Read Online Borrowed Identity by Kasi Blake - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kasi Blake
Tags: Suspense
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couldn’t wait to share.
Boomer shot up the staircase and vanished from view just then.
“I guess he wants to explore his new surroundings,” Kelly said.
She crooked her finger at Michael, gesturing for him to join her.
He trailed behind her, following her through the double doors beneath the point at which the two staircases met. They entered the library and hovered just inside the doorway for a few minutes, as if Kelly wanted to keep him in suspense. He couldn’t believe his eyes as he took in his surroundings. They were standing in an enormous oval-shaped room with an endless wall of bookshelves wrapped around it. There were more books than he could count, stacked ten shelves high. The walls seemed to be in a straight line, but the room was round, each bookcase curving so slightly that it wasn’t noticeable. Paddy’s entire house could have fit in the room. Michael was sure of it.
He stepped to the side and watched Kelly slide an attached ladder along one section of the bookcase. She climbed the rungs and reached over, grabbing for one old tome. The book was huge, and she had to struggle to get a good grip on it.
Michael drew closer in case she fell. His eyes were on a level with her knees, and he couldn’t help that the trousers that covered her lower limbs couldn’t conceal their perfection. He remembered her legs, the way they had looked dripping wet from the shower. He envisioned how the towel had ended on her upper thighs, teasing him with a glimpse of what hid beneath the terry cloth.
Kelly teetered precariously.
She dropped the book a half second before she fell backward, a startled shriek bursting from her lips.
Michael caught her easily and cradled her in his arms. Holding her this time had a startling effect on him. Desire shot from his brain to his toes, leaving no part of him untouched. Electricity crackled in his veins. It had been a long time since he’d wanted a woman so much. Why her? Why now?
Eyes wide and unblinking, she stared up at him. She appeared to be as stunned as he felt.
Kelly pressed against his chest with her palms, and he let her slowly slide down his body until she was standing on her own two feet again. He still didn’t release her completely. His hands remained on her arms, reluctant to give up the treasure they’d found.
“The book,” she managed to say at last. “My grandfather compiled the history of Moore House and put it in that book.”
Taking the hint, he went to the fallen book and picked it up, noting that it must weigh more than fifty pounds. Michael set it on a nearby desk and blew dust off the bronzed cover. There was a gold emblem on it, a circular pattern with a black design that seemed to be a family crest.
Kelly came to stand beside him, the top of her head barely reaching his shoulder. He could smell the shampoo she’d used that morning. The faint scent of wildflowers tormented his nostrils. Being this close to her was absolute torture, no doubt about it.
Kelly opened the book, and Michael tore his attention from her, trying to concentrate on the task at hand. Insidethere were pages of newspaper clippings, photographs and journal entries. He didn’t have time to go over everything. He wouldn’t find clues to solve his mystery in this book. He was only looking at it to get Kelly’s mind off of her tiresome visitor.
“Give me the highlights,” he said. “Break it down for me. Start with the person who built the house.”
“John Moore,” she replied. “The house was erected directly after the Civil War ended. John and his brother Andrew were at odds. John was running a company up north when the war began. His father and his brother expected him to return to South Carolina and fight beside them.”
“Of course he didn’t,” Michael guessed, trying to speed things along.
“No. While his father’s plantation—his brother’s inheritance—was burned to the ground, John was becoming one of the wealthiest men in the country. His
Boomer shot up the staircase and vanished from view just then.
“I guess he wants to explore his new surroundings,” Kelly said.
She crooked her finger at Michael, gesturing for him to join her.
He trailed behind her, following her through the double doors beneath the point at which the two staircases met. They entered the library and hovered just inside the doorway for a few minutes, as if Kelly wanted to keep him in suspense. He couldn’t believe his eyes as he took in his surroundings. They were standing in an enormous oval-shaped room with an endless wall of bookshelves wrapped around it. There were more books than he could count, stacked ten shelves high. The walls seemed to be in a straight line, but the room was round, each bookcase curving so slightly that it wasn’t noticeable. Paddy’s entire house could have fit in the room. Michael was sure of it.
He stepped to the side and watched Kelly slide an attached ladder along one section of the bookcase. She climbed the rungs and reached over, grabbing for one old tome. The book was huge, and she had to struggle to get a good grip on it.
Michael drew closer in case she fell. His eyes were on a level with her knees, and he couldn’t help that the trousers that covered her lower limbs couldn’t conceal their perfection. He remembered her legs, the way they had looked dripping wet from the shower. He envisioned how the towel had ended on her upper thighs, teasing him with a glimpse of what hid beneath the terry cloth.
Kelly teetered precariously.
She dropped the book a half second before she fell backward, a startled shriek bursting from her lips.
Michael caught her easily and cradled her in his arms. Holding her this time had a startling effect on him. Desire shot from his brain to his toes, leaving no part of him untouched. Electricity crackled in his veins. It had been a long time since he’d wanted a woman so much. Why her? Why now?
Eyes wide and unblinking, she stared up at him. She appeared to be as stunned as he felt.
Kelly pressed against his chest with her palms, and he let her slowly slide down his body until she was standing on her own two feet again. He still didn’t release her completely. His hands remained on her arms, reluctant to give up the treasure they’d found.
“The book,” she managed to say at last. “My grandfather compiled the history of Moore House and put it in that book.”
Taking the hint, he went to the fallen book and picked it up, noting that it must weigh more than fifty pounds. Michael set it on a nearby desk and blew dust off the bronzed cover. There was a gold emblem on it, a circular pattern with a black design that seemed to be a family crest.
Kelly came to stand beside him, the top of her head barely reaching his shoulder. He could smell the shampoo she’d used that morning. The faint scent of wildflowers tormented his nostrils. Being this close to her was absolute torture, no doubt about it.
Kelly opened the book, and Michael tore his attention from her, trying to concentrate on the task at hand. Insidethere were pages of newspaper clippings, photographs and journal entries. He didn’t have time to go over everything. He wouldn’t find clues to solve his mystery in this book. He was only looking at it to get Kelly’s mind off of her tiresome visitor.
“Give me the highlights,” he said. “Break it down for me. Start with the person who built the house.”
“John Moore,” she replied. “The house was erected directly after the Civil War ended. John and his brother Andrew were at odds. John was running a company up north when the war began. His father and his brother expected him to return to South Carolina and fight beside them.”
“Of course he didn’t,” Michael guessed, trying to speed things along.
“No. While his father’s plantation—his brother’s inheritance—was burned to the ground, John was becoming one of the wealthiest men in the country. His
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