Heartbreaker by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online Page B

death. She knew it. “You’ll grow old and bitter, all alone,” she said.

    “I’m already old and bitter,” he said, and he didn’t smile.

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    “No gray hairs,” she observed.

    “They’re all on the inside,” he shot back.

    She grinned. Her whole face lit up.

    He gave her an odd look and something in his expression softened, just a little.

    “If you really want to look old, you should dye your hair,” she pointed out.

    He chuckled. “My father still had black hair when he died. He was sixty.”

    “Good genes,” she said.

    He shrugged. “Beats me. He never knew who his father was.”

    “Your mother?”

    His face hardened. “I don’t talk about her.”

    “Sorry.”

    “I didn’t mean to growl,” he said hesitantly. “I’m not used to women.”

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    “Imagine a man ever admitting that!” she exclaimed with mock surprise.

    He cocked an eyebrow. “You’re sassy.”

    “Yes, I am. Nice of you to notice. Now would you mind leaving? Justin’s going to come back any minute. He won’t like having you flirt with me on his time.”

    “I don’t flirt,” he shot back.

    “Well, excuse me!”

    He shifted. “Maybe I flirt a little. It isn’t intentional.”

    “God forbid! Who’d want to marry you?” she asked curiously.

    He scowled. “Look here, I’m not a bad person.”

    “Well, I wouldn’t want to marry you,” she persisted.

    “Who asked you?” he asked curtly.

    “Not you, for sure,” she returned. “And don’t bother,” she added when he started to speak. “I’m such a rare catch that I have men salivating in the yard, wherever I go.”

    His dark eyes started to twinkle. “Why?”

    “Because I can make French pastry,” she told him. “With real whipped cream and custard fillings.”

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    He pursed his lips. “Well!”

    “See? I’m quite a catch. Too bad you’re not in the running.”

    He frowned. “Even if I were interested, what would I do with a wife?”

    “You don’t know?” She gave him such an expression of shock and horror that he burst out laughing.

    She grinned at him. “See there? You’re improving all the time. I’m a good influence, I am!”

    “You’re a pain in the neck,” he returned. “But not bad company.” He shrugged. “Like movies?”

    “What sort?”

    “Science fiction?”

    She chuckled. “You bet.”

    “I’ll check and see what’s playing at the theater Saturday, if you’re game.”

    Saturday was the barbecue at J.B.’s that she was determined not to attend. Here was her excuse to miss it. She liked Grange. Besides, no way was she going to sit home and eat her heart out over J.B., especially when she’d already told him that she had other plans. “I’m game.”

    “Your adopted family won’t like it,” he said slowly.

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    “Marge won’t mind,” she said, certain that it was true. “And I don’t care what J.B. thinks.”

    He nodded. “Okay. It’s a date. We’ll work out the details Friday.”

    “Fine. Now please go away,” she added, glancing at the door, where Justin was just coming inside the building. “Or we may both be out looking for work on Monday!”

    He grinned and left her before Justin got the door closed.

    Marge was less enthusiastic than Tellie had expected. In fact, she seemed disturbed.

    “Does the phrase, rubbing salt on an open wound, ring any chimes?” Marge asked her somberly.

    “But Grange didn’t do anything,” she protested. “He was as much a victim as J.B. was.”

    Marge hesitated, uneasy. “I understand that. But he’s connected with it. J.B. will see it as a personal attack on him, by both of you.”

    “That’s absurd!”

    “It isn’t, if