Read Online If Looks Could Kill by Heather Graham - Free Book Online Page B

she makes a great hostess for the old man,” he added affectionately.
    Jassy plucked a grape from a bowl of fruit on the table and made a face at her father. “To some of us, the concept of marriage means monogamy—and those vows, you know? ‘Till death do us part’? Some of us take those things seriously.”
    â€œEvery good woman needs a man, Jassy,” her father told her sadly.
    â€œMaybe, Dad, she’s holding out for a good one,” Madison said sweetly.
    Jordan sniffed.
    â€œThen again,” Madison added, sipping her coffee thoughtfully, “maybe she’s found her good man but has the good sense to keep him away from us!”
    Jordan wagged a finger at Jassy. “There’ll be no running off without my knowledge, young lady,” he told her.
    â€œGod forbid!” Jassy said dryly. “I’m only thirty-one.”
    â€œThat’s not young, Auntie Jassy,” Carrie Anne said gravely.
    Madison groaned, but Jassy only laughed. Jordan snickered, and not even Kyle could hide a smile.
    â€œCarrie Anne, that was a terrible thing to say to your aunt,” Madison chided.
    Her daughter looked at her with wide blue eyes. “Why? Being old is great. You can drive and eat all the candy you want and stay up late and everything.”
    â€œYes, but—” Madison began.
    â€œMaybe we should make our exit now,” Kyle said, rising. “Jass, you coming?”
    Jassy hesitated, looking at the jeans and shirt she was wearing. “I don’t have my suit on—”
    â€œThere’s plenty of stuff on the boat,” Madison said. She wanted her older sister around. “Come with us.”
    â€œYeah, why not?” Jassy gave her father a kiss on the cheek. “Bye, Dad.”
    Carrie Anne gave Jordan a fierce hug, and Madison brushed the top of his head with a kiss. He told them all to enjoy their day and watched as they started down the dock.
    Kyle’s gear was on board, already; Madison threw her bag on board, then handed Carrie Anne off to her sister.
    For a moment Madison paused on the deck, startled by the sudden sensation of unease that spilled through her. Despite the penetrating heat of the rising sun, she shivered.
    It’s Kyle. After all these years, it’s Kyle. I should be staying away from him.
    She gave herself a shake, and the feeling was gone, as if it had never been.
    Kyle released the dock ties and revved the motor, and they eased out onto the open water.

4
    O nce past the buoys, Kyle released the throttle, and they motored at a high speed east-northeast. Jassy changed, which Madison checked out the contents of the galley; then she and her sister and daughter took juice in plastic bottles out onto the front deck and stretched out in the sun. They lay in quiet for a while as the boat slashed through the water. The motor drummed, and the sound of the waves against the hull was lulling.
    Jassy rolled halfway over. “It’s good to have him home, huh?”
    â€œSure,” Madison murmured, flopping over to tan her back. She heard Kyle cut the motor.
    â€œI like him,” Carrie Anne volunteered. She sat up restlessly. There was only so much simple sunbathing a five-year-old was going to enjoy. “Mommy, can we do something?”
    â€œWe are doing something,” Madison teased. “We’re out on the boat.”
    â€œNo, can we do something on the boat?”
    Madison didn’t have to answer. She’d brought a bagful of things to do for Carrie Anne; she just needed to gather the energy to roll over and find a few of them.
    â€œWant to help me fish?” Kyle asked. He’d dropped the anchor and leaped from the small wheel-house to the deck. Madison was glad of her own dark glasses then. She couldn’t resist an assessment. Kyle looked good. Fit in every way. Broad-shouldered, deeply tanned, sleek, well muscled. She reminded herself that she lived in the Sunshine