Read Online The Collector by Nora Roberts - Free Book Online

don’t wear my shoe size or red lipstick—though you should think about the lipstick. You’re in the clear. Thanks for letting me stay over. I just couldn’t stay there alone tonight. I’m having the locks changed tomorrow, and I already changed the alarm code. A teenage girl,” she considered. “There has to be some in the building. Maybe that’s it, just a silly stunt. A kind of shoplifting.”
    â€œSilly, maybe, but still really wrong. Poking around in your things, taking stuff. I hope the police find her.”
    â€œBe on the lookout for a teenage girl in Manolos wearing Red Taboo lipstick and smelling of Boudoir?” Julie snorted. “Fat chance.”
    â€œIt could happen.” Bending over, she wrapped Julie in a hug. “We’ll go out first chance, replace everything. Do you want anything now?”
    â€œJust a good night’s sleep. I can bunk on the couch.”
    â€œIt’s a big bed, plenty of room for you, me and Thomas.”
    â€œThanks. Okay if I grab a quick shower? After-work salsa dancing.”
    â€œFun. Sure, go ahead. I’ll leave the light on on your side of the bed.”
    â€œOh, I nearly forgot,” Julie said as she rose to take her nightclothes out of the overnight. “Ash passed the screening. I talked to several people—discreetly. Upshot is, he can get pretty absorbed in his work, has a bit of a temper when buttons are pushed at the wrong time, doesn’t socialize as much as his agent—and some of the ladies—might like, but that’s it. No trouble, no reports of violent behavior, except for punching some drunk guy at a showing.”
    â€œHe punched a drunk?”
    â€œApparently. The story I heard is, the drunk got touchy-feely withone of the models for one of the paintings when she didn’t want to be touched or felt. My source said it was well earned, and took place in a London gallery. So, seal of approval if you decide to let him come look out the window.”
    â€œI guess I probably will, then.”
    She settled back into bed, thought about stealing lipstick and designer shoes, about murder and suicide and hot-looking artists who punch drunks.
    It all played through her head, mixed into odd little dreams. She never heard Julie slide into bed or Thomas’s mew of delight when he curled between them.

    S he woke to the scent of coffee—always a plus—and wandered out to find Julie toasting bagels and Thomas chowing down on his breakfast.
    â€œYou fed the cat, you made coffee. Will you marry me?”
    â€œI was thinking about getting a cat, but maybe I’ll marry you instead.”
    â€œYou could do both.”
    â€œIn the queue for consideration.” Julie took out two pretty glass bowls of berries.
    â€œAw, you made berries.”
    â€œYou had the berries, the place had these really pretty berry bowls. There’s some lovely things in here. I don’t know how you resist poking around in drawers and closets. And I say that as someone who just had some evil teenage girl poking in mine.”
    With a vindictive gleam in her eye, Julie tossed her flaming hair. “I hope she has zits.”
    â€œMacey?”
    â€œWho— Oh no, the teenage girl.”
    â€œRight. Coffee not yet to brain. Zits, braces and an obsessive crush on the star quarterback who doesn’t know she exists.”
    â€œI especially like the crush,” Julie decided. “Let’s have this out on the terrace, like I imagine the very tasteful couple who live here must do. Then I have to get dressed and go back to reality.”
    â€œYou have a great apartment.”
    â€œYou could fit two of my apartments in here, and the terrace is a big plus. Then there’s the pool and gym right on-site. I’ve changed my mind,” Julie said, as she loaded a tray. “I’m dumping you for the next rich guy I can get my hooks into. I’ll marry him and move in