Read Online Kissed by Moonlight by Dorothy Vernon - Free Book Online Page B

Spanish assistant stood. “Am I right in thinking she doesn’t understand a word of English.”
    â€œNot a word,” Justine confirmed.
    â€œIn that case, Miss Hyland, I think you are filthy-minded and despicable.”
    Justine’s scarlet mouth thinned in menace. “That was your biggest mistake to date. You’ll rue saying that, Mrs. Palmer. It isn’t even as though your statement is correct.”
    â€œYou mean you’re not despicable?” Petrina challenged in as steady a tone as her fury would allow.
    â€œOh, I’m despicable. That’s not the inaccuracy. I’m not a miss. There’s a Mr. Hyland, and Geoffrey is a very vindictive man. I shouldn’t complain, because I certainly have my faults. My worst failing is my indiscretion. David has been asking me for a long time to apply more caution in the matter of our friendship. He said if I didn’t mend my ways, in view of my husband’s power and wealth, he would have to take positive action to protect himself. Would you say the sudden acquisition of a wife comes under that heading?”
    The belief that Justine wasn’t a guest but was involved in the hotel in some way still held firm in Petrina’s mind, but not as an employee. Her husband was a man of power and wealth. David had felt the need to protect himself. Did this add up to anything? Could Justine’s husband, this Geoffrey Hyland, be the opportunist who bought her father out? Was he David’s boss? And, worse, had David only married her to shield his affair with Justine and protect them from Geoffrey Hyland’s wrath?
    â€œIncidentally,” Justine purred, “I couldn’t help but notice your interest in the lingerie stand. If you want any help with choosing what David finds exciting, I’ll be happy to oblige.”
    Not averse to showing her own claws, now that the battle lines were drawn, and feeling that this was the moment to begin to fight back, Petrina said, “I’m sure you’re always happy to oblige.”
    Almost as if Petrina had made no comment, Justine said with silky smoothness, at the same time fingering a confection of a nightgown in a delicate moonbeam shade of oyster-pink that coincided with Petrina’s own taste, “For example, he would find you irresistible in this.”
    â€œToo bad,” Petrina said, goaded beyond either reason or inclination, “because this is the one I’m buying.” She pointed haphazardly, and almost died when she saw which nightgown she’d picked out. It was a whisper of erotic black lace. It took a lot of defiance and courage to stick to her unhappy choice and motion the assistant to wrap it for her.
    With her sun hat pressed firmly down on her head, and the incredible purchase in her hand, she swept past Justine and out of the shop.
    She had never for a moment thought the bedroom act was a complete bluff on Justine’s part, but she’d consoled herself with the thought that David had married her and not Justine. Now, it seemed, she knew the reason for that.
    David had married her to protect his job and his affair. What husband was going to be jealously watchful of a newly married man? David had really excelled himself in deviousness this time. And it all fit together too well not to be true.
    She had intended to buy sunglasses and some very necessary sun creams and lotions to pamper her skin after its exposure to the sun, but she didn’t feel composed enough to choose with care, and so she swung around again, back to the hotel, and went straight up to the suite.
    In the privacy of the bedroom she tore the dainty wrapping off her parcel, held the vampish whisper of lace in her hands for an agonized second, and tossed it in disgust down on her bed. The only reason she didn’t toss herself after it was because a weeping session would serve no useful purpose.
    A maid had apparently come by to collect the dirty laundry. David, of