Read Online The Presence by Heather Graham - Free Book Online Page A

a decade ago, now.”
    â€œYou still miss people,” she said.
    â€œIndeed, you do.” He didn’t want the two of them growing morose together, so he brought a small smile to his lips. “Still…” he murmured.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou couldn’t have bought a castle in Ireland, eh?”
    She halfway smiled, but her eyes flashed. He realized that he had been breathing in her scent. She really was a stunning woman. Brilliant as an angel one second, claws extended, blue fire in her eyes the next.
    She shouldn’t be here.
    He looked at his brandy glass again and swirled the liquid. “The truth of the matter is, I didn’t rent this castle to anyone. I do own it, and you are trespassing.” He added the last very quietly, and swallowed more of his brandy. The warmth was delicious.
    She was quiet for a moment, then said, “I’ll admit to having the sinking feeling that we were taken by a British scam artist.”
    â€œMight have been an American. They are here, you know, in vast numbers.”
    Ah, yes, that goaded her temper again. Was he doing it on purpose? Enjoying the rise of her breasts, the flash in her eyes? Wondering what it would be like to suddenly strike a bargain for total peace, draw her in frontof the fire and find some real truth in those generous, sensual lips?
    â€œIf something was pulled off, it was done by someone over here,” she said vehemently.
    He realized that he was actually enjoying watching her trying to control her temper.
    â€œYou’ve got to understand! We’ve sunk a fortune into this!” she told him.
    â€œAye, that I do believe. I’ve seen the work.”
    She frowned, staring at him. “How do you know exactly what I made up?” she demanded. “You didn’t ride in until…well, it was almost as if you’d ridden in on cue!”
    â€œI’d meant to stop it before it started,” he told her. “Eban had heard you rehearsing, and though he was pleased with all the work being done, he wasn’t pleased to hear the family slandered.”
    â€œBut you said the story I made up was true!”
    â€œI never said that Bruce MacNiall strangled his wife.”
    â€œShe did disappear.”
    â€œShe disappeared from the pages of history.”
    Lightning suddenly filled the sky again, followed with rocketing speed by thunder that caused the castle to shake. Startled, Toni let out a little scream, jumping to her feet. Seeing him, she flushed, lost her balance in her attempt to regain her seat quickly and toppled over—directly into his lap.
    Long elegant fingers fell against his bare chest. The silky soft sweep of her hair caressed him. Warm and very solid, her scent, that of lavender soap and femininity, caused an instant physical reaction in him that heprayed wasn’t evident through the sheer fabric of his pajama pants.
    â€œOh, God! I am so sorry!” she swore, struggling to get up. Trying to brace against his knee, she missed. Her flush deepened to something of a painful crimson, and her apologies came out in a garbled stream.
    â€œIt’s all right!” he expelled, plucking her up, setting her on her feet and remaining vertical himself. “It’s very late. If you’re sure that you’re fine…”
    â€œYes, yes, I’m fine,” she said, looking toward the window. He had the strange feeling that she was expecting to see someone there. Or that she was afraid that she would.
    â€œYou know, I’m not exactly tired, but I can see that you are. Go to sleep. I’ll get the newspaper and study the pages here, in this chair. That way, if you have a nightmare about me being in your room, you won’t panic, because you’ll know that I’m here,” he said.
    â€œI’m a big girl. Really,” she told him.
    â€œI’d rather read the paper than fall asleep to another scream,” he told her.
    â€œIt’s all