Read Online Silver Falls by Anne Stuart - Free Book Online

my daughter.”
    He cocked his head, looking at her quizzically.
    â€œWhy would you think I’d be any particular danger to her?” he said, entirely reasonable. “She’s too young for me. How old are you?”
    â€œStop that!”
    â€œStop what?” He leaned back against the counter, watching her with that unsettling stillness.
    â€œWhat’s got you so wound up?
    â€œThere’s a murderer on the loose—why shouldn’t I be wound up?”
    â€œWhat’s that got to do with me?”
    â€œOh, I don’t know, maybe because you said it did,” she snapped.
    â€œWhen did I say that?”
    â€œLast night. In your father’s kitchen.”
    â€œI was trying to bait you. Look at it this way—
    I’d only just arrived in town. I wasn’t here long enough to find someone annoying to murder. Time, however, has fixed that.” His look at her was pointed.
    â€œThat supposed to make me nervous?”
    â€œYou don’t strike me as someone who’s easily frightened.”
    â€œYou’re right. You come to town and a young woman dies. I find that an uncomfortable coincidence.”
    â€œMaybe it’s no coincidence,” he said, his voice expressionless.
    She stared at him. “What do you mean by that?”
    â€œHaven’t you heard about me, Rachel? I’m the bad seed of Silver Falls. The kind of kid who boosted cars and stole my brother’s girlfriends. The kind of kid who killed his mother and put his father in a wheelchair.”
    She wasn’t going to panic. “Exactly how much of that is true?”
    He looked at her. “Some of it. It’ll be up to you to figure out what’s what. In the meantime, you need to be careful. Things are going to get worse before they get better. Maybe you should pack Sophie up, go on a little vacation until things settle down.”
    â€œThings aren’t un settled, and we’re not going anywhere,” she said, trying to hide how tempting that was. “Sophie and I are both very happy here. She loves the school, loves her new life. The math program here is extraordinary, and she’s a gifted child.”
    â€œThere are other programs. Tell me, does shelove my brother? David has never been the paternal type.”
    â€œThey get along very well. Sophie doesn’t need a father, she simply needs a structured, ordinary life and a chance to use her brain. I’ve dragged her all around the world, never gave her a chance to have a normal life, a normal home. She’s got that now and I’m not about to throw it away on a whim.”
    â€œNormal home? Honey, you struck out on that one,” he drawled. “And what about you? You don’t strike me as a structured, ordinary woman.”
    â€œI can be,” she said firmly. “I can be anything my daughter needs me to be.”
    â€œHow about gone?”
    â€œWhy are you trying to get rid of us?”
    He looked at her for a long moment, his deep brown eyes shadowed. And then he blinked. “Just a momentary lapse on my part, sweetheart. People will tell you I seldom do the right thing—it goes against my nature. Stay here if you want. Just keep an eye on your daughter.”
    â€œI always do. Which is why I don’t want you anywhere near her.”
    â€œTrust me, I’m the least of your worries. I could tell you something interesting about Jessica Barrowman.”
    â€œWho’s Jessica Barrowman?”
    â€œThe murder victim.” His voice was flat.
    â€œI thought you hadn’t been here long enough to know her?”
    â€œI’m a fast learner,” he said. “I’ve been here long enough to find out a few things about the murder. Jessica Barrowman was young, thin, with long straight blond hair down her back. Just like your daughter. You might consider getting Sophie a haircut and a perm.”
    Her stomach lurched in sudden panic. “You son of a