The Man Behind the Mask by Barbara Wallace

Author:Barbara Wallace
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

JIM BARTLETT MEANT it when he said they took their food seriously. Delilah couldn’t remember the last time she saw so much food outside an all-you-can-eat buffet. There was lobster, steamed clams, barbecued chicken and every salad imaginable, all piled high on tables beneath flickering tiki lamps.

“Those little legs have some of the sweetest meat in them,” Thomas told her. “Key is to not be shy and just suck the meat out.”

She stared at the eight bent legs protruding from her cracked lobster and patted her stomach. “I don’t think I can manage another bite,” she told him, pushing her plate aside. “No one told me ‘clambake’ was New England code for ‘stuff yourself silly.’”

“We take dessert seriously, too,” Josh said, coming around her shoulder. “Hope you saved room!”

Delilah managed a smile. A table away, Simon shot her a knowing look as the younger Bartlett sat down next to her.

“I have to agree with Delilah,” he said. “The food was amazing.”

“The whole trip is,” Roberto chimed in. “You’ve been incredibly gracious hosts.”

“Have no fear,” Jim Bartlett said. “Whoever wins the account will have more than enough work to make up for my generosity.”

“Duly noted,” Simon replied.

Another time, Delilah might have been impressed by how at ease Simon appeared, but their conversation on the beach had changed everything. Now she found herself analyzing his every move. With his eyes still hidden behind his sunglasses, there was no trace of the pain she saw earlier. He laughed and joked as though these people were old friends, appearing so at ease in his own skin. Surely, a person couldn’t fake such confidence, could they?

Then again, hadn’t she done her own share of faking all those years she’d lied about her mother? And hadn’t she followed Simon’s lead tonight, as well? As her laughing with Thomas and Louisa proved, it was very easy to bury what you didn’t want to deal with.

Suddenly she needed a break. Excusing herself, she headed to the guest cottage so she could splash cold water on her face. It didn’t help. The splash of the water reminded her of the surface of the water, and when she closed her eyes she saw Simon’s tortured expression. The image tore her insides to shreds.

She returned to the pool area just in time to find Josh heading toward the cottage. “Hey,” he greeted. “Dad took your boss and Roberto for a walk on the beach. I think it’s the final date before the elimination round.”

“Thanks for letting me know.”

“No problem. For what it’s worth, the corporate romance appears to going well. Simon’s and my father’s, that is. I won’t be surprised if Roberto loses out.” He leaned against the back of a nearby chair. “Is everything all right? You haven’t seemed yourself since we got back from the boat ride.”

Okay, so maybe she wasn’t as adept as Simon at masking her inner turmoil after all. “May I ask you a question?”

“Sure,” he replied. “Although if it’s about the agency selection, I can only give my impression.

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