Read Online Sweet Caroline's Keeper by Beverly Barton - Free Book Online Page B

first or last name."
    "If he turns out to be a big, gorgeous hunk, I may move in with you," Roz said.
    Lyle gave Roz a condemning stare. "Is that all you think about, Ms. Turner, men and sex?"
    Roz's cheeks flamed red, but she kept her temper in check as she skewered Lyle with her gaze. "Unlike you, Reverend, some of us actually enjoy the sins of the flesh."
    "You make that more than obvious," Lyle countered. "Most people have the decency not to flaunt their sins in front of the world. But you seem to have no qualms—"
    Roz got right up in Lyle's face, which immediately stopped his condemnation. "Now, you listen here you Bible-thumping, pulpit-spouting—"
    "That's enough!" Caroline put one arm around Roz's shoulders and the other around Lyle's, then adeptly separated die two warring parties. "I wish that just once the two of you could be in the same room together without going for the jugular."
    "If you ask me, they've got the hots for each other," Brooke said. "If they'd just hop in the sack and get it over with—"
    "You're crazy if you think I'd be interested in a holier-than-thou virgin," Roz said, putting special emphasis on the last word. "I like my men rough, tough and experienced."
    "I can assure you, Ms. Turner, that you're safe from me." Lyle turned and stormed out of the room.
    "Now, look what you two have done." Caroline glowered at Roz and then at Brooke. "You know how sensitive Lyle is."
    "I'm sorry," Brooke said. "Lyle is such an easy target, but I forget how serious-minded he is."
    "The man can't take a joke," Roz complained, then forced a smile as she wrapped her arm around Caroline's waist. "I shouldn't have gotten into an argument with him. Not tonight of all nights. Lyle and I were able to act civilly toward each other when you were in the hospital, so there's no reason we can't continue to be civil toward each other. The last thing you need is having your cousin and your best friend at each other's throats."
    "And I thought I was Caroline's best friend," Brooke said, with a half-joking pout on her lips.
    "All of you are ray friends," Caroline said. "My dear friends. And although having y'all here is driving me nuts, it's also distracting me from thinking about what happened the night before last on Fletcher's yacht"
    "I can't believe someone actually chloroformed you and threw you overboard," Fletcher said. "If I'd thought that damn key would put your life in danger, I'd have insisted you toss it into the bay. I'd rather never know what the key opens if searching for it puts your life at risk."
    "Don't you see? Someone doesn't want us to find out what this key opens." Caroline lifted the key, which she had slipped onto a gold chain and placed around her neck. "I truly believe that when we find what the key opens, we'll find proof of who killed Preston and why."
    "Perhaps you should give Fletcher the key," Gavin said. "After all, Preston was his father, and if anyone has the right to unearth any secret truth about his murderer, then Fletcher does."
    "I don't need the damn key," Fletcher said. "However, my dear sister, I think you should hand the thing over to this fellow Wolfe. His agency, Dundee's, is going to be working with him to investigate Father's death."
    "Do you think that's wise?" Gavin asked. "The bigger the stink you stir, the more danger there is bound to be for Caroline."
    "I'm not going to back down," Caroline said. "Being almost drowned had the adverse effect on me from what my would-be killer intended. Not only am I still alive, but I'm more determined than ever to find what the key unlocks and retrieve whatever evidence there is against Preston's killer."
    The soft tinkle of the doorbell chimed throughout the house. Caroline froze for an instant Ail eyes turned toward the foyer.
    "Shall I go to the door?" Fletcher asked. "It's probably your bodyguard, Mr. Wolfe."
    "Why don't we go together?" Caroline suggested.
    Fletcher nodded and with a magnanimous sweep of his hand indicated for her