anger building. He was a con man. Thank God she had arrived when she had. There was no telling how much this handsome charlatan might have bilked Addie for. “You set up a lot of electronic gizmos, spout a bunch of scientific-sounding mumbo jumbo, and take money for it. I think that’s deplorable.”
    Bryan’s shoulders stiffened, and his hands stilled on the light stand he had righted. He gave her a hard look, the expression in his warm blue eyes severe, “Yes, well, we all have our own ideas as to what amounts to deplorable behavior, don’t we, Ms. Lindquist?”
    “Just what do you mean by that?”
    “Oh, just nothing,” Bryan muttered, tearing his gaze away from her.
    Dammit, how could he feel so drawn to her knowing what he did about her? Even as he stood there fuming with righteous anger, a part of him never once stopped assessing the gentle beauty, the exquisite femininity Rachel Lindquist possessed. This indiscriminating lust dawning inside him was a disconcerting new character flaw, to say the very least. With a considerable effort of will he attempted to block it from his consciousness.
    Rachel could feel his disapproval of her like an icy rain, and it rankled. The man was little better than an out and out thief, and he was looking down his nose at her! What could he possibly know about her? Nothing. Unless … Addie had told him something. That idea irked her even more, that her mother would share family secrets with this stranger.
    “I don’t know what my mother may have told you, Mr. Hennessy, but she is not a well woman. She has Alzheimer’s disease.”
    “I’m aware of that, Ms. Lindquist,” Bryan said pointedly. “I’ve been dealing with Addie on a daily basis. I dare say, I know a hell of a lot more about her condition than you do.”
    The blow was on target. Rachel flinched at his words and at the burning guilt that immediately flooded through her. Still, she pulled herself together and lifted her chin. “Dr. Moore wasn’t able to contact me until just last week.”
    “Oh. Pardon me for thinking you might give your mother a call every once in a while,” Bryan said dryly. “You know, once a year or so.”
    Tears stung the backs of Rachel’s eyes. She had called Addie over the years. She had tried to bridge the chasm that had divided them. Addie had hung up on her every single time. Every letter she’d sent had gone unanswered. Every overture of peace had been met with bitter, stony silence. But none of that was Bryan Hennessy’s business, and, despite all she had been through, Rachel had too much pride to enlighten him.
    She pulled her shoulders back and gave him her haughtiest look. “You will pack your things and leave this house, Mr. Hennessy.”
    “No, I won’t,” Bryan said evenly.
    “I won’t have you taking advantage of my mother.”
    Won’t have me taking advantage of her inheritance is more like it, Bryan thought. He gave her a black look that only darkened as he leaned over her and caught a whiff of her perfume, an elusive scent so delicate, he almost thought he’d imagined it, and yet it lured him closer.
    Tempting fate, he bent his head so he was almost nose to nose with her—well within kissing distance. Her full, soft lips beckoned like a siren’s call. It was as if their bodies were communicating on a level of their own, impervious to opinions on character. His heart thumped hard, then slowed against his breastbone,