Read Online Behind the Shadows by Patricia; Potter - Free Book Online

“Mr. Payton, what can I do for you?”
    â€œGo to dinner with me.”
    A longer silence, then, “Why?”
    He was taken aback. It was his turn to pause. He’d never been asked that question before. The reason had always been clear.
    â€œBecause the idea appealed to me,” he said.
    To his surprise, she laughed, and he liked the sound. He was intrigued with the thought that he really would like to have dinner with her rather than merely tolerate an opportunity to inspect her.
    â€œThanks for the invitation,” she said, “but my mother’s ill and I don’t have much time.”
    â€œI was going to suggest tonight,” he ventured.
    â€œI’m going to see my mom.”
    â€œWhat about afterward? You have to eat.”
    She hesitated just long enough to encourage him.
    â€œWe can go wherever is most convenient to you.”
    â€œI don’t know how long I’ll be at the hospital.”
    â€œI can wait.”
    â€œWhy?” she asked again. “And why tonight?”
    â€œI’m intrigued,” he said. “I don’t usually run into attractive reporters.” God, he hoped that didn’t sound too facile, too pushy. It had been a long time since he’d had to ask for a date twice. But then, this was no date. It was a fishing expedition. He wanted to know why she was interested in the Westerfields.
    A silence told him he might have come on too strong. “Call it a sudden impulse,” he added, “and I don’t have many of those.”
    â€œI didn’t think you would,” she agreed. “I did a little research on you.”
    â€œNow it’s my turn to ask why.”
    â€œA sudden impulse.” She used his own words against him. “I don’t usually run people down and end up in their arms.”
    â€œShould I be flattered?”
    â€œNo, research is what I do,” she said, but he heard amusement in her voice.
    â€œI didn’t realize I was on your radar.”
    â€œYou would be surprised how many people are on my radar,” she replied.
    â€œSo it’s nothing special?”
    â€œNope.”
    â€œSo what about tonight?”
    â€œCall me later.” She gave him her home number but not the cell. Only the paper and the hospital had that.
    â€œHow did the story work out?” he asked.
    â€œGood. It’ll be in the Sunday paper.”
    â€œI’ll be looking for it.”
    An awkward pause, and he was never awkward. What in the hell was happening?
    â€œGood-bye,” he said more brusquely than he intended, and hung up before he made more of a fool of himself.
    He placed the phone back in its cradle and stared at it. He’d wanted information. That was all he wanted, but somewhere along the way seeing her again had become important.
    Nonsense. It was nothing but those tingling instincts that had sensed something wrong with the interview. Nothing at all.
    Kira stood.
    What had she just done?
    Even considering going to dinner with Max Payton was probably among the most foolish things she’d ever done. He would soon discover she had an interest in the Westerfields far deeper than a Sunday feature.
    She should have said no, right off the bat.
    Yet she justified her wavering. She could learn more about the Westerfields. Information was ammunition.
    He’s more than just a family attorney . He had been completely at home in the kitchen, as if he lived there. And he apparently did. His address was the same as the estate.
    Family attorney, indeed .
    She didn’t know much more. She just had access to superficial stuff and hadn’t had time to dig deeper. He apparently was single. He’d been featured in Atlanta magazine as one of the city’s most eligible bachelors five years earlier. Of course, he could have married since. No ring, though. She’d noticed that.
    One of Atlanta’s most eligible bachelors. And he wanted to take her out. Yeah.
    As much as