The Art Of Deception, Book Two, Stolen Hearts series, Romantic Suspense by Kate Kelly Read Free Book Online Page A

retreated halfway across the room and hitched her towel up further.
    Gage hesitated, then stepped into her living room and closed the door behind him. Rather than look at an almost naked Sophie, he concentrated on the cozy room.
    Her furniture was old, but looked comfortable. Large plants and smaller ones clustered in groups in the corners. A couple of hooked rugs covered the refinished hardwood flooring, and several paintings–beautiful, airy paintings that somehow made him think of Sophie–adorned the walls.
    Finally his gaze came back to rest on Sophie who had been watching him check out her living space. “You should get dressed." No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t keep that damned raspy sound out of his voice.
    “Yes." She walked to the door that opened onto a hallway and stopped to look back at him. “The kitchen’s right here." She inclined her head to the right. “Maybe you want to take a look while I get dressed?”
    His heart did a weird flutter thing, and he sucked in his breath. Not her, idiot. The refrigerator.
    The kitchen was small enough that if two people worked in it at the same time, they’d get in each other’s way. Or rub up against each other whenever they moved from the counter to the stove. Or.... Fifteen minutes, he reminded himself.
    He yanked the refrigerator door open and stared inside. Yup. That was one hell of a load of groceries. She even had asparagus. He had a great recipe for cooking asparagus.
    “See what I mean?” she asked from the doorway.
    “It’s full." Thank God for bulky sweaters. She had swaddled herself in an oversized beige sweater that reached her knees.
    He let the door swing shut. “So what’s the problem?” He folded his arms and leaned against the small wooden table behind him. “Most people would be thrilled if someone stocked their refrigerator.”
    She moved over to the counter and hitched herself up to sit on the counter top. “For one thing, I wasn’t here, and my door was locked.”
    “Okay, that’s break and enter. Any signs of forcible entry?”
    “You mean like someone fooled around with a lock or something?” She frowned and swung her legs.
    “Yeah. Second floor, they’d have to come in through the door. Unless you have access to the roof?”
    “No. There’s just one door to each floor. And the fire escape, but that window’s locked. I didn’t see anything wrong with the locks on the doors, but you could check them, I guess.”
    “Right." He pushed away from the table. “Anyone else have a key?”
    “Yes." She looked a few inches to the right of him instead of returning his gaze.
    “How many people?”
    “Um, I don’t know exactly.”
    He moved in front of her so she would have to look at him. “What does that mean? That you pass your key out to every person you meet?”
    “Well, Raphael has one,” she said defensively. “And Ciro. Cleo, too. You met her in the bar Friday night. She needed a place to stay for a few weeks last year.”
    He braced his hands on the counter on either side of her and bent down to look her in the eye. “So far all you’ve told me is this place is a like a throughway station. People stop by whenever. They probably eat your food and hang out for a few hours, like a home away from home?”
    She swallowed before speaking, as if she had something stuck in her throat. “That’s about it.”
    “So what are you not telling me?”
    She swallowed again and looked down to where their bodies almost touched. “It started about a month ago." That damned tremble was back in her voice again. “Someone filled the refrigerator full of food, but no one seemed to know who.”
    Gage straightened. “This isn’t the first time?”
    “The fourth, I think.”
    “Maybe you have secret admirer." If he found out who, he’d put the fear of God in them for scaring her.
    Sophie snorted. “I don’t think so. I’m not exactly playboy material."
    Was she kidding? Okay, maybe she wasn’t overly endowed, but she