The Wicked Wife (Murder in Marin Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

would place her on a pedestal, adore her, and make her rich beyond what she had ever imagined.  
    But it would start by saying goodbye.

CHAPTER FOUR

    Willow had no doubt that she and William would have a tryst, and that it would come sooner than later. She suspected he thought of her as a passing interest, but she had grander ideas than a wonderful fling followed in a month by a sudden and simple goodbye.
    She would do all that she could to make sure that their relationship would last a lifetime, whether that was his intention or not.  
    Willow returned from the Adams mansion well after midnight. Kozlov, who had exhausted himself pouting earlier that night, was fast asleep. The following morning, she awoke alone in her heart-shaped bed. He had slipped out quietly for a ten o’clock rehearsal at Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall, where he was preparing for a weekend performance.  
    A text message on her private number from the front desk at her condominium informed her that twenty-four long stemmed yellow roses arrived for her. They came with a handwritten note that said simply:
    The beauty of these roses pales in comparison to you! Thank you for a memorable evening.
    William
    Not only was she pleased by the beauty of the flowers, she was particularly pleased that William was paying attention when, during their fireside chat, she shared with him that her very favorite color was yellow. This was a very good sign.  
    For the next hour, she relaxed in a warm tub, enjoying the gentle fragrance of lavender bath salts, while contemplating her next move.  
    Following her bath, and after a long and well-practiced routine of moisturizing, Willow noticed a text message from William suggesting dinner on Saturday night. Given the fact that this was Friday, it was clear to Willow that William was now in full pursuit.  
    Should she be available on such short notice or not, she wondered before replying. She had planned to go to Viktor’s performance in Berkeley, but she was only too happy to set that commitment aside, so she texted back, “I have a commitment, but I think it can be moved. Let me check with my personal secretary and get back to you shortly.”
    She had no intention of passing up a dinner invitation from William Adams, but she waited ninety minutes before responding, “I’ve cleared my calendar.” She teasingly added, “What do you have planned, Mr. Adams?”

    William’s plan was to pick Willow up by limousine, take her to a private jetport just south of San Francisco, and fly her to San Diego for a catered dinner on a yacht for which he had a time-share, although he had not used it in two years. Fortunately, it was available on short notice.  
    After dinner in the yacht’s massive dining room, they could decide to share the craft’s private master bedroom, sleep in separate accommodations, or return late that night to San Francisco.  
    It was ridiculously extravagant, but William was determined to impress.  
    When he shared with Willow his plans, she knew her billionaire had very serious intentions regarding their future.  
    The only anticipated bump in Willow’s day would be sharing with Viktor the disappointing news that she would not be at his Saturday night performance. Her excuse was that she’d been booked for a private engagement, and that it might require her being out of town for the balance of the weekend.
    It was not at all surprising to her that Kozlov was furious when she broke the news to him. He hurriedly made plans to have the car and driver that had been assigned to him take him to the empty suite booked for his use at the Claremont Hotel near the Berkeley campus.  
    “You will much miss me, for I will not be back!” With that, he stormed out of Willow’s bedroom, slamming the door behind him.  
    All of which was fine with Willow, who at the moment was consumed with happy fantasies of one day being a billionaire’s wife.  

    On the ride to the private jetport, William plied Willow