The Seductive Impostor by Janet Chapman

Author:Janet Chapman
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Pocket Books

Chapter Twelve

Luke sat on the ground in the shadow of a giant maple tree, grinning like the village idiot as he listened to the rhythm of quiet conversation, a whole lot of giggles, and sudden bursts of laughter coming from Rachel Foster’s porch.

It was ten o’clock and fully dark, and just cool enough that mosquitoes weren’t a problem, thank God. His shift had started the moment Kee had decided Rachel needed watching, and wasn’t due to be up for another two hours. But even if he wasn’t on duty, he wouldn’t have missed this show for the world. He’d been contemplating whether or not he should call and tell Kee, but hadn’t been able to decide whether Rachel’s privacy took precedence over Kee’s need to know what was happening.

“Come on, Rae,” the woman said, jumping up and running down off the porch with a glass full of what Luke now knew was ice and rum and strawberries.

They’d brought out the blender about an hour ago and started making the daiquiris right on the porch so they wouldn’t have to keep running back inside every twenty minutes.

“It’ll be like old times,” she urged. “Come on, push me!”

Luke had watched her arrive earlier, and assumed the woman was Rachel’s sister, Willow. They looked quite a bit alike, though Willow’s hair was stylishly cut at shoulder length, and her clothes were more businesslike.

Well, not at the moment—Willow was growing noticeably more disheveled with each passing hour. Hell, so was Rachel, for that matter. They’d both tossed off their shoes quite a while ago, Willow’s suit jacket was inside out and hanging over the railing, and both their shirts were untucked and covered with strawberry stains.

Luke shifted to get a better view as Rachel came teetering down the steps, also with a glass in her hand, following her sister to the swing tied in an old oak tree on the ocean side of the house.

Aw, to hell with nobility. Kee and the others needed to see this, if only as a reminder that life was still full of surprises. Other than Mikaela’s antics, it had been eons since any of them had seen such impulsive and completely unrestrained joy—especially from grown women.

Luke pulled out his cell phone and punched in Kee’s number.

“What?” Kee said.

“I’m calling to thank you for the supper you sent down,” Luke said, covering the phone’s mike when Willow screamed in laughter as Rachel spilled her drink down her back trying to push her in the swing.

Kee’s sigh came over the phone. “Hell, I’m sorry. We’ve been exploring the tunnels all afternoon. I’ll send Peter with some food. Everything okay down there?”

“Ah, you said you wanted to know if she so much as chips a fingernail, but does getting rip-roaring drunk count?”

There was a heartbeat of silence. Then two. Then three.

“Excuse me?” Kee whispered. “Did you say drunk?”

“Her sister arrived home a little after three,” Luke said.

“Did you say drunk?” Kee repeated, even more softly.

“There was a bit of shouting at first,” Luke said, continuing his report.

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