Beloved by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online

was waiting on the wide
porch for Charles to return, Simon and his date got
out of his elegant Town Car at the steps and let the valet
drive it off. He looked devastating, as
usual. He was wearing the prosthesis, she noticed, and wondered at how much he seemed to use it these days. Just after the wreck, he wouldn't be caught dead wearing an
artificial arm.
    The woman with him was Jill Sinclair herself, a
socialite, twice divorced and wealthy, with short black
hair and dark eyes and a figure that drew
plenty of interest. It would, Tira thought wick edly, considering that her red sequined dress must have
been sprayed on and the paint ran out at midthigh . Advertising must pay, she mused, because Simon certainly seemed pleased as he smiled down at the small woman and held her elbow as they climbed up the steps.
    He didn't see Tira until they
were almost at the top. When he did, he seemed to
jerk, as if the sight of her was unexpected.
    She didn't let anything of her feelings show, despite the
pain of seeing him now when her whole life had
been laid bare in the press. She did her
best not to let her embarrassment show, either.

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    Beloved
    Diana Palmer
    191

She smiled carelessly and nodded politely at the couple and de liberately turned away in the direction where Charles
and the valet were just coming into view.
    "Why, how brave she is," Jill Sinclair purred
to Simon, just loud enough for Tira to hear her. "I'd never have had the nerve to face all these people after that humiliating story in the—
Simon!"
    Her voice died completely. Tira didn't look toward them. Her face was flaming
and she knew her accelerated heartbeat was mak ing her shake visibly. She and Jill had never liked each other, but the woman seemed to be looking for a way to hurt her.
She was obviously exuding her power since
she'd finally managed to get Simon to notice her and take her out. God knew,
she'd been after him for years. Tira's fall from
grace had obviously benefitted her.
    Charles bounded up the steps and took Tira's arm. "Sorry about that," he said sheepishly.
    "You love your car," she replied with a warm
smile. "I un derstand."
    "You're one in a million," he mused. His hand
fell to grasp hers, and when she looked inside the
open doors she knew why. His half brother
was there, and so was his sister-in-law, looking unhappy.
    "Gene," he called to his older half brother.
"Nice to see you." He shook the other
man's hand. Gene was tall and severe-looking with thinning gray hair. The woman beside him was tiny and blond and lovely, but she had the most tragic brown eyes Tira had ever seen.
    "Hello, Nessa ,"
Charles said to the woman, his face guarded, a polite smile on his lips.
    "Hello, Charles, Tira ," Nessa replied in her soft, sweet voice. "You both look very nice. Isn't this a good
turnout?" she added nervously.
"They'll make a lot of money at five hundred dollars a couple."
    "Yes," Tira agreed with a broad smile. "The hospital
outreach
    program will probably be able to afford two vans and the services of another nurse!"
    "For indigents," Gene Marlowe said huffily,
"who won't pay a penny of their own health care."
    The other three people looked at him as if he'd gone
mad. He glared at them, reddening. "I have to see Todd Groves about a contract we're pursuing. If you'll excuse me? Nessa , don't just stand there! Come along."
    Nessa ground her teeth together as Gene took her arm roughly. Charles looked as if he might attack his own brother
right there. Tira caught his hand and tugged.
    "I'm starving," she told him quickly, exchanging
speaking glances with a suddenly relieved Nessa . "Feed me!"
    Charles
hesitated for an instant, during which Gene dragged Nessa away toward a group of men.
    "Damn him!" Charles bit off, his normally
pleasant face con torted and threatening.
    Tira shook his hand gently. "You're
broadcasting," she mur mured, bumping
deliberately against his side to distract him. "Come on, before you cause
her any more trouble than she's