Soft Focus by Jayne Ann Krentz Read Free Book Online Page B

sake, you’re a business executive, not a private investigator. What makes you think you can find Page?”
    â€œGo easy on the boundless admiration and unqualified support, will you? I’m not sure I can handle so much wide-eyed flattery from my client’s biggest creditor.”
    She told herself she would not respond to that. She hated it when he made her sound like a brass-brassiered Valkyrie. She was never more acutely aware of her own femininity than when she was in Jack’s vicinity. He, on the other hand, had as much as made a public announcement to the effect that he thought she was capable of sinking the Titanic.
    Very deliberately, very carefully, she refolded the brochure and dropped it into her shoulder bag. She gave him a steely smile. “You make an excellent point, Jack. I am your biggest creditor. As such, I’ve got a vested interest in the recovery of the specimen. I’m going to go to Mirror Springs with you.”
    His eyes narrowed. “I don’t think so.”
    â€œIf Page does offer to let you ransom the crystal, you’re going to need cash. Lots of it. No bank will loan you the money. Excalibur doesn’t have the reserves, and I seriously doubt that you possess those kinds of personal financial resources. Face it. You’re going to need the Aurora Fund.”
    â€œI can handle Page on my own.”
    â€œMaybe. But I don’t intend to let you do that. Think of me as your credit card. You’re not leaving home without me.”
    He studied her for a moment. “There are some serious logistical problems involved here.”
    His air of forced patience set her teeth on edge. “Such as?”
    â€œMirror Springs is one of those exclusive little boutique resort towns in the Colorado Rockies. Every hotel and motel in the area has been booked for months for the festival. You won’t be able to get a room at this late date.”
    â€œReally?” She smiled blandly. “How did you find a room?”
    He made a casual movement with his hand. “Called a friend of mine who’s a vice president with one of the big hotels here in town. He pulled some strings with his second ex-wife. She manages a hotel in Denver. She pulled some strings with the concierge at a place called the Mirror Springs Resort. But even with all that, I had to pay triple the usual rate.”
    â€œI’m sure I can turn up something.”
    He gave her a wolfish smile that set all the hairs on the back of her neck on end.
    â€œIf you insist on going to Mirror Springs with me, I might let you talk me into sharing my room,” he said much too politely. His eyes gleamed with challenge. “But you’d have to ask real nice.”
    â€œThanks, but that price is a bit too steep for me.” She forced another brittle little smile. “I’m sure I can find something a little less expensive.”
    She turned on her heel and walked out the door.
    Oh, now, that was really mature, Elizabeth. You do have a way with men, don’t you?
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CHAPTER FIVE
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    JACK HEARD THE SOFT GRUNT OF BREATH released, sensed the faint, indescribable disturbance in the air that telegraphed the slashing kick, and glided to the side, turning smoothly away from the blow. The striking foot missed his thigh by inches. If it had landed he would have gone down.
    He whirled, seeking an opening in the split second it would take for his opponent to recover from the move. He caught an arm and drew it toward him, taking advantage of the other’s forward momentum.
    His half brother lost his balance, tumbled lightly to the mat, and grimaced. He got to his feet with easy grace and returned Jack’s formal bow.
    â€œThat makes three in a row,” Larry growled as they walked off the practice floor. “You’ve been practicing too much lately. No fair.”
    It was true, Jack thought. He had been spending a lot of what little spare time he possessed these days here