Risky Business by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

“Jerry had a…fondness for beautiful women. I can’t figure out why you weren’t lovers.”
    For a moment, only a moment, it occurred to her that no one had called her beautiful in a very long time. She’d needed words like that once. Then she leaned back on the rail, planted her hands and aimed a killing look. She didn’t need them now.
    â€œI didn’t choose to sleep with him. It might be difficult for you to accept, as you share the same face, but I didn’t find Jerry irresistible.”
    â€œNo?” As relaxed as she was tensed, Jonas reached into the cooler, offering her a beer. When she shook her head, he popped the top on one for himself. “What did you find him?”
    â€œHe was a drifter, and he happened to drift into my life. I gave him a job because he had a quick mind and a strong back. The truth was, I never expected him to last over a month. Men like him don’t.”
    Though he hadn’t moved a muscle, Jonas had come to attention. “Men like him?”
    â€œMen who look for the quickest way to easy street. Heworked because he liked to eat, but he was always looking for the big strike—one he wouldn’t have to sweat for.”
    â€œSo you did know him,” Jonas murmured. “What was he looking for here?”
    â€œI tell you I don’t know! For all I know he was looking for a good time and a little sun.” Frustration poured out of her as she tossed a hand in the air. “I let him have a room because he seemed harmless and I could use the money. I wasn’t intimate with him on any level. The closest he came to talking about what he was up to was bragging about diving for big bucks.”
    â€œDiving? Where?”
    Fighting for control, she dragged a hand through her hair. “I wish you’d leave me alone.”
    â€œYou’re a realistic woman, aren’t you, Elizabeth?”
    Her chin was set when she looked back at him. “Yes.”
    â€œThen you know I won’t. Where was he going to dive?”
    â€œI don’t know. I barely listened to him when he got started on how rich he was going to be.”
    â€œWhat did he say?” This time Jonas’s voice was quiet, persuading. “Just try to think back and remember what he told you.”
    â€œHe said something about making a fortune diving, and I joked about sunken treasure. And he said…” She strained to remember the conversation. It had been late in the evening, and she’d been busy, preoccupied. “I was working at home,” Liz remembered. “I always seem to handle the books better at night. He’d been out, partying I thought, because he was a little unsteady when he came in. He pulled me out of the chair. I remember I started to swear at him but he looked so damn happy, I let it go. Really, I hardly listened because I was picking up all the papers he’d scattered, but he was saying something about the big time and buying champagne to celebrate. I told him he’d better stick to beer on his salary. That’s when he talkedabout deals coming through and diving for big bucks. Then I made some comment about sunken treasure….”
    â€œAnd what did he say?”
    â€œSometimes you make more putting stuff in than taking it out.” With a line between her brows, she remembered how he’d laughed when she’d told him to go sleep it off. “He made a pass neither one of us took seriously, and then…I think he made a phone call. I went back to work.”
    â€œWhen was this?”
    â€œA week, maybe one week after I took him on.”
    â€œThat must have been when he called me.” Jonas looked out to sea. And he hadn’t paid much attention, either, he reminded himself. Jerry had talked about coming home in style. But then he had always been talking about coming home in style. And the call, as usual, had been collect.
    â€œDid you ever see him with anyone? Talking,