Read Online Twelve Across by Barbara Delinsky - Free Book Online
Authors: Barbara Delinsky
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
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off the sheet, she folded it and tucked q
"That's okay. I d never be able to lay traps, catch animals and gut them
: She d offered the words in innocence it into her breast pocket, returned the pad and pen to the and was appalled at how critical they sounded. Turning to drawer, then sent him a winsome smile. " Where were we? " qualify them, she lost out to Garrick's quicker tongue.
Garrick didn't try to fight the warm feeling that settled in "Is that what Victoria told you I do? " his chest. "Do you do that a lot? " She said you were a trapper, " I.eah answered with greater "Write down ideas7 Uh-huh. q deference, then added meekly, " I'm afraid the elaboration "You really do make crossword puzzles? " i: , ," q; was my own: "You didn't believe me about that, either7 His expression was guarded.
"What else did Victoria say He moved his head in a way that could have been posi- about me? " tive, negative or sheepish. " I've never really thought about qqqy wl,at I told you bee ore-that you were a friend and people doing it: qould be trusted. To be honest, I was expecting someone a "Someone has to: little-" she shifted a shoulder "-different: ' He considered that for a minute, uttered a quiet, "True, " f He raised one eyebrow in question. then withdrew into his private world again. q
"Older.
Craggier. " Blushing, she looked off across the Wondering how long he'd be gone this time, Leah walked qm, "When Victoria handed me that envelope, I asked her softly toward the bookshelf nearest her.
Its shelves had a if it was a love letter. " wide array of volumes, mostly works of fiction that had "How do you know it wasn't? " Garrick asked evenly. been on best-selling lists in recent years. The books were Come to think of it, Leah didn't know. She recalled Vicpredominantly hardbackeqd, their paper sheaths worn t toria saying something vague about craggy old trappers where they d been held. Both facts were revealing. Not only being nice, but the answer had been far from deeinitive. Her did Garrick read everything he bought, but he bought the q eyes went wide behind her glasses.
To her surprise, he chuckled. "It wasn't. We re just friends: His expression sobered. Propping his elbow on the sofa arm, he pressed his knuckles to his upper lip and mustache Leah was preparing for another silent spell, when he murmured a muffled, " Until now. "
"What do you mean? "
He dropped his hand and took a breath. "Her sending you here. It's beginning to smack of something deliberate: ' Leah searched his face for further thoughts. When he didn't answer immediately, she prodded. " I'm listening: '
"You said that you never went to Victoria's parties. Did you see her in other social contexts? "
"We went out to dinner often: '
"As a foursome-with men? "
"No: '
"Did she ever comment on that? "
"She didn't have to. I know that she has male friends, but she loved Arthur very much and has no desire to remarry. She s never at a loss for an escort when the occasion calls for it: '
"How about you7 Do you date? " he asked, repeating the question that had sparked earlier resistance.
Leah answered in a tone that was firm and final. "Not when I can help it: ' He was unfazed by her resolve, because he was getting closer to his goal.
"Did Victoria have anything to say about that? "
"Oh, yes. She thought I was... working with less than a full deck: Leah grinned at the phrase she had written down moments before, but the grin didn't last. " She was forever trying to fix me up, and I was forqver refusing: ' Garrick nodded and pressed his lips together, then slid farther down on the sofa, until his thick hair rose against its back.
For several more minutes he was lost in thought.
Eventually he took a deep breath and raised disheartened eyes to the rafters. "That, " he said, "was what I was afraid of: ' Not having been privy to his thoughts, Leah didn't follow' What do you mean?
"She s done the same to me more than once: '
"Done what? "
"Tried to fix me up: He
"That's okay. I d never be able to lay traps, catch animals and gut them
: She d offered the words in innocence it into her breast pocket, returned the pad and pen to the and was appalled at how critical they sounded. Turning to drawer, then sent him a winsome smile. " Where were we? " qualify them, she lost out to Garrick's quicker tongue.
Garrick didn't try to fight the warm feeling that settled in "Is that what Victoria told you I do? " his chest. "Do you do that a lot? " She said you were a trapper, " I.eah answered with greater "Write down ideas7 Uh-huh. q deference, then added meekly, " I'm afraid the elaboration "You really do make crossword puzzles? " i: , ," q; was my own: "You didn't believe me about that, either7 His expression was guarded.
"What else did Victoria say He moved his head in a way that could have been posi- about me? " tive, negative or sheepish. " I've never really thought about qqqy wl,at I told you bee ore-that you were a friend and people doing it: qould be trusted. To be honest, I was expecting someone a "Someone has to: little-" she shifted a shoulder "-different: ' He considered that for a minute, uttered a quiet, "True, " f He raised one eyebrow in question. then withdrew into his private world again. q
"Older.
Craggier. " Blushing, she looked off across the Wondering how long he'd be gone this time, Leah walked qm, "When Victoria handed me that envelope, I asked her softly toward the bookshelf nearest her.
Its shelves had a if it was a love letter. " wide array of volumes, mostly works of fiction that had "How do you know it wasn't? " Garrick asked evenly. been on best-selling lists in recent years. The books were Come to think of it, Leah didn't know. She recalled Vicpredominantly hardbackeqd, their paper sheaths worn t toria saying something vague about craggy old trappers where they d been held. Both facts were revealing. Not only being nice, but the answer had been far from deeinitive. Her did Garrick read everything he bought, but he bought the q eyes went wide behind her glasses.
To her surprise, he chuckled. "It wasn't. We re just friends: His expression sobered. Propping his elbow on the sofa arm, he pressed his knuckles to his upper lip and mustache Leah was preparing for another silent spell, when he murmured a muffled, " Until now. "
"What do you mean? "
He dropped his hand and took a breath. "Her sending you here. It's beginning to smack of something deliberate: ' Leah searched his face for further thoughts. When he didn't answer immediately, she prodded. " I'm listening: '
"You said that you never went to Victoria's parties. Did you see her in other social contexts? "
"We went out to dinner often: '
"As a foursome-with men? "
"No: '
"Did she ever comment on that? "
"She didn't have to. I know that she has male friends, but she loved Arthur very much and has no desire to remarry. She s never at a loss for an escort when the occasion calls for it: '
"How about you7 Do you date? " he asked, repeating the question that had sparked earlier resistance.
Leah answered in a tone that was firm and final. "Not when I can help it: ' He was unfazed by her resolve, because he was getting closer to his goal.
"Did Victoria have anything to say about that? "
"Oh, yes. She thought I was... working with less than a full deck: Leah grinned at the phrase she had written down moments before, but the grin didn't last. " She was forever trying to fix me up, and I was forqver refusing: ' Garrick nodded and pressed his lips together, then slid farther down on the sofa, until his thick hair rose against its back.
For several more minutes he was lost in thought.
Eventually he took a deep breath and raised disheartened eyes to the rafters. "That, " he said, "was what I was afraid of: ' Not having been privy to his thoughts, Leah didn't follow' What do you mean?
"She s done the same to me more than once: '
"Done what? "
"Tried to fix me up: He
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