Read Online Love Me if You Dare by Carly Phillips - Free Book Online Page B

the festival. Outdoor tables with umbrellas and chairs were placed on the sidewalk, and across the street on the grassy lawn, booths were being erected for everything from wine to handmade crafts to food. A makeshift stage had been set up at the far corner, with chairs lined up, obviously for a concert of some kind, and she found herself looking forward to the event.
    She didn’t run into Rafe, and she was disappointed. Though he’d made his feelings clear the night before, and, as hard as it had been, she’d agreed, she still wanted him. Now that they’d kissed, she knew what she was missing and found herself looking out over the street, hoping to catch sight of him. When shedidn’t, she consoled herself with the notion that there would be plenty of together time when she moved into his place tomorrow.
    Before heading back to Angel’s, she stopped at an Internet café to check her e-mail messages. She wouldn’t answer them, because she didn’t want anyone tracking the IP address, but she needed to know if someone was looking for her. She scrolled through the usual mass of jokes from her cousins, mail from the various stores where she shopped, and the daily account balance she received from her bank.
    But there was one e-mail with a red flag that caught her eye. A warning from her bank that someone had been searching activity on the debit card linked to her account. Sara paid extra for the additional security just for times like this—the rare incident when she was working a case or lying low and wanted to be notified if someone was tracking her. Not that Morley’s people would find anything. She’d taken out a lump sum of cash and wasn’t leaving a paper trail.
    Still, she was unnerved. Using one of the disposable phones she’d purchased the day she’d left the city, she called the bank, only to hear they’d been unable to discover who had initiated the search, just that it had occurred. She thanked them and hung up, frustrated, then called Rafe and left a message that she needed to see him. If he was going to be her backup, she had to keep him informed.
    She walked into Angel’s late in the afternoon to find her hostess in the family room talking to a young girl who appeared to be in her early twenties. Not wanting to interrupt, Sara waved and continued, planning to go to her room.
    “Sara, wait! I’d like to introduce you to someone.”
    Sara walked over and joined them.
    “Sara, meet Joy. Joy, this is Sara. She’s a guest here now. Joy’s looking to book her wedding here this fall!” Angel said, her excitement at the prospect of hosting the event tangible.
    “That’s fantastic. Congratulations,” Sara said, more to Angel than to Joy.
    But the other woman didn’t seem to notice. “Thanks. I couldn’t stay here, because I decided to come at the last minute and the rooms are booked because of the Wine Festival, but I wanted to come take a tour. I’m looking for a small, intimate bed-and-breakfast where my fiancé and I can get married in a private ceremony,” she said dreamily.
    The woman obviously had stars in her eyes when it came to romance, Sara thought. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from expressing her opinions on the subject. She’d learned long ago not everyone was as pessimistic as she was. Then again, not everyone saw divorce and discontent everywhere they looked within their own family tree.
    “Anyway, since Joy will be around for the festival, I thought I’d introduce you in case you see her in town,” Angel explained.
    Sara smiled. “I’ll be sure to look for you.”
    “Same here.” Joy’s gaze remained on hers too long for comfort.
    “Sara, when I’m finished with Joy, I’m going to be baking a second set of apple pies for my booth at the festival. Want to help?” Angel asked.
    Glad to turn her attention away from Joy, Sara glanced at Angel and nodded. “Sure. I’d love to.”
    “Okay, why don’t you meet me back downstairs in about half an hour?”
    “I