Strangers in the Night Read Online Free Page A

good.
    Still, on some level, Abbie knew she couldn’t go on running forever. Her parents were right. The offer was too good to refuse. It was time to go home, not so much for the artist colony, though that did appeal to her. She had to see Skye and reconnect with her family. And for Emma’s sake, she needed to stop running.

C HAPTER 3
    Jake never imagined she’d give in so easily. He expected a long and arduous argument. In a way, he wanted to back up and tell her to wait. She didn’t even know him, for Pete’s sake.
    She’d asked him where he was staying and told him she’d be in touch. She’d be ready to leave in the morning if he was okay with that. Then off she went to check on some paintings. At least that’s what she’d said. He’d been too shocked to do much more than nod.
    Maybe she was thinking of running again. The thought slammed him alongside the head. He had no idea where she lived or how to find her. Not even her parents knew that. They wrote to a post office address. That was one of the places he had planned to go on Monday on his quest to find her.
    Jake prayed that he hadn’t spooked Abbie. He hated the thought of having to go back to Oregon empty-handed. Not certain what else to do, he browsed around the art fair for a while then headed back to the hotel. He’d make a couple of phone calls and take a nap and maybe come back for the evening’s entertainment. Maybe he’d be lucky and Abbie would be there. Maybe he’d ask her to dance. And maybe, she’d say yes.
    At the hotel he made a call to Abbie’s parents in Oceanside. Lyle Grant answered almost immediately.
    â€œI found her.”
    The declaration brought resounding cheers from Lyle and his wife, who was talking in the background. “Abbie has agreed to come back to Oregon with me.”
    â€œThat was quick.” Lyle sounded pleased. “I’ll have to add a bonus. I knew you were the right man for the job.”
    â€œI wouldn’t celebrate quite yet. Abbie could change her mind.”
    â€œYou told her about Skye?”
    â€œI did.”
    Lyle breathed a heavy sigh. “She won’t.”
    As they said their good-byes, Jake couldn’t help but wonder why the Grants didn’t just write to Abbie about her sister and about the property for that matter. Then it occurred to him that talking one-on-one with Abbie was a much more humane way of breaking the news and encouraging her to come home. He was glad they’d sent him. He’d been able to answer her questions and provide a measure of comfort and security. At least he hoped that was the case. On the other hand, he may have only been instrumental in chasing her even farther away.
    Jake placed the telephone earpiece on the cradle, hoping his report to Lyle Grant was correct. He didn’t want to disappoint his clients, but it was more than that. Maybe it was his imagination or maybe the fact that he’d stared at Abbie’s picture most of the way to North Dakota, but his heart ached for the Grant family. He felt connected to them. Theirs had certainly become much more than a Realtor/client relationship.
    Jake shook his head to dispel his thoughts and switched modes. Picking up the receiver again, he dialed the number for his real estate office in Oceanside.
    Prior to the trip east, he’d left his agent, Barbara Nichols, in charge, and had given her the phone number of the hotel in Grand Forks in case she needed to contact him. Barbara hadn’t called, nor did she answer now. According to the answering service gal, Barbara hadn’t called in for messages since Friday afternoon.
    He wished people would be more dependable. Barbara usually was, but then Jake didn’t usually take trips lasting more than three days. “Give the messages to me now in case I need to call any of our clients.” Opening his briefcase, Jake removed a pen and notepad and began writing. Ten messages