Read Online Legacy by Jayne Ann Krentz - Free Book Online Page A

held to celebrate the opening of a new restaurant that evening. The interior had been designed by a friend, however, and Honor knew Susan Mallory would appreciate having her show up. A finished project gave a designer the same sense of pleasure and satisfaction as a finished painting gave an artist. By the very nature of the business, neither could retain possession of the creations. There was only a limited period of time for the creator to enjoy it and show it off.
    Honor didn't try to kid herself as she dressed for the event. She had made the decision to attend based almost entirely on an instinctive desire to put some distance between herself and Conn Landry.
    Ethan Bailey's awkward but well-meant warnings had only served to crystallize her own uncertainties concerning Conn. He was getting too close, too fast.

    Honor checked the sweep of the magenta-colored blouson dress she had chosen to wear and then brushed her hair back into a neat twist at the nape of her neck. It was difficult to get excited about the evening ahead. All she could think of was how much anticipation she would be feeling now if she were waiting for Conn Landry to collect her.
    The festivities were in full swung by the time Honor arrived. She drifted through the crowd of fellow designers, reporters, friends of the proud new owner and local restaurateurs, idly searching for Susan. En route she helped herself to the unlimited quantities of exotic cheeses that had been set out. When the crush of people maneuvered her close to the bar, she ended up with a plastic cup of a low-budget Italian wine that helped wash down the cheese. She wondered what Conn was doing at that moment.
    "Honor! You made it! I'm so glad. Tell me, what do you think?" Susan Mallory, attired in the latest of oddly layered Japanese fashions, pushed through the crowd toward her. In one hand she held a plastic glass of wine and with the other she waved at the art deco interiors she had designed.
    Honor smiled at her attractive dark-haired friend. "It's wonderful, Susan. Absolutely wonderful. It's just too bad that it's not customary to put up a little plaque saying who designed the space."
    "I know." Susan sighed theatrically. "No one ever thinks to credit the designer." She brightened. "But I have gotten some good referrals out of it."
    "Good. How are the wedding plans going?" Honor helped herself to a chunk of imported Camembert.
    "Perfectly," Susan enthused. "As a matter of fact I was going to call you next week and ask if the beach cottage was going to be available."
    "Second week in June?" Honor tried to reconstruct the rental schedule in her head. "I think so. The agent said he'd booked it for the month of August, but part of June was still free. What made you decide to honeymoon in Ventura? Isn't that a bit ordinary? I thought you were going to Hawaii or Puerto Vallarta?"
    "Everyone goes to Hawaii," Susan informed her blithely. "And those who don't, go to Puerto Vallarta.
    Richard and I discussed the matter the other night, and when I told him that you owned a charming, secluded place right on the beach just up the coast, we decided to ask if it was available. Going to use the house yourself this year?"
    "I rarely use it," Honor said quietly, thinking of the beach cottage that had been her only inheritance from her father, other than a small trust fund that had helped see her through college. "Once in a while during the winter when it's not being rented out I spend a weekend there, but that's about it."
    "I don't see why you don't use it more often. I love the marvelous country retreat look you achieved with all that lovely rustic furniture and those horse-racing photos scattered on the walls. I had a great time there last summer."
    Honor thought of the pictures of Stylish Legacy that had belonged to her father and that she had left in place at the cottage, along with a variety of other racing mementos and paraphernalia. It was difficult to explain that she had always found visits