Read Online Parker And The Gypsy by Susan Carroll - Free Book Online Page B

The Jorgensens don’t know anything. Nothing at all.”
    She must have still sounded too vehement because Mike removed his sunglasses and continued to stare at her.
    Sara realized she’d never hold up well under an intense police grilling. Mike didn’t even have to question her. One long silent stare and she was ready to spill her guts.
    Pleating her hands nervously in the folds of her dress, Sara sighed and confessed, “All right. Mrs. Jorgensen doesn’t even know that I’ve been coming out here to communicate with Mamie. We’re not on the best of terms. Me and Ralph and Elaine Jorgensen, that is. Their development company has been one of the prime movers behind the program to refurbish Aurora Falls, turn it into something a little more upmarket. And—and—”
    â€œThey don’t exactly appreciate the ambience of your little shop?” Mike filled in when Sara floundered.
    Sara nodded unhappily. “I would have never dreamed of coming near their inn under normal circumstances. But I kept hearing the rumors about it being haunted and I just couldn’t resist stopping by for a peek. Then I discovered Mamie and—well, you know the rest.”
    â€œSo in other words, we’re trespassing,” Mike said flatly.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI wish you’d told me sooner.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I should have warned you that what we are doing is illegal. I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to turn around and go back.”
    To her chagrin, Mike seemed prepared to do just that. Without another word, he tossed his sunglasses on the dash and turned on the motor. A look of deep concentration on his face, he put the car in gear. But not in Reverse.
    He guided the Mustang carefully along the rutted drive, around the side of the inn, easing the car deep within a stand of pines as gently as a mother tucking her baby in bed.
    â€œThere,” he said, switching off the ignition again. “Not exactly hidden. But at least the car won’t be sitting out front like a flaming red flag.”
    When he realized she was staring at him in astonishment, a deep bark of laughter rumbled from his chest.
    â€œHoney, you really couldn’t have imagined I’d go off into a dither at the thought of doing something a teeny bit illegal, did you? I played hookey from the time I was in grade school. The one sure way of getting me to class would have been to tell me it was off-limits.”
    Sara felt her cheeks flame with an embarrassment as red as Mike’s car. Of course. She might have known he’d be the sort of man used to taking risks and bending the rules. He’d probably done far worse and more dangerous things in his life than mere trespassing. But she still felt daring and guilty over the time she sneaked a cigarette in junior high.
    â€œYou must find me incredibly naive,” she said in disgruntled accents.
    â€œNo, merely adorable.”
    He still looked amused, but the light in his eyes was tender as he bent down and brushed his lips against hers. It was a chaste kiss, quick and almost brotherly. But it was enough to remind her of the far more passionate embrace they’d shared yesterday and leave her feeling completely flustered.
    She still hadn’t fully recovered by the time Mike eased himself out of the car and came around to open her door.
    â€œTake it easy,” she told her madly thumping heart. It was just a friendly gesture and meant nothing. Mike obviously went around kissing women right, left and center without a second thought. And most of those women were probably as casual about it as he was. Sometimes Sara thought she was the only female left in this century who regarded kissing as something special, a highly personal and intimate contact.
    Mike offered her a hand and Sara clambered out of the car, somewhat unsteadily, bringing with her a paper trail of envelopes that Mike had left scattered about. A few days’ worth of