Read Online Secret Nights at Nine Oaks by Amy J. Fetzer - Free Book Online

on another chair, eating alone, staring at the abundance of color bursting in the sunny room. The paddle fan overhead moved the sweet fragrances around him.
    This was his mother’s favorite room. She swore to all, she’d married his father just so she could enjoy it. And halfway through his dinner, Cain faced the fact that Phoebe was right. Damn it. He hadn’t enjoyed his own house. Even after he’d spent a fortune restoring it.
    Good God. There would be no living with her now.
    That was if she decided to speak with him again.

Five
    C ain pulled at the sash to his robe and paused at the top of the staircase, looking toward the opposite wing, knowing Phoebe was there somewhere down that long hall.
    He hadn’t seen her in two days. Good to her word, she’d kept to the east wing. Once in awhile he’d hear her voice, drawn by it, but when he looked, she was gone, off doing God knew what, far from him.
    She was like a mystical being, darting off into the forest when the evil human came near.
    It made his isolation feel more pronounced than it was before she arrived. It shouldn’t matter, he toldhimself, but he didn’t like knowing that she was mad at him.
    Nor did he like how he’d treated her. He wanted to apologize, but seeking her was out of the question. Alone with Phoebe was not a good thing.
    Especially at night.
    He descended the stairs, intent on the kitchen and something to quiet the growling in his stomach and perhaps make him sleep. Her insomnia was catching, he thought. He knew of it because Benson reported that she prowled the house at odd hours or that the lights were on in her suite nearly constantly.
    Cain wondered if he was here because he hoped to run into her. And what kept her from sleeping? Her attacker was in jail, and the trial was set for a couple of weeks from now. Was she still afraid? She’d nothing to fear here at Nine Oaks, that was for certain.
    He stepped into the kitchen, reaching for the switch when he saw a figure sitting on the worktable. The light over the range glowed enough for him to recognize her. She looked over her shoulder toward him, but he couldn’t see her face. Then she turned away quickly and Cain could swear she was wiping at her eyes.
    â€œPhoebe, are you okay?”
    If okay meant being woken by nightmares,Phoebe thought. She was actually relieved he’d interrupted her. The pity party was getting really pathetic. “Sure I am. Come in, I won’t bite.”
    â€œJust as well, I’m in no mood to battle.”
    â€œLike that would matter to me?”
    Cain smirked to himself and moved into the kitchen, flipping on another light.
    She immediately closed her robe a little tighter, suddenly aware they were both in pajamas.
    He looked at her snack selection. “Ice cream? At this hour?”
    â€œAnytime is good for Rocky Road.” She shoved a scoop into her mouth and smiled hugely.
    He sensed it was forced, noticing the redness in her eyes, but he didn’t pry. He opened the refrigerator, staring into it, then gathered the makings of a sandwich and set it on the worktable near her. He went for bread and a cutting board and then started slicing.
    â€œBenson said you’ve been up late a lot. Do you even try to sleep?” he asked.
    She dug into the tub of ice cream. “Sure. Count sheep, imagine a white room, clear my thoughts with meditation. Nothing works. Drugs are just too easy to get dependent on.”
    â€œYou keep thinking of him, don’t you?”
    Her head snapped up, her expression sharp.“Yeah, some.” She deflated, like a barrier sliding away. “Rational thought tells me he’s locked up, but I can’t help the feeling that—” her shoulders moved restlessly “—that he’s behind me, watching.”
    â€œHe isn’t.”
    â€œBut he’s rich enough to get out on bail, Cain. His lawyers have already smeared my reputation and warned me