Moonlight Masquerade by Jude Deveraux Read Free Book Online

in . . . ?”
    â€œSculpting.”
    Great, Russell thought. How was he going to find a job for a sculptor in Edilean? He smiled at her. “I bet you’re hungry.”
    They had reached the town and Sophie was looking out the window at the beautifully restored old houses that lined the streets. Kim had said that Edilean was a town that time forgot, and it looked like she was right.
    â€œIt’s pretty,” she said to Russell as he pulled into the parking lot of what looked to be a 1950s dinner. “Al’s,” she said and smiled for the first time.
    â€œKim tell you about the place?”
    â€œShe said it could give you a coronary at one plateful.”
    Russ smiled. “I’m sure she’s right, but sometimes grease heals wounds.”
    â€œI’m not exactly dressed to be seen,” Sophie began as Russell went around to open her door.
    â€œThis is Edilean, not Paris. No one will notice.” As he ushered her inside the little restaurant he realized how wrong he’d been. Sophie’s prettiness caused everyone to look. Even in her frayed attire, she drew attention.
    The real reason he’d stopped at the diner was to be able to make some calls before he took Sophie to Kim’s house. As soon as they’d ordered, he excused himselfand stepped outside to call his wife, Clarissa. He asked her to please go to the grocery and get enough to fill Kim’s refrigerator.
    â€œBut I thought her friend was staying at Mrs. Wingate’s.”
    â€œShe was nearly run down by a car.”
    â€œIs she all right?” Clarissa asked, alarmed. “Should she go see Dr. Reede?”
    â€œNo!” Russell nearly shouted, then controlled himself. “It’s a long story and I want to tell you about it—and to ask your advice. The gist of it is that Reede is the one who nearly ran over her and she’s to start work for him tomorrow. I’m afraid she may take a baseball bat to his head.”
    â€œShe’ll have to get in line,” Clarissa said. “Half the women in this town want to murder him. I heard that the last meeting of the Edilean Book Club spent three hours plotting ways to get revenge on him. I think the Lifetime channel is interested.”
    Russ didn’t laugh. “I think Sophie has reason to chair the club. My brother—”
    â€œIs going to be his usual scathing self,” Clarissa said.
    â€œHe’ll enjoy telling me what I should have done.”
    â€œAnd you’ll enjoy telling him his faults,” Clarissa said. “I’ll get groceries and flowers and put them in Kim’s house. Come home soon and we’ll talk about what else to do.”
    Russell smiled. He’d fallen in love with her the second he saw her and he still marveled at his excellent judgment. “Did I ever tell you that I love you?”
    â€œNot for an hour or so,” she said, her voice soft. “Come home. I miss you.”
    â€œMe too,” he said and clicked off. He could see Sophie through the window of the diner and he lifted his hand to her. As he walked back into the restaurant, he looked upward. “Give me wisdom,” he whispered, then went inside.

Three

    The next morning, Sophie felt much better. Yesterday, over thick cheeseburgers and fries, the handsome young pastor had told her funny stories about him and his brother. He’d made her feel so much better that she’d even had a strawberry milk shake. After they ate he drove her to Kim’s house and, at Sophie’s insistence, he’d left her there alone. All she wanted to do was get clean and put on clothes that smelled good. Kim’s pretty house, with its blue and white furniture, supplied her every need. She soaked in a tub of hot water, washed her hair, used a conditioner that smelled of peaches and almonds, put on a clean cotton nightgown, and fell into bed at 9:00 p.m. She was asleep instantly.
    She didn’t