Lover's Lane by Jill Marie Landis Read Free Book Online

penis. “Unless you could use that for a coat hook.”
    She bit her lips to keep from laughing. “How long will you be in town?”
    “I’m not sure. I inquired about a long-term rental today. I guess it will depend on what Glenn Potter shows me tomorrow. I haven’t really decided how often I can get away from my business down in the L.A. area.”
    His mention of the Potters put her somewhat at ease, at least until a slow, uneven smile lit his face and her heart skipped a beat. She cleared her throat, tried to keep her tone light and even, to find out about him without seeming pushy.
    “What kind of business are you in?”
    He shifted his stance before he said, “Consulting. I’m growing a client list. Started my own business a few years ago.”
    “Have you walked down to the cove yet?”
    “No, but I saw it from the scenic pullout at the south end of town.”
    “That’s one of my favorite views.”
    They wandered around the gallery and although he pointed out another painting that he said ran more to his sister’s taste, he made no mention of a wife.
    Despite the fact that he was a stranger and maybe too charming to be true, Carly found herself settling into an easy exchange of conversation, lured by a growing fascination in Jake Montgomery as much as the honesty in his eyes.
    The whole time they talked, Carly remained wary of nurturing her fascination. Getting close to someone meant forging bonds, opening your heart and soul. Secrets could seep out of the cracks of the most carefully constructed fortresses, no matter how securely they had been sealed.
    Standing beside Carly, Jake was reminded again of how the old photograph he had always carried hadn’t come close to capturing her true essence.
    Now, in person, he found her softer, more vulnerable than he ever imagined. Her aura of innocence was so seductive that whenever he looked into her eyes, a gentle warmth suffused him, one akin to summer sunlight, warm spring rains. It was almost impossible to remember that she had been cunning enough to elude the best investigative firm in Southern California, that she was on the run because she no doubt had something to hide. Innocent people didn’t run.
    Her trail had gone cold six years ago.
    He mentioned his sister, Julie, trying to make himself more human, to put her at ease. Mesmerized, he studied Carly’s graceful movements, listened to the lilting sound of her voice as she complimented other local artists on display and the merits of their work. He stared as long as he dared—snatches of too-short heartbeats—into her unusual light-green eyes. They were the same fleeting, backlit color of the crest of a wave just before it curled.
    She looked younger than twenty-nine. Her hands were smooth, her fingers long and tapered. Her nails evenly trimmed and bare of polish. The dress she had chosen was classic yet plain, a long-sleeved knit that looked soft as an old T-shirt. Her silky hair fell free and golden around her shoulders, tempting him to touch. The only jewelry she wore was a pair of tiny silver shells in her pierced ears.
    By the time they completed a tour of the gallery, he knew he should leave, but he was half afraid that if he took his eyes off of her, she would disappear.
    They stood awkwardly in the center of the expansive space while the soothing sounds of a jazz saxophone filled the air. Outside a thin layer of fog had wandered up the cliffs from the ocean to bathe the streets in a soft cloud of mist.
    “I’ll tell Geoff that you stopped by again,” she offered.
    “Thanks. Maybe he’ll persuade you to finish a sunset seascape for me.”
    There was only a hint of a smile on her lips now, but she was far more relaxed than when he first walked in.
    Jake told her good-bye, turned to go and actually made it a few steps before he was compelled to turn around, to look back.
    Warning bells went off in his head like heavy-duty home security alarms—the type that sounded worth the money but usually only