Read Online Soft Focus by Jayne Ann Krentz - Free Book Online

“What on earth are you talking about?”
    â€œI’m talking about whatever it was he did that made you track him down and throw ice water all over him in front of the stuffiest bunch of corporate honchos in town.” Louise smiled. “I’ve known you since you were a little girl, and that was the first time you’ve ever let yourself go over the top and stage a genuine hissy-fit scene in public. Too bad Sybil wasn’t around to witness it. Nothing she liked better than to see a little female empowerment in action.”
    â€œI doubt if she would have approved,” Elizabeth said shortly. “Not if she knew why I had staged the scene.”
    She glanced at the portrait on the paneled wall opposite the desk and felt a twist of chagrin. Sybil Cabot looked down on her with the stern but not unkind intelligence that had been her signature trait. Elizabeth remembered very clearly the day her aunt had called her into her office and told her that she intended to leave the Aurora Fund in her hands.
    â€œYou’re the only one in the family who has the two things required to make the Fund achieve its full potential, Elizabeth. You’ve got the financial know-how and you’ve got the instincts of a gambler. Deep down you’re willing to take a few risks, and that’s what’s needed to make the Aurora Fund work.”
    She’d had her share of good fortune when it came to taking financial risks, Elizabeth thought. But when it came to her personal life, her luck had been disastrous. For some strange reason it was a lot easier to pick a good business prospect than it was to pick a good man.
    Louise squinted. “So you’re going to Mirror Springs with Fairfax? Are we talking close physical proximity here?”
    Elizabeth steeled herself. “No, we are not talking close physical proximity. We’re traveling separately, and we will be staying in separate locations.”
    â€œIs that a fact?”
    â€œYes, it is definitely a fact.” Elizabeth paused. “That reminds me. I’m going to need reservations, and apparently the town is full because of the film festival. Think you can find me something?”
    â€œProbably.” Louise sat forward and reached for her address file. “Mirror Springs is a popular ski resort, and Lord knows we’ve got a ton of clients, past and present, who ski. Plus I’ve got plenty of contacts from the old days in the news business. I’ll make some calls. Seems to me one of my editors has a vacation place in Mirror Springs.”
    Elizabeth looked at the glaring headlines of the framed tabloids. “He’s not a space alien or a recently revived mummy, is he?”
    â€œWell, if you’re going to be picky about it—”
    â€œYou’re right. I’ll take what I can get.”
    â€œSo you and Fairfax are going to play detectives, huh?” Louise flipped through her card file. “That should be interesting.”
    â€œI did suggest that he call in the cops, but you know how executives are about going to the police on this kind of thing.”
    Louise snorted. “Nobody calls the cops in on white-collar crime.”
    â€œFor good reasons.” Elizabeth started toward her office. “Let me know when you find a place for me in Mirror Springs. I’ll also need airline reservations to Denver and a rental car on the other end.”
    â€œRight.” Louise paused. “I almost forgot, your brother-in-law called again.”
    â€œMerrick?” Elizabeth groaned. “What did you tell him?”
    â€œSame thing I told him the last four times he called. That you were busy.”
    â€œWhich is the honest truth.”
    â€œYou won’t be able to duck him forever, you know.”
    â€œI know. But I can at least duck him for the next few days while I’m in Colorado.”
    A gleam of speculation appeared in Louise’s eyes. “Out of idle curiosity, whose