McCann's Manor Read Online Free Page B

divined from the crowd, Liz had picked up on the fact the birthday boy had started celebrating much earlier in the day.
    "Well, no, but you are psychic. I just thought you might have an impression or something,” Wade mocked.
    Liz looked him square in the eye a moment, then smiled and raised one eyebrow. “I do indeed have all sorts of impressions, Wade.” Come on, Liz, she thought, think of something. “Most of all right now, my impression is that I'm thirsty and hungry. Why don't you and Kim visit while I go check out the refreshment situation?” she asked.
    "Why, yes,” he agreed, still holding his cape around Kim's shoulder, “why don't we visit a while? I haven't seen you in ages."
    Watching as her sole chance for a quick escape walked away, Kim gave up on breaking free of his grip and tried to relax. Just take a deep breath, she told herself. “So, Wade, tell me all about life in the West."
    "What, California? Oh, well, you know; it's a concrete jungle out there. It's so nice to be here among old friends. You look—good enough to eat!” he growled.
    Kim managed to wriggle from his grasp at that remark, “Uh, Wade ... thank you for the compliment, but I don't ... I mean, I don't feel comfortable hogging all your attention. After all, it is your birthday and these are your friends. We should mingle."
    Wade sighed, “Sorry. I just keep hoping maybe someday you'll see me the way I see you ... the way I have always seen you, as the one person in the world I'd want to spend the rest of my life with."
    Oh, my, she thought ; melodramatic as ever, aren't we? “I'm flattered, but I'm not very lucky in the long-term relationship business. You'd wind up wishing you'd never got that close to me in the first place. Please, let's just keep on being friends, okay?"
    Wade looked deep into her eyes, pressed her hand to his heart, then to his lips. “All right, but you know all you have to do is say the word and I would do anything for you."
    Kim took another deep breath, tried to calm her temper. Wade was good-looking enough; always had been, but he never had been the type she could enjoy being around. The more he seemed interested in her, the less she could stomach him. It'd been that way for her ever since high school. Yet he was the one who kept turning up in her life. Maybe Liz was right; maybe it was karmic. “Perish the thought!” she said.
    "What? What thought?” he said with a frown.
    His response surprised her into realizing she had spoken aloud. “Oh, nothing. I just suddenly realized I'm hungrier than I knew; the thought of food is making me weak."
    "Jesus! Aren't you taking care of yourself? Haven't you been eating right? I know you're on the move again, but you know you shouldn't neglect your health,” he fussed.
    "Oh, Wade, it's nothing like that; I was tired and hot this afternoon, so I didn't eat when we finished the move because it would have made me sick. Now I'm over being hot and I have rested a bit, so I am hungry."
    Wade smiled down at her, said, “Of course you are. Come along. Let's go get you some food. Gracie has everything you could ever want."
    Kim allowed herself to be whisked across the room to where Liz was nibbling her way along the buffet table.
* * * *
    "So, tell me ... are you Liz or Kim?” a tall man asked as he sidled up to Liz. He was dressed as a bright green alligator with yellow triangles trailing from the top of his head all the way to the end of the tail.
    She smiled and extended her hand, “I'm Liz. And you are—Al, right?"
    He gave a hearty laugh, pushed his mask up to reveal his face. “How astute. I'm John, John Carter. Pleased to meet you, Liz."
    "Oh, well, it is nice to meet you, too, Mr. Carter,” she said, taken aback as she saw his face.
    "No-no! You must call me John or don't call me.” He smiled at her, realizing she was surprised when she recognized who he was.
    Liz returned his smile and said, “All right, John. Have it your way."
    "Grace tells me you and