Lethal Affair by Noelle Hart Read Free Book Online Page B

Lyle
making Jolene sous chef without any formal training. “Gotta start
someplace.”
    “ Yeah. Doesn't hurt she's
good looking either, does it?”
    As though she'd heard them, Lillian
McFarley spun around and made eye contact with Will across the
yard. He signaled her to come forward. Slender and leggy, sex
appeal oozed out of the woman and while that appealed to Lyle's
male senses, it also put him on guard. The little tattoo of a cupid
on her left ankle was a probable sign of a woman on a
mission.
    Will made the introductions just as
the back screen door eased open and Dino shot out like a rocket.
Quickly he sniffed their feet and discovering someone new, jumped
up at Lillian. She cringed, her ponytail swinging as she tried to
push him down.
    “ Off!” came a female
command. Immediately Dino backed down. “Sit!” Dino obeyed, his tail
thumping the wood deck. “Good boy,” said the owner of the silken
voice. A slender Asian woman squatted next to Dino and slipped him
a treat.
    Lyle offered her his hand and she came
to her feet. “Everyone, this is Gina Kirby, Dino's vet and my
honorable guest at our prestigious backyard event today. As you can
see she's been helping me keep Dino in line.”
    They all shook hands, Lyle and Gina on
one side, Will and Lillian on the other. Lillian fished for
information. “So Lyle, is this your girlfriend?”
    Gina looked embarrassed and Lyle
chuckled. “We're just friends. Dino's got jealousy issues. He wants
Gina all for himself.”
    “ I've been needling Lyle to
bring me to one of these barbeques for months,” Gina supplied. “He
told me it's the only time his partner in crime cooks. Wanted to
see for myself how well that goes over.” She offered Will a smile.
“Judging by the smell coming off that grill over there, I think
we're in good hands.”
    Will watched how she looped a friendly
arm through Lyle's and decided here was a woman with style. A
differently feathered bird than his own guest selection
indeed.
    Proving just how sharply they
contrasted, Lillian cozied up to Lyle. “Well then,” she cooed,
“would you mind buying me a drink, mister?”
    Amused, Gina released Lyle and
murmured, “You heard the lady. Get her a drink.”
    Frozen in place, Lyle looked down at
Lillian's too tight and possessive grip on his arm just as Jolene
swung through the screen door carrying a tray of dipping vegetables
in one hand and a bowl of humus in the other. Her summer dress and
mass of copper curls were a stunning backdrop for the equally
stunned looked on her face.
    Jolene's heart tripped and her stomach
clenched. Who was this woman leeched onto Lyle's arm? Oh God, don't
tell me he brought a date! Mortified, she changed her course,
skimming past them and heading down the few steps to where the
table was being arranged.
    Lyle tugged his arm loose. Drink for
Lillian forgotten, he went after Jolene even as Will's gaze settled
on yet another newcomer who had slid through the back door behind
Jolene.
    It struck him right off that she was
tragically beautiful. Oval face, exotic features of dark brows and
lashes over slanted violet eyes filled with some kind of
preoccupation. White blonde hair and a generous mouth, skin glowing
in the afternoon's dappled sunlight. She wore a simple t-shirt over
jean shorts and low open sandals on her slim feet, and seemed
utterly unaware of the impact she'd made just by walking into his
space. He glimpsed nerves and a trace of defensiveness that prodded
at his innate protective nature.
    Will was good at reading people. This
was definitely one person he wanted to know better. He held out his
hand. “Will Delaney, Jolene's boss. I take it she invited
you?”
    A wispy smile played across her lips
as she shook his hand. “Kylie Lambert, Jolene's roommate. This is
some place you have here.”
    He couldn't take his eyes off her. “At
last we meet. Jolene's mentioned you a few times. Only she left out
the part about you being so lovely.”
    “ Oh. Well. I