Read Online Grand Passion by Jayne Ann Krentz - Free Book Online

You just hired me.”
    Cleo looked as if she badly wanted to respond to that, but Valence's presence forced her to restrain herself. “What do you think you're doing?”
    “I'm going down to the basement to check the fuse box. Any objections?” Max waited politely.
    Cleo set her jaw. “I'll come with you.”
    “I think I can handle this on my own,” Max said.
    “I said I'll come with you.” Cleo managed another serene smile for Valence. “Just give us a few minutes, Mr. Valence. I'm sure we'll have everything back under control very soon.”
    “I should hope so,” Valence muttered. “My time is extremely valuable. I can't afford to waste it sitting around waiting for someone to turn on the electricity.” He shot one last annoyed glance at Max as he stalked back down the hall to the parlor.
    Max watched Valence disappear. “Did you know he's incredible?” he said to Cleo. “Also amazing.”
    “What on earth are you talking about? Here, give me that.” She snatched the flashlight out of his hand and strode down the hall to the door that opened on to the basement stairs. “Why aren't you gone?”
    “There are a number of reasons,” Max opened the door and surveyed the inky depths of a vast basement. “One of which is that I haven't apologized for the small misunderstanding we had at breakfast.”
    “It was not a small misunderstanding.” Cleo switched on the flashlight and started down the basement stairs. She still had the paper sack tucked under her arm. “You were rude, crude, and obnoxious.”
    “You may be right.” Max's cane tapped softly on each step as he followed Cleo downstairs. “However, I'd like the chance to apologize for assuming you were Jason's mistress.”
    “A gold-digging mistress.” Cleo reached the foot of the stairs and swept the beam of light around the crowded basement.
    “All right,” Max said patiently. “I apologize for assuming you were his gold-digging mistress.”
    “Okay, you've apologized. Now you can leave.”
    Max took a tight grip on his hawk-headed cane. She was not going to get rid of him this easily. She still had his Amos Luttrells. “I'm afraid I can't leave just yet.”
    Cleo crossed the room to the circuit-breaker panel. “Why not?”
    “I told you last night. I need the arrangement you're offering. I don't have another job.”
    She turned away and concentrated on opening the panel cover. “That's not my problem.”
    Max could tell that she was wavering. He decided to change tactics. “What happened with Hildebrand?”
    Cleo flipped a switch, and the overhead light came on. Her smile was grim. “Nolan came to the same conclusion about me that you did. He thinks I'm a fallen woman. As a budding politician with a career in the White House ahead of him, he can't afford to be associated with the likes of me.”
    Max was surprised by the jolt of anger that went through him. He studied Cleo's set face. “This was a sudden conclusion on Hildebrand's part?”
    “Very sudden.”
    “What prompted it?”
    “I can't imagine.” Cleo closed the panel door and switched off the flashlight. “You'll have to excuse me. I've got a lot of things to do, and you've got a long drive ahead of you.”
    Max positioned himself directly in her path. “Cleo, wait. I meant what I said. I'm sorry about the misunderstanding, and I don't have anywhere else to go. I'd appreciate it if you'd let me stay for a while. I'll earn my keep.”
    She hesitated. The uncertainty was plain in her eyes. “Look, I'm sorry about your situation, but you really can't expect me to give you the same arrangement I gave Jason. Not after what you said this morning.”
    “Jason was your friend,” Max said quietly. “He was my friend, too. What did you expect me to think when he talked about a mysterious woman named Cleo? He was on his deathbed. He didn't have the strength to give me a detailed explanation of just how you fit into his life. All I knew was that he—” Max broke off, searching