I'll Find You by Nancy Bush Read Free Book Online Page A

Caribbean Sea beyond between the stretches of hills, palms, and buildings.
    When she’d left her cell phone and life behind in Los Angeles, she’d never thought she would need it to prove who she was. She considered pulling her wallet out and showing it to West but decided it would be better to wait until they could speak privately. Besides, she owed him nothing and the more miles they put between Tucker and him the better. If he wanted to keep thinking she was Teresa, have at it. She didn’t need to be helpful.
    And besides, she was really growing curious about West Laughlin and his search for his brother’s son. If he was looking for Tucker, her Tucker, then she sure as hell wanted to know what this was all about. He wasn’t the only one who sought answers.
    The taxi pulled into the sweeping drive in front of the Bakoua Beach. West paid the fare, then guided Callie inside, his hand at her elbow. This time she didn’t pull away as they walked through the open-air lobby, past the woman at the reception desk, around the circular, outdoor bar and to the steps that led to the beach.
    The hotel was built into a hillside, the main reception area a level above the pool, the pool above the cabanas, the cabanas and restaurant above the beach. West took Callie to the restaurant, but the amount of stairs she had to climb down took their toll, and by the time he pulled back her chair her knees were trembling.
    “Thé glacé,” he said to the waitress as he sat down across from Callie. He raised two fingers. “ Deux .”
    Iced tea. Callie wondered just how good his command of the French language was. Maybe better than her own?
    “You look like you’re going to faint,” West said, his gaze moving over her pale face.
    “I never faint.”
    “You’re bleeding.”
    She followed his gaze and realized a thin line of blood had run down her right leg. “My knee,” she said, pulling up her skirt to above the injury. The skin was scraped and there was a small, deeper cut in her flesh.
    He was silent for long moments.
    “What?” she asked.
    He didn’t answer but she could tell he was disturbed that she was hurt. Well, good. He should be. Taking her own fate into her hands Callie dug through her carryall and pulled out her wallet, unclasped it, and shoved her California driver’s license in front of his face.
    The iced tea came as he was looking at her picture. “Take it,” she told him, slapping the wallet in his hands. “Rob me blind.”
    Callie reached for her glass and sat back. She glanced over at him, focusing at the dark, silky hair at his crown as he continued to gaze down at her picture. When she felt as if an eternity had come and gone and still he didn’t speak, she lost patience and demanded, “Well?”
    His brows were knit in concentration, and a trickle of sweat ran down the curve of his jaw.
    “See my name and picture?” she demanded.
    He lifted his eyes and glanced at the bracelet. Then he looked at her identification again.
    Callie realized, in a distant part of her mind, that this was the longest she’d gone without thinking about Sean since his death. She stuffed that thought aside to dissect it later and said, “If my license is good enough for the state of California, it ought to be good enough for you.”
    He didn’t answer.
    Callie fought back another smart comment, deciding if this was a silent battle of wills, she could play. He ignored her credit cards and the crinkled edges of the euros shoved into her wallet. His expression gave no clue to his thoughts.
    At long last he said, “You applied for this driver’s license less than a year ago.”
    “It’s a renewal.” At his renewed silence she couldn’t help herself from adding, “It is. I’ve lived in California since I was twenty. Before I was Callie Cantrell I was Callie Shipley.”
    “You’re married?”
    “I’m a widow.”
    He scowled and instantly his behavior changed. “I know,” he said darkly. “I know what you