Read Online Eclipse Bay by Jayne Ann Krentz - Free Book Online Page A

that.” He cradled his snifter in both hands and gazed out the windows into the deepening night. “Sorry about that scene with Dell Sadler this afternoon.”
    “It wasn’t your fault.”
    “Depends how you look at the situation, I think. If you hadn’t been with me the night Kaitlin died, you wouldn’t have had the run-in with Sadler today.”
    “Well, there is that.” She was very conscious of him sitting there, not more than a few inches away. The darkness intensified the sense of intimacy. “About that night—”
    He took a sip of brandy and waited.
    “We never really talked about it.” She drew a breath and took the plunge. “You knew Kaitlin as well as anyone. What do you think happened? Do you think she committed suicide? Or was it an accident?”
    He was quiet for a long time. “I’m almost positive that she did not jump.”
    “What makes you so sure?”
    He studied the brandy glass in his hands. “When she kicked me out of her car that night she was pissed as hell. She was angry, not depressed or desperate.”
    “How angry?”
    He tilted his head against the back of the lounger.
    “Very. Said she’d had it with Eclipse Bay and everyone in it. Said she couldn’t wait to blow this burg.”
    “Making plans for the future.”
    “Yes.”
    “So her death must have been an accident.”
    Rafe said nothing.
    Hannah cleared her throat. “I said, her death must have been an accident.”
    “That’s certainly the most convenient explanation for all concerned.”
    Shock held Hannah absolutely still for a few seconds. She finally found her breath and let it out very deliberately. “You want to elaborate on that?”
    “No point.” Rafe sipped his brandy. “Not now.”
    “You’re probably right. I guess we’ll never know what really happened that night.”
    “No.”
    Rafe was quiet for a while. She had the feeling that he had moved onto some other subject in his mind. Whatever it was, he did not seem to be inclined to discuss it, either.
    She tried not to be so acutely aware of him reclining there so close beside her, but it was hopeless. Probably time to go home, she thought. Make that definitely . She was about to mention that it was getting late when Rafe spoke.
    “Somthing I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
    “Umm?”
    “What went wrong with Mr. Right?”
    For some reason that was the last question she had expected. She hesitated, not certain how far she wanted to go down that particular road.
    “It didn’t work out. What about you?” she added quickly to change the subject. “Heard you got married.”
    “For a while.”
    “What went wrong?”
    “I told you that the men in my family aren’t real good at marriage,” he said.
    “As I recall, I told you that was an excuse.”
    Without warning, Rafe sat up on the edge of the lounger and rested his forearms on his knees. “Mitchell called today.”
    Hannah blinked. He could switch topics quickly, too. “Your grandfather?”
    “He wants me to come to dinner tomorrow night. Octavia Brightwell will be there. Says he wants me to meet her.”
    Hannah thought quickly. “Brightwell. The owner of that new art gallery near the pier?”
    “Yeah.” Rafe set his glass down on the table. “Apparently they’re involved, so to speak.”
    “Good grief. I saw her on the street the other day. She’s young enough to be his granddaughter.”
    “So I’m told.” He met her eyes in the shadows. “The thing is, I need a date.”
    She nearly fell out of the lounger. “You want me to go to dinner at Mitchell Madison’s house?”
    “Got anything better to do?”
    “Well, gee, when you put it like that, I guess not. As you once observed so pithily, the entertainment options in Eclipse Bay are somewhat limited.” She paused. “Your grandfather won’t be exactly thrilled to see you walk into the house with a Harte.”
    “Don’t worry. He’ll be on his best behavior because of his new girlfriend.”
    “Mitchell Madison making nice with a