Haunted Heart by Susan Laine Read Free Book Online Page A

yesterday. Since he is always on time, as you say, or early, I figured this was something to be concerned about.” Maggie studied him with deliberate scrutiny. “Would you like me to get him on the phone?”
    “No. He won’t answer.” Duncan let out a frustrated grunt, going over his options in his mind. “I’ll go see him.” He got up in a hurry and rearranged the papers on his desk. “I won’t be gone long. I think. One day isn’t going to kill us. I’ll be back—”
    “Just go.” Maggie all but shoved him out of his own office. “You can work from home if need be. I’ll take care of everything.” She shooed him toward the elevators.
    “Mags?” Duncan called back, and Maggie turned to face him questioningly. “You’re not really fired.”
    Maggie flashed an irreverent grin. “What else is new? Go on. We’ll talk about my raise when you come back.”
    Duncan couldn’t help but let out a laugh as he headed out.
     
     
    D ARK CLOUDS welled above Duncan as he drove up to the house in the woodsy hills. It was going to rain. How much, he could only guess. Probably a lot. The air felt thick enough for a downpour, and the wind from the sea all but confirmed it.
    Parking and turning off the ignition, Duncan waited in place for a moment, making sure Ruben would be able to see him before Duncan went about knocking on the door. As much as he longed to dash to the house, burst in, and hug Ruben close, Duncan knew that wouldn’t go over very well. That vision had police at the end, not orgasm.
    Finally, he got out and walked, not ran, to the porch despite the fact it had started to drizzle. Safe from the weather under the awning, Duncan shook his coat to get rid of most of the moisture clinging to the fabric.
    The locks clicked behind his back. Duncan prayed Ruben had opened them instead of closing them. Then the door opened a crack with a rusty creak.
    A dark head of hair appeared in the slit, half hiding a pair of widened eyes. “Dun—um, Mr. Kerr…?”
    Duncan had to admit he was relieved Ruben had even answered the door. “Hello, Ruben. It’s good to see you again.”
    Ruben’s pale cheeks pinked, and he frowned. “W-what are you doing here?”
    “I’m not here to harass or stalk you or anything,” Duncan assured in his most soothing tone. He remained where he stood, not advancing toward the boy no matter how much he yearned to do just that. “I realize I could’ve called or e-mailed, but…. The book cover you were contracted to do was due yesterday. Has there been some kind of unforeseen delay, maybe?”
    Swallowing convulsively, Ruben looked embarrassed, despondent—and guilty. Had he missed the deadline on purpose? Duncan frowned, not knowing what to think. “I, uh….” His voice trailed off, and he seemed unable to produce sounds, let alone coherent words.
    Duncan changed tactics. “Look, Ruben. I’m aware I make you nervous. I wish I didn’t, but….” He shrugged, not finishing the sentence. “I suppose I came here in person because I didn’t want to leave things the way they were. I don’t want you to see me as some kind of ogre—”
    “I don’t think that,” Ruben hurried to cut in, his voice rising. He stopped abruptly, as if he had more to say but couldn’t form the words. Then his shoulders slumped, and his gaze dropped to the ground. “I’m sorry. Please, forgive me.”
    Duncan took a tentative step forward. “I’m not mad at you, Ruben. Honestly I’m not. I never was. What I am is… confused and in the dark.”
    If anything, Ruben managed to appear even more miserable. His jaw quivered, and his eyes glimmered with unshed tears. “I—I didn’t mean to….” He took a deep breath, yet again leaving his sentence unfinished. Duncan felt bad for him. He knew what it felt like to be trapped, to be pushed to the corner, caught between the instinct to fight or run. He was willing to go as soon as he knew what Ruben had planned with the late cover. But Ruben