Behind the Shadows by Patricia; Potter Read Free Book Online

idea.”
    â€œWe’ve been getting a good response.”
    Kira scribbled. She could—probably should—use a tape recorder, but she always preferred taking notes.
    â€œHow many horses do you have?”
    â€œJust one at the moment. And a rescue donkey to keep her company.”
    â€œA rescue donkey?”
    â€œHorses are social animals. They like company, and someone told me about this donkey …”
    â€œI have friends who have rescue animals,” Kira said. “They swear by them. One has a rescue parrot and another, Chris, has a dog named Archie. One of these days, I plan to adopt several. Right now, my schedule is a little too busy.”
    Leigh took a sip of tea.
    â€œHow long have you been riding?” Kira tried again. She wanted to keep Leigh talking and talking and talking. She wanted to know everything she could.
    â€œNot long. My mother was a superb rider and had started to teach me when I was five. After she died, my grandfather got rid of the horses. I just started riding again two years ago.”
    After Ed Westerfield died .
    Leigh looked at her watch, and Kira got the message. She’d stumbled on something painful.
    More research needed .
    But she needed something else now. She glanced down at the cup of tea on the table. Lipstick on the side of the fragile cup. God—or the devil—was with her.
    â€œBen will want some photos,” she said. “I hope to have the front of the feature section, and that means color. Perhaps a riding outfit …”
    Leigh Howard looked as if she was going to object, then nodded. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
    Kira doubted it. She certainly hoped not.
    She stood as Leigh left the room, then walked to the door where she watched Leigh climb the stairs.
    She went back to the chair. The hardwood floor was covered by an obviously expensive rug. Probably a Persian. What she was about to do was a sacrilege. Her mother would horrified.
    Don’t think! Hurry .
    She leaned over the table, her hand brushing the cup, tipping it on the face of the table. China shattered against glass. Tea spilled across the table onto the floor and onto her slacks. She scooped up a broken piece of china that had a trace of lipstick. She slipped it into an envelope in her purse. Then she took a handkerchief from her purse and gathered up the other pieces.
    She glanced around. No one in sight. She hurried down the hall to where she hoped she would find the kitchen.
    No housekeeper. No anyone. She put the pieces of the cup on the counter, then started swabbing at her slacks as anyone would do under the circumstances.
    How much did the cup cost? She would replace it. She only hoped it wasn’t part of a one-of-a-kind antique set.
    She finished rinsing the spot on her slacks, turned.
    And ran smack into a tall masculine figure. She looked up at his face and was stunned. Dear God, he was a fine-looking male specimen …
    His arms went around her waist, balancing her. “And who in the hell are you?” he asked with a lazy drawl.

7
    Kira was too startled to say anything. Even to breathe. How long had he been in the house, and had he seen her deliberately break a cup?
    And why did he have to be so incredibly fine-looking?
    She tried to move away, but bumped against the sink. His arms were still around her. Good thing. Her legs were suddenly rubbery.
    She forced herself to meet the man’s gaze. She felt like a thief, and that was exactly what she was. She had purposely broken an expensive piece of china and …
    Dammit, she planned to steal even more while here. She just hoped guilt didn’t radiate from her eyes.
    â€œWell?” he asked.
    â€œI’m Kira Douglas,” she said, trying desperately to sound professional. “I’m here to do a story on Ms. Howard.”
    â€œA story?”
    â€œI’m with the Atlanta Observer.”
    His brows drew together and he frowned. She realized instantly his