Full Bloom by Jayne Ann Krentz Read Free Book Online

risk. I was mortified and humiliated, as usual." And she had fallen madly in love with her rescuer, only to discover that Jacob Stone was married. At the time it had seemed like the end of the world.
    "It's not unusual for people to yell at someone who's just given them a major fright. Parents yell at kids all the time for just that reason. Out of curiosity, what was the outcome of the investigation involving Damon Morrell? Or did your Mr. Stone find out anything really interesting other than the fact that Morrell's a competitor with RI?"
    Emily paused and then decided there was no reason to be coy. "Jacob Stone could find something incriminating about an angel if someone assigned him the task."
    Diane leaned on the counter, her coffee cup cradled in both hands. "Okay, let's have it. What did he find out about Damon?"
    "It's embarrassing, Diane."
    "That's what friends are for."
    Emily's mouth curved. "To embarrass myself in front of?"
    "Come on. We have no secrets from each other. If you can't tell me, who can you tell?"
    "You may be right." Emily sighed. "Jacob turned up evidence that Damon Morrell intended to marry me in order to gain control of my shares in Ravenscroft International."
    "Evidence? Stone found actual proof? How?"
    "There was a nasty little tape recording he made at a restaurant. On it is a conversation between Damon and a woman named Marcia."
    "Who's Marcia?"
    "Damon's mistress, apparently. He took her to lunch and explained to her that she wasn't to be jealous of what he was planning to do. He intended to marry me long enough to gain control of my RI shares and then he intended to get divorced and marry Marcia. In addition to the tape, there were also a couple of incriminating memos Damon sent a couple of years ago vowing vengeance on Ravenscroft, regardless of what it took or what it cost. Apparently his dislike of RI goes beyond the normal feelings of a competitor. He hates my family and the firm."
    Diane's mouth fell open. "How strange. Why does he hate Ravenscroft?"
    "I don't know. Something to do with a bid Morrell lost a couple of years ago. My father and brother didn't want to burden me with the whole sordid tale, naturally. They consider me very naive when it comes to the harsh realities of big business. All they're concerned about is making sure I don't marry Damon."
    "Did you tell them you hadn't planned to marry him?"
    Emily smiled, the first smile reflecting genuine humor since she had walked into her father's study. "Are you kidding? I had to salvage something from the fiasco. I decided not to give any of them, including Jacob Stone, the satisfaction of knowing they didn't have to worry about me marrying Damon. Let them stew about it for a while. I'm sick and tired of them interfering in my life."
    The phone on the counter rang just as Diane opened her mouth to demand more answers. Emily picked up the receiver.
    "Emily's Garden."
    "There you are, dear. I tried your apartment, but you'd already left."
    "Hello, Mom," Emily said crisply. "I'm a little busy. What can I do for you?"
    "I just wanted to make sure you were all right and that everything had been taken care of," Catherine Ravenscroft said soothingly. "Your father and I were a little worried about you. You seemed so upset when you left last night."
    "Upset? Did I seem upset? I can't imagine how you got that impression. Why should I have been upset?" Emily kept her voice artificially light and taunting. She could visualize her mother's frown on the other end of the line.
    "Now, Emily, you know we only want what's best for you. You were on the verge of making a terrible mistake. Just as you did that time you got involved with Carlton. Come to think of it, you've never really shown good judgment when it comes to men. I remember that boy with the motorcycle back when you were in high school…"
    "Bobby Hadley? Give me a break, Mom. Bobby was a decent kid. Besides, I was interested in his bike, not him. You never gave him a chance. You wouldn't