Love on the Vine by Roxanne Smith

Author:Roxanne Smith [Smith, Roxanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

It took the cabbie ten minutes through traffic to reach Kay’s house in the Governor’s Mansion district. Oliver paid the driver and climbed out, his neck bending to take in each of the three stories of the massive house.

House? Not even. It was a veritable mansion in its own right. What in the hell did someone as small as Kay need with a home so big? She had a huge family, or a lot more friends than their background check had dug up.

The sun was setting behind the Victorian as Oliver approached, casting the white clapboard in sharp relief against an orange sky. A string of pale white lights followed the porch as it wrapped around the exterior. The image was so deliciously Southern, he had a sudden hankering for lemonade and pecan pie. He had a single thought as he climbed the stairs and approached the front door.

Home.

Not his, no. But this was the sort of home the South was known for. He felt welcome, taken in by the sweet scent of honeysuckles and blooming azaleas. The sun was almost down, and lightning bugs glittered like stars across the yard and in the boughs of two ancient oaks. He decided the only thing missing were a few rocking chairs on the porch. In fact, the porch could stand a little TLC. He noticed a few holes in the old wood, spots where planks had warped from humidity and poor maintenance. He used the big brass knocker to announce his presence.

Kay opened the door in a rush, concern etched onto her face beneath a thin sheen of sweat. She had a red headband pushing back the hair from her face. It stuck up and fanned out like a jagged blond halo. She blinked four times before finding words. “How in the hell do know where I...”

Oliver smiled as she caught on. “Your address was probably one of the first things I learned about you.”

“Right.” Kay nodded. “You know my ex-fiancé by name. You probably have my driving record and college transcripts memorized. Among other things.”

Yes, he had them memorized, but only because he remembered anything he read in great detail. “If it helps, I think that speeding ticket was a bum rap. Everyone goes eighty on the freeway.”

Her eyes widened. “That’s totally creepy.”

Oliver glanced at his feet, wishing he could take back the bad joke. “Yeah. Sorry. I told you why we looked into your background, but I guess it’s weird no matter what.”

“It is. It really is.” She didn’t make any move to invite him inside. “What can I do for you, Oliver?”

“Let me come inside. Offer me sweet tea and homemade lemon bars.” He shrugged. “Let me give you the scoop on what to expect when you meet Cappy Don.”

“I’ve already got my instructions.”

Oliver frowned. “I figured. But there’s more to the process, and it’s only fair that after everything we know about you, you should know a little something, too, going in. I’ll skip the tea and snacks.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.