Read Online After Midnight by Diana Palmer - Free Book Online

sharks. You have to promise.”
    He grinned. “Fair enough.”
    â€œThen I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    â€œI don’t think we can avoid it,” he agreed. “Come on. I’ll take you home.”
    Â 
    That evening, sitting alone on the deck, her conscience nagged at her. It didn’t help that Clayton telephoned to tell her about the progress he was making.
    â€œI’ve won over a new ally,” he told her, and mentioned the congressman’s name. “How’s that for a day’s work?!”
    â€œGreat!” she said, laughing. “Uh, how’s the owl controversy?”
    â€œIt’s a real hoot,” he muttered. “Derrie and I aren’t speaking because of it. Here I am a conservation candidate, voting against a little owl and a bunch of old trees just because it will mean newjobs and economic prosperity. She thinks I’m a lunatic.”
    â€œWas the moon full?”
    â€œCut it out. You’re my sister. Blood is thicker than water.”
    â€œProbably it is, but what does that have to do with anything?”
    He scowled. “I can’t think of a single thing. How are you? Getting some rest?”
    â€œEnough.” She hesitated. “I…met someone.”
    â€œSomeone? A man? A real, honest to God man?”
    â€œHe looks like one. He’s taking me sailing.”
    â€œNikki, I’m delighted! Who is he?”
    She crossed her fingers on her lap. “Just an ordinary man,” she lied. “He’s into…cars.”
    â€œOh. A mechanic? Well, there’s nothing wrong with being a mechanic, I guess. Can he sail well enough not to drown you?”
    â€œI think he could do anything he set his mind to,” she murmured dreamily.
    â€œIs this really you?” he teased. “You were off men for life, the last time we spoke.”
    â€œOh, I am,” she agreed readily. “It’s just that this one is so different.” She added, “I haven’t ever met anyone quite like him.”
    â€œIs he a ladies’ man?”
    â€œI don’t know. Perhaps.”
    â€œNikki,” he began, hesitating. She’d had arough experience at an early age. She was vulnerable. “Listen, suppose I come up for a few days?”
    â€œNo!” She cleared her throat and lowered her voice. “I mean, there’s no need to do that.”
    â€œYou’re worrying me,” he said.
    â€œYou can’t protect me from the world, you know. I have to stand on my own two feet sometime.”
    â€œI guess you do,” he said, sounding resigned and not too happy. “Okay, sis. Have it your way. But I’m as close as the telephone if you need me. Will you remember that?”
    â€œYou can bet on it.”
    â€œThen I’ll speak to you soon.”
    When he hung up, Nikki let out the breath she’d been holding. That was all she needed now, to have Clayton come wandering up to the house and run head-on into his worst enemy. Things were getting complicated and she was certain that she needed to cut off the impossible relationship before it began. But she couldn’t quite manage it. Already, Kane had gotten close to her heart. She hoped that it wouldn’t break completely in the end.
    She wondered how Kane was going to keep her in the dark about his wealth. If he took her sailing in a yacht, even a moron would notice that it meant he had money.
    The next day he solved the problem adroitly by mentioning that he couldn’t rent the sailboat he’dplanned to take her out in, so they were going riding in a motorboat instead. It was a very nice motorboat, but nothing like the yacht he usually took onto the ocean.
    Nikki smiled to herself and accepted the change of conveyance without noticeable effect.
    â€œI know I said I’d take you out on a sailboat,” he explained as he helped her into the boat, “but they’re not very safe in high winds. It’s