Aspen Gold by Janet Dailey Read Free Book Online

collapse inside."
    "Thank God," Paula muttered and followed Kit into the house. Four steps inside the dramatic entryway, she stopped and grabbed Kit's arm. "This is no mansion," she said in an undertone. "It's a snow palace."
    "And snow is the operative word," Kit agreed.
    The entryway was all in shades of white: the glazed walls, the marble floor, and the staircase.
    The enormous chandelier suspended from the ceiling resembled a modern ice sculpture done in gleaming silver and crystal. Its brilliance bleached the whiteness even more, dazzling the eyes.
    More white shone from the room beyond the double doors to her left. Curious, Kit walked over and descended the two steps into a spacious, cathedral-ceilinged living room. This time the white of the walls and furniture was broken by the rich brown of oak flooring and the green of potted ficus trees. She barely glanced at the sunken conversation pit in the corner or its fireplace of white stone. The whole of her attention was caught by the sweep of glass and the mountain vista beyond it, the absence of color making the view the focal point of the room.
    "It must be stunning in the winter when the mountains are white with snow." Kit turned, expecting to find Paula and discovering John beside her instead.
    "It is, especially at night with the lights of Aspen glittering like clusters of ground stars."
    Reaching up, he let his fingers tangle lightly with the ends of her hair. "Of course, it's a view best seen from the balcony off the master suite." He brought his gaze back to her face.
    "I think you'd like it."
    "I'd probably love it," she agreed easily.
    "I meant the master suite."
    "So did I," Kit admitted. This close to him, it was easy to remember the heat of his kisses, the taste of them, and the heady feelings they evoked.
    "Then what's stopping you?" He moved closer, his low voice all bourbon warm and lazy, the sound of it making it even easier to imagine making love with him.
    "The scars from old burns." She'd loved before
    --wholly, deeply, completely--the only way she knew to love. But that love had been rejected. She'd never forgotten the pain of that.
    Since then, she'd learned to be cautious of physical relationships. Not an easy thing for her to do considering she operated on emotion.
    "Besides, John T.," Kit said, keeping it light, "you're not exactly known for your constancy with women."
    "True." His gaze traveled over her face, its look thoughtful and unexpectedly serious. "But I have a feeling it will be different with you. Very different."
    Kit laughed and brushed a quick kiss across his cheek. "It's about time."
    Before he could follow up on that kiss, Maury walked down the steps into the living room, the others drifting along behind him. "This is some layout you've got here, Travis." Maury took note of the full bar along one wall and ignored the flicker of irritation in John's expression.
    "You got a pool?" He padded over to the glass doors leading onto a wood-decked balcony.
    John lit a cigarette and blew out the smoke, his gaze following Kit as she wandered over to idly inspect a celadon vase. "An indoor-outdoor pool, sauna, hot tub, exercise room, a climate-controlled wine cellar, a billiard room, private studio office--all the amenities."
    "What? No bowling alley?" Maury joked.
    "No." John swung toward Chip. "The media room is equipped with a projector and screen. We'll be able to view the dailies there."
    "Great." His face lit up at the news.
    "Forget the amenities. The house is still beautiful." Yvonne Davis paused in the center of the room, running an admiring glance over the elegant furnishings. "You must love coming here, John."
    "Actually, I'm hardly ever here. In fact, I'd planned to sell it--"
    "Why?" Kit frowned.
    He glanced at her. "I bought it five years ago for a million and a half. In today's market, it will sell for four and a half to five million."

    Maury whistled. "That's what I call a tidy profit."
    "Yes, it is." John blew out a stream of