THE GREAT BETRAYAL Read Online Free Page B

So…what are we going to do about Leslie?”
    “Merciful heavens—I don’t know. Maybe she has a phone book or something. Let’s look around. There has to be some way to get in touch with her parents or some other relative.”
    But in the end, even after checking with the neighbors, they were unable to locate any information about Leslie’s relatives. There wasn’t even the slightest indication that she had any close friends.
    Exhausting all possible alternatives, Ingrid decided they would simply take Leslie home with them. Given her late stage of pregnancy, they would have to drive back to Tennessee.
    Jeffrey’s child would be born in Memphis.
    And they would name her Grace.
    Just as he’d wanted.
     
     
     

Part II
     
    Chapter 6
     
    Palm Beach, Florida
    Christmas 2004
     
    Until tonight they had been only platonically acquainted. He had preferred it that way.
    Until tonight he’d never dared to consider the open invitation he’d seen in her eyes from the very beginning.
    And so, with a meeting of the eyes, it began.
    Eye contact was such a powerful medium. A full-blown conversation could take place within the rock-solid confines of a stare. And on this night, their conversation began.
    Her look had posed the question. His, though initially surprised, had fallen under its spell. His had responded.
    In her pointed gaze he saw the offering—the offering of what he wanted more than anything else. In her eyes he believed he was seeing exactly what he needed, but had been deprived of.
    In those eyes, he saw her .
    He had to get out of there. He had to get away, or…
    “Can we talk?” She had followed him out into the garage.
    Oh, God. Please. No.
    That was all she’d said, but he’d heard so much more being offered in those three harmless words. So much more.
    Before he could stop himself from telling her where and when to meet him—
    He already had.
     
    • 
     
    The man poured himself a drink. She was leaning against the wall, just inside the foyer. Watching him.
    They had not spoken since entering the house.
    The woman wasn’t sure she should speak at all. He looked as if he would change his mind at any moment. And she didn’t want that.
    No. She wanted him. She had to have him. Her body tingled with the excitement of being with him, the anticipation of having this—the oh-so-forbidden.
    He had actually brought her here. He’d obviously wanted this all along, just as she had.
    It was hard to think clearly as she stood gazing at him. He was tall and lean, quite muscular, but not bulky. Deliciously blond. Strong jawline. Nice, full lips.
    He was standing there, just three feet away from her, looking incredibly sexy in a solid black sweater and a pair of dark blue Levis.
    And best of all…they were alone. She grew moist at the thought.
    Why did this happen whenever she was near him? Why did her pulse quicken, her thoughts scramble, and her vagina throb all at the same time?
    Why was she plagued by the same forbidden fantasy whenever they were apart?
    Well, it might still be forbidden, but his inviting her here tonight made it quite clear that it was no longer a fantasy.
    On that note she made the first move. Walking over to him, she took the snifter from his hand. He let it go.
    She then began kissing him with a hunger that excited him ferociously. They began peeling off each other’s clothes, shuffling their way into the bedroom.
    He was anything but gentle with her. He mauled her breasts without apology, as if to punish her for being a temptation to him. He bent, biting her nipples as his hand found her sex. He jabbed his fingers into her wetness.
    She moaned. She would not complain. She was getting what she wanted, and nothing could be better than what was happening right here. Right now.
    His body was firm and solid as a rock. His skin felt so good against hers. Covering her. Rubbing against her. He wanted her—very badly. Hell, he seemed to need her.
    When he finally slipped into her body, the