Crossed Hearts (Matchmaker Trilogy) by Barbara Delinsky Read Free Book Online Page A

number of scrambled eggs, four rashers of bacon, two corn muffins, a large glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee. She was working on a second cup, when she realized what she’d done. Peering sheepishly over the rim of the cup, she murmured, “Sorry about that. I guess I was hungry.”
    “No dinner last night?”
    “No dinner.” It must have been close to eight o’clock when she’d finally stumbled to his door. Not once had she thought of food, even when she’d passed the stove en route to the washing machine. With an intake of breath at the memory, she started to get up. “I left my clothes in the washer—”
    “They’re dry.” He’d switched them into the dryer after she’d fallen asleep. “All except the sweater. I hung it up. Don’t think it should have been washed, being cashmere.”
    He’d drawled the last with a hint of sarcasm, but Leah was feeling too self-conscious to catch it. She hadn’t had anyone tend to her in years. That Garrick should be doing it—a total stranger handling her clothes, her underthings—was disturbing. Even worse, he’d carried her to his bed, and she’d slept there with him. Granted, she’d been oblivious to it all, but in the light of day she was far from oblivious to the air of potent masculinity he projected. He looked unbelievably rugged, yet unconscionably civilized. Fresh from the shower, his hair was damp. In a hunter green turtleneck and tan cords that matched the color of his hair and beard, he was gorgeous.
    “It was probably ruined long before I put it in the washer,” she murmured breathily, then darted an awkward glance toward the window. “How long do you think the rain will last?”
    “Days.”
    She caught his gaze and forced a laugh. “Thanks.” When she saw no sign of a returning smile, her own faded. “You’re serious, aren’t you.” It wasn’t a question.
    “Very.”
    “But I need my car.”
    “Where is it?”
    “At Victoria’s cabin.”
    “Why?”
    “Why do I need it?” She’d have thought that would be obvious.
    “Why is it at Victoria’s?”
    In a rush, Leah remembered how little she and Garrick had spoken the night before. “Because she was renting the cabin to me, only when I got there, I saw that it was nothing but—” She didn’t finish, because Garrick was eyeing her challengingly. That, combined with the way he was sitting—leaning far back in his chair with one hand on his thigh and the other toying with his mug—evoked an illusion of menace. At least, she hoped it was only an illusion.
    “You said that Victoria sent you to me,” he reminded her tightly.
    “That’s right.”
    “In what context?”
    The nervousness Leah was feeling caused her words to tumble out with uncharacteristic speed. “She said that if I had a problem, you’d be able to help. And I have a problem. The cabin’s burned down, my car is stuck in the mud, I have to find somewhere to stay because my apartment’s gone—”
    “Victoria sent you to stay in the cabin,” he stated, seeming to weigh the words.
    Leah didn’t like his tone. “Is there a problem with that?”
    “Yes.”
    “What is it?”
    He didn’t blink an eye. “Victoria’s cabin burned three months ago.”
    For a minute she said nothing. Then she asked very quietly, “What?”
    “The cabin burned three months ago.”
    “That can’t be.”
    “It is.”
    If it had been three days ago, Leah might have understood. With a stretch of the imagination, she might even have believed three weeks. After all, no one was living at the cabin. To her knowledge Garrick wasn’t its caretaker. But three months? Surely someone would have been by during that time. “You’re telling me that the cabin burned three months ago and that Victoria wasn’t told?”
    “I’m telling you that the cabin burned three months ago.”
    “Why wasn’t Victoria told ?” Leah demanded impatiently.
    “She was.”
    Her anger rose. “I don’t believe you.”
    Garrick was staring at her