Read Online After Midnight by Diana Palmer - Free Book Online Page A

pretty windy today.”
    It was, but she hardly thought a yacht would be very much affected. On the other hand, it wouldn’t do for her “ordinary” houseguest to turn up in a million-dollar-plus sailing ship, and he must have realized that.
    â€œOh, I like motorboats,” she said honestly, her eyes lighting up with excitement as Kane eased into the driver’s seat and turned the key. The motor started right up and ran like a purring cat.
    He glanced at her with a wry smile. “Are you a good sailor?”
    â€œI guess we’ll find out together,” she returned.
    He chuckled and pulled away from the pier.
    The boat had a smooth glide on the water’s surface, and the engine wasn’t overly loud. Nikki put up a hand to her windblown hair, laughing as the faint spray of water teased her nose.
    â€œAren’t you ever gloomy?” he asked with genuine curiosity.
    â€œOh, why bother being pessimistic?” she replied. “Life is so short. It’s a crime to waste it, when every day is like Christmas, bringing something new.”
    She loved life. He’d forgotten how. His dark eyes turned toward the distant horizon and he tried not to think about how short life really was, or how tragically he’d learned the lesson.
    â€œWhere are we going?” Nikki asked.
    â€œNo place in particular,” he said. He glanced at her with faint amusement. “Unless,” he added, “you like to fish.”
    â€œI don’t mind it. But you hate it!” she laughed.
    â€œOf course I do. But I have to keep my hand in,” he added. “So that I don’t disgrace the rest of my family. The gear and tackle are under that tarp. I thought we’d ease up the river a bit and settle in a likely spot. I brought an ice chest and lunch.”
    â€œYou really are full of surprises,” she commented.
    His dark eyes twinkled. “You don’t know the half of it,” he murmured, turning his concentration back to navigation.
    Â 
    He found a leafy glade and tied the boat up next to shore. He and Nikki sat lazily on the bank and watched their corks rise and fall and occasionally bob. They ate cold cut sandwiches and potato chipsand sipped soft drinks, and Nikki marveled at the tycoon who was a great fishing companion. Not since her childhood, when she’d gone fishing with her late grandfather, had she enjoyed anything so much. She’d forgotten how much fun it was to sit on the river with a fishing pole.
    â€œDo you do this often?” she wanted to know.
    â€œWith my brothers and my father. Not ever with a woman.” His broad shoulders lifted and fell. “Most of them that I know don’t care for worms and hooks,” he mused. “You’re not squeamish, are you?”
    â€œNot really. About some things, maybe,” she added quietly. “But unless you’re shooting the fish in a barrel, they have a sporting chance. And I do love fried bass!”
    â€œCan you clean a fish?”
    â€œYou bet!”
    He chuckled with delight. “In that case, if we catch anything, I’m inviting myself to supper.” His eyes narrowed. “If you have no other plans.”
    â€œNot for two weeks, I haven’t,” she said.
    He seemed to relax. His powerful legs stretched out in front of him and he tugged on the fishing pole to test the hook. “Nothing’s striking at my bait,” he grumbled. “I haven’t had a bite yet. We’ll give it ten more minutes and then we’re moving to a better spot.”
    â€œThe minute we move, a hundred big fish will feel safe to vacation here,” she pointed out.
    â€œYou’re probably right. Some days aren’t good ones to fish.”
    â€œThat depends on what you’re fishing for,” she said, concentrating on the sudden bob of her cork. “Watch this…!”
    She pulled suddenly on the pole, snaring something at the end of the line,