We'll Never Tell (Secrets of Ravenswood) by Jannine Gallant Read Free Book Online Page A

touched her lips with
his finger. “Let’s give it some time. I’d rather try to forge a relationship
with you than have another one night stand.”
    Her eyes gleamed with a
hint of moisture. “You’re a good guy, Ethan. Thanks for understanding.”
    He stepped back. “I’ll
call.”
    ****
    The message light was
blinking when Sam walked through the kitchen. Juliette had probably called the
house before trying her cell. She ignored the machine and went to the sink.
Filling a glass with tepid tap water, she drank slowly. She hadn’t stopped
shaking since hearing the news. First finding the body, and now Darby getting
hit… She forced out a long, calming breath. It was a hell of a welcome home.
    Maybe it was for the
best that Juliette had called when she did. The temptation to rip Ethan’s
clothes off and do it right there on the lake shore had been great. He was a
genuinely nice guy—and hot—a combination that was hard to resist. If he was
willing to take things slow, she might be able to let her guard down…at least a
little.
    But right now she needed
sleep. Leaving her glass on the counter, she headed to the bedroom. After
stripping off her clothes, she donned an oversized T-shirt with RAW embroidered on the front pocket, brushed her teeth, splashed water on her face,
and crawled into bed. Visions of Darby sprawled on the asphalt flashed through
her mind. It was an accident, nothing more. Just an accident…
    Sam woke at the first
hint of dawn creeping through the open blinds. After showering and dressing in
jeans and a striped knit top, she headed for the kitchen. Punching the still
flashing button on the answering machine as she passed, she reached for the
coffee carafe.
    “A little reminder of
our deal, Sam.” The voice was low and brusque, barely louder than a whisper.
“You don’t mention what you saw in the woods that night all those years ago,
and your friends won’t pay the price.”
    The carafe slipped
through stiff fingers and shattered on the tile floor. Clutching the counter
for support, Sam stared at the machine. It wavered as darkness blurred her
vision. She slid to a sitting position on the floor and hung her head between
her knees. Do not pass out. Do not pass out.
    The phone rang, and
already stretched nerves snapped. With a whimper, she pressed back against the
cupboard doors. The shrill sound went on and on, hammering her brain. Finally
the machine picked up.
    “Sam, are you awake?
Call me. I talked to…”
    Rising to her feet, she
leaped across the broken glass and snatched up the receiver. “Juliette.”
    “Oh good, you’re up. I
just got off the phone with Alice Kincade. They’re releasing Darby from the
hospital later this morning. She’s driving down to San Francisco now.”
    “Juliette…” Her voice
shook.
    “Thank God it’s
Saturday, so I don’t have ballet classes to teach. Do you want to go to the
city with me?”
    “Juliette…” She
swallowed against a surge of nausea and pressed her hand to her mouth.
    “Are you okay? You don’t
sound so good.” Concern and a touch of panic laced her tone. “What’s wrong?”
    “ He called.”
Taking a breath, she tried to steady her voice.
    “Who, Ethan?”
    “No, him , the man
from the woods.” The silence in her ear was deafening. “Juliette, are you
there?”
    “Yeah, sorry. I think I
need to sit down.”
    “It gets worse. His message
said that Darby was a warning to keep my mouth shut.”
    “He said that?” Her
voice rose high and thin.
    “Words to that affect.
It was definitely implied.”
    “Oh God.”
    “That about sums it up.”
She pushed her hair behind her ear and stared at the broken glass shining
beneath the fluorescent light.
    “How did he find out you
unearthed the body?”
    “Everyone in town
probably knows about it by now. That kind of news travels fast.”
    Juliette’s labored
breathing was audible through the phone line. “Do you think he’s a local?”
    Her words struck like a
punch to