Read Online An Impostor in Town (Colorado Series) by Denise Moncrief - Free Book Online Page A

her door open and rushed into the driver’s seat. His hand shot out and stopped the door in mid-swing.
    “I guess you’ll just have to find out if I’m lying, won’t you?”
    She nearly took his fingers off in the process of making her escape. Once inside the car, she jabbed the key at the ignition until it met the keyhole. Tears obscured her vision. The last glimpse she had of him? He was sucking his fingertips and grimacing in pain.
    ****
    Brian conversed with a man in front of the train station. To Peyton’s delight, they ended their conversation and Brian jogged across the street.
    “How’s my angel of mercy today?”
    She slapped him on the shoulder and suppressed a giggle. “Stop calling me that! You embarrass me when you do that.”
    He cringed in mock injury and graced her with an arrogant grin.
    “Who was that man? I don’t think I’ve seen him around.”
    Her question wiped the smile from his face. “Steve West. His construction company is upgrading the lifts at the resort.”
    His response explained nothing. Why did the man’s presence bother Brian? She searched her memory for any information she might have collected on Steve West. She hadn’t even been aware the lifts were being upgraded. That’s how seldom she went up toward Purgatory. She was too preoccupied when she met Jeff at Molas Pass to notice what was going on at Durango Mountain Resort.
    She perceived there was more, so she waited for Brian to continue. He emitted a deep, soul-sifting sigh. “What is it?”
    “That man thinks he may be Chris’ husband.”
    An unexpected development. A thousand thoughts rushed her. What did this mean for Chris? For Brian? For her? “Really?” She allowed only the slightest hint of mild surprise. “What makes him think so?”
    “It’s a long story.”
    She recalled the conversation she’d had with Chris over a year ago. Did Steve West threaten Brian? Chris had suggested Brian wanted to be her knight in shining armor, and he was unhappy with her lack of cooperation. Could Brian be perturbed there was a new knight in town?
    “Peyton?” He nudged her. “Where’d you go?”
    “Sorry. What?”
    “Emily’s wedding is in a few days…”
    What was he getting at? “I know.”
    “So…would you be my date?”
    His invitation shocked her. Was this his way of getting over Chris? By asking her out? “I’ll go with you, but…this isn’t a date.”
    Her abrupt qualification seemed to surprise him. “Oh. Okay. Well then…yeah, we’ll go together.”
    ****
    The reception was in full swing when Brian stretched his long arms out in front of him and suggested Peyton join him for a stroll. Her first inclination was to refuse. Temptation won the debate. A walk in the moonlight with Brian Parker was much too enticing to overcome.
    A path wound through the back of the property, twisting and curving down the hill. A rustic bridge spanned the creek at the end of a short walk. The setting was perfect for moonlit lollygagging.
    When they reached the bridge, he leaned over the railing and looked into the water’s night-darkened depths. She shivered. Without a word, he removed his jacket and draped it across her shoulders. The jacket smelled like him—aftershave and bar soap and starched cotton shirts. Its warmth caressed her. She started to thank him, but stopped. A strange expression settled on his face. He studied her as if he’d never seen her before and the pit of her stomach flipped.
    She should have never worn the stupid dress. She should have stuck to the more matronly-looking outfit she had first chosen. That had to be it. It was the dress. She felt downright seductive in the thing. It wasn’t her style! And walking with him in the moonlight? Bad move.
    “You look beautiful, Peyton.” His eyes never strayed from hers. He smiled and touched the cross necklace he had given her with his index finger. A very bold move, she thought. The slight contact caused her to shiver with anticipation. Then she