Read Online Rock Harbor Series - 01 - Without a Trace by Colleen Coble - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Colleen Coble
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said, knowing Fay wouldn’t care if she spoke her mind.
“I’m not about to give up my life for this baby,” Fay said. Her gaze roamed the room.
Such disregard for her baby’s well-being made Bree want to get up and walk away. “Aren’t you happy about it?” she asked.
Fay shrugged. “I’m not sure yet. Ask me again after it’s here and I can tell whether the changes are good or bad.”
A movement across the empty room caught Bree’s attention. The side door opened, and a man stepped in. Bree had never seen him, though he reminded her of someone. Then she realized he looked like a younger version of the pictures she’d seen of Elvis before booze and drugs had marred his good looks. Though “the King” had died when Bree was a child, she’d been fascinated by articles she had read about him in old Modern Screen and Photoplay magazines she’d found in the back of her mother’s closet.
The same petulant expression crossed this man’s face as he scanned the room from his partially hidden position in the curtains. When his gaze settled on Fay, the smoldering look deepened, and he swaggered across the room toward Fay as though adoring fans screamed along the sidelines. Fay saw him approach and scowled. He stopped in front of her and stood with his hands on his hips, looking down at her.
“You said you’d meet me at nine.” The man made no attempt to lower his voice.
“What are you doing here, Eric?” Fay hissed. “Get out before Steve sees you. He’s already asking questions.”
“Then tell him the truth!”
“Don’t tell me what to do. We’re playing this my way.” Fay ground out her cigarette on the floor and stood to walk away.
Eric grabbed her arm. “You think you can snap your fingers and I’ll follow at your heels. Don’t make that mistake. I’m not a lap dog like your husband.”
“Take your hands off me.” She jerked her arm away, but he grabbed it again.
Bree rose, and Eric glared at her. An older man materialized from the main hall. Bree recognized him as Fay’s uncle, Lawrence Kukkari.
“This man bothering you, Fay?” he asked.
“No, he’s just leaving,” Fay said. “I’ll meet you later,” she said softly to Eric. “Now please leave before Steve comes looking for me.” She smiled prettily, but Eric’s scowl just deepened.
“I won’t wait forever, Fay.”
“I’ll meet you later,” Fay whispered. “Please, don’t make a scene.”
“One hour. Then I come looking for you again.” With a muttered oath, Eric spun on his heels and stalked away.
Bree’s gaze followed him as he made his way through the crowd. Kade Matthews put out a hand to intercept him, and Eric stopped to talk to him. Bree frowned as she saw them talking. Kade appeared to be as angry as Eric. At one point he stabbed his finger in Eric’s chest for emphasis. How did he know this guy?
Lawrence’s voice drew her attention back to Fay. “You know better than to get mixed up with him again.”
“Don’t start, Uncle.” Fay’s voice was soft with weariness. “I don’t meddle in your private life, and I don’t want you meddling in mine.”
The scowl on Lawrence’s face eased. “Very well. Have you thought any more about the new offer for the mine? Mr. Simpkins wants an answer.”
“I told you, I’ve already agreed to sell the mine to Palmer Chambers.”
“You’re throwing away a hundred thousand dollars!” Lawrence’s voice rose.
Bree looked around for a place to slink away. Being in the middle of someone else’s argument felt awkward. Unfortunately, Lawrence blocked her path to escape.
Lawrence glanced at Bree and lowered his voice as he continued to argue his case with his niece. “Take this offer, and you’ll have enough money to leave Steve and this hick town and start fresh.”
“I think you’re more concerned with your share than with my happiness,” Fay said. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. I don’t want to be mixed up with mobsters from New
“I’m not about to give up my life for this baby,” Fay said. Her gaze roamed the room.
Such disregard for her baby’s well-being made Bree want to get up and walk away. “Aren’t you happy about it?” she asked.
Fay shrugged. “I’m not sure yet. Ask me again after it’s here and I can tell whether the changes are good or bad.”
A movement across the empty room caught Bree’s attention. The side door opened, and a man stepped in. Bree had never seen him, though he reminded her of someone. Then she realized he looked like a younger version of the pictures she’d seen of Elvis before booze and drugs had marred his good looks. Though “the King” had died when Bree was a child, she’d been fascinated by articles she had read about him in old Modern Screen and Photoplay magazines she’d found in the back of her mother’s closet.
The same petulant expression crossed this man’s face as he scanned the room from his partially hidden position in the curtains. When his gaze settled on Fay, the smoldering look deepened, and he swaggered across the room toward Fay as though adoring fans screamed along the sidelines. Fay saw him approach and scowled. He stopped in front of her and stood with his hands on his hips, looking down at her.
“You said you’d meet me at nine.” The man made no attempt to lower his voice.
“What are you doing here, Eric?” Fay hissed. “Get out before Steve sees you. He’s already asking questions.”
“Then tell him the truth!”
“Don’t tell me what to do. We’re playing this my way.” Fay ground out her cigarette on the floor and stood to walk away.
Eric grabbed her arm. “You think you can snap your fingers and I’ll follow at your heels. Don’t make that mistake. I’m not a lap dog like your husband.”
“Take your hands off me.” She jerked her arm away, but he grabbed it again.
Bree rose, and Eric glared at her. An older man materialized from the main hall. Bree recognized him as Fay’s uncle, Lawrence Kukkari.
“This man bothering you, Fay?” he asked.
“No, he’s just leaving,” Fay said. “I’ll meet you later,” she said softly to Eric. “Now please leave before Steve comes looking for me.” She smiled prettily, but Eric’s scowl just deepened.
“I won’t wait forever, Fay.”
“I’ll meet you later,” Fay whispered. “Please, don’t make a scene.”
“One hour. Then I come looking for you again.” With a muttered oath, Eric spun on his heels and stalked away.
Bree’s gaze followed him as he made his way through the crowd. Kade Matthews put out a hand to intercept him, and Eric stopped to talk to him. Bree frowned as she saw them talking. Kade appeared to be as angry as Eric. At one point he stabbed his finger in Eric’s chest for emphasis. How did he know this guy?
Lawrence’s voice drew her attention back to Fay. “You know better than to get mixed up with him again.”
“Don’t start, Uncle.” Fay’s voice was soft with weariness. “I don’t meddle in your private life, and I don’t want you meddling in mine.”
The scowl on Lawrence’s face eased. “Very well. Have you thought any more about the new offer for the mine? Mr. Simpkins wants an answer.”
“I told you, I’ve already agreed to sell the mine to Palmer Chambers.”
“You’re throwing away a hundred thousand dollars!” Lawrence’s voice rose.
Bree looked around for a place to slink away. Being in the middle of someone else’s argument felt awkward. Unfortunately, Lawrence blocked her path to escape.
Lawrence glanced at Bree and lowered his voice as he continued to argue his case with his niece. “Take this offer, and you’ll have enough money to leave Steve and this hick town and start fresh.”
“I think you’re more concerned with your share than with my happiness,” Fay said. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. I don’t want to be mixed up with mobsters from New
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