The Golden Chance by Jayne Ann Krentz Read Free Book Online Page B

loving home and a father who cared? What's more, when she did find her roots, no one tried to make her welcome. None of you accepted her. She knew you all hated her. What do you think that does to a person? None of you even gave a damn when she died until you found out she had left the shares to someone outside the families.”
    Nick almost lost it then. He forced himself to put down the remainder of his sandwich very carefully. “When you're drawing up your list of people you believe hated Crissie Masters, don't include me. I never met her, remember?”
    “So what? You probably wouldn't have been any kinder to her than the others were. She was an outsider.”
    “You know what you are? You're a bigoted, narrow-minded, totally biased little fool who is automatically against anyone who makes more money than you do.”
    “Is that right?”
    “Yeah. And you know what else?”
    “What?”
    “You're making me lose my temper, and I haven't done that in a long time.”
    “Don't worry, it's just a right-wing, knee-jerk reaction to what you perceive as a threat to the privileged upper classes. And don't get any ideas about getting out of that chair and coming over here to manhandle me. I'll call the cops. I've been abused enough this evening.” But Phila didn't look like the victim of abuse; she looked as if she was almost enjoying the blazing light of battle in her eyes.
    “What's the matter, Phila?” he challenged softly. “Aren't you going to put your arms around me and offer me a bit of comfort and understanding the way you did Ruth Spalding when she attacked you?”
    “I feel sorry for Ruth Spalding. I don't feel any pity at all for you. You're a Lightfoot. You don't need any of my comfort and understanding.”
    Nick bit back an oath and watched in amazement as Phila reached for a sandwich. The battle with him had obviously whetted her appetite. He watched her take a huge bite and wondered what the hell he was going to do next. Things were spinning out of his control and that he was unaccustomed to.
    “Phila, let's take this from the top. One way or another, you're going to have to make some decisions about those C&L shares you inherited.”
    “One way or another,” she agreed, reaching for another sandwich. “But I'll make my own decisions. I've been doing that for a long time, Lightfoot. I'm real good at it.”
    “You are really irritating is what you are.”
    She smiled, showing a lot of little white teeth. “You haven't seen anything yet. Good night, Mr. Lightfoot.”
    He drummed his fingers on the table, caught himself and stopped immediately. “We need to talk.”
    “Not tonight. I'm tired. We've talked more than enough this evening. Go.”
    He knew there was no point forcing the issue further now. She was too wired from the aftereffects of the confrontation with Ruth Spalding and the short battle she had just conducted with him. Nick knew when to stage a strategic retreat. He got to his feet without a word and started for the door.
    “Thank you for the sandwich, Mr. Lightfoot,” she called after him, her tone sarcastic.
    “Anytime,” he said dryly, his hand on the front door-knob.
    “And thanks for trying to fend off Ruth Spalding,” Phila added softly, no longer sarcastic.
    He said nothing, stepping out into the night and closing the door quietly behind him. He had the feeling Phila wasn't accustomed to anyone trying to fight her battles for her.
    It was then he realized there probably was no man in her life, at least not at the moment.
    That thought cheered him up for some reason as he climbed into the Porsche and headed back toward the Holloway Park Motel.

CHAPTER THREE
     
    Nick stalked into his motel room, then turned around and stalked back out again when he realized that he was in no mood to sleep or watch television. He headed for the flashing promise of a neon sign that signaled a tavern across the street.
    Five minutes later, ensconced in a booth with a beer and a hamburger, he gave