Tidewater Lover by Janet Dailey Read Free Book Online Page A

Vic," she declared in an icy tone. She would have turned to leave if the man hadn't taken hold of her elbow to keep her at the door.
    Without glancing at the blonde, he directed his curious gaze at Lacey. "We're looking for Cole Whitfield. Is he here?"
    Lacey became tense, suddenly aware of all the embarrassing connotations that could be read into her presence in the house alone with Cole all night. But what did it matter? She had done nothing to be ashamed of, so why act like it?
    "He's here." She opened the door wide to let the couple in. "Followme."
    She started up the stairs with the unnaturally silent pair behind her. Just for a minute Lacey wished she had dressed instead of having orange juice, but it was too late now.
    As they passed the landing, the attractive blonde asked with a somewhat superior air, "Are you the housekeeper?"
    To any other question Lacey would have probably answered politely, with an explanation of the circumstances for her being in the house. But that one grated. She half turned on the stairs, a hand on her hip, and gave the woman a deliberately cool and amused look.
    "Do I look like a housekeeper to you?"
    Without waiting for a reply she started up the stairs again. She could feel the blonde's freezing anger as surely as if a cold north wind were blowing.
    Behind her she heard the man murmur very quietly and with considerable mockery, "You were really reaching for straws with that question, Monica."
    "Shut up!" was the hissing reply.
    In the living room Lacey paused near the sofa. She was about to suggest that the pair take a seat while she went to tell Cole they were here. At that same instant, she heard the bathroom door open.
    "Lacey!" There was a savage bite in the way Cole called her name. Her head jerked at the sound, hearing his strides carrying him toward the living room.
    "Have you been using my razor?" he demanded angrily, rounding the hall to stop short at the sight of the three people staring at him.
    A white terry cloth towel was wrapped around his waist. A smaller hand towel was draped around his neck. His hair was glistening darkly from the shower and shaving lather covered his tanned face, except for one small strip that had been shaved away, revealing a telltale dot of red to indicate he had nicked himself with the blade.
    Despite his abrupt halt upon entering the living room, he made no other outward sign that the appearance of his visitors had upset him in any way. His blue gaze was only faintly narrowed as it flicked from the woman to the man to Lacey.
    Lifting a corner of the towel around his neck, he pressed it to the nick near his jaw. He seemed to expect a response from Lacey to his initial question.
    "If you used the razor that was lying on the shelf above the sink, it was mine," she answered smoothly. "Yours is in the cabinet."
    Her reply appeared to snap the thin thread of control the blonde had on her temper. "Cole, I want to know who this woman is and what she's doing here!" Her voice trembled violently.
    "And good morning to you, too, Monica. Yes, it is a lovely day." The smile curving Cole's mouth was faintly sarcastic. He removed the towel from around his neck and began wiping away the foamy lather drying on his face.
    "I think you'd better excuse me," Lacey inserted, certain she was witnessing only the first eruption from the attractive and obviously volatile blonde.
    "Is the coffee done?" Cole asked. "I could use a cup."
    "I think so," Lacey admitted.
    He had partially cut off her retreat with his request. She had thought he would want an opportunity to explain in private the reason she was there, but evidently he didn't.
    "Hello, Vic. How have you been?" Cole directed his calmly conversational remark to the man with the blonde as Lacey walked to the kitchen.
    "Not bad, Cole. Not bad," was the reply.
    But Lacey could hear the underlying laughter in the man's voice. She had no idea what the relationship was between the blonde and her escort, but it was fairly plain