Lover, Stranger by Stevens Amanda

Author:Stevens, Amanda [Stevens, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Suspense
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-12-04T03:53:45+00:00

“HE’S NOT HOME?” Grace repeated. “Where did he go?”

The housekeeper shrugged, giving Grace a cool appraisal. “He had errands.”

“He didn’t give you any indication where he was going?” Damn, Grace thought. Why would he just leave like that? He’d known she was coming over this morning. Why hadn’t he waited for her?

And why the hell hadn’t someone called her to warn her that he was roaming around out there somewhere, making a target of himself?

Rosa eyed her with open disapproval. “I don’t ask where he goes. It’s none of my business,” she said pointedly.

Grace could tell Rosa didn’t like her, and therefore, didn’t trust her. Grace had run up against the problem before. She sometimes came across as too abrupt, too impatient, too hard. Women didn’t like that. Neither did some men, for that matter.

She forced a softness in her tone. “Look, I don’t mean to be such a nuisance, but I need to tell Dr. Hunter about the funeral this afternoon.”

“Funeral?”

Grace bit her lip and nodded. “You heard about Amy Cole? Dr. Hunter’s assistant?”

Rosa crossed herself. “Yes. Such a shame. So young and so bella.”

Grace nodded. “Amy was my sister, Rosa. I came to tell Dr. Hunter about the memorial service this afternoon.”

Rosa’s expression changed dramatically. The wariness and suspicion vanished, leaving her features set in gentle lines of compassion. “Lo siento.” She reached for Grace’s hand and pulled her inside. “Please. Come in out of the heat.”

She led Grace upstairs, saying over her shoulder, “I’ll fix you something cool to drink. Then you can tell me about your sister.”

Her soothing tone made Grace want to do exactly that. For the first time in years, she found herself wanting to tell someone about Jessie, about her goodness and purity, and about her unfailing conscience. Jessie had been one of those people who had truly been a blessing to this world, while Grace—

The parrot’s harsh squawk brought her abruptly back to the present. She glanced across the room, where the magnificent yellow-and-blue bird strutted with supreme confidence on his perch.

When he saw Grace watching him, he flapped his wings and screeched, “They’re not real! They’re not real! They’re not real!”

“Shut up, Simon, you stupid bird!” Rosa scolded. To Grace she said apologetically, “He’s a terrible creature. He picks up everything he hears on the televisión.”

Grace wondered which programs he’d been watching. Jerry Springer? Howard Stern, maybe?

She followed Rosa into the kitchen and watched while the housekeeper prepared two glasses of iced tea. They both sat down at the breakfast table—Rosa obviously having dispensed with any formalities—and sipped their drinks.

After a moment, she said, “You came to tell Dr. Hunter about the funeral?”

Grace nodded. “It’s at four o’clock this afternoon at the Chapel Hill Funeral Home. I... thought he might like to be there.”

Rosa looked as if she wanted to comment but kept silent

Grace took another sip of her tea. “How long have you worked for Dr. Hunter?”

Rosa shrugged. “A long time.”

“You must know him pretty well.” Grace studied the older woman’s face.

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