Read Online Hurricane Bay by Heather Graham - Free Book Online Page A

Andy Latham doesn’t go there anymore, because Nate barred him. He got to be a little too obnoxious with some of the women customers. That’s why Cindy called me when she knew you were going to go over and start throwing accusations at Latham.”
    Kelsey’s eyes instantly shot toward Cindy with recrimination. Cindy flushed but shrugged, still feeling she had done the right thing.
    Kelsey took a sip of her beer. “Latham is a horrible man. We all know it. He’s a filthy, mean bastard—but that’s all. He’s scuzzy, not dangerous.”
    â€œHow the hell do you know he isn’t dangerous?” Dane demanded, wishing he weren’t feeling his own temper soar. Kelsey knew he was right; she just wasn’t about to admit it.
    â€œHe’s been around for years,” she said, waving a hand as if dismissing his words. “I used to go to that house when I was a kid. So did you, so did Cindy. He yelled, he was rude, and he created an environment no kid should have grown up in, but he never hurt anyone.”
    â€œReally? And here I thought you were Sheila’s great friend. He sure as hell hurt her. ”
    He had her on that one, and she had the grace to flush. “When he was angry, he beat her a few times with a belt. He’d be arrested for child abuse now, but back then…parents used to spank their children.”
    â€œStrange. Mine never beat me with a belt. And neither did yours. Or Cindy’s.”
    â€œOkay, he’s a horrible man!”
    â€œListen to what you’re saying. He beat her with a belt. ”
    â€œWhen our folks were in school, the deans used to walk around with big paddles.”
    He shook his head, growing angrier, fighting his rising temper and trying to tell himself that Kelsey wasn’t his concern. If she wanted to be a stubborn idiot, there was nothing he could do.
    But she was his concern.
    He had to keep her from acting like a stubborn idiot. She would understand that—if only he could tell her the truth about Sheila.
    But that was one thing he couldn’t do. Kelsey would have his ass in jail so fast his head would spin. And then…
    Then there would be nothing he could do.
    â€œDon’t go out there again,” he said, forcing his jaw to unclench and allow him to form words. His voice came out ragged and rough.
    Her eyes narrowed further still, and she replied with cool, “who the hell are you to tell me what to do?” dignity.
    â€œLook, Dane, no one around here is really paying any attention to me. Don’t you understand yet? Someone needs to be concerned. No one else is. Therefore, in my opinion, I have to be.”
    â€œIt’s not that we’re not concerned,” Cindy murmured.
    They both ignored her. Dane spoke firmly. “Don’t go out to Latham’s again.”
    â€œDammit, Dane!” she said, losing her composure at last, her eyes sizzling, her fingers tightening on her beer bottle. “Don’t come on to me like the gestapo. You’re not my father,” she said.
    He caught her eyes then, held them hard. “Let’s hope not,” he said.
    She flushed slightly. Her gaze fell from his, and she studied the quiche she’d been pushing around her plate, the grip she had on her beer bottle becoming white-knuckled.
    â€œKelsey, I’m not trying to come on like anything or act like a father. It simply isn’t a good idea to visit a man like that alone. Okay, maybe I am sounding like the gestapo. But he’s not just mean and nasty, he’s damned scary. Pay attention to me. Don’t go near him again. Please. ” He would try anything. It was imperative that she understand Latham was dangerous.
    She looked up at him, then looked down again quickly, silent for a moment.
    â€œKelsey, listen to him. He’s right,” Cindy suddenly pleaded.
    Kelsey threw up her hands, almost knocking over her beer bottle, barely catching it.