The Inn at Eagle Point by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online Page B

that she'd let her finances get so messed up, but Abby thought it
was something else. She looked guilty.

"What aren't you telling me?" Abby asked her. "Has the
foreclosure process gone further than you've admitted? Are there more bills you
haven't wanted me to see?"

Jess hesitated, then declared, "No. You've seen every single piece of
paper, every bill I owe."

"Then why do you look guilty?"

"Guilty?" She widened her eyes in an attempt to look innocent.

Abby didn't buy it. "Don't even try that act with me. I've known you too
long and too well. That's the look you used to get when you'd snuck out the
bedroom window at night to meet Matt Richardson and Gram called you on
it."

Jess's flush deepened. "Okay, maybe there is one other thing you should
know before Monday."

"Tell me," Abby ordered, the knot of dread forming yet again in her
stomach. "Don't you dare let me walk into that meeting and get
blindsided."

Before Jess could reply, the door burst open and their father strode into the
kitchen. Jess looked from him to Abby and back again.

"I see the cavalry's arrived," Jess said sourly. She scowled at Abby.
"Did you call him?"

"Of course not," Abby said, trying to soften Jess's reaction by
standing up to give her father a warm hug. She beamed up at him. "Why
didn't you let us know you were coming home?"

"It was a spur-of-the-moment decision," he said, casting a wary look
toward Jess. "Something going on you didn't want me to know about?"

"Nothing," she said firmly, shooting a warning look at Abby that
pretty much tied her hands. With obvious reluctance, Jess stood and gave Mick
an obligatory kiss on the cheek. "Hi, Dad. Welcome home. I'd love to stay
and catch up, but I need to get home."

"Last time I checked, this was your home," he said.

"I'm staying at the inn now," she said, as she gathered up all the
papers on the kitchen table and shoved them into a briefcase. Clearly she
didn't intend to take a chance that Mick would lay eyes on them.

She was already heading for the door when she said, "I'll talk to you
tomorrow, Abby."

Abby wanted to argue that they still had things to discuss right here and now,
but clearly Jess didn't want anything revealed in front of their father. She'd
just have to wait until Sunday to find out what Jess had been keeping from her.

As soon as her sister was out of earshot, Abby turned to her father. He looked
tired, but otherwise robust. There were threads of gray in his curly,
reddish-blond hair, but his broad shoulders and trim waistline testified that
he was still maintaining his fitness regimen even with all the traveling and
dining out he did. His complexion was ruddy from working outdoors and there
were a few more lines around his blue eyes, which were filled with concern as
he stared after Jess.

"Gram called you, didn't she?" Abby asked him.

He hesitated for a split second, then nodded. "She wanted me to know you
and the girls were here. I caught the first flight I could get, so I could
spend a little time with you. It's been a long time since you've graced us with
your presence down here."

"Too long," she admitted. "Was that all she told you?"

Mick went to the counter and poured himself a cup of tea, then sat down without
replying. He stirred sugar into the strong brew and took a sip, then met Abby's
gaze. "Sure. Is there something else going on?"

"Don't play games with me, Dad. You're really back because she told you
Jess is in trouble."

His lips twitched at that. "Did she really? Are you a mind reader now? Or
did you eavesdrop on a private conversation?"

"Of course not."

"Then take what I'm telling you at face value," he ordered. "It's
better that way. Now tell me where my darling girls are."

"Asleep, I hope," she said. "And we're not going to wake them up
at this hour. I'll never get them back to sleep if we do. They'll be too
excited if they see you. You can spend all day tomorrow with them." She
gave him a stern look. "And no spoiling them rotten, either. I think