Read Online Something Different/Pepper's Way by Kay Hooper - Free Book Online
Authors: Kay Hooper
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definition
of intent. Just exactly what had he set his mind on? Her, apparently. But what exactly did he—
Oh, never mind! she told herself irritably. It wasn’t going to do her a bit of good to keep wondering about it.
And in the meantime Chase was making his presence felt. Not in a big way; he left right after lunch, politely saying that he didn’t want to interrupt her work. But he came back. He came back four times to be precise—between three and six P.M. Each time, he stuck his head around the corner of her work area and apologized solemnly for bothering her. And each time he asked to borrow something. A cup of sugar, a stick of butter, two cups of milk, and a bud vase, respectively.
It was the bud vase that piqued Gypsy’s curiosity.
“What’s he up to, Herman?” she asked her typewriter after Chase had vanished for the fourth time. Herman didn’t deign to reply. Herman did, however, repeat a word three times. At least she
blamed
Herman for the mistake.
She was still glowering at Herman ten minutes later, whenChase returned. He came over to the desk this time, decisively removed the sheet of paper from Herman, and then looked down at Gypsy with a theatrical leer.
“Are you coming willingly, or will I be forced to kidnap you?”
“Coming where?” she asked blankly.
“Into my parlor, of course. My house, if you want to be formal.”
“Why should I come to your house?”
“You’re invited to dinner.”
“Invited or commanded to attend?”
“Invited. Forcefully.”
“And if I politely refuse?”
“I’ll throw you over my shoulder and kidnap you. Of course, if I’m forced to those lengths, no telling when I’ll release you. Much better if you come of your own free will.” His voice was grave.
Gypsy sighed mournfully, unable to resist the nonsense. “I suppose I’d better come willingly, then. Do I have your word of honor as a gentleman that I can come home whenever I want?”
He placed a hand on his chest and bowed with a certain flair. “My word of honor as a gentleman.”
Since he was still leering, Gypsy looked at him suspiciously, but rose to her feet. “Is this a dress-up party, or come-as-you-are?”
“Definitely come-as-you-are. We’ll have a dress-up party later. Better put some shoes on though.”
Gypsy silently found some sandals. Corsair was sleeping on one of them and wasn’t happy at the disturbance, but she ignored the feline mutters of discontent. Chase was waiting for her in the hall.
He led her out the front door and across the expanse ofgreen lawn to his house. Since the two properties were separated by only a low hedge, broken in several places, it was a short walk. He opened one of the double doors and ushered her inside.
It was Gypsy’s first look inside the house that she had admired so much from the outside. Immediately and wholeheartedly she fell in love with it.
The front doors opened into a huge, open area. The sunken room was carpeted in a deep rust-colored pile, and both the light-colored paneling and the open, beamed ceiling added to the spaciousness. The furniture—a pit grouping and various tables—was modern. There were plump cushions in a deep ivory color, and colorful throw pillows for a pleasant contrast. A combination bookshelf and entertainment center ran along one wall, containing innumerable books, an extensive stereo system, and a large-screen television set.
If the remainder of the house looked like this … Gypsy took a deep breath, dimly aware of Chase’s gaze on her. “Did you do the decorating?” she asked finally.
“All the way. Would you like the nickel tour?”
“Please.”
The remainder of the house looked
better.
There were three bedrooms, two baths, a large study, a formal dining room in an Oriental motif, a combination kitchen and breakfast nook that Julia Child would have killed for, and a Jacuzzi.
The Jacuzzi occupied a place in half of the redwood deck in back, which stretched from the glass doors
definition
of intent. Just exactly what had he set his mind on? Her, apparently. But what exactly did he—
Oh, never mind! she told herself irritably. It wasn’t going to do her a bit of good to keep wondering about it.
And in the meantime Chase was making his presence felt. Not in a big way; he left right after lunch, politely saying that he didn’t want to interrupt her work. But he came back. He came back four times to be precise—between three and six P.M. Each time, he stuck his head around the corner of her work area and apologized solemnly for bothering her. And each time he asked to borrow something. A cup of sugar, a stick of butter, two cups of milk, and a bud vase, respectively.
It was the bud vase that piqued Gypsy’s curiosity.
“What’s he up to, Herman?” she asked her typewriter after Chase had vanished for the fourth time. Herman didn’t deign to reply. Herman did, however, repeat a word three times. At least she
blamed
Herman for the mistake.
She was still glowering at Herman ten minutes later, whenChase returned. He came over to the desk this time, decisively removed the sheet of paper from Herman, and then looked down at Gypsy with a theatrical leer.
“Are you coming willingly, or will I be forced to kidnap you?”
“Coming where?” she asked blankly.
“Into my parlor, of course. My house, if you want to be formal.”
“Why should I come to your house?”
“You’re invited to dinner.”
“Invited or commanded to attend?”
“Invited. Forcefully.”
“And if I politely refuse?”
“I’ll throw you over my shoulder and kidnap you. Of course, if I’m forced to those lengths, no telling when I’ll release you. Much better if you come of your own free will.” His voice was grave.
Gypsy sighed mournfully, unable to resist the nonsense. “I suppose I’d better come willingly, then. Do I have your word of honor as a gentleman that I can come home whenever I want?”
He placed a hand on his chest and bowed with a certain flair. “My word of honor as a gentleman.”
Since he was still leering, Gypsy looked at him suspiciously, but rose to her feet. “Is this a dress-up party, or come-as-you-are?”
“Definitely come-as-you-are. We’ll have a dress-up party later. Better put some shoes on though.”
Gypsy silently found some sandals. Corsair was sleeping on one of them and wasn’t happy at the disturbance, but she ignored the feline mutters of discontent. Chase was waiting for her in the hall.
He led her out the front door and across the expanse ofgreen lawn to his house. Since the two properties were separated by only a low hedge, broken in several places, it was a short walk. He opened one of the double doors and ushered her inside.
It was Gypsy’s first look inside the house that she had admired so much from the outside. Immediately and wholeheartedly she fell in love with it.
The front doors opened into a huge, open area. The sunken room was carpeted in a deep rust-colored pile, and both the light-colored paneling and the open, beamed ceiling added to the spaciousness. The furniture—a pit grouping and various tables—was modern. There were plump cushions in a deep ivory color, and colorful throw pillows for a pleasant contrast. A combination bookshelf and entertainment center ran along one wall, containing innumerable books, an extensive stereo system, and a large-screen television set.
If the remainder of the house looked like this … Gypsy took a deep breath, dimly aware of Chase’s gaze on her. “Did you do the decorating?” she asked finally.
“All the way. Would you like the nickel tour?”
“Please.”
The remainder of the house looked
better.
There were three bedrooms, two baths, a large study, a formal dining room in an Oriental motif, a combination kitchen and breakfast nook that Julia Child would have killed for, and a Jacuzzi.
The Jacuzzi occupied a place in half of the redwood deck in back, which stretched from the glass doors
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