Storm of Shadows by Christina Dodd Read Free Book Online

first appointment?” Rosamund heard that giggly, breathless tone in her own voice, and wondered at herself. Not that she cared, but she did wonder.

    “Lance Mathews?” Jessica’s smile disappeared again, this time for good. “You’re kidding. You’re going out with Lance Mathews?”

    “Yes!” Rosamund knew she was grinning like a madwoman. “Can you believe it? He asked me out and I gave him my number and he gave me his and he’s got his own car and he’s going to pick me up for drinks and dinner and—”

    Aaron hooked his hand under her arm and jerked.

    As he towed Rosamund toward the door, she yelled, “And he told me to dress up and I’m even going to try that anti-frizz stuff you gave me for my hair.” Rosamund’s last, satisfying glimpse of the library was a snapshot of a dozen older, low-voiced, academic library patrons scowling at her, and Jessica, gaping like a big-breasted fish.

    “Happy now?” Aaron hailed a cab and stuffed her inside.

    “Yes,” Rosamund replied to the back of his head as he leaned forward to give the driver directions.

    “Central Park. Drop us off by the zoo. Double the fare if you hurry.”

Chapter 5

    A aron settled into the cab beside Rosamund, and in a tone that clearly expressed his disgust, asked, “Is there anyone else you want to tell about Lance Mathews? Would you like me to roll down the window so you can stick your head out and yell his name while we ride?”

    “No! Head and arms inside!” the East Asian driver said, and put his foot on the gas pedal all the way to the floor.

    Rosamund drew her dignity around her. “I’m perfectly happy now.” Then she ruined the picture by grinning. “Did you see her? She was so jealous.”

    The tires squealed as the kamikaze driver rounded a corner. Horns honked as other cabs slammed to a halt to let them pass.

    “I can’t wait to see this Lance Mathews,” Aaron said. She wasn’t sure, but she thought he added, “To punch his face in.”

    Conversation stopped as the cab careened north on Madison Avenue, crossed three lanes of traffic to take a left along East Sixty-sixth, cut another left to travel south on Fifth, and parked at the curb by the entrance to the zoo.

    Aaron tossed the cabbie the money, pulled her across the seat and out the door, and told the driver, “Now leave as fast as you came.”

    Rosamund watched the cab zoom back across the oncoming traffic, and said, “Wow. He seriously wanted the double fare.”

    “Greed makes the world go ’round.” Aaron hustled her toward the park. “Come on. If we hurry we can get a good view of the four o’clock sea lion feeding and presentation.”

    “How do you know there’s a sea lion feeding and presentation at four?”

    “I like the zoo.” He tossed a crumpled twenty at the cashier, got their tickets, and hauled her toward the gates.

    Rosamund ogled him. “You do? You don’t seem the type to . . .”

    He turned his head and looked down at her.

    “To . . . to, um . . .” Under his dark gaze, she was having trouble remembering what she meant to say.

    “I like watching families together, human and animal.”

    And just like that, it occurred to her that, before she let him drag her around to any more places, she should ask a few questions. “Are you married? Do you have children?”

    “Do you even know the meaning of the word subtlety?” But he chuckled, a nice sound, deep in his chest. “No. And no.”

    “Oh. That’s weird.” Because she didn’t need her glasses to figure out that he probably had to fight off the opposite sex, and possibly some of the same sex. “Have you ever been married?”

    “Never. Why?” He still held her arm, but he slowed down, strolling along as if they were a couple.

    “I don’t know. It seems that when people—men—like to watch families, it’s because they miss their own family.”

    “Good observation.” Now he was watching her as if she interested him . . . sort of like a bug under