Read Online Suddenly One Summer by Barbara Freethy - Free Book Online

unnerved her, something about him that made her want to flee as fast as she could. Even though she’d told him she was afraid of him, it wasn’t fear of physical violence. It was something more intangible, something more dangerously attractive.
    “I might be able to help you,” Reid said, his gaze fixed on her face.
    She tried to clear her expression, worried that she was giving away too much. “I don’t need your help.”
    “Are you sure about that?”
    “Positive. And I am not your story, not your puzzle to solve.”
    “I keep telling myself that, but I find you incredibly—intriguing.”
    A nervous flutter rippled through her stomach. She hadn’t been the focus of a man’s intense interest in a long time, and she didn’t quite know how tohandle it. “I have to go.” She turned, reaching for the door of the quilt shop.
    “Jenna.” He called her back again.
    “What?”
    “If you wanted to stay hidden, you never should have jumped into the bay to save that girl. That was a mistake.”
    “I know,” she whispered. “But I didn’t have a choice.”
    She let herself into the shop, her heart racing. Reid Tanner saw too much. He was intelligent, perceptive—sexy—God! The last thing she needed was an unexpected attraction to a total stranger. The man could be dangerous to her on so many levels. She took a quick look out the window, wondering what his next move would be. Would he come into the shop? Would he wait for her to come out? Or was she making his interest in her bigger than it was?
    Reid had his back to her. As she watched, he pulled out his phone and punched in a number, then walked away. Who was he talking to? Could it possibly be Brad?
    Her heart thumped against her chest. She didn’t want to believe that Reid was setting her up, but she knew nothing about him. And his last comment about her making a mistake—had he been trying to tell her something?
    She had to make sure that he was who he said he was. If he really worked for Spotlight Magazine, someone should be able to confirm that.
    Since Lexie was still involved in her class, Jennaslipped back out of the store. Reid had disappeared. She walked across the street to the local newsstand and perused the magazines. She’d been so caught up in her own private hell the last few months, she’d barely paid attention to the world news.
    She found Spotlight Magazine on the second shelf. It was a glossy magazine, its headlines teasing celebrity babies, divorces, affairs, UFO sightings in New Mexico, a pregnant man in Ohio, and a female psychic claiming she knew where twenty-three bodies were buried. Reid Tanner was an intelligent and sharp man. What was he doing writing for a sensational tabloid? It seemed off—wrong.
    Opening to the first page, she ran her finger down the list of editors. Reid’s name wasn’t there. She flipped through the magazine but didn’t see his name on any of the articles. She took the magazine to the counter, paid for it, and then walked back across the street. She glanced around to make sure no one was watching her, then she pulled out her phone and dialed the main office number for Spotlight.
    When the operator answered, she asked to speak to Reid Tanner. The woman hesitated for a second, then said, “Hold on.” A moment later she came back on the line. “I’m sorry. I don’t have a record of Mr. Tanner. He might be one of our freelancers. I can have one of the editors call you back if you’d like.”
    “No, thanks.” Jenna’s hand shook as she closed the phone. Was Reid a freelance reporter? Or did hehave another reason for being in Angel’s Bay, a reason that had to do with her? Even if he wasn’t working for Brad, his curiosity about her could be very dangerous. If he asked questions of the wrong person, or if—God forbid—he went to the police, she’d be in even more danger than she already was.

F IVE
    Joe Silveira sat back in his desk chair, the springs squeaking under his weight. The Angel’s Bay